Quick Banana Split Shortcakes

 

We have some pretty big holidays coming up here in Canada and in the United States in the coming week. On the 1st of July is Canada Day. The day we celebrate Canada. It used to be known as Dominion Day back when I was a young child, but it has been Canada Day for many years now.

In the U.S it is Independence Day on the 4th of July! A day when Americans celebrated their Independence from the British Crown.  

Both very similar holidays marked by parades and fireworks, picnics, and BBQ's!  I like to think that these two holidays really get the summer holidays off to a start with a bang!

 

If you are lucky enough to live in a border town such as Windsor, Ontario, or Niagara Falls, often both holidays will be celebrated together at the same time.   Here we celebrate Canada Day, but I have to say I have always loved being in the U.S. at this time of year and seeing all of the flags waving.  Red, White and Blue is one of my favorite color combinations.

This Quick Banana Split Shortcake recipe is a great dessert to make for either celebration.  It is sized for two people, but can very easily be multiplied to feed more.  I adapted the recipe from one I found in a cookbook by Taste of Home, entitled Cooking For Two.

The original recipe is attributed to a lady named Christi Gillentine, of Tulsa, OK.  This recipe is a brilliant combination of two favorite desserts. Banana Splits and shortcakes!

 

My mother used to love banana splits.  Often when we were children we would have sliced bananas and ice cream for dessert. We loved that option.  In the U.K. it would be bananas and custard, but what is ice cream but frozen custard!

There was a local restaurant here in town called Eisner's where they would serve Banana Splits for $1 on Tuesday nights in the summer months. My mother and her friend Marlene used to go every Tuesday night and treat themselves to one.  I think they actually used to split it, with it only costing them 50 cents a piece.

Mom loved those banana splits. Eisner's is no longer around. They shut it down and then tore the building down several years back now. You would never ever know it has existed to look at the lot now, but it is a very fond memory in the mind of the people and the history of this small town.  

 

 They used to have the best seafood platters, fish and chips and roast dinners. At one time it was the hub of the community and a popular destination for family get-togethers and celebrations. It also used to be a popular stop on the old Acadia Bus Lines route through the valley from Yarmouth to Halifax. (Also no longer in operation.)

 It was a sad, sad day for the town when it came down, but it had fallen into dereliction and had become a hazard, being vacant and no longer used as a restaurant.

Anyways, I hope you all have very happy Canada Days, and Fourth of July's.  Maybe you will be inspired to enjoy one of these fabulously delicious Quick Banana Split Shortcake desserts by way of celebration!

 

WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE QUICK BANANA SPLIT SHORTCAKES

Just a few simple ingredients. You can make your own or use ready made. Its up to you really!

• 2 (1/2 inch thick) slices of pound cake or madeira cake
• 1 medium sized firm ripe banana, peeled and sliced
• good quality vanilla ice cream
• Chocolate sauce
• chopped peanuts
• maraschino cherries
• whipped cream (optional)

 

Pound Cake and Madeira Cake are pretty much interchangeable.  Both are very similar in flavor and texture.  You could also use angel food cake if that is all you can get, or those small individual sponge cakes that you find in the shops during shortcake season!

You want your bananas to be ripe, but firm.   You can slice them into coins no more than 1/2 inch thick. 1/3 of an inch is perfect.

Use the best quality vanilla ice cream. One that is made with real cream and pure vanilla.  In the U.K. I used to love clotted cream vanilla ice cream. So rich and delicious!

Use a good quality chocolate sauce, or make your own.

The peanuts and cherries are optional, as is the whipped cream.  You do you!  I personally love chopped roasted peanuts on a banana split and what would a banana split be without a pretty red cherry on top!

 

OPTIONAL TOPPING SUGGESTIONS

One thing which is really nice about a dessert like this is that you can vary any of the toppings to suit the likes or dislikes of the people you are serving it to.  I would always only use vanilla ice cream and plain pound cake, but as far at toppings go, the world really is your oyster!

Warmed through strawberry jam

Crushed pineapple

Caramel or toffee sauce

Candied nuts (almonds, pecans, etc.)

Toasted coconut

Crumbled Oreo sandwich cookies

Crushed peanut brittle

ice cream or cake sprinkles

miniature marshmallows

 

HOW TO MAKE QUICK BANANA SPLIT SHORTCAKES 

When I say nothing could be easier I am not joking!  NOTHING could be easier!

Place a slice of cake on each of two dessert plates.  Slice the banana and divide between the two slices of cake, placing the sliced banana on top.

Top the sliced banana with vanilla ice cream to cover.

Drizzle with chocolate syrup, sprinkle with chopped peanuts, add a cherry on top and a squirt of whipped cream, if desired.  Serve immediately.

 

This was such a simple dessert to throw together.  You can make it entirely from store cupboard ingredients, or you can make the individual components from scratch.  It all depends on how much of a hurry you are in!

I used a good store bought pound cake, but you could certainly bake your own. I have a recipe for a small batch pound cake here.   I also have an excellent recipe for chocolate sauce/syrup here. 

This is an excellent recipe for when you are entertaining a crowd. Although particulars are given for only two servings, you can easily multiply everything to serve as many people as you are entertaining!

 

Still looking for a quick and easy no bake dessert to serve for your summer get-togethers?  Here are a few others that we always enjoy here in The English Kitchen!

HOT FUDGE MARSHMALLOW REFRIGERATOR PIE -  The hardest part of this pie is waiting for the whole thing to chill and set up. You can use either a graham cracker crust or a baked single pastry crust.  A layer of hot fudge sauce is on the bottom which is topped with a lush and light marshmallow filling.  A bit of grated chocolate on top and dessert is served!

THREE INGREDIENT LEMON MERINGUE PIE SMASH - Nothing could be easier to make than these delicious lemony desserts! Three simple ingredients layers in dessert glasses or jars, ready to delight all the lemon lovers in the family.  Quick, easy and delicious. What more could a person want!

Yield: 2 servings

Author: Marie Rayner

Quick Banana Split Shortcakes

Prep time: 10 MinTotal time: 10 Min

The best of both words, a shortcake and a banana split, all rolled into one. Quick, easy to make and delicious!

Ingredients

• 2 (1/2 inch thick) slices of pound cake or madeira cake
• 1 medium sized firm ripe banana, peeled and sliced
• good quality vanilla ice cream
• Chocolate sauce
• chopped peanuts
• maraschino cherries
• whipped cream (optional)

Instructions

1. Place a slice of cake on each of two dessert plates.
2. Slice the banana and divide between the two slices of cake, placing the sliced banana on top.
3. Top the sliced banana with vanilla ice cream to cover.
4. Drizzle with chocolate syrup, sprinkle with chopped peanuts, add a cherry on top and a squirt of whipped cream, if desired.
5. Serve immediately.

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