Now You Can Eat A Banana Split Without Splitting Your Pants

Use frozen Cool Whip or partially frozen light yogurt for an ice cream texture.

Bonnie Lucas on March 31, 2011

Been doing this for a long time. And frankly...it's a amazing what a little drizzle of chocolate syrup adds! Minimal calories added really!

Shelly Rose on March 31, 2011

This is a great idea! You could also make banana 'ice-cream' (freeze chunks of banana for an hour then process in food processor until the right consistency) and then just adding strawberries and whip cream on top!

nancy r on March 31, 2011

If you use Cool whip free its about 10 calories per two table spoons...its just as good as the original. Been doing this for a long time..partially freeze the cool whip (it comes frozen anyway). For an added treat melt a chocolate vitatop muffin (100 calories and better for you than an apple) on the bottom, cover with bananas and frozen cool whip free. 200 Calories and fat free...Amazing, healhy and filling!

Gen on March 31, 2011

I do this all the time but use frozen cool whip lite and add a little Hershey's chocolate syrup.

Jill on March 31, 2011

To make this a fancy dessert, layer with strawberries, blueberries and banana in a trifle dish. We add the whip and sugar free vanilla pudding (horrors) and the kids devour it. We layer in a pretty glass trifle dish for adults and guests and layer the same in a huge mixing bowl for the 7 kids!

donnas7kids on March 31, 2011

Can light cream really be whipped? I thought it had to be heavy cream to hold its shape, and assumed "light" whipped cream had thickeners, stabilizers etc.

Susanne Shavelson on March 31, 2011

Great question, Susanne! I was wondering the same thing.

I love all the variations people have added in their comments. They all sound so delicious!

Lisa M. on March 31, 2011

Cool whip lite is healthy?? Low calorie does not equal healthy. It is loaded with hfcs as well as hydrogenated oils and plenty of unrecognizable chemicals. Spend a few extra calories on the real thing.

Kayla on March 31, 2011

If you look in the natural section of your grocery store, look for TruWhip. It's essentially natural "cool whip" - it tastes as good or better, is only a dollar or so more expensive, and doesn't have all the hideous chemical garbage of the original!!

Stacie on March 31, 2011

Lisa, that does sound good! I'm a tad curious have you tried fat free cream yet? One of my favorite chefs here in Atlanta that runs "The flying biscuit" uses it in her grits. Apparently its all over america you can get it at whole foods. If you simply poured that into a stainless steel whipped cream canister with a CO2 canister on the side you could easily cut a few more calories! Oh and you have a degree in chemistry, yes? Why does the chemical name for a b vitamin sound so much like pyrithirine? a pesticide. Just curious. You're obviously more educated on these chemicals than I am.

Leslie Haon on March 31, 2011

Thanks for the great idea. Will remember this when I am looking for a sweet treat!

Kathy on March 31, 2011

Hi Kayla,

By healthy I was talking about the vitatop and banana. Vitatop deep chocolate has

50% Vitamin A

50% Vitamin C

20% Calcium

50% Vitamin D

50% Vitamin B12

50% Iron

50% Vitamin E

50% Vitamin B6

9 Grams of Dietary Fiber and more! They also taste amazing alone or in this little recipe.

Gen on March 31, 2011

Turkey Hill vanilla frozen yogurt is only 2P+ for a half cup. It is delicious and counts as a calcium serving, with 25% daily value. When I want a 'real' dessert, I will warm up 1/4 cup orange juice or pineapple juice in a saucepan, add a T. of brown sugar and a tiny bit of cornstarch to thicken it. Then add a cut up banana and a few pineapple chunks and warm through. It is delicious with the frozen yogurt for something that has few P+ and tastes like a total splurge!

Jerri on March 31, 2011

I like the idea of the frozen banana in a food processor to make 'banana ice cream'. Cool whip is scary. PBS app has these Wired Science clips of a show called "What's Inside". They did a "What's Inside Your Fridge" one that looked at the chemical guts of Cool Whip. So gross...

T. on March 31, 2011

I love Cool Whip, bananas, and a graham cracker. Like a banana cream pie! YUMMY!

angimw on March 31, 2011

Snack girl - do you live in my kitchen? I do this every now and then for the same reason; loved banana splits as a kid but know better as an adult. Add a scant tablespoon of chopped walnuts to heighten the effect.

Ziporah Janowski on April 1, 2011

That looks so good. Today I did Chobani pain greek yogurt (100) cal added 2 packets of Truvia(0) cal a ton of cinnamon (because I love it) a handful of blueberries and about 10 teddy grahams. such a great snack combo. would have added more blueberries but didn't have enough.

Erika on April 3, 2011

Had to try this tonight with a frozen banana and added a few blueberries...omg what a treat!!!

Lynn on July 5, 2011

Oh, for heaven's sake! Eat some real ice cream! Half a cup with the extra fruit would be great, and a half a cup won't kill anybody. MODERATION folks!

Robin on July 28, 2011