A banana split is a treat so many children looked forward to having at the end of a meal out. We have now pimped this dessert up to create a Watermelon Blueberry Banana Split. This is such a simple recipe that everyone can do it. I have even put all of the ingredients in the middle of the table and let the children create their own. An easy way to get them interested in food and keeps them quiet at the same time. Furthermore, you can add seasonal berries or any fruit you like. This dish is open to being as distinct as you.
What I particularly like about this version is how fresh and cheerful it looks when it reaches the table. The colours alone are enough to make everyone take notice, especially on a warm summer afternoon. The watermelon brings a lovely crispness, while the banana adds a softer and naturally sweet flavour. Meanwhile, the blueberries provide little bursts of juicy sharpness that stop the dessert from becoming too sweet.
For me, this is exactly what a relaxed family dessert should be. There is no baking, no complicated preparation and hardly any washing up afterwards. Instead, you simply cut the fruit, arrange it on the plates and let everyone enjoy themselves. It also makes a wonderful pudding when you have unexpected guests because you can have it ready within minutes.
However, presentation does make a difference with this particular dessert. I like to use shallow dishes so the fruit remains easy to see. Then, a generous spoonful of yoghurt adds a creamy finish without hiding the colourful fruit underneath. Finally, the crunchy cereal gives everything a little texture and makes each mouthful more interesting.
You can also have some fun with the toppings. A scattering of chopped nuts works beautifully if you enjoy a little extra crunch. Alternatively, try a few strawberries, raspberries or blackberries when they are in season. A small drizzle of honey can add sweetness too, although I usually let the fruit provide most of it.
This is also a lovely recipe for children to help prepare. They can arrange the banana, watermelon and blueberries in whatever way they fancy. Consequently, every plate can look slightly different, which is part of the fun. It also gives younger cooks an easy introduction to preparing fresh fruit.
Although this makes a delicious dessert, I would happily serve it for breakfast or brunch as well. The yoghurt makes it feel more substantial, while the fresh fruit keeps everything light and refreshing. For a summer picnic, simply prepare the fruit beforehand and keep it chilled until needed.
Most importantly, don’t worry about making every portion look perfect. The charm of this watermelon blueberry banana split comes from its simplicity. Use ripe fruit, keep everything nicely chilled and enjoy it straight away. Sometimes the easiest desserts are the ones that disappear from the table first.
Watermelon Blueberry Banana Split
Ingredients
- 2 large bananas large
- 8 scoops watermelon
- 1 pint blueberries fresh
- 1/2 cup vanilla lowfat yogurt
- 1/4 cup crunchy cereal nuggets
Instructions
- Peel bananas and cut in half cross wise; cut each piece in half lengthwise. For each serving, lay 2 pieces of banana against side of shallow dish.2 large bananas
- Place watermelon “scoop” at each end of dish.8 scoops watermelon
- Fill center space with blueberries.1 pint blueberries
- Stir yogurt until smooth; spoon over watermelon “scoops”.1/2 cup vanilla lowfat yogurt
- Sprinkle with cereal nuggets.1/4 cup crunchy cereal nuggets
40 comments
Absolutely Delicious
I made this for the children and they absolutely loved putting their own bowls together. It was fun, colourful and disappeared quickly.
A quick dessert that looks far more impressive than the effort required. Everyone enjoyed it.
I added a little honey over the top and it worked really well with the fruit.
I used plain yoghurt with a little honey instead of vanilla yoghurt and it worked perfectly.
I enjoyed this, but I would use slightly less watermelon next time as it produced quite a lot of juice.
This is one of those recipes that proves dessert does not need to be complicated.
My grandchildren thought this was great fun. They enjoyed choosing their own fruit and adding the yoghurt.
A really refreshing dessert for a hot day. I will definitely be making it again.
I thought the banana became a little soft after sitting in the yoghurt, so I would assemble it just before serving next time.
We served this outside on a warm evening and it was exactly what we wanted.
A lovely recipe for using up fruit that needs eating. I will be keeping this one handy.
This reminded me of a banana split from childhood, but with a much fresher summer feel.
A fresh and colourful dessert that feels like a treat without being overly rich.
A fantastic recipe for getting children interested in preparing fresh fruit.
Perfect for summer. The watermelon was especially refreshing when served straight from the fridge.
I substituted strawberries for some of the watermelon and really liked the result.
I used Greek yoghurt instead of low-fat yoghurt and thought the extra creaminess was excellent.
This was tasty, although I found the blueberries a little sharp. A drizzle of honey fixed that for me.
A brilliant last-minute dessert. It takes almost no effort but still feels special when served.
I wasn’t keen on the cereal topping, but the fruit and yoghurt combination was delicious without it.
I liked how simple this was to prepare. No cooking and hardly any washing up makes this a winner for me.
The combination of fruit was delicious, although I added strawberries because I had some in the fridge.
Simple, fresh and very tasty. It made a lovely change from heavier desserts.
This was such a lovely surprise. The watermelon and blueberries worked beautifully with the banana and yoghurt.
The presentation was lovely and the different textures made every mouthful interesting.
The blueberries added just enough sharpness to balance the sweeter banana.
My children loved this so much that they asked to make it again the following weekend.
I added chopped almonds for extra crunch and they were a great addition.
The cereal topping gave it a nice crunch, although I used granola instead.
The recipe was incredibly easy to follow. I had everything prepared in just a few minutes.
Everyone at the table enjoyed this, and I particularly liked how light it felt after dinner.
I served it after a barbecue and everyone appreciated having something cool and fruity afterwards.
The colours looked beautiful in the bowls, and the children enjoyed making their own combinations.
I wasn’t sure about watermelon with banana at first, but the flavours actually worked very well together.
This made a lovely breakfast as well as a dessert. It was filling without feeling heavy.
This is such a clever twist on a traditional banana split. It feels much lighter and fresher.
Very easy to make and ideal when you need something sweet in a hurry.
I added raspberries and strawberries alongside the blueberries. It looked fantastic and tasted even better.
The watermelon was incredibly juicy and refreshing. I would recommend serving it very cold.