Banana Popsicles

These banana popsicles use just four ingredients and require less than 10 minutes of preparation, but the results will be so tasty, you would gladly have paid for these banana pops at the store. Healthy enough that parents won’t mind giving them to the kids and plenty sweet enough for dessert, banana popsicles will be a new go-to treat in your home.

The only hard part about this recipe is the patience it takes to wait while your banana popsicles freeze. Do yourself a favor and make an even bigger batch so you’ll have plenty on hand when your sweet tooth strikes. Now, let’s grab those ripe bananas and get to the recipe.

Ingredients for Banana Popsicles

• Bananas: The recipe calls for three medium-ripe bananas, sliced into chunks. You want bananas that are softening slightly and starting to show brown spots on their peels, but that have not yet begun to turn brown internally.
• Greek yogurt: Plain Greek yogurt adds a pleasant consistency while letting the banana flavor dominate. If you want to make these vegan-friendly, you could swap in coconut cream or ripe avocado.
• Maple syrup: Along with the natural sweetness of the bananas, maple syrup adds more sweetness as well as that unique maple flavor. If you don’t have maple syrup, a basic pancake syrup is an acceptable swap.
• Vanilla extract: Vanilla extract is potent stuff, so use just the 1 teaspoon. Use too much, and it will overshadow the banana taste that you want to be front and center with these banana popsicles.
• Freezer pop molds or paper cups and wood pop sticks: If you use wood pop sticks, make sure they’re food safe.

Directions

Step 1: Blend the ingredients

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Place the bananas, yogurt, maple syrup and vanilla extract into a blender, and puree until the mixture is smooth.

Step 2: Add the puree to the molds

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Pour the puree into molds or paper cups (you may need to scoop it some) and top the molds with holders. If you’re using paper cups, top them with foil and insert pop sticks through the foil.

Step 3: Freeze and enjoy

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Freeze the popsicles until they’re firm. When you’re ready to serve them, let the pops stand at room temperature for five minutes before pulling them from the molds.

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Banana Popsicle Variations

• Use a flavored Greek yogurt: A flavored yogurt can add a new dimension of taste to these pops, with strawberry yogurt being an excellent choice.
• Add other fresh fruit to the puree: You can add ripe blueberries, strawberries or raspberries to the puree for a sweet and fruity flavor that’s still notably banana-oriented.
• Try banana extract: If you love banana flavor, double down on it and swap out the vanilla extract for banana extract.

How to Store Banana Popsicles

These banana popsicles will remain good in the freezer for two to three months. Just try to avoid frequently exposing them to warmer temperatures when the freezer is open, as they can build up frost that damages the texture and taste.

Banana Popsicle Tips

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Can I add a banana popsicle to a smoothie?

If you’re looking for a tasty way to sweeten up your smoothie, cut one of your banana popsicles off its stick and drop it in with the rest of the ingredients before you blend the smoothie.

Can I use frozen bananas to make banana-flavored popsicles?

It’s best to use fresh bananas, but if frozen is all you have, you can use them. Let them thaw partially before processing the ingredients, then follow the recipe as usual, but plan to consume the popsicles within a few days, as the thawing and refreezing will have shortened the banana’s freezer life.

What else can I add to this recipe?

Simple is actually better here, but a handful of chocolate chips dropped into the blender is one idea to add some excellence to these popsicles. Don’t overdo it, though—they already taste great as is.