Banana Split Squares

All the flavors of an old-fashioned banana split packed into a frozen pan dessert that slices into neat squares. Oreo cookie crust on the bottom, vanilla ice cream layered with hot fudge in the middle, banana slices tossed in lemon juice, and a top layer of strawberry ice cream. Whipped cream and a drizzle of homemade thick fudge sauce finish each square at the table.

The lemon juice on the bananas isn’t optional. Cut bananas brown almost immediately, and untreated banana slices turn an unappetizing gray-brown in the freezer. The lemon juice’s acid stops the enzymatic browning so the bananas stay pale and pretty against the cream layers.

The homemade fudge sauce is half the appeal. Made from melted semi-sweet chocolate and heavy cream in a double boiler, it stays glossy and pourable when warm and thickens into proper hot-fudge texture as it cools. Keep extra in the fridge to drizzle at serving time.

Pro Tips

• Soften the ice cream just enough to spread, not enough to puddle. Working with frozen-soft is the right window
• Freeze between layers if the layers start sliding around. Each layer should set before the next goes on
• Crush the Oreos fine in a food processor for a clean, even crust
• Slice with a long knife dipped in hot water and wiped between cuts. Cold steel drags through frozen ice cream

Variations

• Use chocolate ice cream for one of the layers in place of strawberry or vanilla for a triple chocolate variant
• Sprinkle chopped salted peanuts between the ice cream layers for extra crunch and salt
• Top with maraschino cherries and rainbow sprinkles for the full sundae presentation