Peanut Butter and Chocolate Covered Bananas

3-ingredient peanut butter chocolate covered bananas (+ toppings!) can be chilled or frozen for a fun, quick, healthy, delicious summer treat with a balanced combination of healthy fats, protein, and carbs!

Quick Peanut Butter Chocolate Covered Bananas

Bananas are perfect for creating creamy and delicious low-budget recipes all year, from smoothies to pancakes and muffins and even ice cream. However, when you’re in the mood for a sweet, healthy, summery treat, try these peanut butter and cvegan chocolate covered bananas (aka ‘banana on a stick’).

With just 3 ingredients and plenty of topping options, these dairy-free peanut butter chocolate dipped bananas are really simple to make and adapt, can be enjoyed chilled or frozen (so perfect for summer), and are generally a simple, satisfying, delicious, last-minute snack for kids and adults.

Best of all, they take just minutes to throw together and are perfect for satisfying sweet cravings while providing healthy fats, protein, and carbs to keep you feeling full and fueled until your next meal. Did we mention they’re naturally gluten-free and dairy-free, too?!

Looking for more healthy banana-based snacks? Try our healthy banana popsicles, banana chocolate chip bars, and no-bake chocolate peanut butter cookies. You might also enjoy these chocolate peanut butter protein popsicles also!

Are Peanut Butter and Chocolate Dipped Bananas Healthy?

When eaten in moderation, these vegan peanut butter chocolate dipped bananas are a healthy, delicious, well-balanced treat, loaded with healthy fats, protein, fiber, and several vitamins and minerals – all with just three ingredients.

1. Banana: It’s filled with fiber, potassium, carbs, vitamin B6 and Vitamin C, folate, and various antioxidants and phytonutrients. This combination could provide several benefits, including supporting digestive and heart health and giving you energy.
2. Peanut butter: As long as you use peanut butter without added sugars and oils, it’s fairly healthy when eaten in moderation. It’s rich in several nutrients (vitamins E, B3, and B6, manganese, magnesium, copper, and folate), contains antioxidants, and heart-healthy fats and plant-based protein to keep you full for longer.
3. Dark chocolate: When using vegan chocolate with at least 70% cocoa content, you’re eating a food loaded with antioxidants and several beneficial minerals, like iron, magnesium, manganese, and copper, which can provide several benefits.

The Ingredients

• Banana: Use ripe but firm bananas so they hold their shape. A few brown spots are fine.
• Vegan chocolate: Use your favorite vegan dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips. We like to use dairy-free chocolate at least 70% cocoa for healthy dark chocolate covered bananas. Use sugar-free chocolate if preferred.
• Peanut butter: It’s best to use a thick, creamy peanut butter rather than a smooth, runny one, as it spreads and chills better. Look out for peanut butter without added oils or sugar.

You’ll also need wooden popsicle sticks or chopsticks for making bananas dipped in vegan chocolate.

Chocolate Dipped Bananas Topping Ideas

• Chopped nuts (peanuts, walnuts, pistachios, hazelnuts, etc.)
• Seeds (sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, hemp seeds, etc.)
• Shredded coconut (unsweetened)
• Cacao nibs (for antioxidants and plenty of crunch)
• Freeze-dried fruit (bits or powder)
• Sprinkles (check the ingredients to ensure they’re vegan)
• More vegan chocolate (a drizzle of dairy-free milk or white chocolate)
• Dates (finely chopped/minced)
• Other fruits (pomegranate seeds, raisins, berries, etc.)
• Pretzels (crushed for salty, crunchy flavor)
• Flaky salt (for a delicious sweet and salty flavor contrast)
• Granola (your favorite kind – fruity, nutty, chocolate, peanut butter, etc.)
• Crushed vegan cookies (like Biscoff or Oreos)
• Puffed cereal (i.e., rice, quinoa, amaranth)

How to Make Peanut Butter and Chocolate Dipped Bananas?

• 1) First, peel and chop the banana in half, and line a baking tray with parchment paper.

• 2) Then, stick a popsicle stick into the bottom of each half.

For a frozen treat, then freeze the bananas for at least 2 hours.

• 3) Meanwhile, melt the peanut butter and vegan chocolate separately in the microwave (in 15-second increments) or in a double boiler.

• 4) Then, first, dip the banana into the peanut butter, then the melted vegan chocolate.

The easiest way to do this is to place the peanut butter and vegan chocolate in separate tall, thin glasses or jars and dip the bananas directly downwards into them.

• 5) Lay the vegan chocolate and peanut butter covered bananas onto the parchment-lined tray and sprinkle with the chopped nuts (or your choice of topping), then transfer the tray to the refrigerator (for about 30 minutes) or freezer (for 10-15) until they’re set. Enjoy!

For frozen peanut butter and vegan chocolate banana popsicles, leave them in the freezer for longer. For frozen peanut butter banana bites, keep reading.

How to Make Chocolate Dipped Banana Bites

To turn these into a bite-sized snack, slice the banana (about ½-inch), spread some peanut butter between two slices, then dip them (half or wholly) in melted vegan chocolate.

Then place on a parchment-lined tray and chill or freeze until solid.

FAQs

Top Recipe Tips and Notes

• Use ripe but not overripe bananas: It’s important they aren’t too ripe, or they’ll be overly soft and mushy. Meanwhile, if they’re too hard/unripe, then they’ll have lackluster flavor.
• Use good-quality vegan chocolate: For the best flavor and nutrition.
• For cleanest dipping: Freeze the bananas for 10-15 minutes before dipping, so the peanut butter and vegan chocolate layers solidify quickly and don’t cause a lot of mess.
• To melt the vegan chocolate easier: Add a tablespoon or so of coconut oil (use refined coconut oil for no flavor) to help thin the dairy-free chocolate and have it remain smoother for longer while dipping the bananas.

Storage Instructions

You can store these healthy vegan chocolate covered peanut butter bananas in the fridge to enjoy within 2 days or in the freezer (for a delicious frozen treat) for up to 2 months. Wrap them in wax paper to avoid sticking, then place them in a Ziplock/Stasher bag.

When you want to enjoy one, remove it from the freezer for a few minutes first.

More Vegan Banana Recipes

• Vegan banana pancakes
• Banana peach bread
• Banana cream pie
• Simple banana parfait
• Chocolate chip banana bites
• Banana cheesecake

Photos by Alfonso Revilla