Chocolate Covered Frozen Bananas
In honor of my dad's birthday today, I give you this recipe for Chocolate Covered Frozen Bananas!
One of my fondest childhood memories was taking trips with my family to Mystic, CT. We would go to the aquarium and then walk next-door to get our beloved chocolate covered frozen bananas on sticks. Because of this experience, these treats have always been one of my all time favorites. I mean, anything covered in chocolate is alright in my book, but there is something about bananas covered in chocolate that take the cake for me. So I was super excited to come up with a dairy and refined sugar-free version that would still bring back the same childhood nostalgia, but that I could also enjoy guilt-free.
This recipe for Chocolate Covered Frozen Bananas accomplishes both of those things for me. For one, they are ridiculously easy to make. Calling only for simple, whole-food ingredients that you most likely already have in your pantry.
Second, these bananas are only sweetened with brown rice syrup, which is one of my favorite unrefined, low-glycemic sweeteners. They also contain one of my favorite healthy fats, coconut oil, which has antimicrobial properties and is also known to speed up the metabolism. If you're wondering about the chocolate part, your answer is cacao powder. Cacao powder is one of my pantry staples. I love using it to make homemade chocolate (like the one used in this recipe), in smoothies, energy balls, breads, brownies...you name it, cacao powder tastes great in it. Taste aside, though, cacao powder is one of the best sources of antioxidants there is and contains an incredible amount of iron and magnesium. And let's not forget about the toppings! Grab your favorite superfoods and roll away, giving your bananas an extra nutritional boost!
Third, these bananas are really, really delicious.
Chocolate Covered Frozen Bananas
(Makes 10 Servings)
Ingredients:
*10 bananas, frozen
1/2 cup coconut oil
1/3 cup brown rice syrup
1/2 cup raw cacao powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
dash of cinnamon
pinch of sea salt
Superfood Topping Ideas:
goji berries
hemp seeds
bee pollen
pistachios
almonds
unsweetened coconut, shredded or flakes
cacao nibs
cacao powder
Instructions:
1. Peel bananas and cut about an inch off of each banana bottom (save extra banana slices in freezer for smoothies). Insert a popsicle stick into each banana and place on a tray lined with parchment paper in the freezer overnight.
2. Once bananas have been frozen, prepare chocolate sauce by placing coconut oil in a small sauce pan over low-heat. Add brown rice syrup and vanilla to melted coconut oil and stir to combine. Next add cacao powder and sea salt and stir all ingredients once more. Remove chocolate sauce from heat and let sit for a few minutes while you prepare your toppings.
3. One by one, dip the bananas into the chocolate (using a spoon to help completely cover bananas if necessary) and sprinkle or roll banana in toppings of choice (the chocolate will freeze fast, so do this step quickly)!
4. Place bananas back in the freezer for about an hour or so to let set with chocolate and toppings, then enjoy!
*Notes: There is enough chocolate sauce for about 10 bananas, however, you could half the chocolate recipe or use less frozen bananas and then use the leftover chocolate sauce to make homemade chocolate bark by pouring sauce into a small tray lined with parchment paper. Let sit in the freezer for about 20-25 minutes then remove and break into pieces. You can find my recipe for cacao bark and follow the similar instructions here!
So there you have it! Chocolate Covered Frozen Bananas that are completely guilt-free and delicious as can be. Make sure to tag @nutritiouslynatalie on Instagram so I can see your creations! I hope you love them as much as I do.
xo Natalie