The cake was so much easier to serve and I didn't have to worry about melting ice cream for birthdays and holiday celebrations.
Plus I could include all the topping swirled on topping lightly with freshly sliced bananas and whipped cream to give that cake the perfect flavors.
The cake is all homemade from scratch into marble which is chocolate and vanilla when it's cut open so the cake is the best of both worlds to satisfy everyone.
I can't tell you how many times I have been asked to make this cake to take to a backyard get-together or family reunion picnic through the years but it's more than 100!
If you're a banana split lover like we are or have someone in your home that loves them, surprise them on their next birthday with this cake, you will be very much loved along with this cake.
If you scroll all the way down you can bypass the tips and hit print on the recipe card.
The cake of course can be made with a marble cake mix if you're in a hurry or just banana my (homemade Banana Cake recipe) plus check out all my suggestions below for toppings and cake ideas!
Easy Steps for Making This Chocolate Italian Cream Cake
- preheat your oven and prepare a 13 x 9 pan greased
- make the batter (from scratch or cake mix)
- separate the batter into two bowls and add cocoa powder to one
- pour into the pan and bake
- cool completely
- top with your favorites on a banana split
- store leftovers in the refrigerator covered
- see the recipe card at the end for full instructions and tips
Topping Suggestions
- any kinds of toasted nuts you prefer or for nut allergies toasted pumpkin seeds
- mini chocolate chips
- maraschino cherries
- marshmallow ice cream topping or fluff
- strawberry ice cream topping
- pineapple ice cream topping
- caramel ice cream topping
- chopped candy bars
- sliced fruits of any kind that are fresh you prefer
- whipped cream
- drizzle with Kahlua hot fudge sauce
- serve with your favorite flavor scoop of ice cream (banana split ice cream)
Cake Suggestions
- use a marble cake mix, all chocolate, plain yellow or strawberry flavors
- add 1/2 cup of colorful sprinkles to half the yellow or white cake batter
- tint the whipped cream or add some cocoa powder to be all chocolate or match the color theme of your party
- make this cake for a birthday party and add bananas, cherries, and chocolate chips to a plain quart of vanilla ice cream to serve with the cake
- keep the cake cold and in a cooler or refrigerate at any outdoor functions covered in a cake carrier
- leave off all the ice cream toppings and set up a topping bar slice the cake and have them decorate it like they would their banana split from an ice cream shop
- use a spring for pan, 13 x 9 sheet cake and you can use two 8 inch and fill with whipped cream and bananas
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Delicious Banana Split Cake
This cake is the perfect summer birthday party cake!
Everyone loves banana splits, and this banana split cake is so much easier, all you have to do is serve ice cream on the side and it's a win-win and so much easier.
No matter what kind of event you're hosting, this cake will be loved by kids and all the young at heart, it's adelightful slice of deliciousness and certainly brings back childhood memories for me also.
Just follow our simple instructions in the recipe card that's also printable below to make this cake!
Banana Split Marble Cake
Yield: 15
Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 43 MinTotal time: 53 Min
This is a banana split cake lovers' dream cake. The cake is all made from scratch into a marble effect then topped with bananas and ice cream favorites!
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup butter, softened
- 2 eggs
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 3 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 tsp. of almond extract
- 1 1/4 cups milk, half and half sour milk, or buttermilk
- 1 cup of mini chocolate chip
- 1/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder
- Garnish: use 2 or 3 different ice cream toppings, bananas sliced, maraschino cherries and whipped cream See Notes for suggestions:
Instructions
- Using an electric beater, cream the butter and sugar together until light.
- Add the eggs, baking powder, baking soda, and vanilla, until blended evenly.
- Beat in the flour with the milk alternating just until smooth, then split this batter into two bowls.
- Add the unsweetened cocoa powder to one bowl and mix well.
- Grease the pan of your choice, 13 x 9 cake pan or use two 8-inch pans using the same method.
- Start with a small amount of vanilla cake batter on the bottom, add a dollop of chocolate batter in the center, and sprinkle just the chocolate with mini chocolate chips.
- Continue layering until all the batter is gone.
- Do not stir.
- Bake at 350 degrees for around 40 minutes till done, and test with a toothpick if it comes out clean in the center.
- Cool completely.
- Sliced the bananas and add lemon juice to them so they don't turn brown.
- Top the cake with the sliced bananas and whipped cream.
- Swirl caramel ice cream topping, strawberry ice cream topping, and hot fudge over the top (or any other toppings for banana splits you prefer.
- Decorate with sliced cherries, raspberries, and strawberries.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator.
Notes
Topping Suggestions
- any kinds of toasted nuts you prefer or for nut allergies toasted pumpkin seeds
- mini chocolate chips
- maraschino cherries
- marshmallow ice cream topping or fluff
- strawberry ice cream topping
- pineapple ice cream topping
- caramel ice cream topping
- chopped candy bars
- sliced fruits of any kind that are fresh you prefer
- whipped cream
- hot fudge sauce
Cake Suggestions
- use a marble cake mix, all chocolate, plain yellow or strawberry flavors
- add 1/2 cup of colorful sprinkles to half the yellow or white cake batter
- tint the whipped cream or add some cocoa powder to be all chocolate or match the color theme of your party
- make this cake for a birthday party and add bananas, cherries, and chocolate chips to a plain quart of vanilla ice cream to serve with the cake
- keep the cake cold and in a cooler or refrigerate at any outdoor functions covered in a cake carrier
- leave off all the ice cream toppings and set up a topping bar slice the cake and have them decorate it like they would their banana split from an ice cream shop
- use a spring for pan, 13 x 9 sheet cake and you can use two 8 inch and fill with whipped cream and bananas
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A Few Banana Recipes We Love
Banana Chocolate Chip Biscotti
Banana Mango Muffins