Name: Cocktail Aficionados Will Love This 'Old-Fashioned' Banana Split
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: Shell Topping Three Ways; 1/8 teaspoon cherry powdered drink mix (such as Kool-Aid); 1/8 teaspoon orange powdered drink mix (such as Kool-Aid); 1/4 teaspoon malted milk powder; 1/4 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa; 3/4 teaspoon (1/8 ounce) vodka, divided; 3/4 cup white chocolate baking chips (such as Ghirardelli); 3 tablespoons refined coconut oil (See Note); Brûléed Banana; 2 (3- x 1-inch) orange peel strips; 1 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar; 1 firm-ripe banana, peeled and halved lengthwise; Additional Ingredients; 3 scoops whiskey or bourbon ice cream (such as High Road); 2/3 cup unsweetened whipped cream; 3 maraschino cherries with stems

"Old Fashioned" Banana Split — Photo:
Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

Total Time:

30 mins

Servings:

2 servings

This version of the nostalgic banana split leans into the flavors of classic whiskey Old Fashioned cocktail with whiskey ice cream, and a touch of orange and cherry in the form of homemade “Magic Shell”-style topping, which shatter atop the mounds of boozy ice cream.

Melted together, coconut oil and white chocolate quickly harden once cooled to give this shell topping its characteristic snap. Powdered drink mixes (such as Kool-Aid) open the door to a multitude of shell topping flavors beyond the standard chocolate. Here, to evoke the flavor of a classic Old Fashioned, this recipe calls for orange, cherry, and malted chocolate shell toppings. Use a dash of vodka to help evenly dissolve the drink powder without causing the white chocolate to seize.

Orange peel brings fragrant aroma and a slight bitterness to sugar that’s sprinkled on the brûléed bananas. Use a kitchen torch to melt and caramelize the sugar for a crunchy, glasslike layer that shatters with every bite. For a more kid-friendly banana split, use chocolate or caramel ice cream instead of whiskey ice cream.

Ingredients

Shell Topping Three Ways

1/8 teaspoon cherry powdered drink mix (such as Kool-Aid)
1/8 teaspoon orange powdered drink mix (such as Kool-Aid)
1/4 teaspoon malted milk powder
1/4 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa
3/4 teaspoon (1/8 ounce) vodka, divided
3/4 cup white chocolate baking chips (such as Ghirardelli)
3 tablespoons refined coconut oil (See Note)

Brûléed Banana

2 (3- x 1-inch) orange peel strips
1 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 firm-ripe banana, peeled and halved lengthwise

Additional Ingredients

3 scoops whiskey or bourbon ice cream (such as High Road)
2/3 cup unsweetened whipped cream
3 maraschino cherries with stems

Directions

Make the shell topping three ways

Place cherry powdered drink mix, orange powdered drink mix, and malted milk powder in 3 separate small bowls. Add cocoa to milk powder. Stir 1/4 teaspoon vodka into each bowl. Set aside.
Combine white chocolate chips and coconut oil in a small saucepan. Heat over low, stirring constantly, until melted and smooth, 2 to 3 minutes. Divide mixture evenly among bowls of vodka mixtures; stir each until well combined. Set aside.

Make the brûléed banana

Rub orange peel strips and sugar together with fingertips in a small bowl until the peel’s oils are released and sugar resembles wet sand with a light orange tint, about 1 minute. Remove and discard orange peel strips.
Arrange banana halves, cut sides up, on an aluminum foil–lined baking sheet. Sprinkle cut sides evenly with sugar mixture. Using a kitchen torch, caramelize sugar mixture until melted and golden brown.

Assemble the sundae

Arrange ice cream scoops in a line down the center of a shallow, boat-shaped serving dish. Place 1 brûléed banana half on either side of ice cream. Spoon about 1 1/2 tablespoons of one flavor of shell topping over 1 scoop of ice cream; repeat with remaining two shell topping flavors and 2 scoops of ice cream (rewarming shell topping if needed to melt). (Reserve remaining shell topping for another use.) Top with whipped cream and cherries.