Banana splits date back to the 1920s

Marge Sadler, who has worked at the Stewart Pharmacy lunch counter for 25 years, knows how to make a mean banana split. It’s delicious.

The banana split, America’s classic dessert, became popular in the 1920s. That’s when ice cream fountains at drug stores around the country began selling the delicious treat.

But the banana split debuted well before that. Its first appearance is believed to be in Pennsylvania in 1904.

A banana was split in half, lengthwise, two or three scoops of ice cream were added, a generous serving of chocolate sauce and strawberry sauce was applied, and the traditional maraschino cherry was placed on top. It didn’t take long before whipped cream was added to the recipe.

Now that ice cream is offered in dozens and dozens of flavors, the banana split doesn’t hold the popularity it once did. But it still holds its place as one of America’s favorite summertime treats.