Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Popsicles Recipe | Healthy & Easy

An easy and healthy treat, these banana popsicles will be enjoyed and devoured by both kids and adults on a hot day in summer. Simple, wholesome ingredients make this a dessert you need not feel guilt over!

Store-bought popsicles are usually filled with refined sugar, artificial colors and just not good things! Plus, it's so easy to make all sorts of healthy frozen treats like popsicles at home! Many recipes require popsicle molds, but this one doesn't.

You know me and my obsession with a good guilt-free sweet treat. It's essential to be able to enjoy your life when on the path of healthy eating. Honestly, being miserable isn't healthy! These homemade popsicles are the perfect healthy summertime treat when you're looking for easy recipes that won't require slaving in the kitchen all day! So wholesome, so yummy and made with only 3 simple ingredients you can easily get at any grocery store (+ toppings if you want).

Bananas are just the best with their naturally creamy texture and slight sweetness (except for in smoothies and banana ice cream... anyone else feel this way?). They can be used to naturally sweeten banana bread, muffins, cookies, bars, pancakes, oatmeal... the list goes on! And they add potassium and many other nutrients.

I hope you will enjoy this healthy snack without any regret on the hot summer days to come! I know I will be!

Are Homemade Banana Popsicles Good for You?

Bananas - A healthy fruit, whether fresh or frozen! They are very high in potassium, which is essential for assisting with nerve function, muscle contraction, digestion, water balance, heart rhythm and more! Bananas are also high in fibre, antioxidants and more nutrients.

Peanut Butter - It's important to purchase all-natural peanut butter that's only made from peanuts and maybe some salt. It's a good source of protein, healthy fats, antioxidants and a fair number of vitamins and minerals. Peanuts may contain a low level of aflatoxins (a carcinogen), which according to this study are reduced by 89% after they are made into peanut butter. Most experts agree peanuts and peanut butter are fine to eat in moderation.

Dark chocolate - Choose a quality brand with at least 70% cocoa content (the more cocoa, the less sugar). High in antioxidants (more than most foods!), iron, magnesium, copper, manganese and more! Low in sugar compared to milk and white chocolate. Dark chocolate has been shown in many studies to reduce blood pressure. Still enjoy in moderation, but no need to feel guilty!

Are Banana Popsicles Gluten-Free?

Bananas, peanuts and dark chocolate are all naturally gluten free. However, if you are celiac or gluten-intolerant, it's wise to check the labels of the peanut butter and chocolate to ensure they were not produced in a facility with gluten products.

Are Banana Popsicles Vegan?

If you are purchasing natural peanut butter made with peanuts only, it will be vegan. Most peanut butter brands are naturally vegan as well. Use vegan dark chocolate and this is a complete vegan treat!

Tips for Making Banana Popsicles

• Easily double or triple the recipe for lots of popsicles on hand!
• Keep banana pops in the freezer right until you are ready to dip in chocolate. This mostly helps with keeping the peanut butter solid so it doesn't melt off right away when you dip in the chocolate.
• Enjoy right out of the freezer. Because of the way we cut them, they are easy to bite into when frozen. They don't taste as good when thawed.. too mushy, melty and "banana-y" in my opinion.

Variations of Banana Popsicle Recipe

• Leave out peanut butter and just dip bananas in chocolate
• Use a different nut or seed butter (almond butter, cashew butter, sunflower seed butter, etc)
• Dip in a different type of chocolate or even a melted chocolate bar (I prefer dark chocolate because it is the healthiest, but you could use milk or white)
• Dip in greek yogurt instead of chocolate
• Mix your chosen topping(s) into chocolate before dipping
• Experiment with different toppings. Try homemade granola, homemade toasted coconut, any chopped nut or seed, or try your hand at homemade sprinkles!
• For a sweeter popsicle, use a riper banana or a sweeter chocolate

Tools You May Need

Popsicle sticks

Double boiler (or a small saucepan and glass or stainless steel bowl to go on top)

Parchment paper

Banana Popsicles Ingredients

2 ripe bananas

4 tablespoon natural peanut butter (approximately)

1 cup dark chocolate or dark chocolate chips

optional toppings for dipping: chopped nuts or seeds, coconut flakes, granola, hemp hearts, etc

How to Make Banana Popsicles

Cut bananas in half crosswise, and then again in half lengthwise. Many recipes just cut the banana in half crosswise, but I find the popsicles very difficult to eat this way, and the ratio of chocolate to peanut butter to banana is off (WAY too much banana, it's all you can taste!).

Insert sticks into the cut end of each piece of banana, at least halfway through. Try your best to keep it inside the banana as you push it in, but it's also okay if it comes out the side (just not as nice for presentation). I found some bamboo stir sticks that are slightly slimmer than a regular popsicle stick and they are a nice size for these banana pops, but the regular size works fine as well.

Spread a layer of peanut butter along the cut side of the banana. Freeze on a parchment paper covered plate or tray for at least 3 hours (bananas should be almost frozen solid).

Set up whatever toppings you'd like in a shallow plate or dish, so they are ready for dipping. Bring water in the bottom double boiler pot to a boil and place upper pot on top with chocolate inside. Stir until chocolate is fully melted. Then remove each frozen banana from the freezer and dip it in the chocolate. It's easiest to do this if you put the chocolate into a mug or cup before dipping. You can also use a spoon to pour the chocolate all over the banana. Working quickly, dip the banana pop in the desired topping and place back on the parchment covered plate. Repeat with all chocolate banana popsicles, then freeze again until chocolate is frozen.

Store in a sealed container or Ziploc bag in the freezer. Eat immediately after removing from the freezer.

How Long do Banana Popsicles Keep in the Freezer?

Banana popsicles will keep for up to 1 month in the freezer, making them a great make-ahead treat for hot summer days!

Did you try this recipe and love it? I would so appreciate it if you give it a 5 star rating and pin it to Pinterest!

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