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America's Melting Pot
Banana Split hero image coming soon
1900s-present - Early 1900s American soda fountain workers
A classic American banana split made with vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ice cream, three sauces, whipped cream, nuts, and cherries.
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Difficulty
Easy
Prep time
15 minutes
Cook time
0 minutes
Total time
15 minutes
Servings
2
Region
American soda fountains and diners
Era introduced
1900s-present
Introduced by
Early 1900s American soda fountain workers
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The banana split is a showpiece of the American soda fountain. Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and Wilmington, Ohio, both claim early versions, and that friendly rivalry is part of the story. What matters on the plate is the early-20th-century soda-jerk formula: a banana split lengthwise, three scoops of ice cream, bright sauces, whipped cream, nuts, and cherries served in a long boat dish.
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