Eating fruit is a great alternative to indulging in sugary treats, while still getting some beneficial nutrients.
Try this simple recipe to capitalize on the natural sweetness of bananas. These frozen banana pops drenched in decadent super-dark chocolate, then rolled in either unsweetened coconut flakes or crushed nuts are made with whole foods to be very low in sugar (just a small amount in the dark chocolate) and perfectly kid-sized.
Just melt the chocolate over a pan of simmering water, add a small amount of coconut oil, cut peeled bananas in half, insert popsicle sticks, cover in chocolate and roll in extra goodies.
These banana pops are not for migraine diets, as bananas, chocolate, and nuts are all triggers.
Suitable for:
low-sodium, vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, paleo, reduced-sugar diets
Not for:
migraine diets
Ingredients
- 3.5 ounces semi-sweet or dark chocolate 73% cacao, broken into pieces
- 1 tsp coconut oil
- 4 bananas cut in half
- 1/2 cup unsweetened flaked coconut finely chopped
- 1/2 cup pecans almonds, peanuts, walnuts, chopped
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment or waxed paper or a silicone sheet.
- Find a metal bowl that will sit over a pan of simmering water. Add the chocolate and the coconut oil. Stir until melted.
- If you don't have a metal bowl, microwave the chocolate and the coconut oil in a heat-proof bowl on medium power, 15 seconds at a time, until melted and smooth, stirring in between.
- Peel the bananas, cut in half, and insert popsicle sticks.
- Put the chopped nuts in a shallow bowl.
- If you have large-flake coconut, pulse in a food processor until you have fairly small pieces. Put in a shallow bowl.
- Use a spatula to paint the cut end of the banana with chocolate. Then dip into the chocolate until covered, using the spatula to cover any bare portions.
- Hold pop over one of the bowls containing nuts or coconut, and sprinkle the topping over the pop as evenly as you can while turning it. Place on prepared baking sheet.
- Freeze at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Tip: Scrape leftover chocolate onto waxed paper and add any leftover coconut and nuts. It will harden into a nut cluster. Yum.
