Mini Banana Splits Food

TINY BANANA SPLITS

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment. Put the chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl, and microwave in 30-second increments, stirring after each, until smooth. Transfer the melted chocolate to a mug.
• Put the walnuts in another small bowl. Peel the bananas, trim the ends and cut each into six 2-inch pieces. Dip each piece halfway into the chocolate, and let any excess drip off. Roll the chocolate-dipped ends in walnuts, then set them on the prepared baking sheet. Refrigerate to set the chocolate. (The bananas can be refrigerated up to 2 hours.)
• Whip the cream in a small bowl until soft peaks form. Add the preserves, and stir to incorporate. Transfer the mixture to a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe a star-shaped dollop on top of each banana. Garnish with a piece of cherry and sprinkles.

MINI BANANA SPLITS

Steps:

• Whip cream to soft peaks; set aside. Place banana slices around inside edges of 6 small bowls. Fill with a scoop of frozen yogurt; top with strawberry or caramel sauce, if desired, and whipped cream.

MINI BANANA SPLIT ICEBOX CAKES

Steps:

• In a blender, puree the diced strawberries with 1 to 2 tablespoons water until thick and smooth. Using an electric mixer, whip the cream until soft peaks form, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the confectioners' sugar, vanilla and strawberry puree and continue whipping until slightly stiff peaks form, 1 to 2 minutes.
• For each dessert, place a chocolate cookie on a plate. Dollop with 1 tablespoon of the strawberry whipped cream; gently press another cookie on top. Repeat, alternating cookies and whipped cream, to make a stack 6 cookies high, ending with a cookie. Wrap lightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate until the cookies soften slightly, 3 to 4 hours. Cover and refrigerate the remaining whipped cream.
• Just before serving, use an offset spatula or butter knife to smooth the sides of the cakes. Top each cake with a few strawberry and banana slices and some of the remaining whipped cream. Drizzle with chocolate syrup. Sprinkle with peanuts and top with a maraschino cherry.

STRAWBERRY SAUCE FOR MINI BANANA SPLITS

Steps:

• Place strawberries and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat; cook until sugar dissolves and strawberries are soft, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a blender, puree until smooth.

TRADITIONAL BANANA SPLIT

Steps:

• Line up ice cream scoops next to each other in an oval deep dish or a banana boat.
• Cut the ends of the banana off (about 1/4 inch) while still in the peel.
• Slice in half longways.
• Pop each half of the banana out of the peel onto each side of the ice cream row, pressing down and in a little so it'll stay put.
• Top the vanilla ice cream with the pineapple, the chocolate with the chocolate syrup and the strawberry with the strawberry sauce.
• Spoon the wet walnuts over all three scoops of ice cream.
• Top each scoop with some whipped cream and a cherry for each.
• Enjoy!