Frozen Banana Bites are a cold & creamy bite-sized treat that you can keep stashed in your freezer. They have a similar texture to ice cream, without using any dairy!
Why You’ll Love Them
They are remarkably ice-cream-like. Frozen bananas are famous for their ice-cream-like texture, which is why they are such a popular addition to smoothies. When you coat banana slices in chocolate, they turn into mini ice cream bites!
They are easy to make. All you need is 3 simple ingredients to assemble frozen banana bites, along with a little patience while you wait for them to firm up in the freezer.
They are vegan. These are easier to make than coconut milk ice cream or vegan ice cream bars, and will still satisfy an ice cream craving. (With less added sugar!) Be sure to look for chocolate chips that are labeled dairy-free and vegan, if you need a vegan recipe, or try the homemade chocolate shell recipe below.
They are easy to customize. Just like a chocolate covered banana pop, you can add your favorite toppings, like peanut butter, pretzels, sea salt, or crushed nuts for a little crunch.
No special equipment is needed. No ice cream maker or food processor is required to make these!
They are allergy friendly. Banana bites are naturally gluten-free, and you can make them nut-free by omitting the peanut butter. If you need a lower-sugar treat, use dark chocolate chips.
Ingredients You’ll Need
What do you need to make them?
- Bananas
- Chocolate chips
- Coconut oil
- All natural peanut butter
The last two ingredients are totally optional, but I love the extra flavor that peanut butter adds to these. Peanut butter + banana are a perfect match, so I usually make chocolate peanut butter banana bites most often.
You can also use almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter, if you prefer. Or, leave it off entirely for a nut-free dessert.
A sprinkle of flaky sea salt on top makes the flavor pop!
Prefer to skip the chocolate chips? You can make your own chocolate magic shell that hardens when frozen, by mixing together a 3 tablespoons each of maple syrup, melted coconut oil, and cacao powder. Be sure all ingredients are at room temperature before mixing them together, so the coconut oil won’t harden before you’re ready to drizzle this over the frozen bananas.
How to Make Frozen Banana Bites
1. Freeze the banana slices.
Line a baking sheet or plate with parchment paper, and make sure it will fit on a flat shelf in your freezer. Slice the banana into 1/2-inch coins, and arrange the slices on a single layer on the lined baking sheet.
If you’d like to add peanut butter to these bites, add a small amount (about a 1/2 teaspoon) on top of each banana slice. You can make these into mini peanut butter sandwiches by placing another banana slice on top of the peanut butter, or you can keep them open-faced with just the peanut butter on top of a single banana slice.
Place the pan in the freezer, and let the slices freeze for at least 2 hours, or overnight if you want to plan ahead.
Tip: If you plan on making these banana bites for company, you can place a toothpick into each banana slice before freezing. I find they are easier to serve to guests that way! But, I don’t go through that trouble when I’m just making these as a snack for my family.
2. Melt the chocolate.
When the banana slices are frozen, melt the chocolate and coconut oil together. You can do this in a microwave-safe bowl using 30-second intervals in your microwave, or you can melt it in a double boiler on the stove top. (This is my preferred method.)
To create a double boiler, fill a small saucepan with 1 inch of water and bring it to a boil on the stove. In a heat-safe bowl, add the chocolate chips and coconut oil and place the bowl on top of the saucepan. It should snugly cover the top of the saucepan, so the steam will start to heat the bottom of the bowl. Stir until the chocolate is melted.
3. Dip the bananas.
Use a fork to dip the bananas into the melted chocolate, and let the excess chocolate drip off back into the bowl. Or, you can use a spoon to pour a small amount of chocolate directly on the frozen bananas while they sit on the parchment lined pan.
How much chocolate you add is up to you! You can dip just half the banana into the melted chocolate (which makes it easier to grip the frozen banana as you dip), or you can cover the whole thing.
While the chocolate is still melted, sprinkle on any additional toppings you like, such as sea salt, crushed peanuts, or pretzels.
Note: Another option is to make these like a mini peanut butter cup, in a mini muffin pan or cupcake liner. I love adding banana slices to almond butter cups before freezing them, and then the chocolate coating is a little less messy to deal with that way.
