Amanda's Banana Split Cake


The perfect dessert for summer! This cake is so fresh, sweet, and tastes just like a banana split with ice cream. It is worth every minute of preparation. This is my “go-to” cake for birthday parties and neighborhood pot-luck gatherings. My former co-worker Amanda tasted it and said, “oh yes, this cake rocks!” So of course I had to rename it after her.

 Amanda’s Banana Split Cake


3 cups of graham cracker crumbs (you can either buy them in a box or chop them up a food processor. See steps in instructions below).
1 ½ butter, melted
2 (8oz.) packages of cream cheese, at room temperature
1 ½ cups of sugar
5 bananas, sliced
(1 large can of crushed pineapple, drained – optional)
1 – 2 large cartons of strawberries, sliced
1 large container of Cool Whip topping
Chocolate syrup
Caramel syrup - optional
Chopped peanuts or ice cream nut toppings - optional


Measure out 3 cups of graham cracker crumbs. If you are using whole crackers, break them up and place in a food processor fitted with a blade. 


Pulse and chop until it looks like coarse sand. 


Melt butter in microwave in a small bowl. Pour graham crackers into a (9” x 13”) glass baking pan. Add melted butter and stir until it resembles wet sand. Spread evenly until smooth and press into pan until bottom is completely covered making a crust.


Bake at 375 degrees for eight to nine minutes. Remove from oven. 

For the filling, cream together cream cheese and sugar in a mixing bowl until very smooth.

 

Drop into large dollops onto crust and spread onto cooked crust in pan using an off-set spatula or knife. 


Take sliced bananas and carefully place them on top of the cream cheese filling. 
(if you are adding crushed pineapple do it here, make sure to drain the can). 


Next, place sliced strawberries on top covering bananas completely. 
There is no method or pattern here so you can be as neat or messy as you want! 


Dollop Cool Whip on top of strawberry layer and spread to completely cover. 


Finally drizzle with chocolate syrup, and nuts (optional).


Refrigerate for at least four hours or overnight. Slice into large squares and enjoy! If you have any leftovers, which I doubt, place in refrigerator.




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