No-Bake Banana Split Cake

Banana split cake is a no-bake layered dessert with a buttery graham cracker crust, creamy filling, crushed pineapple, fresh bananas, and Cool Whip. Ready for the fridge in 20 minutes!

Prep Time20

Total Time6 50

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 451kcal

Ingredients

2 cups graham crackers crushed
1¼ cups butter softened
2 cups powdered sugar sifted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
20 ounces crushed pineapple well drained
4 medium bananas
9 ounces Cool Whip
½ cup pecans chopped
4 ounces maraschino cherries

Instructions

Melt ½ cup of butter and mix together with 2 cups of graham crackers. Pat this mixture firmly into the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch pan.
2 cups graham crackers
Beat powdered sugar, soft butter, and vanilla for about 5 minutes until well incorporated.
1¼ cups butter, 2 cups powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Spread the mix evenly over the graham cracker crumb crust. Send this to the fridge to chill for 30 minutes.
Drain pineapple and spread over cream mixture.
20 ounces crushed pineapple
Arrange bananas over pineapple.
4 medium bananas
Cover with Cool Whip, sprinkle with pecans.
9 ounces Cool Whip, ½ cup pecans
Cover and refrigerate for 6 hours or overnight.
Garnish with sliced cherries before serving.
4 ounces maraschino cherries

Notes

Storage:

In the refrigerator: Cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap or foil and store it in the fridge for up to 2 to 3 days. Beyond that, the bananas can start to get soft and the moisture from the pineapple may begin to break down the layers.
In the freezer: Banana split cake freezes beautifully for up to one month. Just wrap the pan snugly in plastic wrap followed by a layer of foil. When you're ready to serve, move it to the fridge the night before and let it thaw overnight.

Tips:

Drain the pineapple thoroughly. This is the most important step. Any excess liquid will soak into the cream layer and make the dessert soggy, so take your time and press it well through a strainer.
Stick to the layering order. Start with the cream layer, then pineapple, followed by bananas, and finish with Cool Whip on top. This sequence helps the layers hold together and keeps everything stable when slicing.
Let it chill completely. Cutting it too soon is a common mistake. At around two hours, it’s still too soft and may fall apart. After six hours or even better, overnight, the layers are set, the flavors come together, and you’ll get clean slices.
Use a sharp knife. For neat slices, use a sharp knife and wipe the blade between each cut.

Nutrition