Why is eating out of a little mason jar so much fun? These Banana Split Cakes in a Jar are absolutely delicious, and of course are made even more fun by serving them in a mason jar.
Perfect for events, potlucks or parties. Make the cake ahead and keep the lid on until serving and then top with the frosting!
There is nothing more fun than serving up Desserts in Jars.
These Banana Split Cakes in a Jar were inspired by Shaina Olmanson’s cookbook “Desserts in Jars” (also available for the Kindle).
This cookbook is full of wonderful, fun and elegant desserts for every single occasion imaginable.
I find myself reaching for mine, when I want to do something creative, but am struggling to come up with something.
Everyone loves being served desserts in jars.
While I enjoy using my jars to cook and bake in, sometimes you just need an easy dessert for a gathering, where the presentation just makes it better.
Enter the Banana Split Cakes In a Jar. Inspired by the cookbook, and Shaina’s recipe for Frozen Banana Splits, my teenagers and I set out to create a fun but non frozen dessert for a recent event we brought dessert to.
This recipe is really more about the presentation than the actual recipe.
But regardless, we had a lot of fun in the kitchen baking, experimenting and eating a lot of cake. And bananas. And cake.
Did I mention cake?
Because there was a lot. You know, in case I didn’t mention it.
Also, the first time we made this, we made from scratch cakes. Yep. And we made our own sauces. And then we got smart. It was a lot of work.
So the second time we made them, we used box mixes for the cake and jarred jellies and sauces for the fruit.
It was a WHOLE lot easier and took HALF the time to put together. So I’m giving you that recipe.
However, if you want to make your cakes from scratch, and your fruit sauces from scratch, you knock yourself out. Don’t get me wrong, it was good.
But honestly so was the second batch.
And everyone was happy and complimenting us and they all seemed surprised when I confessed they were boxed mixes. LOL
So I’m seriously just making these with box mixes from now on. Again, knock yourself out with the made from scratch thing.
More Desserts in Jars Recipes
- Summer Fruit Fool in Jars
- Banana Split Cakes in a Jar
- Key Lime Pies in a Jar
- Fudgy Brownie Mix
- 5 Minute Coffee Cake in a Jar
- Mini Blueberry Cream Cheese Pies
- Peach Crisp in Jars
- Peanut Butter Cup Cupcakes
- Salted Caramel Frozen Yogurt
- Boston Cream Pie Trifle
- Blueberry Thyme Pie in a Jar
- Caramel Panna Cotta in a Jar
- Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie in a Jar
- Banana Split Ice Cream
- Midori Melon Flower Cupcakes
- Triple Berry Crisp in a Jar
- Gluten Free Pull-Apart Cinnamon Bread in a Jar
- Chocolate and Banana Ice Box Trifle In A Jar
Recipe for Banana Split Cakes in a Jar
Banana Split Cakes in a Jar
Ingredients
- 4 bananas 4-5 depending on how many jars you are making
- 5 cups Strawberry Cake cooled
- 5 cups Vanilla Cake cooled
- 5 cups Chocolate Cake cooled
- 1 cups strawberry ice cream topping
- 1 cups pineapple ice cream topping Smuckers is what we used
- 1 cup chocolate syrup
- Whipped Cream
- Maraschino Cherries
Instructions
- Begin by slicing bananas.
- Cut each flavor of cake into 1″ squares.
- Wash and completely dry your jars.
- Layer the sliced bananas on the bottom of the jar. We did 4 slices. Layer the strawberry cake pieces on top. We did about 4-5 pieces depending of course on size of the cubes.
- Spoon pineapple ice cream topping over the top of the strawberry cake. Layer another layer of bananas. This time we only did 3.
- Top with white cake pieces.
- Spoon the chocolate syrup over the top of the vanilla cake.
- Add another layer of bananas.
- Top with chocolate cake pieces.
- Spoon the strawberry ice cream topping over the top of the chocolate cake.
