Easy Homemade Chocolate Covered Bananas
These Chocolate Covered Bananas are my favorite way to keep a “healthy-ish” ice cream alternative on hand for those sweltering hot summer days. When you freeze a banana half and dunk it into a smooth chocolate coating, it takes on this incredibly creamy, rich texture that’s almost exactly like a high-end frozen novelty!
A Little Kitchen Kindness Goes a Long Way
I’ve always felt that the best recipes are the ones that remind us to slow down and enjoy the little things. These chocolate-covered bananas take me right back to those summer afternoons where the only thing on the agenda was deciding between a little crunch from chopped pecans or a handful of colorful sprinkles.
It all starts with a few ripe bananas. For that perfectly snappy chocolate coating, I usually reach for a simple almond bark or a bag of chocolate chips mixed with a little coconut oil to help it stay smooth. All it takes is a couple freezes, some assembly, and then you’re free to let the kids go wild with a variety of toppings. It’s a super simple treat that’s light on the wallet and much better for the soul than the processed stuff from the grocery store.
If you’re looking for more ways to stock your freezer with homemade wins, you definitely need to check out my Stuffed French Toast Sticks next!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Bananas
- Wooden sticks (can use plastic forks in their place or leave them out entirely)
- Orange juice (optional)
- Chocolate
- Toppings (sprinkles, nuts, etc.)
How ripe should my bananas be?
You want them yellow and sweet, but still firm enough to hold onto a popsicle stick without sliding off.
How to Make Chocolate Covered Bananas
1. Prep and Stick
Peel your bananas and cut each one in half. Roll each banana half in a little bowl of orange juice to keep them looking fresh. Push a popsicle stick into the cut end of each half.
2. The First Freeze
Place the bananas on a parchment-lined baking sheet and pop them in the freezer until they are frozen solid. I usually give them at least 2–3 hours, but overnight is even better.
3. Melt Your Chocolate
Melt your chocolate coating or chocolate chips in the microwave in 45-second intervals, stirring well in between each one. You want it smooth and creamy. If you’re using chocolate chips, adding a little coconut oil helps create that snappy chocolate shell we’re looking for.
4. The Fun Part: Dipping!
Dip your frozen banana directly into the melted chocolate or use a spoon to coat it well. The chocolate will start to harden almost instantly because the banana is so cold, so move quickly!
5. Add a Little Crunch
While the chocolate is still wet, roll the banana in your nuts or sprinkles. Place them back on the parchment paper and slide them back into the freezer for a few minutes to finish setting.
Tips for the Perfect Frozen Banana
- The OJ Hack: A quick dunk in a small bowl of orange juice is my favorite trick for keeping the fruit from turning brown without that sour lemon tang.
- Use a Narrow Jar: Use a narrow glass jar or a tall measuring cup for your chocolate mixture. This makes it much easier to submerge the whole banana half without needing a massive amount of chocolate.
- Avoid the Drip: After dipping, hold the banana over the jar for a second or two to let any excess chocolate drip off. This prevents a big puddle of chocolate from forming on your baking sheet.
- Double Up: If you have a lot of bananas hitting that “too ripe” stage, go ahead and prep a big batch. Once they are frozen solid and dipped, they stay great in an airtight container for weeks.
How to Make Chocolate-Covered Banana Bites
If you’re looking for a quick snack rather than a full dessert, go for chocolate-covered banana bites. These are basically the homemade version of those famous treats you’d find at Trader Joe’s, but you get to pick the chocolate! Just peel your ripe bananas and cut them into thick banana slices (about a half-inch each). Line them up on a cookie sheet with parchment paper and freeze until they’re solid.
Once they’re firm, use a fork to dunk each little slice into your melted chocolate. Since these are bite-sized, the chocolate coating sets up almost instantly, so don’t wait to add a little crunch of nuts or sprinkles. After a quick dip, pop the baking sheet back into the freezer to let the shell finish hardening.