4. Enjoy!
Once you’ve added the melted chocolate to the frozen bananas, pop the pan back into the freezer long enough for the chocolate to set. They are ready to eat in as little as 10 minutes!
Frozen banana bites can be stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months, so they are an easy frozen dessert to keep on hand all summer long.
Frozen Banana Bites
Ingredients
- 2 ripe bananas
- 1/4 cup peanut butter
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- flaky sea salt (optional)
Instructions
- Line a baking pan or plate with parchment paper, and make sure it will fit on a flat shelf in your freezer. Slice the bananas into ½-inch coins, then arrange them in a single layer on the prepared pan. Add a 1/2 teaspoon of peanut butter onto each slice, or make banana sandwiches by placing another banana half on top of the peanut butter layer. The choice is yours! Place the pan of bananas in the freezer until they are frozen solid, at least 2 hours, or overnight.
- Once the bananas are frozen, melt the chocolate chips and coconut oil together. You can do this in a microwave using 30-second intervals, or by using a double boiler on the stove. To make a double boiler, fill a small saucepan with 1-inch of water and bring it to a boil. Add the chocolate chips and coconut oil to a heat-safe bowl that fits snugly over the top of the saucepan. The steam from the boiling water will gently heat the bottom of the bowl and melt the chocolate. Stir well, until the chocolate mixture is smooth.
- Remove the banana slices from the freezer, then carefully dip each slice into the melted chocolate. This amount of chocolate should cover either half of banana bites, or you'll get a single layer covering the top of the banana. If you want to fully coat the bananas on all sides, you may prefer to double the melted chocolate. While the chocolate is still melted, you can sprinkle on any extra toppings you like, such as a sprinkle of sea salt. (You could also add chopped peanuts or pretzels for crunch.) Place the pan back in the freezer so the chocolate can set, at least 10 more minutes.
- When the chocolate is firm, these banana bites are ready to serve. They can be kept in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months, and serve them directly from the freezer for the best texture. (The bananas will become slimy if you let them sit at room temperature for too long.)
Notes
Nutrition
If you try these chocolate peanut butter banana bites, please leave a comment and star rating below letting me know how you like them.
I am sooooo making this tomorrow!
Love it you little genius.
These are so cute!! I haven’t made chocolate dipped frozen bananas in awhile…I think it’s time-maybe this weekend!! 🙂 Have a great day!!
Yum,,,I made some of these last week(bananas needed to be used up). But I froze banana then added some spiced almond butter, froze again and then dipped into chocolate…seen your recipe and just finished chopping the nanners(into the freezer they go!)Great snack…thank you and have a great day
These look awesome – great weekend treat!
Oh Wow!! They look amazingly yummy (and easy enough to have my kids help out!) Thanks so much!
Kari @ Healthy Castles
Hey everybody, let’s make sure that chocolate’s Fair Trade, ok?
Yum! Can’t wait to make these babies!
Hi
I love these. They will make a great after school treat for the boys. thanks
What is the nutrition info?
I recommend using a free website, like FitDay.com, to calculate your nutrition information. Since the type of dark chocolate you use may vary from mine, as well as the amount of additional peanut butter topping, I cannot provide this type of information.
So easy and they look delicious! I love all the easy recipes you’re posting, they are perfect for me 🙂
Soooo good! Made them today and the kids and I love them! We didn’t even put PB on them OR let them freeze very long, they are too delicious!
Made these yesterday and the kids love them, what a nice frozen treat and so delicious. i love this site!!!!
I’m so glad you all enjoyed them! Thanks for letting me know. 🙂
I made these over the weekend, and my family LOVED them! The kids aren’t big dark chocolate fans, but they approved 100%. Love your website, and plan to try so many of your simple and healthy recipes! Also, bought Natalia Rose’s book The Raw Food Detox Diet. I’m learning a ton from you ladies! THANK YOU!!
Made these last night and they were a huge hit! I swear I’ve tried freezing bananas before and remember them turning hard as rocks, but with this they really did come out with a creamy texture, like ice cream! I used Green & Black’s 85% bar (my favorite), and it was delicious. Thank you!
Is the chocolate used unsweetened? Me and my daughter cannot have sugar. Thanks!
You can definitely use unsweetened chocolate! If you’d like some extra sweetness, you could add a few drops of liquid stevia to the melted chocolate before dipping.
