Any good banana split afficionado knows, diners often make a great banana split with fudge sauce.
For those who want to bring their favorite dessert out of the diner and into their own kitchens, it’s not as hard as it sounds, and you won’t have to worry about ice cream melting in the car. Dessert lovers who enjoy making their own banana splits should consider the following recipe for “Banana Splits with Hot Fudge Sauce” from Jennifer Joyce’s Diner (Ryland, Peters & Small), a comforting collection of recipes from the roadside diner.
Serves 4
• 4 small bananas
• 4 scoops each of strawberry, vanilla and
• chocolate ice cream
• 4 maraschino cherries
• 1/2 cup chopped, toasted pecans
Hot fudge sauce
• 3 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/4 cup light corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup sugar
Whipped cream
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon superfine sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
To make the hot fudge sauce, put the chocolate, cream and butter in a medium saucepan. When melted, add light corn syrup, vanilla extract and sugar, stirring constantly over medium heat. When nearly boiling, turn the heat down to low and simmer for 15 minutes without stirring. Let cool for 5 minutes before using. To make the whipped cream, beat the heavy cream with the sugar and vanilla, and set aside. Peel the bananas and cut in half lengthwise. Take the dessert dishes and along the sides of each one, put 2 banana halves. Put one scoop of each flavor of ice cream between the bananas. Top with one spoonful of the whipped cream, a sprinkling of pecans and a cherry on top. Serve with a small pitcher of the hot fudge sauce to pour over.