Lovely friends… hi. Dear readers… hello.
Let’s talk about keeping it classy. Hot dang! I try hard to keep it classy. Holy smokes… do I ever fail sometimes.
Let’s discuss classy versus not classy, and what the heck chocolate dipped bananas have to do with anything.
Classy: a tastefully short summer sundress. Not class: booty shorts that awkwardly bunch in the crotch.
Classy: gracefully switching from wine to water at the company picnic. Not classy: maybe getting drunk and punching the sous chef in the face. Oops.
Classy: How much I love listening to public radio. Not classy: How much I love to watch The Real Housewives of New Jersey. Guilty… but why do they yell so much?
Classy: Enjoying mini chocolate dipped bananas on a summer afternoon. Not as classy: Trying to gnaw your way through a giant chocolate dipped banana. It’s just not pretty friends. Let’s try to avoid this scene this summer. I think we all know why.
In case you’re wondering what I’ll be eating all summer, the answer is homemade kettle corn and these little lovelies. Gracious heavens, how have I not come to these sooner!? Use the best chocolate you can get your hands on. I used a Valrhona 70% chocolate. How about nuts!? Heck yes! I liked chopped honey roasted peanuts, but walnuts or toasted pecans would be lovely too.
Mini Chocolate Dipped Bananas
3 firm but ripe bananas
9- 12 wooden popsicle sticks or lollipop sticks
2 cups chocolate chips or chunks, melted
1/2 cup nuts of your choice, pulverized in the food processor or finely chopped.
Peel three firm bananas and slice each banana into thirds or fourths. Each banana slice should be about 3 inches tall.
Place wooden sticks or lollipop sticks through the center of one end of the banana slice, about 2 inches deep.
Place of a tray or plate, making sure that the bananas do not touch, cover with plastic wrap and freeze for four hours, or overnight.
Using a food processor, pulse the nuts until they are chopped very fine. You can also do this by hand, it just takes a bit longer. Place in a bowl and set aside for the dipping.
Melt chocolate over a double boiler. Simmer 3 inches of water in a pot, place the chocolate in a heat proof bowl and, once the water is simmering, place the bowl of chocolate over the simmering water. The water should not touch the bottom of the bowl. Stir the chocolate pieces occasionally until they’re all melted.
Remove bananas from the freezer, dip in chocolate, roll in nuts and place on a foil lined baking sheet. When all the bananas are dipped, return to the freezer for 30 minutes to harden. Once hard, wrap individually in plastic wrap and store in the freezer until you’re ready to snack on them. Yum! I think they’re best eaten when thawed at room temperature for about 7 minutes.
{ 79 comments… read them below or add one }
that’s super quick, and looks delish! but tell me this, when you double boil and melt chocolate, why do you say the bottom of the choc-holding bowl shouldn’t touch the water? i have always let the choc bowl float in the simmering water while stirring. is that bad?
oh you’re such a good read, Joy!
not to mention classy!
haha!
This looks so great! and easy too! :)
Love your blog, Joy the Baker! :)
My girlies (ages 5 and 3) and I made those the other day. They’re soooo good and so easy to make. The girlies like putting pretty sprinkles on theirs instead of chopped nuts.
Such a quick and easy treat. Those would be great for that casual dinner party. Kind of fun and makes you feel like a kid.
Mmm, sometimes the simplest things can make for the classiest things :)
I wonder if it would work with a good caramel too *ponders*
These look awesome and can attract a wide audience!! I wish my kids liked bananas-I would be making these in fifteen minutes since I have a nice bunch in thekitchen and all the “proper Ingredients”–perhaps for my summer gathering–the adults will certainly appreciate these-thanks for yet another great idea!
Chocolate dipped bananas are big at festivals in Japan. You would be hard pressed to go to a festival and not see at least one vendor selling rows of “cha-ko banana” with sprinkles, nuts or white chocolate drizzles.
Please don’t tell my husband that’s it’s so easy to make it at home or else I’ll never get to go to any festivals.
I’m not a big fan of bananas on their own, but man, make dessert out of them and I’m all there. Banana cream pie, banana ice cream, banana cupcakes….and chocolate dipped. Sign me up!
These look yummy. I just wish I liked bananas. *sigh* I guess I’ll just have to get over it.
How did you know that chocolate dipped bananas are my FAV!
Thank you soooo much for making me laugh this morning, almost to the point of tears!!! I so needed that laugh. I will try to cut my bananas to a classy length. I was actually asked to do choc dipped bananas for a wedding reception and couldn’t quite figure out how to do it, I’m glad that I said no. I wasn’t even thinking about nana length! Can you imagine those pics?
