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.
Oh Christy you have done it again……brought back happy memories from my childhood. How many times did we go to OPRYLAND and I would beg Mom and Dad for the frozen banana. Thank you so much….I can hardly wait to share this with Sarah and Turner. By the way Sarah is anxiously waiting to freeze some more tomatoes, she loves helping in the kitchen.
By all means Dear Lady, step on that soapbox any and every time you feel the need. We can always use a gentle reminder.
I always make a point to thank and let the cleaning crew at work know they are appreciated. Yes I know they are doing their job, but also know how often people do not clean up after themselves knowing someone will come behind them and clean up their mess. Or when I am in a store and there is someone giving the cashier a hard time, I always let the cashier know I’m not in a hurry, if I was I should not be in the store.
This is one of my favorite sites, since wandering on to it a few weeks ago, I have had so much fun reading yours and everyone else’s notes. I have recipes from this wonderful site that I’ve bookmarked to try. As soon as my son gets home from school, I am going to be cooking up a storm.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you
Wackywheelers name makes me smile, too!. I have a client whose last name is Colliflower; Seeing her name always makes me smile!
I want to share some things my Daddy often said:
“If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost;
that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under
them.” He borrowed this from Thoreau. I love this encouragement to dream…and to DO!
He also said, “There may be Winter on the roof and Fall in the arches, but there is Spring in my step and Summer in my heart!” I hope when there is ‘Winter’ on my roof that I will feel this way.
The frozen bananas sound delish!
Denise in Dallas
I will admit that I am one of those strange women that will go up to a complete stranger and compliment them on their clothing, hair, etc….my husband says he would like to sink through the floor when I do that…but it sure makes me feel good to see the smile on folks faces when they get a true compliment out of the blue…and you made my day too….I CAN STILL FIT IN MY HIGH SCHOOL EARRINGS TOO! LOL
So true Christy. I try to make a practice of lifting others whenever I can as I’m out and about in the world – there is enough negative stuff we have to live with aready.
Love frozen bananas – plain or decorated!!
I love that quote, too. One day I told a Walmart greeter that she should have a prize for the friendliest person around! She thanked me and said she was just so grateful to have the job!!! On the other hand, someone came to me this morning and told me some nasty stories that had circulated about someone dear to me over the weekend. It turned out to be a statement that person made as a joke to another friend – she took it all the wrong way and ran with it. I’ve been so upset all day and if I try to correct it, it will just get worse. SO – that’s the opposite effect and believe me, it’s not fun. I’m sure we’ve all had that experience.
My dad always told me if I couldn’t say something nice about someone, I shouldn’t say anything at all – and my kids have heard it so many times…………so very true, tho!
Kristi,
How true…..my husband and I eat out often and whenever we see families with children behaving mannerly, we always compliment the children and the parents. Needless to say, the parents beam and the children get a real self esteem boost. We make it a point to tell the parents how proud they must be.
I so enjoy your site and have started my own Southern Plate Collection of recipes in a dedicated notebook. Thanks for all your wisdom and humor.