Hope you both enjoy it!
Great! Thanks.
I really think this is an amazing idea/recipe. Thank you! I like printing your recipes and am wondering if you have a printable version, the kind I can cut down and put in my recipe box such as the others I use from you lovely website.
It’s printable now! 🙂
Instead of using store-bought dark chocolate for the chocolate coating, I made a small batch of raw chocolate bark sweetened with stevia. Since it’s so hot out right now, and my chocolate was runny, I just double coated the bananas after the first coating had hardened in the freezer.
amazing!
my kids would love this!
I want to bring them to my family’s thanks giving dinner, one hour away by car. Will they keep okay in a ice box in a car? Thanks for the great recipe
I would think they would survive just fine as long as you’re keeping them cold! Will you be able to transfer them to the freezer once you arrive? Just make sure the bananas don’t thaw completely– bananas have a weird texture after they’ve been frozen!
Fantastic! I was able to get 45 lbs of organic bananas for $5 and looking for something fun and creative? This hit the spot, my husband and teenager LOVED them. I also made the pumpkin bars and used the maple pecan leftovers on top of the chocolate. Great site, thank you for reins pairing my days off in the kitchen!
These look incredibly delicious. They remind me of the Ice Cube Tray Peanut Butter Cups (http://www.creativesimplelife.com/organic-ice-cube-tray-peanut-butter-cups/) I made a few weeks ago. Check ’em out! Thanks for this great recipe!
Going to make these with my daughter after school. Quick question… Can I use Coconut butter for the Peanut Butter Topping instead of Coconut Oil?
Yes, I think that would work!
Need some help! I melted the chocolate and by the time I got to 4th slice of banana… the Chocolate was harding up… Not able to dip & coat… WHAT DID I DO WRONG? Please help! Didn’t have any chocolate bar but had 60% chocol chips and same problem… I’m thinking Operator error! PLEASE HELP!
I’d just melt the chocolate again! There’s nothing wrong with melting it more than once.
Clarifying! I tried it twice. 1st with bar. 2nd with Chocolate Chips. Thanks!
Hi Megan,
I have been consciously trying to practice healthy eaiting and recently chanced upon your site. Great work, I am quite excited to try out and experiment the recipes.
I had the same problem as the last commenter on coating the chilled bananas in the warm choclate. After the first few slices the chocolate thickened up. I warmed it up again however the portion that was exposed to the banana before didnt melt. It was almost as if it absorbed some of the banana while coating it. The chocolate even after reheating did not hold on to the banana when I dipped them it.
I tried twice and both times experienced the same problem. What do you think might be wrong?
Will appreciate your response. Thanks!
Perfect , absolutely gorgeous , wouldn’t be without them , always have them in my freezer. My grandaughter loves them . No bisuits at Nanna’s house anymore , she goes straight to the freezer . Many thanks
So easy to make. I didn’t have a chocolate bar on hand so I made my own chocolate worked out well. Thanks again 🙂
What kind of peanut butter do you use? I’ve tried many organic types and still haven’t found a favorite.
I don’t necessarily stick to a particular brand, it usually depends on which store I’m shopping at. I used to love Trader Joe’s organic natural peanut butter, but they seem to have stopped carrying it, so I usually end up buying the organic brand from Whole Foods with the green lid (can’t remember the brand name!)
Made these today for my kids with almond butter on top. They didn’t see me make them, so when I pulled them out of the freezer the kids oohed and awwed at the sight of them. I didn’t tell them what was inside and after they finished one, they said it was banana ice cream in the middle! Very great recipe – super simple! Thanks!
Hi Ms. Megan,
Thanks for all your recipes that is esay and healthy, I did this banana now, it’s so simple, yet I cannot make it right. The melted chocolate doesn’t stick to the frozen banana? I freeze banana. I melted one dark choco bar in double broiler. It comes out sticky and not watery so you cannot even dip the banana into it, I just put the choco on top of banana but was not coated at all. Wonder what did I do wrong? thanks in advance for your help.
Can use use pudding instead of chocolate
WOW!!!!!
But why can dark chocolate combine with all foods?? Poor digestion and bloating wont occur when fruits are mixed with other foods??
