Build Your Own Banana Splits with this Delicious Dessert Bar idea

build your own banana split bar

It’s always good to have your dessert just the way you like it, so I thought a ‘build-your-own banana split’ dessert bar would be something a little different and a lot of fun! I designed this with a baby shower or child’s party in mind, and used a whimsical wall decal for a unique backdrop. The monkey theme is quite popular and this ‘tree with monkey‘ decal is life size, unexpected, and makes a statement!

For more ‘build-your-own’ desserts, check out my ice cream soda bar, make your own mini dump cakes, and an ice cream dessert bar.

I’m taking the ice cream bar to the next level, so check out the ideas and details below.

Ideas for a ‘Build-Your-Own Banana Split’ dessert bar:

Using the decal as the inspiration and focal point, I chose the color scheme to match the artwork: brown, green, and yellow.
Add a whimsical touch by “hanging a sign on the tree” that invites guests to make their own banana split. This one was created using a wooden piece from the craft store and covering with coordinating paper.
I always look around the house to find interesting vessels to serve food/drinks from. Here I used my tiny fish bowl vases to serve dry toppings from {chocolate sprinkles & heath bar sprinkles}. An apothecary jar holds bananas, and small carafes hold chocolate and caramel syrup.
Hanging drink monkeys make an adorable addition to the side of our sundae glasses.
Wrapping the can of whipped cream keeps the look unified and only takes seconds to do.
One of my favorite tips for serving ice cream is to pre-scoop balls and place in the freezer until ready to serve. These were served in a pedestal glass dish and stay frozen for quite a while. Add a ribbon flag to the ice cream to add some color for the display.
Chocolate dipped bananas make a nice addition to the table and offer an alternative to the banana splits {kids love these}.