- Top the entire thing with whipped cream and a cherry and serve with a long tea spoon.
ohhh myyyy those are layers of yumminess!
SO many marvelous layers…these must taste fantastic!!!
They are delicious! It’s a lot though,so we discovered that unless you use less in the jars (or smaller jars which is difficult because of the layers) it’s definitely shareable!
So much good stuff packed into jar. Awesome because each bite brings on a different flavor.
It does and the flavors are so wonderful together. So good, thank you Renee!
Oh my gosh, this looks amazing! I love your banana split!! Yummy!!
ohhh myyyy those are layers of yumminess!
Way fattening layers of yumminess but I cannot tell you how GOOD it was! 🙂 Thanks Kayle!
I Love this! The how to build it diagram was helpful too… yummy!!!
Hehe I love doing those “build diagrams” I did however forget a layer of banana, so just pretend it’s there. 😉 Thanks hon!
Linda says she’ll be right over. 🙂
Tell her I said she’s always welcome here! 🙂
There’s nothing not to love here! I think these might just be perfect for our 4th of July celebrations this year. Kudos on a great recipe
Thanks Jerry! They were fun and everyone loved them. I hope you enjoy them as much! 🙂
Its not summer without having at least one banana split!
I love chocolate chip pecan bars. 🙂
Yes..I am SO making a layered dessert next!
I agree! nothing more fun than baking in jars! I love this week’s Sunday Supper! and your Banana Split Jars look fantastic!!
Yummy! I love banana splits and with cake is even more delicious.
See I’m the type to make it all from scratch, but after I’m seeing your ingredient list, that is a lot of work, even with a box haha I would probably just make one cake then layer on extra toppings 😉 But I love the idea and so would my dad. He loves banana split, and now I can deliver him some in a jar!
I love Devil’s Food Chocolate Cake with 7 Minute Boiled Frosting.
WOW!!! My mouth dropped open when I saw your photo, Nicole. That looks incredible, especially with all the layers and the chocolate sauce dripping over everything….drooooool…sorry I lost my train of thought, I’m mesmerized by your dessert!
I love chocolate chip pecan bars. 🙂
One of my favorite desserts is tiramisu- I bet that would be great in a jar!
3 types of cake! You are a champ for even using boxed mix. This looks amazing and like it was fun to put together.
My favorite dessert is cheesecake, which I rarely make. But the recipes I’ve seen for cheesecakes in jars makes me think that might just change! LOL
My favorite dessert is Devil’s Food Chocolate cake with Fudgy Icing
Oh! that is just an awsome idea!
Oh! that is just an awsome idea!
Honestly, my favorite dessert is frozen yogurt/ice cream. I never get sick of it.
And I am loving these cakes in a jar! I am with you on the using boxed mixes…I’ve tried making cakes from scratch and at least in my experience, they don’t taste THAT much better that I have ever felt the need to go through the trouble unless it’s a reallllly special occasion. Call me lazy, call me practical…I don’t know!
All the best parts of a banana split, without the melty nature! Perfect for a hot day. Love that you used pineapple topping in there – to me, the BEST banana splits all have this 🙂
This dessert sounds so good. Thanks for the chance to win the cookbook. My daughter loves fixing things in jars, so she would love this book, too!
Oh I just love all of the layers in this dessert. Yours look great! I’m sure they were absolutely delicious.
I love creme brulee.
My favorite dessert is peach pie
Drooling – I LOVE the banana split cakes concept
Creme brulee, no contest. But I have vanilla ice cream much more often.
Nicole can I please come over and have one of these delicious banana splits? This is amazing. I honestly just about fell off my chair. The photos just make me want to grab a spoon and dive right in.
This looks so yummy. I love putting stuff in jars because it’s cute and portion controlled. 🙂
ohhh myyyy those are layers of yumminess!
I love chocolate chip pecan bars. 🙂
Oh! that is just an awsome idea!