Grilled Banana Split

The banana split is an over-the-top treat, piled high with fruit, scoops of ice cream, and tons of toppings. But just because the classic dessert has a lot going on doesn’t mean that improvements can’t be made. The grill is a clever way to enhance the natural sweetness and add a smoky flavor to a banana split. If you love grilling, this is a must-try! 

Nothing is more satisfying than ending a grilling session on a sweet note with a cold, refreshing dessert. You’ll need to clean the grill anyway, so throw on some fruit and end your next barbecue with grilled banana splits.

Use Slightly Underripe Fruit for Grilling

Grilling fruit imparts smoky and caramelized flavors and the intense heat helps activate the fruit's sweetness. This is particularly useful if you're having a hard time finding perfectly ripe fruit.

This recipe is designed to celebrate almost underripe fruit so you don't have to plan and stress ahead of time. It's perfect if you tend to procrastinate like me, and timing the ripeness of your fruits to your next barbecue hangout seems like a logistical nightmare. 

The heat of the grill will bring out the fruit’s natural sugar, so it will still have great flavor. Slightly underripe fruit will also hold up better on the grill, softening just enough as it cooks.

Choosing Bananas for Grilled Banana Splits

This recipe works best with bananas that are a few days away from ripening. They should be mostly yellow with a touch of green on the top of the stalk and along the edges of the banana peel curves. Slightly underripe bananas work great since they are a little bit firmer and can withstand the heat of the grill without softening too quickly and becoming mushy.

Luckily, these are how most bananas are sold at the grocery store, so you can make grilled banana splits without planning ahead.

Recipe Variations and Shortcuts

• Buy one big tub of Neopolitan ice cream instead of three different cartons.
• Swap one or more of the ice cream flavors but keep it simple. Try chocolate chip, cherry, coffee, or pistachio.
• Replace or supplement the grilled strawberries with strawberry sauce or strawberry jam.
• Try caramel or marshmallow sauce in addition to or in place of the chocolate sauce.

The Trick to Perfect Grill Marks

Start by preheating your very clean grill so that it is hot enough to create a beautiful sear. High heat is the key to achieving grill marks without over-cooking. A little neutral oil on the fruit and on the grill grates will help prevent sticking.

When skewering your strawberries, line them up on a flat surface so that the fruit is even and the cut sides are always in contact with the grill grates. 

Ice Creamy Desserts

• Classic Ice Cream Sandwiches
• Ice Cream Cake
• Copycat Choco Tacos
• Baked Alaska
• Root Beer Float