Is there a substitute for the liquid stevia – it is not my favorite flavor?
I am trying to eat more vegan food and slowly transition from a vegetarian to a vegan diet. This recipe was absolutely stunning. It was easy to make, and tastes so delicious. I almost want to eat the whole tray of truffles in one sitting! Thank you so much for your recipes!
YUMMMM! I ate them all though ;( I made them then put a dollop of almond butter and a sprinkle of sea salt. Thanks again for a great recipe! I’ve made solo many things from your site! All amazing
Can you make these with bananas that are already frozen? I have several frozen bananas and I don’t know what to do with them. I love all your recipes! I made the pumpkin bars and they were a hit. Thanks for all your great recipes!
These were outstanding. I ended up with leftover peanut butter topping, so I used it to frost the extra bananas I also had and then put raisins on top. It turned out great! Thanks for another great recipe.
These are amazing, delicious, and easy.
Looks so good…
I made this but instead of melted dark chocolate, I used a mixture of 2 teaspoons of coconut oil and cocoa powder + 1 teaspoon of honey, it was REALLY GOOD!!!!!!! Today i was in that mood where i could literally eat everything in my kitchen, i kept eating a bunch of food but that feeling would never go away. BUT, when i had this i only need like 4 and i was satisfied! So, i guess that was a waste of eating that unhealthy candy bar when i could have just had this… well now i know!
yum! great little snack…I dipped some in dark chocolate but then ran out and melted some chocolate chips to dip the rest….both worked great!
Megan, can you tell I had a weekend of making your recipes? Best weekend ever!
I made a small batch just to try. I let my husband taste them and he went crazy. He commented that all the flavors are so well balanced. This will hit the spot and will be able to satisfy the sweet tooth we get so often. I plan to make a large batch this weekend to keep in the freezer at all times!
Hey, I was wondering if you ever make any of your delicious chocolatey treats without a dark chocolate bar, or pre-made chocolate. I was hoping for a good recipe for making these types of treats with my ingredients, cocoa powder of cacao….coconut butter, etc. Do you ever do that?
Absolutely! I use this recipe for making my own chocolate: https://detoxinista.com/2012/06/easy-raw-chocolate-bark/
I’m a grandma that’s been making chocolate covered frozen bananas since I was raising my kids on Maui..I use Popsicle crafts sticks to poke the bananas before you first freeze them, then when they are firm enough dip in the chocolate, which you can add essence of mint for a different twist. Also, I melt the chocolate in a double boiler, this way while I’m dipping the frozen banana into the chocolate, it’s not getting hard, because the water under the pot keeps the chocolate soft until you take it off of the stove. One grandson, has diabetes and I just give him a frozen banana without anything on it for a quick cold after school treat if his blood sugar is too low. Using the popsicle sticks makes it easier to handle and I make alot at a time and then transfer to zip lock bags in the freezer to make room for more.
This is an awesome snack/dessert! Great way to use up bananas which are on the verge of becoming overripe!
As to the problem of the chocolate becoming hard halfway through dipping, I think it’s because while the frozen slices are waiting to be dipped, condensation will occur and any water will cause the chocolate to ‘seize’ and become lumpy. The trick is to remove just a few slices of frozen bananas from the freezer to dip, instead of letting the entire tray sit at room temperature.
These chocolate covered bananas were a HUGE hit!! My husband and 2 of my 3 kids are very picky eaters and they absolutely LOVED this sweet treat. I didn’t have time to make the peanut butter topping, but they turned out great without it. I myself don’t particularly care for dark chocolate, but after trying these, I’m hooked!! SO easy to make and SO outrageously delicious!! 🙂
Please help! I just couldn’t get this to work for me. I cut the bananas but them in the freezer for about 10 minutes while I was melting the chocolate. When I tried to cover the banana in the chocolate sauce, the bananas stuck to the chocolate sauce, falling apart. My first batch of chocolate seized, the next batch turned into a banana chocolate sauce. I ended up just pouring it over the banana pieces.
I’m sure this will be a delicious mess, but it’s definitely a mess. Should I let the bananas freeze all the way before dipping them, or not let them freeze at all?
Yum! Super easy and quick to make (already had banana medallions in freezer). Really like them with crunchy peanut butter. Delicious! Thank you for another great treat!