Once they’re set, toss them into an airtight container for a “grab-and-go” snack that’s perfect for a quick sweet fix!
Storage and Leftovers
Once the chocolate is set, you can wrap each banana in cling wrap or tuck your banana bites into a large zipper-seal bag. They are best enjoyed straight from the freezer on a hot day. If they’ve been in there a long time and feel too hard, just let them sit on the counter for about two minutes before you take a bite!
Ingredients
- 4 large ripe bananas firm, with no major brown spots
- 1/2 cup orange juice optional, to prevent browning
- 8 popsicle sticks
Chocolate Coating
- 1 pound chocolate almond bark or 2 cups chocolate chips mixed with 2 teaspoons coconut oil
- Toppings: Chopped nuts sprinkles, or toasted coconut
Instructions
- Peel your bananas and cut each one in half crosswise. If you’re worried about them turning brown while you work, give each half a quick roll in a small bowl of orange juice.
- Carefully push a popsicle stick into the cut end of each banana half, about halfway up.
- Place the bananas on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze them for at least 3 hours (or overnight) until they are frozen solid. This is the most important step; the chocolate won’t stick to a room-temperature banana!
- In a narrow glass jar or microwave-safe bowl, melt your chocolate almond bark in 45-second intervals, stirring in between until smooth and creamy. If using chocolate chips and coconut oil, melt them together using the same method.
- Take the frozen bananas out of the freezer. Dip each one into the melted chocolate, letting any excess drip back into the jar. While the chocolate is still wet, quickly roll it in your favorite toppings like nuts or sprinkles.
- Place the dipped bananas back onto the parchment-lined cookie sheet. The chocolate shell will harden almost instantly.
- Once set, you can eat them immediately or move them into an airtight container or zipper-seal bag in the freezer for a quick treat whenever the craving hits.
Hey Christy:
You can also dip in pineapple juice if you don’t have orange juice on hand or for a little different flavor!
Sherrie
Christy, your comments are always welcome – and the quote at the bottom of the page today is certainly for me….my earrings sure do still fit and I am going to put that on my class reunion Facebook page immediately and hope that I can give someone else a laugh like it gave me.
I have never had a frozen bananas…first time for everything!
A few weeks ago, a woman came up to me in the grocery store and told me that she sees me all the time around town, and I always look so happy that it makes her feel good. Now I’m very good with faces, I like to think, but I didn’t recognize hers at all. That off hand comment made me feel very good and reminded me that people see me when I’m not even aware of it.
I loved your Kroger story — I know how I feel when someone speaks kindly to me…but honestly, the little warm glow in my heart burns a lot brighter when I get to be the blessor instead of the blessee! And I try to remember that of all the gifts I can give away, a smile costs the least and adds the most value to the day! Don’t put that little soapbox away — you can preach to me anytime!
I’m going down a bunny trail here, but you know you can take overripe bananas and if you don’t have time to make them into bread or bars or whatever you do with your overripe bananas, just toss them in the freezer. You can peel them or not. If you want peel them, mash them and measure the amount you will need for your recipe, then put them in a container…..mark how much you have in there, so you don’t forget, and toss it in the freezer. Otherwise, just toss the whole thing in the freezer. When you are ready to use it, take it out and let it thaw, peel it, mash and measure and away you go!!
Thank you for your soap box. I try to be as nice to everyone as I would be to a friend. I was checking out at JC Penney last week and chatting with the sales lady, when she said “you are being so nice to me I am giving you a 10% discount”. I told her that was very nice but not necessary. She said it was a discount they mail out to the public and because I treated her like a person I was getting the discount. Evidently people yell at her because they are remodeling the inside of the store, like it is her fault.
Can anyone kindly tell me where I’d find Almond Bark? I’ve never seen it in the store.
You can find it at any grocery store or Wal-Mart. My Target even carries it, under a different name, but the same thing. 🙂
You usually find it in the same area as the chocolate chips