Banana Split Funnel Cake Recipes

Steps:

• For the banana ice cream cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan.
• Melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium heat until nutty brown. Immediately remove from the heat and reserve.
• Whisk the flour with the baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Vigorously whisk the bananas with the browned butter in a large bowl until very well combined and creamy. Whisk the egg, brown sugar, granulated sugar and vanilla into the banana mixture until smooth.
• Fold the flour mixture into the banana mixture with a rubber spatula until well combined. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread to cover completely; the layer will be thin. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 18 minutes. Cool completely on a rack, about 1 hour.
• Spread the ice cream evenly over the banana cake with a rubber spatula. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze until firm, at least 4 hours or overnight.
• For the chocolate sauce: Combine the chocolate, cream, corn syrup, butter and salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk periodically as the mixture comes to a gentle simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. If the sauce starts to boil, turn down the heat. Cool 15 minutes before serving. Transfer to a bowl or small pitcher. (Yield: 1 2/3 cups.)
• For the caramelized bananas: Remove the cake from the freezer and let stand at room temperature. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the butter and swirl the pan. When the butter is completely melted, place the banana pieces cut-sides down in one layer in the pan. When they are nicely browned, after 4 to 5 minutes, flip the bananas. Cook until the other sides are browned and the bananas have softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.
• To serve, place desired toppings in bowls. Cut squares of the banana cake and divide among serving bowls. Let each person build a sundae with the chocolate sauce, caramelized bananas, and additional toppings.
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Steps:

• For the frozen banana bites: Peel and slice the banana into 1-inch pieces. Heat up the chocolate and shortening for 30 seconds in the microwave in a bowl. Remove and stir. If any lumps remain, heat in 10-second increments until fully melted.
• Place the banana pieces on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Using two forks, place a banana piece on one fork and dip it into the chocolate. Make sure the banana piece is covered completely. Remove the banana piece from the chocolate and, using the other fork, gently move the banana piece onto the cookie sheet. When completed, place the chocolate-covered banana pieces in the freezer for at least 1 hour, preferably overnight.
• For the chocolate cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a 9-by-13-inch cake pan by rubbing with butter, sprinkling with flour and tapping out the extra.
• In a large bowl, combine the flour, granulated sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Mix together with a wooden spoon, then set aside.
• In a small bowl, combine the eggs, milk, oil and vanilla. Beat well with a hand mixer. Slowly add the boiling water and mix. Add the wet ingredients to the flour mixture, and fold and stir until smooth. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake until a cake tester inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove the cake from the pan and cool on a rack.
• For the whipped cream: Beat the cream and vanilla in a chilled nonreactive bowl with a whisk or an electric mixer just until the mixture holds a loose peak. (Lift the beater from the cream and look at the shape of the peak at the end of the whisk; it should hold a lazy curve.) Sift the confectioners' sugar over the cream and continue to beat just until it holds a soft peak. Take care not to overbeat the cream or it will be curdy. Refrigerate, covered, for up to 4 hours.
• To assemble: When the cake is cool, cut in half with a long serrated knife. Place one half of the chocolate cake on a serving platter or cake stand. Cover the cake with strawberry pie filling (about 1 cup; you will have some left over, which can be refrigerated). Set the other half of the cake on top. Try to match up the ends that have been cut when stacking.
• With a pastry bag fitted with a large open star decorating tip, pipe whipped cream mounds on top of the cake. Add sprinkles. Cut the frozen banana bites in half and set on top of the whipped cream. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• For the ice cream layer: Line a 9-inch round cake pan with two layers of plastic wrap, pressing into the sides and corners to smooth it out as much as possible and leaving an overhang so you can lift the ice cream out.
• Spread the vanilla ice cream in the prepared pan in an even layer using a small offset spatula or the back of a spoon, then freeze until solid, about 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours. Repeat with the chocolate and strawberry ice creams, spreading the layers on top of each other and freezing each layer until firm. (See Cook's Note.)
• For the topping: Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray the sides of two 9-inch round cake pans with cooking spray and dust the sides lightly with flour. Line the bottoms with parchment paper rounds.
• Combine the sugar and 1 1/2 tablespoons water in a medium skillet and stir until the mixture looks like wet sand. Cook over medium-high heat, gently swirling the pan occasionally but not stirring, until light amber, about 5 minutes. Pour the caramel syrup into the bottom of one of the prepared cake pans.
• Peel and cut each of the bananas crosswise into 3 equal pieces. Cut each piece in half lengthwise. Arrange two banana pieces cut-side down in the pan with the caramel so they from an upside-down V. Continue making upside-down Vs with the banana pieces all the way across the pan. Fill in any empty spaces with the remaining banana pieces.
• For the cake: Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Add the sugar and vegetable oil to the bowl of a stand mixer and beat to combine. Add the eggs one at a time, beating to incorporate after each addition, then beat in the vanilla until combined. With the mixer on low speed, alternate adding the flour and buttermilk in 3 parts each, scraping down the bowl as needed, then beat on medium-high for 1 full minute.
• Divide the batter between the two prepared pans, covering the bananas evenly (use an offset spatula if needed). Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 45 minutes to 1 hour (the plain cake will bake faster than the one with the topping, so check both). Let cool on a rack until cool enough to handle, about 25 minutes, then turn the cakes out onto racks to cool completely.
• Place the plain cake layer on a cake pedestal or plate. Remove the ice cream from the freezer and lift it out of the pan using the plastic wrap. Invert the ice cream layer directly on the cake layer. Top with the second cake layer, bananas facing up. Decorate the top with whipped cream rosettes, then top with cherries and sprinkle with chopped peanuts and sprinkles. Serve immediately with hot fudge and caramel sauce.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. Grease a 15x10x1-in. baking pan., In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until crumbly, about 2 minutes. Add eggs; mix well. Beat in bananas, sour cream and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to butter mixture. Transfer to prepared pan., Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 18-20 minutes. Top cake with cherries, chocolate chips, marshmallows and, if desired, peanuts. Bake until chips are slightly melted and marshmallows puff, 3-5 minutes longer. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack; cut into bars. If desired, top with banana slices or banana chips before serving.

