Chocolate covered bananas always make me think of Disneyland and the original frozen banana stands in Southern California near where I grew up. If you are a fan of the show “Arrested Development”, you might remember George Bluth’s frozen banana stand based on the ones started on Balboa Island in the 1960’s. You can still get the frozen chocolate covered bananas at Disneyland or on Balboa Island, but they are super easy to make at home and you can customize them with your own favorite toppings! We always have bunches of bananas in our house and sometimes my family will suddenly go off their banana cravings and I have too many suddenly going ripe. Besides simply slicing the bananas and freezing for smoothies or letting them turn brown and using them in banana bread, this is another great way to use those extra bananas when you notice your family has suddenly decided they don’t want to eat bananas any more. The ripe bananas turn creamy when frozen and the chocolate coating outside is the perfect compliment adding a yummy chocolate crunch that holds coatings like salty chopped peanuts or fun rainbow sprinkles. This Frozen Banana Pops recipe is the perfect way to give your bananas new life in a fun and delicious treat! Some of my other favorite ways to use bananas are my Banana Pecan Waffles, Nutella Swirl Banana Bread, Double Chocolate Banana Bread, and these Banana Bars with Penuche Frosting!
Why You Will Love This Recipe
Make these frozen chocolate banana pops your own by experimenting with your favorite types of chocolate (why not try white chocolate?!), chopped or crushed candies (butterfingers, toffee bits, mini M&M’s!), sea salt, or even drizzles of caramel or peanut butter. It’s an easy recipe and a great way to use up those lightly spotted bananas. It’s both delicious and fun. Freeze your bananas ahead of time, then let the kids help decorate their own for a birthday party sweet treat!
What You’ll Need
Scroll down to the recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
Bananas – They’re the primary ingredient for our frozen banana pops, and you want them to be ripe but still firm. Use bananas with a few brown spots, as they have a good natural sweetness too. Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips – These provide a luscious coating for the bananas, offering a delightful contrast in flavors. Coconut Oil – This helps to smooth out the melted chocolate, making it easier to coat the bananas evenly. Peanuts – Dry roasted peanuts add a nice crunchy texture and a nutty flavor to complement the sweetness of the banana and chocolate. Sprinkles – To decorate your popsicles for that extra pop of color and fun! They’re optional, but they do elevate the look of the final product, especially if you’re serving for a special occasion.
How to Make Frozen Chocolate Covered Bananas
Tips for Success
This recipe is so simple, but there are just a few key things to remember to get the best results.
Be sure your chocolate is fresh so it melts evenly. Use a little extra coconut oil if it seems thick when melting; you want a nice runny consistency. Have fun with the toppings! Try regular or toasted coconut, crushed Graham cracker crumbs, or broken pieces of waffle cones! Work quickly to garnish your pops, as the toppings won’t stick to the chocolate if it hardens. For easy cleanup, work over the lined baking sheet to catch all the drips and crumbs. Only use firm bananas (they can have freckles as long as there are no soft spots; overly ripe bananas will break and cause a big mess).
Substitutions and Variations
While bananas are the central component, you can try similar recipes with other fruits like strawberries or mango slices. Just remember that the texture and freezing times might vary. Use frozen banana slices instead of halves for frozen banana bites. Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or white chocolate can be used in place of semi-sweet chocolate chips. Feel free to swap with other nuts like almonds and cashews, or even sprinkle with toasted coconut flakes for a tropical twist. Besides the aesthetic appeal, if you’re looking for other flavors or textures, consider chocolate sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, or even crushed Graham crackers.
More Fun & Easy Banana Recipes
Banana Bars with Penuche Frosting Nutella Swirl Banana Bread Homemade Banana Pudding Best Easy Banana Bread Recipe Butterscotch Bananas & Walnuts Ice Cream Topping
Completely brown bananas are not suitable for this recipe, as they’re already turning to mush on the inside at this point! Of course, you can still save your spottier or brown bananas to use in future smoothies or even banana ice cream. If your bananas are overly ripe, they’re still perfect for recipes like Banana Bread, Banana Nut Muffins, Double Chocolate Banana Bread, or Hummingbird Cake.
Magnolia Banana Pudding Recipe
Soft Banana Pudding Cookies
Old Fashioned Banana Cream Pie Recipe
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