Chocolate Covered Frozen Banana Buddies

Where do I begin? 

Oh yes, I have been reminiscing about one of my most favorite childhood snacks, chocolate covered frozen bananas! I remember that the only time I ever sunk my teeth into these scrumptious treats was when my mom took me to Disneyland. This was an occasion that only took place a few times, but memorable enough for me to want to recreate the deliciousness that is encapsulated within such a simple dessert.

You may have noticed these little goodies in the freezer section of your local supermarket. However, they are pretty pricey! 

Here I will provide step-by-step instructions on how to create two forms of these delectable yummies, for way less than you can purchase them at the store.

*First, how to make chocolate covered peanut butter banana buddies. 

Ingredients Needed:

2 large bananas
6 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate chips, (or chocolate of your choosing)
1 tablespoon of coconut oil (optional)
A few tablespoons of peanut butter (I used, Adams All Natural Peanut Butter)
Toppings: (sprinkles, crushed peanuts, mini m&m's, crushed peanut butter cups, etc.)

Materials Needed:

A Cookie Sheet
Parchment/Wax Paper
Plastic Wrap
Sucker Sticks or Toothpicks

Step 1:

Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit inside of your cookie sheet. 

Step 2:

Peel and slice your bananas into rounds that are about 1/4 of an inch in thickness. Place your banana rounds onto your parchment paper, and then put a dab of peanut butter in the center of half of the rounds.

Step 3:

Next, place a plain banana round on top of each banana topped slice (Note: I tried to match up each round so they were about the same size).

Step 4:

Insert a sucker stick into the peanut butter of each banana buddy (Note: You can use toothpicks in place of the sucker sticks, and remove them after dipping. However, I like the sucker sticks because it makes the banana buddies easier for my kids to eat.).

Step 5:

Cover the peanut butter banana buddies with plastic wrap, and place them in the freezer for 2 hours.

Step 6:

Prepare your toppings. My kids chose non-pariels, crushed peanuts, and good old sprinkles. Mind you, if I were to make these for guests, or another event, I would have selected more elegant, and color coordinated toppings.

Step 7:

When you are ready to coat your peanut butter banana buddies, begin to melt 6 ounces of chocolate. You can use a double-boiler, the microwave, or place a glass bowl over a pan of simmering water. I used the double-boiler method. 

As your chocolate melts, stir in 1 tablespoon of coconut oil. You do not need to use the coconut oil, but it does help to produce a, "Magic Shell" effect when you coat your frozen peanut butter banana buddies.

Step 8:

Coat your peanut butter banana buddies. You will need to move at a swift pace to ensure that you: evenly coat each banana, get the toppings to stick, and keep the chocolate coating melted enough to coat all of your banana buddies. (I like to coat my banana buddies near the stove. I keep my top pan tiled over the bottom pan of the double-boiler, and I use a spoon to drizzle the chocolate onto the banana buddies.) 

Remove your peanut butter banana buddies from the freezer. The bananas should not slide down the sucker sticks. If they do slide, then you will need to keep them in the freezer until the bananas stay up on their own.

Hold one banana in your non-dominant hand, and drizzle the chocolate over the banana buddy with your dominant hand. You will need to turn the banana buddy upside down, and tap of the excess chocolate. To ensure a smooth coating, turn and tap the banana buddy as the chocolate begins to harden. 

When you can see that your chocolate is beginning to set, take your banana buddy to your coating station (I line my counters with several pieces of overlapping parchment to ensure easy clean up). Quickly sprinkle the topping of your choice over your banana buddy. Be sure to turn the sucker stick as you sprinkle. This will help you to coat each side of your banana buddy. Don't forget the bottom! This step takes some practice, but after one or two, you will be able to tell when your banana buddy is ready to be topped.

*Helpful Hint*: I use a piece of green foam core to place my banana buddies in to set up. You can purchase this at your local craft store.

Step 8:

Display your peanut butter banana buddies, or place them on a clean sheet of parchment and place them back in the freezer for 3 to 5 days. 

I like to use the green foam core, a decorative bucket, and tissue paper (or other filler) to display my peanut butter banana buddies. It makes for a cute centerpiece for a birthday party, or other special event.  Keep in mind, displaying your banana pops is an unnecessary step, and should only be done if you have the extra time.

*Second, how to make chocolate covered banana buddies.

Ingredients Needed:

3 large bananas
12 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate chips, (or chocolate of your choosing)
2 tablespoon of coconut oil (optional)
Toppings: (sprinkles, crushed peanuts, mini m&m's, crushed peanut butter cups, etc.)

Materials Needed:

A Cookie Sheet
Parchment/Wax Paper
Plastic Wrap
Extra Long, and Regular Sucker Sticks or Toothpicks

Step 1:

Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit inside of your cookie sheet.

Step 2:

Peel and slice your bananas. I sliced 2 bananas in half, and the third banana into rounds that were about 1/4 of an inch in thickness. Place your banana halves and rounds onto your parchment paper, and insert a sucker stick into each banana. 

Step 3: 

Cover the peanut butter banana buddies with plastic wrap, and place them in the freezer for at least 2 hours.

Step 4:

Follow steps 6-8 from above.

Step 5: 

Display your chocolate covered banana buddies, or place them in the freezer for 3-5 days.

Step 6:

Enjoy your chocolate covered/peanut butter banana buddies. 

They are super delicious!

*Other yummy variations...

Use Nutella, or your favorite yogurt instead of peanut butter.

Freeze your bananas, dip them in greek yogurt, refreeze, then dip in chocolate.

*Make yummy chocolate crumbles with the leftover chocolate...

Step 1:

Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit inside of your cookie sheet.

Step 2:

Spread the melted chocolate onto the piece of parchment paper. You can add any leftover toppings before the chocolate sets.

Place the chocolate filled cookie sheet into your freezer for several hours.

Once the chocolate is frozen, remove it from the freezer and break it into bite-sized pieces.

Put the chocolate bits into a zip top freezer bag, and place back into your freezer for future use on ice cream sundaes.