THE Ultimate Dessert....

Banana Split Dessert

Layer 1

Chocolate Crust

1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup butter or margarine, softened

1/2 cup powdered sugar

6 tablespoons unsweetened baking cocoa

Heat oven to 400°F. In medium bowl, mix all crust ingredients until soft dough forms. Press firmly and evenly against bottom and side of ungreased 9 x 13 pan. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until light brown. Cool completely on cooling rack, about 30 minutes.

Layer 2

Cream Cheese

1 cup whipping cream

1 8 oz cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup powdered or granulated sugar

3 to 4 bananas

Whip cream cheese in mixer with sugar.   In separate bowl, whip the cream.  Fold into cream cheese.

Spread on top of cooled crust.  Slice bananas and spread over top of cream cheese layer.   Cover and refrigerate.

Layer 3

Caramel Topping

1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter

1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 Tbsp corn syrup
1 tsp vanilla
Combine sugar, butter, buttermilk and corn syrup, baking soda in a large saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a low boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes (continue to stir!) until all sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Let cool to room temperature.  Drizzle over bananas.

Layer 4

Chocolate Pudding

1 cup sugar

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 cup cornstarch

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

4 cups non-fat milk

2 tsp vanilla extract

Whisk sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch and chocolate chips in a small saucepan. Add milk and bring to a boil on medium heat, stirring constantly. Reduce heat, and stir until thickened. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Pour into container,  cover with plastic wrap and chill for about an hour.  Pour over banana layer, spread evenly.  Refrigerate about an 30 minutes.

Layer 5

Strawberry Whipped Cream

Whip 2 cups whipping cream.  Divide in half.  With half add 1/4 cup strawberry jam or strawberry topping.  Whip until mixed.  Spread over chocolate pudding layer.

Layer 6

Whipped cream.  Spread remaining whipped cream over strawberry layer.  Cover and chill for about 4 hours.

Layer 7, if desired

Chocolate Syrup

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

3 tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup heavy cream

Combining the chocolate chips, 3 tablespoons butter, vanilla extract, and 1/4 cup cream in a microwave-safe dish. Place in the microwave and cook on medium-high heat stirring every 30 seconds until the chocolate chips are melted and the chocolate sauce is smooth.  Cool.  Drizzle over each piece, top with nuts, & maraschino cherry.

You can totally CHEAT on this recipe.....

The CHEAT VERSION:

Layer 1 - Oreo Crust

30 Oreos , crushed

6 TB melted butter

Combine and press into pan.  Refrigerate about 30 minutes

Layer 2 - Cream Cheese

1 8 oz package cream cheese

1/4 cup sugar

2 TB milk

1 cup cool whip

Beat cream cheese, milk, sugar until mixed.  Fold in cool whip.  Top with sliced bananas.

Layer 3 - Caramel

Drizzle caramel ice cream topping over bananas

Layer 4 - Chocolate Pudding

2 packages (3.9 oz) chocolate pudding mix, instant

3 1/4 cups milk

Whisk together ingredients.  Pour over bananas.

Layer 5 - Strawberry Whipped Cream

Whisk together 2 cups cool whip with  1/4 cup strawberry jam or strawberry topping.  Spread over chocolate pudding layer.

Layer 6 - Cool Whip

Spread 2 cups cool whip over layer.
Cover, chill for 4 hours.

Layer 7 - Chocolate Sauce

Drizzle Hershey's Syrup over each piece, top with nuts and maraschino cherry.