A banana split is a classic ice cream dessert, but if you’re looking for a healthy alternative, this Healthy Banana Split is it! Made with good-for-you ingredients, this Healthy Banana Split can be eaten for breakfast, snack, or dessert!
Healthy Banana Split
As an adult, it’s hard to change your mindset about food and retrain your taste buds to like healthier alternatives to your favorite foods. That’s why I’m starting young with my son and feeding him the healthier alternatives now. The trick is making sure the healthy stuff is as satisfying as the sugary stuff. And this Healthy Banana split is freaking delicious! It’s sweet without added sugars, and it’s a dessert you can feel good about feeding to yourself and your kids!
Who doesn’t love a dessert that’s customizable to satisfy different palates?! Instead of a Sundae bar, a Healthy Banana Split bar is a great dessert idea for large family gatherings and parties. All you need is some bananas, plain yogurt, and a variety of toppings.
A classic banana split is made with chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla ice cream topped with crushed pineapple, chocolate sauce, and strawberry sauce. Then it’s topped with whipped cream and maraschino cherries. Chopped nuts are optional.
Keep reading for tips on creating the traditional flavors using protein powders and fresh fruit! I’m also including several different topping ideas and a dairy free/vegan alternative as well!
High Protein Options:
If you’re looking to stick with the traditional flavors of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry, protein powders are a great addition.
Add 1 tablespoon of your favorite chocolate protein powder to ⅓ cup of plain yogurt to give it a chocolatey flavor. 1 tablespoon vanilla protein powder in ⅓ cup plain yogurt will give it a vanilla flavor. And 1 tablespoon strawberry protein powder will give you a strawberry flavor. And that equals the one cup of yogurt this recipe calls for! If you don’t have or want to buy strawberry protein powder, try mashing up some strawberries and mixing them in with the yogurt, or blending them together in a blender.
You could also buy high protein Greek yogurt that is already flavored and sweetened with stevia instead of sugar. Cottage cheese is another high protein alternative to yogurt.
Topping Ideas:
How you top your banana split is all up to you, and you can be as creative as you want. Some of my favorite toppings are:
- Dark chocolate chips
- Fresh or frozen berries
- Crushed pineapple
- Strawberry preserves
- Peanut butter
- Nut butter
- Chopped nuts
- Dairy free whipped cream
- 2 ingredient whipped cream
- Cherries
- Drizzle of honey or maple syrup
If you don’t like plain yogurt and want it a little sweeter, you can stir in some stevia or maple syrup and vanilla extract.
Vegan/Dairy Free Option:
This dessert is easily made dairy free and vegan by substituting a dairy free yogurt for regular yogurt. If you are vegan, use a drizzle of maple syrup instead of honey over the top. And if using whipped cream, you’ll want to make sure it’s dairy free as well. Reddiwip Almond and Cocowhip are my favorites!
Additional Options:
If you want this Healthy Banana Split to look more like a traditional banana split, you can freeze your yogurt in a shallow freezer safe dish for about 3 hours and then scoop it out and layer on the sliced bananas.
What you need to make this healthy banana split:
- Banana
- Plain yogurt
- Fruit
- Honey or maple syrup
How to make this healthy banana split:
- Cut banana in half lengthwise and lay on a plate or in a bowl
- Top with yogurt, fresh fruit, and drizzle of honey or maple syrup
- See additional options above
If you make this Healthy Banana Split, let me know! And let me know if you kept it simple or added some bold flavors to it! Your feedback helps me continue creating FREE recipes to share with you!
A few of my other favorite healthy desserts and snacks:
Healthy Edible Cookie Dough for One
Ingredients
- 1 medium banana cut in half lengthwise
- 1 cup plain yogurt see addiitonal options above
- 1 tablespoon fresh fruit I use berries
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
Instructions
- Cut banana in half lengthwise and lay on a plate or in a bowl
- Top with yogurt, fresh fruit, and drizzle of honey or maple syrup
- See additional options above