Saturday, January 22, 2011

Frozen Chocolate-Covered Banana Pops - A 'Cheap 'Treat!

Looking for a low-calorie, healthy treat that won't destroy your weight-loss resolution for the new year? Try these 100-calorie frozen banana pops from Eating Well magazine.


Not only are bananas good for us and loaded with the important nutrient potassium, but the health benefits of one ounce of dark chocolate per day has also been proven to lower blood pressure and cholesterol with it's antioxidant-rich flavinoids. (That was the some of the best news I've ever had!)


One-third of a banana covered in melted chocolate and sprinkled with toasted coconut or toasted almonds make a deliciously satisfying treat. 


If you find them too hard right out of the freezer, let the banana pop stand at room temperature for a few minutes before eating and savor slowly.

Speaking of frozen, we have been in the deep freeze the past few days!  I borrowed some textures from Kim Klassen's wonderful site and made a mosaic with some of my frosty winter photos. I'll be joining Mary, at Little Red house with this.




Frozen Chocolate-Covered Banana Pops
Adapted from Eating Well Magazine
Printable Recipe

4 large ripe bananas, peeled and cut into thirds, crosswise
3/4 cup semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, or chocolate chips, melted
1/4 cup shredded coconut, toasted
1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted and chopped

Cover a baking sheet with parchment or waxed paper. Melt 3/4 cup semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped or chocolate chips in a deep, Pyrex measure cup (such as 2 cup-size) in the microwave for one minute. Stir and repeat microwaving at 20-second intervals, stirring between each interval until melted. Peel 4 large ripe bananas and cut into thirds. Insert a Popsicle stick into the end of each piece. Dip each piece of banana into the melted chocolate, tilting and twisting until covered.  Sprinkle with coconut or chopped almonds. Reheat chocolate, if necessary to keep it liquefied. Place the bananas on the lined baking sheet and place in freezer until frozen, about 1-2 hours.  When frozen solid, place bananas in a plastic freezer bag removing excess air, and store in freezer where they will keep for at least one week.

59 comments:

  1. These took me back in time. I used to make these all the time when I had a daycare in my home. Sometimes we put peanut butter on first, froze them and then dipped them in chocolate and froze again. I'll have to try them once again :)

    What a beautiful mosaic.

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  2. I want to try those-they look good and healthy to boot!
    Love the collage- I was on her site today trying to learn how to add layers.

    Thanks foe the recipe,
    Carolyn

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  3. I love chocolate and bananas together!! These look like a great treat.

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  4. These look really good. It would be nice to have a healthy treat.

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  5. I love scrumptious healthy snacks! I've made chocolate covered bananas before, but I've not added the coconut. I may get some of these in the freezer tonight. :)

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  6. Super lovely treats! My kids would fall for these! Thank you for sharing!

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  7. Awesome! Those of us on Weight Watchers know that bananas are "free" food so all that counts for us is the chocolate. Woo Hoo!

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  8. Thanks for the reminder about this delicious treat! To buy a box of these from Whole Foods is about $1/pop!! Just need to find myself some popsicle sticks...

    Consumed: My Culinary Adventure

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  9. Love the chocolate covered bananas. Great pics btw!

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  10. I eat bananas and chocolate every blessed day and never thought of treating myself to this! Easy and fast and what a treat; I am going to adopt these as my go-to treat at the end of the day!

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  11. Wonderful idea - these will keep me from eating something far higher in calories!

    Love your mosaic.

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  12. Sometimes the simple things are the best. I can never get enough of frozen bananas and always keep them in my freezer for handy snacking. I think though I should start dipping them in chocolate like you. That sounds even better. I have a new linky on my blog called "Sweets for a Saturday" and I'd like to invite you to stop by and link this up. http://sweet-as-sugar-cookies.blogspot.com/2011/01/sweets-for-saturday-1_21.html

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  13. wow Susan, I love those banana pops! Picture perfect. ;-))

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  14. The bananas look great Susan! If one ounce of chocolate is good for us, two has to be even better-right???:@)

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  15. Bananas, dark chocolate and almonds--I have them all and love them all. And such nostalgia to reach into the freezer for a popsicle!

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  16. I love frozen banana's, such a great treat! Although I have to admit, mine never looked as pretty as yours! Did the little guy have a taste of one of those?

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  17. Kids would love these too! I have seen Marshmallows done like this.. never a banana..Great shots!

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  18. I love this idea, Susan! I would think I was eating a fancy, high calorie dessert instead of a healthy banana. Skipping dessert is the hardest part of cutting back on calories.

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  19. Susan che grande idea questa ricetta!!!!bravissima!ciao!

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  20. WOW! I'm so impressed;I've never seen this before; saving this recipe to try soon. Great photos.
    Rita

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  21. Love this idea! I don't even like bananas but I think I'd be willing to try this. Just discovered your blog and loving it so far :)

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  22. We call these coconanas and they go down a treat with my children... I love your new layout!!

