Frozen Banana Bites

I have been mentioning chocolate a lot lately it seems, but here's one more. I really need to share this! My Mom found the recipe on facebook and shared it with me. We commented on it back and forth, so I just got up from the computer, marched to the kitchen and made these. Easy. Super yummy. Kid-approved!

The recipe/photo came from Dr. Josh Axe's facebook page:

• 2 large bananas
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup vegan chocolate chips (use whatever chocolate chips you have... dark chocolate is best!)
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup natural peanut butter (make sure it's natural, no added anything)
• Unsweetened coconut flakes (I actually left some of mine plain, topped some with chia seeds and others with hemp seeds. Nuts would be good too).

Method . . .

Set out a large plate or bowl with a piece of parchment or wax paper on it. Cut up the bananas into good-sized chunks. Each banana should give you around 5 to 6 pieces. Heat the peanut butter and chocolate chips in the microwave on high for about a minute. Then stir until smooth.

This is what mine looked like going into the freezer.
A little rushed and messy, but still a thumbs up.

Dip the banana pieces in the chocolate-peanut butter mixture. Lay them out leaving some space between them on the parchment/wax paper. Then when you've "covered" them all, use the remaining mixture to spoon over the tops (for even more chocolate-y goodness).

And my son's enthusiastic thumbs up!

Then sprinkle the unsweetened coconut flakes on top. Transfer to the freezer for about an hour until hardened. You can enjoy them like this (but they really aren't frozen yet -- and when they're frozen, the banana tastes like vanilla ice cream). I suggest then covering with some plastic wrap (or really you can do all of this in some kind of Rubbermaid container) and let freeze overnight.

 

These are really delicious, easy to make, would be great for guests, for a kid's party or just as a snack for yourself. I am thinking I will try using a whole banana and putting it on a stick. Jaryn keeps seeing these at Sprouts and wants me to buy them; homemade would be better for so many reasons: natural, no preservatives, made with love, no packaging, less expensive. And here's my reminder to only eat a few. Chocolate and peanut butter both have lots of calories, plus that way you can save some for the next day!

 

 

Action Item: Yep, you guessed it. Try these healthier treats for you and your family.

 

For further reading: A Dark Chocolate a Day Keeps the Doctor Away