The banana split is an ice-cream dessert combining a banana, three scoops of ice cream, syrups, whipped cream, and a cherry.
The classic arrangement places a peeled banana lengthwise in a long dish, with vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ice cream set between the banana halves. Chocolate, strawberry, and pineapple sauces are commonly added, followed by whipped cream, nuts, and a maraschino cherry.
David Strickler, a pharmacist and soda-fountain operator in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, is widely credited with creating the dessert in 1904. The story connects its name to splitting the banana lengthwise, although variations soon appeared across the United States.
A banana split is a type of sundae, but the terms are not interchangeable: a sundae can contain many combinations, while the banana split has its characteristic banana-and-three-scoops format.