I can’t count the number of times my girls ask me for either ice cream or popsicles during the summer months. After dinner, there’s nothing more they love than getting a sweet treat, taking it to the backyard so that they can enjoy it while the sun goes down. It’s quickly become a little summer tradition, and because of that, I wanted to find a healthier option that will provide at least some nutrient value and minimize the amount of processed sugars and dyes that are typically in the store bought popsicles and ice cream.
I’ve been making these banana pops for roughly two months now, and the girls LOVE them! They are full of potassium and antioxidants, but they truly do taste like a treat (I love them too)! Don’t worry mamas’ – these are super easy to make and I can usually whip up a batch in about 15 minutes! You can switch up the toppings depending on your flavour preference; we always use a variety of toppings like coconut flakes, chopped peanuts, peanut butter, skor pieces, sprinkles, and more!
Ingredients
- 3 bananas
- 1 cups dark chocolate chips
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- Toppings of choice (chopped peanuts, peanut butter, almond butter, coconut flakes, goji berries, skor pieces, sprinkles, etc).
Instructions
- Cut your 3 bananas in half. Insert the cut end of each banana half with a popsicle stick or a cake pop stick. Place all 6 banana pops on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper; make sure that each pop does not overlap (use two baking sheets, if necessary).
- Freeze your banana pops for at least three hours (you want your banana pops to be fully frozen before moving on to the next step).
- Add your coconut oil and your chocolate chips to a microwave safe dish (preferrably a deep dish or deep measuring cup; this makes the chocolate dipping easier to do during the last step). Microwave on low in 25 second increments, and stir each time. Keep a close eye on your melting chocolate to ensure it does not burn.
- Once your chocolate is fully melted, dip your frozen banana pops into the chocolate/coconut oil mixture. Gently twirl to remove any excess chocolate. Sprinkle on any toppings while the chocolate is still wet, then place back on the lined pan. Continue this step until all banana pops are coated.
- Serve immediately or toss back in the freezer and save for a later date. (If you are freezing for later, toss the fully hardened pops into a zip lock bag for easy access). Enjoy!
How inspiring!