Steps:

• Combine the graham cracker crumbs, white sugar and melted butter. Mix together and press into a 9x13 inch cake pan; refrigerate until chilled.
• Beat together the cream cheese and confectioners' sugar; spread over graham cracker crust.
• Layer bananas and pineapple over cream cheese mixture; cover fruit with whipped topping.
• Top with cherries and chopped nuts; refrigerate and serve chilled.

Steps:

• Funnel Cake:.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Whisk together the milk, Strawberry Syrup and eggs in a medium bowl. Make a well in the flour mixture, and then pour in the egg mixture and whisk until well combined. Let the mixture rest for 10 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Heat 1 inch of oil in a medium straight-sided skillet to 375 degrees F.
• Spoon 3/4 cup of the batter into a funnel with a 1/2-inch tip, keeping the opening at the bottom closed with your finger. Place the funnel over the skillet, release your finger and pour the batter through the funnel, moving to create a round, lacy funnel cake no bigger than 7 inches in diameter (or as big or small as you want!), creating thick, even strands so the cake cooks evenly. Fry the cake until beginning to brown and crisp, 2 minutes, and then flip and cook until done, another 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack set over a baking sheet and keep in the warm oven as you finish making the funnel cakes in batches.
• To serve, place 1 funnel cake on each plate and dust with powdered sugar. Top each with 2 scoops of ice cream, some strawberries and bananas and drizzle with chocolate sauce and leftover Strawberry Syrup. Finish with the sweetened whipped cream, pecans, if using, and a maraschino cherry.
• Strawberry Syrup:.
• Combine the strawberries, sugar, lemon zest and 1/2 cup water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook until thick and syrupy, about 10 minutes. Puree in a food processor, strain and let cool before using.

