Banana Split Trifles

Who doesn’t love a banana split? Ice cream, bananas, cherries, nuts and chocolate sauce make it the perfect treat. That’s why we decided to play around with this classic and come up with something that could be enjoyed year-round.

Banana Split Trifles is our version of the classic ice cream dessert. Rather than ice cream, we use vanilla pound cake and vanilla pudding, along with bananas, pineapple and strawberries. We add a bit of whipped cream and put a cherry on top. We’ve made the recipe even easier by using a store-bought pound cake (you could make your own if you prefer) and if you wanted to add a chocolate drizzle, go right ahead. This easy-to-make dessert allows you to modify the recipe to your taste. We even made these as individual desserts so everyone can have their own.

Prepping the Ingredients

Cut the store-bought pound cake into slices using the 7-3/4″ Petite Slicer. Then cut the slices into half-inch cubes.

Use a Santoku-Style 3″ Paring Knife to slice the bananas. We recommend brushing the banana slices with a bit of lemon juice to keep them from browning.

To chop the pineapple, use Cutco’s Hardy Slicer. Trim off the crown and bottom of the pineapple. Stand it up on the Cutting Board and cut away the prickly rind to expose the flesh. Cut down the center of the pineapple flesh, lay the halves flat on the cutting board and cut into quarters. Lay the pineapple quarters on their side and angle the knife to cut away the core from each. Cut the quarters into halves, rotate and cut crosswise to dice.

For more detailed instruction, watch Cutco’s How to Cut a Fresh Pineapple video.

To prepare the strawberries, clean them by placing them in a colander and quickly rinsing them with cool water. Lay the berries on a kitchen towel or layers of paper towels and pat them dry. Use the 3″ Gourmet Paring Knife to hull and chop the strawberries.

Making the Trifle

In a large bowl, combine the milk and instant pudding mix. Beat the mixture with a Mix-Stir for two minutes and set aside until soft-set.

Once your ingredients are prepped, it’s the simple task of layering them in a Mason jar or glass. Start by putting the pound cake in the bottom of the jar, followed by the bananas, pudding, pineapple and strawberries. Repeat the same layer again and top with whipped cream and a cherry. If you like, drizzle some chocolate sauce over the top.

While it’s not ice cream, these Banana Split Trifles recreate the classic flavors you would expect to find in a summertime treat. Experiment and add your own flavors. Use different fruits, add some nuts or drizzle some chocolate sauce over the top. You can’t go wrong!