These healthy chocolate banana popsicles are smooth and creamy with a sweet chocolate flavor. They're loaded with superfoods like hemp seeds, collagen and avocado, making them great for a wholesome dessert or after-school treat. These chocolate banana popsicles are gluten free, dairy free, paleo and easily made vegan.
My love for popsicles and ice cream bars during the summer is endless! Strawberry popsicles, mint chip ice cream bars and homemade fudgsicles are among our favorites.
These healthy chocolate banana popsicles are the newest addition to our summer dessert rotation. In fact, they're healthy enough that I've been giving them to my kids as part of breakfast.
They're made with ripe bananas, spinach, hemp seeds, avocado, cocoa powder and a few other simple ingredients. The ingredients are blended, poured into a popsicle mold and then frozen. They're basically smoothie popsicles; so a treat you can feel good about eating any time of day!
Why you'll love this recipe
- healthy - made with simple, whole food ingredients
- paleo and vegan friendly
- dairy free - although this recipe contains yogurt, you can use a plant based yogurt to make the recipe dairy free (I used coconut yogurt)
- smooth and creamy - these popsicles freeze well. They aren't icy or rock solid, but soft and creamy right out of the freezer.
- made without coconut oil - these can be made completely coconut free!
Ingredients
Here is a list of the ingredients you'll need. For the full recipe, please see the recipe card at the end of the post.
- organic baby spinach - optional, but a great way to sneak in some greens without affecting the flavor
- ripe bananas - any ripeness will work, but I prefer yellow bananas with a few brown/black speckles. You can also use frozen bananas if that's all you have on hand.
- dates - for added sweetness and texture purposes. They help make the popsicles creamy after freezing.
- avocado - for creaminess and a dose of healthy fats
- hemp seeds - a nutritional powerhouse that increases the fat and protein content of the popsicles
- cocoa powder - cacao or carob powder would work as an appropriate substitute
- collagen peptides - optional, but boosts the protein content and adds to the creamy texture. Omit for vegan, or swap with hemp protein powder.
- plain yogurt - any type will work. I used unsweetened coconut yogurt.
- vanilla extract
Instructions
These banana popsicles are super easy to make, just blend the ingredients, pour into a popsicle mold and freeze! Here are the step by step instructions:
- Combine Ingredients: Add all ingredients to a high powered blender.
- Blend: Blend the mixture until smooth.
- Pour into Popsicle Mold: Pour into molds and add the popsicle sticks.
- Freeze: Freeze overnight, or for at least 6 hours.
Tips and Tricks
- Add the spinach to your blender first. This helps keep the spinach low in the blender and makes it easier to pulverize.
- Start blending everything at a low speed, slowly increasing the speed until everything is well mixed.
- Make sure to look for chunks - everything should be fully blended before transferring to the popsicle mold.
Storage
Store leftover popsicles in a plastic or silicone bag. Keep them in the freezer and enjoy within one month.
FAQ
These banana popsicles are healthy because they're made with simple, whole food ingredients, only sweetened with fruit and contain healthy fats and protein to help minimize your blood sugar response.
No, collagen is optional. You may omit this ingredient or swap it with a protein powder, like hemp protein.
More Frozen Dessert Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Healthy Chocolate Banana Popsicles
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Freeze Time: 6 hours
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 12-14 popsicles 1x
Description
These healthy chocolate banana popsicles are rich and creamy and made with wholesome ingredients you can feel good about eating!
Ingredients
- 1 cup organic baby spinach
- 2 large, ripe bananas
- 5 Medjool dates, pitted*
- ½ small avocado
- 2 Tbsp hemp seeds
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- ¼ cup collagen peptides
- ½ cup plain yogurt (I used coconut yogurt)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Combine all popsicle ingredients in a high powered blender.
- Blend, starting at a low speed and gradually increasing the speed until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Stop to scrape down the sides as needed.
- Pour the mixture into popsicle molds.
- Add the popsicle sticks.
- Place the popsicles in the freezer. Freeze overnight, or for at least 6 hours.
- Store leftover popsicles in an airtight plastic or silicone bag.
Notes
*If your dates are not soft, then soak them in hot water for 5 minutes. Drain the water, then add them to your blender with the remaining ingredients.
Katie
My kids and I love these healthy chocolate banana popsicles. Enjoy!