Chocolate covered frozen bananas are a copycat version of Trader Joe’s famous ‘Gone Bananas’. It’s one of the simplest (and healthiest) desserts you’ll ever eat!

dark chocolate covered frozen banana bites are irresistible
They’re my even better version of Trader Joe’s frozen treats. The last time I was at my sister’s she brought out a box and it didn’t even make it all the way around the table before it was emptied. That’s like throwing down the gauntlet to a food blogger. Why buy something in frustratingly small boxes when you can easily make them yourself?
frozen bananas have the texture of ice cream!
Crazy, but true ~ the frozen banana tastes just like ice cream, and the chocolate shell just adds to the delicious illusion. Since you’re making them yourself you can use your favorite chocolate. I like dark, but milk or white works too. The magic is in the coconut oil, which, when melted with the chocolate, makes a coating that hardens instantly on contact with the cold banana. It’s exactly like magic shell chocolate sauce that you pour over ice cream. Same principle.
what you’ll need
- bananas ~ I like to use firm bananas, not overly soft and ripe.
- chocolate, either good quality chips, or bar chocolate, chopped.
- refined coconut oil ~ this helps the chocolate coating harden to a shell. Look for refined, not virgin, which has a stronger coconut flavor. Nothing against coconut, but I definitely don’t want it interfering with the rich dark chocolate flavor.
how to store your frozen bananas
You’ll want to keep these frozen at all times: at room temp they’ll turn into little melted blobs. I like to stack them in a freezer safe container with sheets of waxed paper between the layers to prevent sticking. Take them out just when you’re ready to devour them!
how long will they last?
Plan to enjoy them within a week, but probably you’ll eat them all in one go, that’s what happens here.
more healthy-ish chocolate treats!
- Dark Chocolate Mendiants
- Easy Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
- Chocolate Hazelnut Milk
- Chocolate Dipped Pretzels
- Dark Chocolate Dipped Apricots
- Detox Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cups
variation ideas for copycat Gone Bananas
- Top the coated banana slices with crushed nuts, coconut, or sprinkles before the chocolate hardens. You’ll need to sprinkle immediately after dipping as the chocolate starts to set up right away.
- Spread a dab of peanut butter or almond butter over the frozen bananas before coating them in chocolate.
- Make full sized dipped bananas; simply slip a popsicle stick into the banana before freezing, then after it has frozen, dip into the chocolate.
- You can do this with other types of chocolate or baking chips.
Chocolate Covered Frozen Bananas
Ingredients
- 2 ripe firm bananas
- 12 ounces dark chocolate chips or semi sweet bar chocolate, cut in small pieces
- 4 Tbsp refined coconut oil Note: this is a solid oil that comes in a jar.
Instructions
- Slice the banana and place the slices on a tray lined with parchment or waxed paper to prevent sticking. Put the tray in the freezer until the bananas are frozen solid. About 2 hours.
- Meanwhile place the chocolate chips and the coconut oil in a microwave safe bowl or measuring cup. Microwave for 60 seconds and then stir. Continue stirring until the chocolate is melted and the sauce is glossy. If necessary, microwave for another 15 seconds and stir again, until all the chocolate is melted and smooth. Don't over heat. Set the chocolate aside to cool.
- When the bananas are frozen, dip them into the cooled chocolate and coat on all sides. I like set the slices on a fork and then use a spoon to help drizzle the chocolate all over. Let any excess chocolate drip off before setting the slice down on a parchment or waxed paper lined tray (it can be the same one.) Put the coated slices back in the freezer right away to harden.
- Once the bites are hardened you can transfer them to a freezer safe storage container or zip lock freezer bag.
- Plan to enjoy your banana bites within a week.
Do you know calories and serving size? These are very delicious.. And I will like this as a healthy/ naughty snack.. Lol..
I have made these few times already.. And everyone loved them..
I don’t know the calories offhand, Tabitha, but I think they are a healthy snack, and I’d say about 4 would be a serving size.
I Think these are something that look very good to snack on. Easy to make and fun to eat.
Tabitha – the calories are going to be the sum of the calories in a banana, the calories in a cup of the chocolate that you are using, and 2 tablespoons of coconut oil. If you are looking for calories per banana slice, then just divide your total by how many slices you came out with per banana.
Mine came out to:
Banana – 105 calories
2 tbsp coconut oil – 240 calories
~ 1 cup 62% cacao dark chocolate chunks – 1,120 calories
Total: 1,465 calories
If you came out with 20 slices per banana, that makes each slice about 73 calories. That seems high to me! Also, since (by my calculation) about 60% of the calories are coming from fat, I wouldn’t call these a “healthy” snack. Although they are non-dairy and probably healthier than just ice cream! Also, since I’m being thorough, the Trader Joe’s version, Gone Bananas, has 130 calories for 4 slices, or 32.5 calories per slice. They must be using low-fat chocolate!
I will say that when I’ve made these I have used 2-3 bananas and much less chocolate chunks. you really can stretch out the amount of chocolate per piece.
These are much better than the Trader Joe ones.
Thanks Kathy, I think that’s because we use better chocolate making it ourselves than any mass produced product does.
I make these and roll them in organic unsweetened shredded coconut after dipping them in the chocolate.
I like that!
Uhh… I was going to make these as-is for a retro Tiki party I’m throwing, but now I think I’ll do the coconut trick, to half of them anyway! Awesome!
You could put them on popsicle or lollipop sticks, too Julie.
For young children: slice the banana, lay on cookie sheet, poke a chocolate chip in the middle, and freeze. We put four in a small plastic bag and keep in the freezer. Helps with self control, a little bit.
Hi there! Any advice on how to get added into the “All about “Food” group board? Came across your pin on there and it looks AMAZING!
Hi Brittany — I’m not an admin on that board, so I don’t know. Check with the very first person listed on the board, that will be the owner. Good luck, and thanks for stopping by ๐
These were awesome and so simple! My chocolate took a lot longer to melt in the microwave – about a minute stopping every 30 seconds to stir. I cheated and did not freeze the bananas first. Still worked.
I made two bananas with the chocolate and still had a bunch left over. So I spread it on a silicone sheet and pressed some dried fruit, nuts, and puffed millet in it for an additional chocolatey goodness snack. Had to pop it in the freezer to get it to harden, and then kept the finished goodness in the freezer. Yum.
Glad you had some fun with this Ashley!
Any idea how long these will stay fresh in the freezer? Thinking about making a bunch to keep and have on hand for a healthy grab and go snack. Thanks!
I think the banana would start to degrade fairly quickly, but that’s just my guess…they’ve never lasted long here, so I don’t know ๐
Thank you for this.! It is delicious.!
hi! can you add peanut butter to the chocolate?
The best way to add peanut butter is to spread a layer on top of the frozen banana, then refreeze until firm, and then dip! I don’t think the chocolate will harden properly if you try to mix peanut butter into the chocolate coating.
We make these all the time with peanut butter! What has worked the best for us is to pipe the peanut butter on top of the banana slices with a piping/frosting bag. Then freeze before dipping in the chocolate!
Sounds yummy!
you can sprinkle with peanuts!
I actually use a half banana with a popsicle stik in it, freeze that, then dip in chocolate then peanuts, freeze 2 hrs.
Hi Sue, Is this recipe lastose free if using dark chocolate?
Not all dark chocolate is dairy free or lactose free, be sure to look for one that is specifically labeled as such.