No-Bake Banana Split Pie

The trip to the ice cream parlor after a Little League win was half the reason anyone played, especially when a banana split was on the table. This banana split pie layers sliced bananas, sweetened cream cheese folded with crushed pineapple, and whipped topping in a graham cracker crust. Real fruit does the work here instead of a boxed pudding mix, so the flavor tastes fresh, not artificial. It never sees the oven, making it a smart choice for a summer potluck or a game-day dessert table.

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Banana split pie takes the parts of the sundae that people actually remember and rebuilds them in a pie shell. Sliced bananas line a graham cracker crust, a whipped cream cheese filling with crushed pineapple goes over the top, and whipped topping, chopped pecans, maraschino cherries, and chocolate syrup finish it off.

Nothing about it requires baking. You soften cream cheese, whip a filling, layer, and chill. An hour in the refrigerator turns a soft filling into something that slices cleanly.

It travels well to picnics and potlucks, and it appeals to kids and adults for slightly different reasons. Kids see a sundae. Adults notice that it is not as sweet as it looks, because the pineapple and bananas carry a lot of the flavor.

Why you should try this pie

This no-bake pie is simple to make and tastes great. Both kids and adults will love it, making it the perfect bring-along for any picnic or potluck. Many recipes use a pudding mix, like banana pudding; we use natural fruit so you get the best flavors imaginable.

Ingredients for this banana split pie dessert

To make this pie, you’ll need:

• Graham cracker pie shell – Provides the crisp, sweet base that stands in for the sundae dish.
• Bananas – Line the crust and carry the signature banana split flavor through every bite.
• Cream cheese – Forms the filling and balances the sweetness with a little tang.
• Powdered sugar – Sweetens the filling and helps it set without adding grit.
• Vanilla extract – Rounds out the dairy flavors and keeps the filling from tasting flat.
• Crushed pineapple – Adds bright acidity and fruit texture to the cream cheese layer.
• Whipped topping – Creates the light top layer that stands in for soft serve.
• Pecans – Add toasted crunch against the soft filling.
• Maraschino cherries – Finish the pie the way they finish a sundae.
• Chocolate syrup – Drizzled at serving for the classic sundae look and flavor.

Ingredient notes

• A store-bought 9-inch graham cracker shell works well here. Make your own if you have the time and want a thicker, more buttery crust.
• Whipped cream cheese blends into the filling faster than block cream cheese and needs less time on the counter.
• Choose bananas that are yellow with just a few brown speckles. Very ripe bananas turn mushy and darken quickly once sliced.
• Drain the crushed pineapple in a fine mesh strainer and press gently. Leftover juice is what makes a filling loose.

How to make a no-bake banana split pie

1. Please take out the cream cheese to let it come up to room temperature.
2. Drain the crushed pineapples.
3. Slice the bananas into quarter-inch-thick rounds and use them to line the bottom and sides of the graham cracker pie shell. 
4. Add the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla to the bowl of a stand mixer. If you don’t have a stand mixer, use any medium mixing bowl and a hand mixer.
5. Mix the ingredients on low speed with a flat beater attachment. You may have to stop mixing from time to time to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
6. When the filling is light and airy, use a rubber spatula to gently fold the drained crushed pineapples into the filling. 
7. Place the banana slices on the graham cracker crust. Cover the banana slices with the filling and smooth it flat. 
8. Add a layer of whipped topping.
9. Sprinkle the top of the pie with the chopped pecans and decorate with maraschino cherries.
10. Refrigerate the pie for at least one hour before garnishing with chocolate sauce and serving. 

Substitutions to consider

Try swapping out the nuts. Walnuts go particularly well with bananas.

However, if you plan to serve the pie to a large group, you may want to avoid using nuts because someone may have nut allergies.

Feel free to add your favorite sundae toppings and sauces, such as hot fudge sauce to the pie. Broken Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, M&Ms, crushed Heath bars, and strawberry sauce are all great options. 

Recipe Variations

• Hot fudge finish: Warm hot fudge sauce and spoon it over each slice at the table instead of chocolate syrup.
• Different crust: An Oreo crust, a sugar cookie crust, or a pecan crust all work in place of graham cracker.
• Different nuts: Walnuts pair particularly well with bananas and are a direct swap for the pecans.
• Loaded sundae version: Scatter broken peanut butter cups, M&Ms, or crushed toffee bars over the whipped topping.
• Strawberry banana split: Add sliced fresh strawberries with the bananas and finish with strawberry sauce alongside the chocolate syrup.

Serving Suggestions and Pairings

Coffee or hot tea cuts the richness of the cream cheese filling and is the easiest pairing for an afternoon slice.

For a dessert table, serve it alongside something with a different texture, such as a plate of brownies or a bowl of fresh berries.

For a wine pairing, a chilled Moscato d’Asti or a demi-sec sparkling wine matches the pineapple and banana without overwhelming them.

Storage instructions

• Freezer Storage: Not recommended. Bananas turn brown and watery when thawed, and the cream cheese filling separates, leaving the crust wet.
• Refrigerator Storage: Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The banana slices darken slightly after the first day, and the crust softens gradually, so the pie is at its best within the first 48 hours.
• Reheating Method: None. Serve this pie cold, straight from the refrigerator. If it has been out on a buffet, return it to the refrigerator for 20 minutes before slicing so the filling firms up again.

Favorite no-bake pie recipes

• Blueberry Cream Pie
• Coconut Cream Pie
• Marie Callender’s Lemon Cream Cheese Pie
• Orange Creamsicle Kool-Aid Pie
• Turtle Pie

Check out more of my easy pie recipes to make for any occasion.