Growing up you couldn’t keep me away from chocolate covered bananas.This healthy recipe will have you quickly whipping up a batch and you might even have trouble sharing them – or at least I did! I love having a choice of plain chocolate or something crunchy like these sunflower seeds. The extra chocolate was used to make little banana sunflower butter sandwiches that are just as amazing, but bite sized – perfect cool down after a sweaty workout! The secret ingredient that makes these healthy – chocolate Vega One protein powder. The other power house players are coconut oil and coconut butter. You can make this with all coconut oil if you don’t have coconut butter. These are vegan, gluten free, and so easy to make!
I have vivid memories of standing in the park on some of the hottest days of the summer, covered in chocolate and smiling from ear to ear! You see when I was little I was in the same summer camp from the time I was 6 till I moved here to North Carolina in my teens. And the highlight of camp was going to the park a few blocks away. They had a huge swimming pool and across the street there was an ice cream shop that sold chocolate covered bananas. We would beg our camp counselor to take us over to the ice cream shop. And while many of the kids got things like ice cream with sprinkles or banana splits, I always got the chocolate covered bananas. ALWAYS! Oh man chocolate covered bananas really scream summer to me!
I found out in my 20’s just how easy chocolate covered bananas were to make. Simply melt chocolate and pour over frozen bananas, and viola! My chocolate covered banana obsession soon returned, and I was making these every weekend. My waist line soon started to show this, I mean that was a ton of chocolate I was eating! So of course I’ve since found a way to enjoy this treat, and I’ve made it healthy enough I can enjoy again every weekend if I please!!
Protein powder is already sweet enough, this recipe does not require any additional sweeteners. Simply melt the coconut butter and coconut oil. and mix in the protein powder, vanilla and cocoa powder. Pour over frozen bananas and you are ready to enjoy! These can be stored in the freezer for a few weeks in a plastic zip lock bag as well! But honestly, I’ve never had to deal with that in my house.
Like I mentioned, I used Vega One All-In-One Nutritional Shake Protein Powder. This protein powder tends to be really thick, and I had to use quite a bit of coconut butter and coconut oil to get the right consistency. The protein powder you are using may not require this much coconut oil, so be sure to add one tablespoon at a time. The end product should look like melted chocolate and when you taste it, it should not be gritty. If you taste grit from the protein powder, add more coconut oil, your chocolate coating is not quite right yet. I like to use coconut butter as well with this recipe. The coconut butter is naturally sweet and adds a great texture and flavor.
The chocolate sets up fast, so if you are adding chopped nuts or toasted coconut flakes, be sure to have them ready before you start covering the frozen bananas in chocolate. To assemble, have a piece of wax paper set up to place the freshly coated bananas on (the chocolate doesn’t stick to wax paper). Pour chocolate over the bananas with a spoon (this is my preferred method) and quickly add nuts. Continue around the banana until it’s covered to your liking. I’ve tried dunking the frozen bananas in chocolate before, and the chocolate ends up freezing a bit in the bowl, making it hard to work with, so I tend to use a spoon for this. Be sure to freeze for 5-10 minutes further to allow the chocolate coating to really set up.
Healthy Chocolate Covered Bananas. This easy #vegan recipe has a secret ingredient @vegateam@pancakewarrior_ Click To Tweet
- 3-4 bananas, halved, sticks in bottom and frozen
- 1 scoop Vega One Chocolate Nutritional Shake (or chocolate protein powder of choice)
- ¼-1/2 cup melted coconut oil
- 1-2 tbs. coconut butter
- 1 tbs. unsweetened cocoa powder (I used Hershey's special dark)
- 1 tsp vanilla
- Freeze bananas overnight or for at least 8 hours after peeling, cutting in half and placing a stick in the end of the banana. Freeze individually in plastic wrap or in a freezer bag.
- Once bananas are frozen, make the chocolate coating.
- Melt the coconut oil and coconut butter (can use all coconut oil) until no longer hardened. This usually takes about 30 seconds in the microwave.
- Add ¼ cup melted coconut oil, 1 tbs. coconut butter (optional can use another tbs. coconut oil), the protein powder, vanilla and cocoa powder to a bowl. Stir to combine.
- Check the texture, if this is still dry or clumpy, add an additional tablespoon of coconut oil until you reach a desired consistency. Feel free to add an additonal tablespoon of coconut butter while you are testing the consistency. It really makes the chocolate creamy and have a smoother flavor. Taste to make sure the chocolate is not grainy.
- Use a spoon to cover the frozen bananas. If adding a topping, add it immediately before the chocolate has time to set up. Place on wax paper and return to freezer for 10 minutes before enjoying.
What about you?
- What is your favorite childhood treat?
- Have you ever had water ice (Italian Ice)
- Do you ever make your own chocolate covered treats?
I have never had a frozen chocolate covered banana. Gasp, I know! I’ve seen them at fairs and thought they look yummy but never tried one. Love your healthy spin on this, maybe it’s time I try it.
You might get me to eat a banana this way 😉 Covered in all that goodness!
One of my favorite handouts after races are the Dole dippers (which is essentially this). Frozen bananas are the only way that I truly like them, and you put that with chocolate and funzies, and I”m DOWN
i love chocolate covered bananas! I tried vega a while back and just couldn’t get past the grainy consistency. Perhaps I need to re try it as so many of you seem to like it
These are my dad’s favorite!! If I was at home for father’s day, I would totally make them for him…will have to raincheck!
YUM!!! I love these!
My favorite childhood treat… and still is… is ice cream.
One of my favourite desserts for summer. Such a hit with the kids too!
I am really bad at using coconut oil in my meals. This is a great dessert recipe to start using it. Great way to use bananas
Great minds think alike, I’m totally posting a chocolate covered banana popsicle recipe tomorrow! Aren’t they they best??
I NEED THESE CHOCOLATE BANANAS NOW!
Perfect for summer… and my stomach.
Plus it looks healthy too. Not an easy feat when it comes to awesome snacks / desserts. Thanks for sharing Samantha!
So interesting adding protein powder! I definitely have to experiment with putting it in recipes other than smoothies! These look great!
OMG YES!!! I love that these have hidden protein in them!!! #winning 🙂
I normally don’t eat bananas…BUT cover them in some chocolate and I will! : )
Ooo Sam, these look delicious!! I love the combo of chocolate and banana.
These look terrific!! Perfect summer treat!
I use coconut oil to make magic chocolate shells but I never thought of going healthier like this! What a great idea!
OMG I love the look of these. I’ll definitely have to give them a go.
Hopping over from Friendship Friday – new Pinterest follower
BRILLIANT! I can’t wait to try this recipe!
Cynthia @ craftoflaughter.com
These sound delicious! I think my kids would even like them. I know I would! Thanks for sharing this! Glad I found you on Share The Wealth Sunday Party! Pinned and following (jody53)
Thank you so much for sharing! Those look great!
This looks amazing! I can’t wait to try it. As always, thanks for linking up with Share the Wealth Sunday. I’m sharing this because it looks so good!
Yummy!! Thanks for Linking up on My 2 Favorite Things on Thursday!! Hope to see you again tomorrow!! I love having You!! Pinned!!
We LOVE chocolate covered bananas!!!