Peanut Butter Bananas

These peanut butter bananas have a layer of peanut butter between thin banana slices and a crisp semisweet chocolate coating. They’re an easy no-bake freezer treat made with just a handful of ingredients. They’re also naturally gluten-free and easy to adapt for paleo and vegan diets.

Top some with finely chopped peanuts, decorate others with sprinkles, and leave the rest plain. I like making all three so there’s a little variety in each batch.

Once frozen, the banana stays firm while the chocolate sets into a thin shell. The peanut butter adds richness and makes the bites more satisfying than plain chocolate-covered banana slices.

Ingredient notes

• Bananas – more details on these below!
• Peanut butter – natural peanut butter made with 100% peanuts is runnier than the regular kind, so take care not to overfill the bites or press down too firmly when assembling them. If you’re paleo or can’t do peanuts, sunflower seed butter works great! For another bite-sized treat with a peanut butter center, try my Chocolate Covered Dates.
• Chocolate – finely chopping the chocolate helps it melt quickly and evenly. Semi-sweet chocolate balances the sweetness of the bananas and peanut butter nicely. Use dairy-free chocolate for a vegan version or paleo-friendly chocolate for a paleo version.
• Coconut oil – refined coconut oil thins the chocolate without adding coconut flavor. Unrefined coconut oil also works if you don’t mind a light coconut taste.
• Toppings – if using peanuts, chop them extremely finely so they stick to the chocolate and don’t overwhelm the small bites. Sprinkles are another easy option, or you can leave the chocolate plain. If you’re paleo, you could try toasted coconut, crushed freeze-dried strawberries, or a very light sprinkle of flaky salt.

For a larger version on a stick, try my Banana Pops. They have the same combination of frozen banana, chocolate, and crunchy toppings without the peanut butter filling.

Best bananas for frozen banana bites

Use bananas that are ripe and sweet but still firm. A few brown spots are fine, but very soft or heavily spotted bananas are harder to slice neatly and can become mushy while you assemble the bites.

Straighter bananas are slightly easier to cut into evenly sized rounds, but the shape isn’t especially important. Cutting the slices about 1/4″ (6 mm) thick matters more because thick banana pieces make the finished bites harder to eat and more likely to slide apart.

If your bananas have become too soft for these bites, use them in my Banana Granola Bars instead. That recipe calls for overripe bananas and also combines them with peanut butter and chocolate.

Why freeze them before dipping?

Freezing the assembled banana sandwiches firms up the bananas and peanut butter so the bites don’t slide apart when you dip them in chocolate.

About 2-3 hours works well. You want them firm enough to handle but not necessarily frozen completely solid. If they’re rock hard, the chocolate can set almost immediately, leaving very little time to add the toppings.

If the bites freeze overnight, let them sit at room temperature for a few minutes before dipping so the chocolate doesn’t set before you can add the toppings. Don’t leave them out long enough for the bananas to begin thawing.

Storage

Once the chocolate has completely set, transfer the peanut butter banana bites to an airtight freezer-safe container. If stacking them, place parchment paper between the layers to keep them from sticking together.

For the best flavor and texture, enjoy them within about 1 month. Depending on how cold your freezer is, you may want to let them sit at room temperature for 2-5 minutes before eating.

For another chocolate-covered fruit treat, try my Chocolate Covered Banana Split Bites, made with banana, strawberries, and pineapple.

No ratings yet

Peanut Butter Bananas

Author Erin Dooner

Course Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 28 bites

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 2 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

These peanut butter bananas are made with peanut butter sandwiched between banana slices and dipped in chocolate. An easy no-bake frozen treat with optional peanuts or sprinkles.

Ingredients

• ▢ 2 large ripe but firm bananas
• ▢ 3 tablespoons (48 grams) peanut butter
• ▢ 1/3 cup (56 grams) finely chopped semi-sweet chocolate
• ▢ 1 teaspoon (5 grams) refined coconut oil or unrefined coconut oil if you don’t mind some coconut flavor
• ▢ pinch salt
• ▢ super finely chopped peanuts optional
• ▢ sprinkles optional

Instructions

• Line a baking sheet that will fit in your freezer with parchment paper.
• Peel the bananas and cut them into rounds about 1/4" (6 mm) thick.
• Place about 1/4 teaspoon of peanut butter in the center of half of the banana slices. Don’t spread it to the edges.
• Top each peanut butter-covered slice with another banana round. If using runny natural peanut butter, place the top slice gently without pressing down.
• Arrange the bites on the prepared baking sheet and freeze for 2-3 hours, or until firm enough to handle.
• Add the chocolate, coconut oil, and salt to a very small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at 50% power in 30-second increments, stirring after each one, until completely melted and smooth.
• Working in batches, remove a few banana bites from the freezer and dip each one in the melted chocolate. Return them to the parchment-lined sheet.
• Immediately add sprinkles or finely chopped peanuts before the chocolate sets. Leave some plain, if desired.
• Repeat with the remaining bites, keeping them frozen until you’re ready to dip them.
• Return the finished bites to the freezer until the chocolate has completely set.
• Recipe notes
• Natural and conventional peanut butter both work. Natural peanut butter is runnier, so be careful not to overfill or press the bites together.
• The banana slices should be about 1/4" (6 mm) thick. Thicker slices make the finished bites more difficult to eat and more likely to fall apart.
• Use a very small bowl for melting and dipping the chocolate. This creates a deeper pool and makes dipping easier.
• Add the toppings immediately after dipping each bite because the chocolate sets quickly on the frozen bananas.
• If the banana bites are completely frozen solid, let them sit at room temperature for a few minutes before dipping.
• Store in an airtight freezer-safe container for up to 1 month.

Notes

• The nutrition information provided is calculated as a courtesy and is only an estimate. I am not a licensed nutritionist or dietitian. For the most accurate nutritional data, consult a professional or use your preferred calculator.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 biteCalories: 30kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 0.5gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.4gSodium: 7mgPotassium: 46mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 5IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 3mgIron: 0.1mg

Tried this recipe?Tag me today! Mention @easywholesome or tag #easywholesome!