Steps:

• Let the ice cream sit at room temperature for a few minutes to soften. Line a loaf pan with plastic wrap so that it hangs over the edges.
• Using a serrated knife, slice the pound cake horizontally into thirds. Place the top layer of the cake in the bottom of the pan cut-side up. Spread half of the ice cream on top, cover with the banana slices and sprinkle with half of the peanuts. Top with the middle layer of cake. Repeat with the remaining ice cream, followed by the strawberries and remaining peanuts. Top with the bottom layer of cake. Wrap tightly with plastic. Freeze at least 6 hours and up to overnight.
• Remove the cake from the freezer 15 minutes before serving. Turn the cake out of the pan, remove the plastic wrap and use a serrated knife to cut into slices. Serve drizzled with hot fudge and topped with a dollop of whipped cream and a cherry.

Steps:

• Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a large bowl. In a smaller bowl, whisk the egg with the granulated sugar until pale. Whisk the milk into the egg mixture, then gently fold into the flour mixture. It should be a bit thicker than pancake batter but thin enough to pour. Add up to 3 tablespoons milk to loosen the batter, if needed.
• Heat about 2 inches of canola oil in a large high-sided skillet or pot over medium-high heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 375. Meanwhile, mix the confectioners' sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Hold a funnel in one hand with your finger plugging the hole at the bottom. Pour 1 cup batter into the funnel. Hold the funnel over the hot oil and remove your finger from the hole, letting the batter drop in a spiral pattern all over the surface of the oil. It will look like lots of individual pieces at first, but as you continue to add batter, the pieces will fuse together. Cook until the batter floats and the underside is golden brown, about 30 seconds. Flip with tongs and cook until golden brown on the other side, about 30 more seconds. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate and repeat to make 5 more funnel cakes. Dust with the cinnamon-sugar and serve with whipped cream and/or fruit sauce, if desired.

Steps:

• In a blender, puree the diced strawberries with 1 to 2 tablespoons water until thick and smooth. Using an electric mixer, whip the cream until soft peaks form, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the confectioners' sugar, vanilla and strawberry puree and continue whipping until slightly stiff peaks form, 1 to 2 minutes.
• For each dessert, place a chocolate cookie on a plate. Dollop with 1 tablespoon of the strawberry whipped cream; gently press another cookie on top. Repeat, alternating cookies and whipped cream, to make a stack 6 cookies high, ending with a cookie. Wrap lightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate until the cookies soften slightly, 3 to 4 hours. Cover and refrigerate the remaining whipped cream.
• Just before serving, use an offset spatula or butter knife to smooth the sides of the cakes. Top each cake with a few strawberry and banana slices and some of the remaining whipped cream. Drizzle with chocolate syrup. Sprinkle with peanuts and top with a maraschino cherry.

Steps:

• In blender or food processor puree bananas; add milk, then eggs and sugar.
• Sift together flour and spices and add to banana mixture.
• In skillet, or electric fry pan, heat 1/2 inch oil to 375 degrees. Cover the small opening of a funnel with finger and pour 1/4 cup batter into funnel. Hold funnel over hot oil and drizzle batter in swirls and crisscross in a lace=like pattern.
• Fry about 1 minute or until brown. Turn and brown second side.
• Drain on paper towels, sprinkle with powdered sugar.
• Serve warm.

Steps:

• Combine the crushed vanilla wafers and melted margarine. Pat into the bottom of one 9x13 inch pan.
• Beat the cream cheese and confectioners' sugar together until light and fluffy. Spread over the top of the vanilla wafer crust. Spoon crushed pineapple over the cream cheese layer. Then layer sliced bananas over the pineapple. Cover with the non-dairy whipped topping and sprinkle top with chopped walnuts and maraschino cherries.
• Chill for at least 4 hours before serving.