When summer days get long, making Chocolate Covered Frozen Banana Pops will keep the kids busy and this healthyish treat is ready to eat in under an hour.
These Frozen Banana Pops are a somewhat healthier alternative to traditional popsicles, they’re easy for the kids to help make and you don’t have to wait hours for them to freeze — you can dig in just as soon as the bananas are firm and the chocolate is solid.
Now, if I’m being honest, these pops didn’t turn out *quite* the way I’d hoped. Not that the kids didn’t love them — they did. Its just that I’ver been taking a food photography course to continue improving my photography work and, originally, I’d been hoping to make these pops as a “test project” to practice some of the new skills that I’ve learned. I’d envisioned multiple toppings, a fancy background and an artful arrangement. But with the kids home on summer break, I haven’t been able to find the time to do it.
On top of that, yesterday was one of those days where they started with “I’m booooooorrrreeed…” which is almost always immediately followed by one of them clobbering the other one. So, I quickly pivoted and decided that these Frozen Banana Pops would make a fun project for the kids to help with — which it WAS! But then I started fussing with the pops, trying to make them all uniform and arrange things in side dishes and adjust the lighting…and well…the kids got frustrated with me and things ended in tears and shouting. Just one more reminder that I can’t wear the work hat and the parent hat at the same time I guess. But, before the tears (and after we dried them up and got to the actual eating part), this was a super fun project for them!
Start by halving your bananas, insert a popsicle stick in to each one and put them in the freezer for at least 15 minutes to firm up. Meanwhile, melt your chocolate and pick your toppings (we chose rainbow sprinkles but chopped nuts, coconut flakes or even dried fruit would be yummy and healthy).
From there, roll each of the Frozen Banana Pops in the melted chocolate and quickly add your toppings before the chocolate hardens.
Place all of the Frozen Banana Pops back on the tray and stick them in the freezer for at least 30 minutes more (approximately one episode of Sponge Bob…not that I would know that for sure or anything).
Once the chocolate is completely solid and the bananas are firm its time to devour. And then find the next thing to keep them entertained!
Hang in there my friends! These summer days are special, (even when they sometimes feel endless and frustrating). Do yourself a favor and buy some extra bananas!
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Frozen Banana Pops
Description
These Chocolate Covered Frozen Banana Pops are easy enough for the kids to help make and they’re ready to eat in under an hour.
Ingredients
- 4 ripe bananas, peeled and cut in half
- 8 popsicle sticks
- 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 cup rainbow sprinkles, coconut flakes, chopped nuts or other toppings of your choice
Instructions
- Carefully push a popsicle stick into the cut side of each banana. Put bananas on a plate or rimmed baking sheet and place in the freezer for at least 15 minutes or until bananas are firm.
- Meanwhile, combine chocolate and oil in a microwave safe bowl. Melt chocolate according to microwave directions on package (medium high heat for approximately 2 minutes), stirring occasionally until mixture is smooth.
- Remove bananas from freezer and roll each one in chocolate to coat then quickly roll in toppings of your choice.
- Place bananas back on baking sheet and return to freezer for at least 30 minutes more, or until chocolate is solid and bananas are firm.
- Enjoy immediately or store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 weeks.
