Chocolate Covered Bananas

CHOCOLATE COVERED BANANAS
4 bananas (not too ripe, and not too green)
12 oz. chocolate chips semi sweet or milk chocolate
2 Tbsp. coconut oil
1/4 c. sprinkles
1/4 c. peanuts chopped

Instructions

Remove the peel from the bananas and cut them in half the short way. Push a popsicle stick into the cut end of each banana. Place bananas on a baking sheet covered in parchment paper, then freeze for three hours.
When the bananas are done freezing, add the chocolate and coconut oil to a microwave safe cup or bowl.
Melt the chocolate on half power on your microwave for 2-3 minutes. Stir about every 30-60 seconds to keep the chocolate from scorching until fully melted.
Pour melted chocolate into a tall glass, like a mason jar
Dip the bananas one at a time into the melted chocolate, then remove and immediately sprinkle with nuts or sprinkles.
Place on parchment paper to cool then serve. Extras can be store in the freezer for up to one month.

Notes

Chocolate can also be melted on the stove using a double boiler. The microwave method is simply easier and faster.
I recommend wrapping in plastic wrap, placing in a freezer zip-top bag, or storing in an airtight container once the chocolate has fully hardened if storing in the freezer. The entire pan can be placed back in the freezer to help the chocolate harden quicker.
Frozen bananas will taste best if eaten within a month.
Wax paper, parchment paper or aluminum foil can be used for this recipe since the bananas are not being cooked.

How To Select Your Bananas

The perfect banana for making chocolate covered bananas, is a banana in between ripe and very ripe.
You want one with a few brown spots, but not alot of brown spots.

Various Stages of a Banana Ripening

The perfect banana, is one with only a few brown spots

Variation Ideas

Nuts– Try adding chopped pecans, pistachios, cashews or walnuts to the outside.
Color Coordinate– These chocolate covered frozen banana treats can easily be color coordinated for birthday parties, pool parties, school colors, or just to your favorite color.
Candies – M&Ms, Reeses, or any other chocolate candies you might have in the house.
Cereal– Colorful cereals or even crunchy granola is pretty delicious on this frozen banana recipe!
Shredded Coconut– Coconut gives these bananas a tropical taste.
Peanut Butter– Drizzle Warm up a little peanut butter or your favorite nut butter, then drizzle it over the top of the bananas.

Toppings

Why Use Coconut Oil?

Did you ever have a chocolate magic shell as a kid? I did and I loved the crack, when you bite into it. It’s a chocolate drizzle used for ice cream that creates a hard chocolate shell when it touches cold ice cream. By adding coconut oil to the chocolate you are creating a mixture that is similar to magic shell.

By adding coconut oil, the chocolate will harden to a crunchier shell when it touches the cold banana. This is a shortcut trick, that can make a big difference in the crunchiness of the chocolate. You can add coconut oil to any dipped treat without the need to temper the chocolate. Tempering chocolate isn’t difficult (it just takes longer), and it does require using a candy thermometer and a double boiler.

Jaymin use to always say, "Bananas are monkey food". Are you a monkey I would ask him, "Yes", he would say. "See my monkey face".

"Bananas Are Monkey Food" Are you a monkey? "Yes?"

Jaymin's Monkey Face