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  23. Mmm I SOOO need these bananas in my life! Trader Joe's sells a similar version and they are so delicious. But way cooler to make them yourself, in my opinion.

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  24. What a nice treat for you! I have overly ripe bananas in the bowl waiting for me to make them into something!
    Love the way you displayed them!

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  25. We love this banana treat and seldom wait for them to thaw. Nope... we just nibble away :)

    Beautiful mosaic!

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  26. Yummy! I have to have my banana every day. Now I may be doing away with just peeling and eating. Love your recipes. Thanks for visiting me!

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  27. Such a simple and beautiful presentation!!! Love it!!!

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  28. They look so good. Love your mosaic. Makes me want to try some frosty window shots.

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  29. oh, my ... my mouth is watering....

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  30. Beautiful Mosaic, Susan.

    Carolyn/A Southerners Notebook

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  31. Great treats, I'll have to make some of them for the grandchildren.

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  32. That is a delicious looking, healthy treat! Hard to believe only 100 calories.

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  33. I need to make these. I was just thinking tonight about how I need to find a low-calorie sweet for my sweet tooth. I love the coconut with it!

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  34. Cannot wait to make these...They look delish...and your blog header just makes me smile...

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  35. Your pictures are perfectly pretty, Susan! Must try your recipe one fine day soon.
    Have a great new week! xx

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  36. Reminds of the banana/chocolate popsicles the Good Humor Ice Cream truck used to sell. Beautiful photographs.

    I will head to Kim's site now to see her textures. Have a great week.

    Carol

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  37. I haven't made those since my children were very little! Yum!
    Lovely mosaic
    Kathy

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  38. Sounds yummy and easy to make too! Thanks for sharing the recipe.

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  39. Yum!
    And i mean your whole blog!
    Wow such tasty looking treats.

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  40. The banana pops look so delicious. Love your frosty mosaic.

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  41. Now there is something frozen that I can definitely cheer about! Six degrees here this morning -- yuck!

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  42. These look like a great treat! Lovely idea Susan !Thanks for sharing, a warm hug...

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  43. Susan!
    How timely. We are all craving the decadence of the Christmas season in this cold weather - but, are wanting to shed the layers we acquired enjoying it. A great reminder of the fresh, delicious, nutritious and simple solutions that do exist. I used to make these "Monkey Pops" for my children when I taught kindergarten on a hot day: some without chocolate, too. And they were such a treat. Yours look stunning.
    :)
    Valerie

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  44. So glad you made it to the party. Thanks for linking up. I definitely appreciate the support and hope you'll be able to join in again next Saturday. Just saw your cute devilish chicks in your sidebar so I'm off to go check those out.

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  45. So delicious...I love chocolate and bananas! My boy, Tudor, would fall for these...well, and me too ;-) Thank you for sharing, dear Susan!
    Kisses&huggs

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  46. wow love these and healthy perfect treat

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  47. My this dessert really brings back memories when I first tasted them. Glad to make this for my newphews after the week long muffin indulgence.

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  48. This is such a great idea Susan. i have some ripe bananas in my pantry, my son snobs and won't eat. Perhaps this way I can make him eat those poor bananas.

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  49. These look absolutely divine, and a good way of getting in one of your 'five a day'!

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  50. I just love your photos, Susan. The bananas look so delicious... and what could be simpler than dunking them in chocolate.... bananas and chocolate are wonderful together!

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  51. My DIL just made these for her one year old's party and they were fabulous. What a great lo cal treat.

    Your mosaic is absolutely fantastic, and make me feel like this frozen pop fits right into a frosty winter day.

    Have a fabulous day.

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  52. One great big YUM! You've done such a great job with these Susan! I love the photos and really shouldn't be reading this at lunch time! That chocolate is so lovely and dark. Much prefer almonds to pecans too.

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  53. Hmmmm, looks yummy and refreshing just like that wonderful mosaic. I can almost feel the cold air blowing. Oh, forget that, I can definitely feel a cold draft right here in my own home.

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  54. Oh man, I've always wanted to make these -- they're one of my all time fave treats. The first time I had them was at Knott's Berry Farm of all places. Fabulous recipe!

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  55. Mmmmmm...dark chocolate covered banana pops sound like a wonderful treat. I've been burning calories snow shoveling this winter so I can happy indulge in a few! :D

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  56. J'ai déjà fait cette belle gourmandise à mes Trésors et ils ont tellement aimés!! Bravo, tes photos sont des plus Magnifiques:) xxx

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  57. Thank you all! They're almost gone ;) So many of you knew about them already - where have I been?

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  58. I have always loved frozen bananas, and these are making me wish for that treat :)

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  59. Oh boy do these look like a great treat! I can't wait to try these, even though I was told I have to stay away from sugar. These are irresistible, and bananas do qualify as a fruit serving, don't they?!

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