Chocolate Covered Bananas

Simple, healthy and super tasty; these frozen chocolate covered bananas are the ultimate sweet treat for all ages.

When you freeze bananas they turn cold and creamy and make a delicious healthy dessert. You can turn frozen slices into banana ice cream, add them to smoothies to make them extra creamy, make frozen banana treats or enjoy them on a stick, dipped in chocolate.

Reasons to Love Chocolate Covered Bananas

• EASY: Although you need to factor in freezing time, they really don't involve a lot of prep work.
• CUSTOMIZABLE: Customize your frozen banana pops depending on the age, stage or taste preferences of your child. For little ones, you may want to just drizzle chocolate or skip it altogether. Older kids can help to prepare and choose their own toppings.
• HEALTHY - Bananas are a great addition to a child's diet and a fantastic snack when paired with a healthy protein or fat (so drizzle that nut butter and roll in the nuts).
• MAKE AHEAD - These banana pops can be frozen for around a week. Make in advance for parties or playdates.

Watch How to Make Them

Ingredients and Alternative Topping Suggestions

• BANANAS - Perfectly ripe bananas work best. Underripe bananas can have a bitter taste when frozen and overripe bananas can be too soft, the brown spots can also be undesirable.
• CHOCOLATE - I use dark chocolate which compliments the sweetness of the banana. You can use your favourite chocolate.
• COCONUT OIL - Makes the chocolate much smoother to work with, it isn't essential. Skip it altogether or replace it with vegetable oil.
• TOPPINGS - Get creative, anything goes. Nut butter, finely chopped nuts/seeds, shredded coconut, freeze-dried fruits, sprinkles, crushed corn flakes, crushed cookies.

Process Shots and Preparation Tips

1. FREEZING - Find a tray that will easily fit into your freezer and line with parchment paper. Space out your bananas (they shouldn't be touching) and ensure they are properly frozen before dipping them in chocolate. You will need to freeze the bananas for 2 + hours.
2. MELTING CHOCOLATE - You can use a double boiler but I find the microwave easier. If you aren't using chocolate chips make sure to break the chocolate up into similar sized pieces.
   Place in a microwavable bowl with coconut oil. Microwave, stirring the chocolate every 20 - 30 seconds until the chocolate is melted.
   Be careful not to get any water into the chocolate (e.g. from a wet spoon), this will cause the chocolate to seize.
3. DIPPING TIPS - Using a tall slim jar makes dipping the chocolate much easier. Allow any excess chocolate to fall back into the jar.
4. BE QUICK WITH THE TOPPINGS - Prepare your topping in advance (before melting the chocolate). Sprinkle toppings immediately after dipping, before the chocolate hardens.

Frozen Bananas for Babies and Toddlers

Frozen bananas can be a delicious snack for toddlers and babies but there are a few things to consider before offering your child this tasty snack:

• CHOKING HAZARD: As the bananas are frozen they can potentially be a choking hazard if your child bites chunks off. ALWAYS supervise your child and make sure they are not left to run about with it in their hand.
• SIZE: Cut the bananas in 3rds, rather than halves as this is a more manageable size for younger children.
• ADDED SUGAR: It is not advised for children under two to consume added sugar. Therefore coating in chocolate is not advised. You can leave them plain, dip in natural yogurt or drizzle with peanut butter (thinned with a bit of yogurt). If you really do wish to add chocolate, add a thin drizzle (not recommended for under 2s).
• ALTERNATIVE: A great alternative for babies is banana icecream, which involves blending the frozen banana to a creamy consistency.

Storage Instructions

Once the bananas are frozen, and the chocolate is fully hardened, transfer the chocolate covered bananas to a ziplock bag or freezable container and freeze for up to a week. You can freeze for longer but the quality starts to deteriorate after a week.

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