master-cooks | The Disputed Origins Of The Banana Split

The banana split, a beloved dessert, has a contested history with multiple claims to its creation. One popular account credits David Strickler, a pharmacist apprentice in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, with inventing the treat in 1904. Strickler is said to have crafted the dessert as an innovative sundae, using a banana sliced lengthwise and topped with three scoops of ice cream, syrup, whipped cream, and cherries. His creation quickly gained popularity, especially among students from nearby St. Vincent College, and was sold for ten cents. Another claim comes from Wilmington, Ohio, where restaurateur Ernest Hazard purportedly devised the banana split in 1907 as part of a dessert contest aimed at attracting students from Wilmington College. Hazard's version similarly involved a banana and various toppings, but details of the original presentation remain unclear. Despite these competing narratives, the banana split became a staple in American ice cream parlors during the early 20th century, its appeal spreading across the nation. The dessert's enduring popularity is a testament to its simple yet indulgent combination of flavors and textures, and while its precise origins may remain disputed, the banana split continues to be celebrated and enjoyed by dessert lovers everywhere.

The alternate banana split origin story

Latrobe, Pennsylvania, isn't the only city that claims to be the birthplace of the banana split. A few hundred miles to the west, Wilmington, Ohio, makes a similar assertion and even hosted an annual festival celebrating the dessert. This tale revolves around a friendly competition among the staff at Ernest Hazard's restaurant, who were tasked with generating excitement to attract off-season customers. Although Hazard reportedly won the contest he allegedly organized (despite any questionable "insider information"), accounts indicate that his banana split had only slight variations from the Latrobe version: he used vanilla scoops topped with pineapple, chocolate, and strawberry syrup. From that point, its popularity began to grow.

Given the slower pace of communication at the time, such conflicting claims were quite common. (Even decades later, the origins of Buffalo wings remain debated.) It's possible that both locations independently developed similar ideas. However, it's also conceivable that someone borrowed the concept and later claimed to have "invented" it. Regardless, proving the true origin is challenging. Another assertion is that the banana split made its debut in Boston at an ice cream convention in 1905, although the consensus seems to lean towards Latrobe as the likely inventor. Ultimately, Latrobe appears to have the advantage, as it introduced the banana dish in 1904, while Wilmington's timeline is reported to be from 1907.

The Disputed Origins Of The Banana Split

The alternate banana split origin story

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