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These easy and healthy banana popsicles are creamy, sweet, refreshing, and made with just 2 base ingredients (+ several flavor variations) for a healthy summer treat!

completed Healthy Banana Popsicles against a white surface alongside bananas
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Simple and Healthy Homemade Banana Popsicles

Weโ€™re already obsessed with healthy banana ice cream, which has you blend frozen bananas (learn how to freeze bananas here) into the perfect soft-serve consistency. But did you know you can make delicious, healthy banana popsicles, too?

Unlike store-bought popsicles, these healthy banana popsicles are free from artificial chemicals, flavorings, stabilizers, or other add-ins. You can even get away with making entirely sugar-free banana popsicles, combining just bananas and vanilla extract for the delicious, simple base, with optional cinnamon.

Check out our list of optional add-ins though, too, for delicious flavor variations โ€“ whether youโ€™re in the mood for vegan chocolate, peanut butter, or fruity banana pops. No matter what, these are a delicious dairy-free, gluten-free, refined sugar-free treat loved by children and adults alike!

You might also enjoy creamy lemon ice pops, mixed berry nice cream, these non-frozen peanut butter banana pops, chocolate peanut butter protein popsicles, easy strawberry popsicles, or this strawberry banana milkshake.

The Ingredients

ingredients for Healthy Banana Popsicles measured out against a white surface

Banana Popsicle Flavor Variations

  • Canned coconut milk: ยผ- โ…“ cup of full-fat canned coconut milk can help to make slightly softer, less icy banana popsicles.
  • Dairy-free yogurt: Use full-fat vegan vanilla yogurt to mix into or layer with the banana mixture.
  • Cocoa powder: Add 1-2 tbsp of unsweetened cocoa powder. Optionally, add it to just half the mixture and create layered dairy-free chocolate banana popsicles.
  • Peanut butter: Add a few tablespoons of peanut butter (or your favorite nut butter) for rich and creamy peanut butter banana popsicles.
  • Spinach: A handful of spinach will blend seamlessly into the popsicles, turning them vibrant green without affecting the flavor.
  • Jams/Jellies: Swirl in your favorite fruity jam/jelly before transferring it to the molds.
  • Other fruits: Add about ยผ-ยฝ cup of other fruits to create delicious fruity variations.
    • Strawberry banana popsicles
    • Raspberry banana popsicles
    • Mango banana popsicles
  • Peanut butter or dairy-free chocolate-coated banana popsicles: Dip the frozen popsicles partway into melted vegan chocolate (learn how to melt chocolate here) or peanut butter and optionally sprinkle with crushed nuts, freeze-dried fruit, shredded coconut, sprinkles, etc.

Did you know you can skip blending entirely and make fresh banana popsicles by freezing half a banana on a popsicle stick and optionally covering it with vegan chocolate?

How to Make Banana Popsicles?

process shot showing added ingredients to food processor
post processed ingredients alongside popsicle molds and sticks

Step 1: First, peel and then transfer the bananas to a food processor or blender along with all the remaining ingredients (except sweetener), and blend until smooth and creamy.

Step 2: Pour the banana popsicle mixture into popsicle molds (leave a small amount of space for expansion) and insert the popsicle sticks.

Give it a taste once blended, and add sweetener, if desired. Note that adding sugar helps to make softer popsicles.

process shot showing added popsicle mixture to popsicle mold

Step 3: Then, transfer the mold to the freezer overnight or until fully set (6-8 hours).

FAQs

Are banana popsicles healthy?

These banana popsicles can be made with as little as blended banana and some vanilla extract, making them a healthy yet refreshing, low-calorie summer treat. Bananas are a great source of dietary fiber, vitamins B6 and C, potassium, manganese, and magnesium.

Those combined can benefit gut, digestive, heart, bone, and vision health. They also contain โ€˜tryptophan,โ€™ which can help mood and stress.

Can I use frozen banana?

That should work if you blend it into a nice-cream consistency and then transfer it to mold to freeze. This will probably make creamier popsicles, as the blending will have broken up larger ice crystals, and the quick re-freezing should keep them fairly small.

How to make softer banana popsicles?

The main ingredient to help make softer popsicles is sugar. However, a whole-fat ingredient like coconut milk or vegan yogurt can also help make smaller ice crystals.

Weโ€™ve also heard that adding 2-3 teaspoons of cornstarch to the mixture can help, though it isnโ€™t something weโ€™ve tried (yet).

Top Recipe Tips and Notes

  • Use the ripest bananas possible: The riper they are, the sweeter the popsicles.
  • Sweeten to taste: After blending, taste the mixture and sweeten accordingly.
  • If you donโ€™t have molds: There are several options โ€“ small plastic or paper cups, a muffin liner, an XL ice-cube tray, or even yogurt pots will work. Use a layer of foil or plastic wrap over them to hold the popsicle sticks in the center.
  • If you have leftover banana mixture: Either enjoy it with vegan yogurt and granola (like this peanut butter granola) or add a little plant-based milk (like peanut milk, cashew milk, or pecan milk) and other fruit to make it into a dairy-free milkshake (like this coffee milkshake) or smoothie (like this mango blueberry smoothie).
banana and banana popsicle on a white surface

How to Unmold Homemade Popsicles

While you may not have any issues when using flexible silicone molds, if you find it difficult to de-mold these banana ice cream popsicles, the trick is to gently heat the outside of the popsicles. There are a few ways you can do this:

  1. Leave it at room temperature for 5-10 minutes to soften.
  2. Carefully run warm water over the outside of the mold for just 20-30 seconds.
  3. Dip the mold into a large container (or sink) of warm water for 20-30 seconds.

Storage Instructions

Homemade banana pops will store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. We prefer to individually wrap them with wax paper to avoid sticking, pop them in an airtight Ziplock/Stasher bag so we can re-use the popsicle mold as needed.

Healthy Banana Popsicles

5 from 6 votes
Prep: 10 minutes
Freeze: 8 hours
Total: 8 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 10 popsicles
These easy banana popsicles are creamy, sweet, refreshing, and made with just 2 base ingredients (+ several flavor variations) for a healthy summer treat!

Ingredients 

  • 5 ripe medium bananas, peeled
  • 1 tablespoon of brown sugar or agave (optional)
  • ยฝ teaspoon of vanilla extract (optional)
  • Pinch of cinnamon (optional)

Instructions 

  • To the bowl of a food processor or blender, blend the bananas, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and cinnamon (if using).
  • Pour the banana mixture into popsicle molds and place them in the freezer overnight.

Notes

  • Use the ripest bananas possible: The riper they are, the sweeter the popsicles.
  • Sweeten to taste: After blending, taste the mixture and sweeten accordingly.
  • If you donโ€™t have molds: There are several options โ€“ small plastic or paper cups, a muffin liner, an XL ice-cube tray, or even yogurt pots will work. Use a layer of foil or plastic wrap over them to hold the popsicle sticks in the center.

Nutrition

Calories: 58kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 1gFat: 0.2gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.04gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.02gSodium: 1mgPotassium: 213mgFiber: 2gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 38IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 4mgIron: 0.2mg

Disclaimer: Although plantbasedonabudget.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Plantbasedonabudget.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.

Additional Info

Author: Toni Okamoto
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Method: No cook
Diet: Vegan
Tried this recipe?Please tag us at @PlantBasedOnABudget! ๐Ÿ™‚
About

Toni Okamoto

“They say you are what you eat, so I strive to be healthy.
My goal in life is not to be rich or wealthy,
‘Cause true wealth comes from good health and wise ways…
we got to start taking better care of ourselves ” – Dead Prez

More about Toni Okamoto
5 from 6 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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