Have a great day!! Thanks again.
Misty
Those are pretty classy, if I do say so myself.
those look great! perfect for hot summer nights, too.
I bet they would be great with sliced apples
You made me snort in the middle of class. Note to self: No reading Joy’s blog in Diversity and re-evaluate classy status.
Joy, I love your blog!! It’s always good for a giggle – I love your classy v. non-classy post and those chocolate dipped bananas. I am not a big fan of bananas but these totally may make me change my mind!! Have a great day!!
oh these surely are delicious! You ve always got such great recipes.
ooh.. yummy and quick! I like! I also like the idea of caramel.. and sprinkles… Put bananas with anything and I’m sold! :)
I enjoy your writing, Joy. You crack me up!
So what does it say about me if I think they are REALLY awesome? My 6 yr old will loose his mind when we made these together! I am thinkin’ I will have him sprinkle his with red, white and blue jimmies instead of nuts. Thanks for helping me to be a “cool” mom in my son’s eyes (I need all the help I can get).
OMG (and I don’t use this acronym very often)!! THAT LOOKS SO AWESOME!! You are fantastic Joy!!
I love making frozen bananas! I’m going to have to go out now and by the choclate and bananas to make some!
Before I clicked on this post, I thought the title said “mint chocolate dipped bananas”. I don’t know if that would be awesome or disgusting! These, however, look awesome.
I’m also a big fan of the Filipino version of bananas on a stick:
http://carinderia.net/blog/?p=658
Bananacue (analagous to barbecue?), which are bananas rolled in brown sugar, then caramelized by deep frying and put on a stick.
HAHAHA… classy…Hah! I think it’s best to encompass both sides of the classy/not-so-classy world. As I’m sitting in my office in my lady like business attire nursing a broken pinkie from a not-so-classy faceplant I took out of a cab last Saturday post an all day drinking binge. Whooo! Enough said. These bananas look OUTSTANDINGLY yummy.
I admit it, I’m a sucker for the Real Housewives of New Jersey.
And how do you not hork down too many of those fabulous choco covered bananas!? Cuz, i know you can’t eat just one!
You crack me up Joy! Yes we all totally get it! I am going to give these a try. The peach brulee was amazingly good and so easy. I have made them twice already.
not only simple, but cute as well! I wouldn’t be able to resist eating these… might have to hide them behind something else in the freezer!
These look just right for the summer! Especially cold, mmmmmm….
I am soooo making these. Too bad they wouldn’t survive a trip on the Gold Line and a walk through downtown LA or I’d take them to a party on Saturday. Mmm. I bet they would be good rolled in some crushed up sweet and spicy pecans from Trader Joe’s.
I have an obsession with mini things — especially mini desserts. I’m sure I’ll be making these soon enough. New Jersey housewives are so not classy, but I’m guilty of being sucked into their drama too!
I don’t think I would want to share these… Not classy, I know.
And I love the Real Housewives of New Jersey. And Daisy of Love. And the list goes on…
I love that they’re mini!
I love this post and will be sharing it with my mother. She really embarrassed me the summer I was 15, by making me finish my frozen banana before letting me go to watch my boyfriend’s wresting competition at the state fair.
Yum! I’ve not had a chocolate dipped banana since i was a kid! I think it’s time to make them at home :)
Oh how fun!
“Let’s try to avoid this scene this summer. I think we all know why.”
Tee hee! I’m still giggling over this!
“Real Housewives of New Jersey” is a miracle/curse. My sister and I now greet each other on the phone saying, “WE ARE THICK AS THIEVES!”
Joy – I am new to the world of baking blogs, but I have to say yours is one of my absolute favorites to read! These look so fun! :)
I just found your blog via “The Kitchen Sink” blog. I get so excited when I find a beautiful blog like yours!!! I’ll be a frequent visitor,and oh, those bananas look divine :)
Your posts are always so well-written and cute : ) I also love the housewives of NJ and I’m missing it now that it’s all gone. Love the chocolate dipped bananas and they are very kid friendly.
These look so great. I can’t wait to make them!
Oh yum! Perfect summer food!
I had forgotten how much I love frozen banana…think this might be one for the weekend. mwahx
Great Idea! This will be a great treat to both kids and adults on a hot day! Making them right away! Thanks for sharing!!!
Oh WoW!!! Those look yummy
Morning Joy! I finally made Milk Chocolate Pudding with Cream and Raspberry Sauce last night. It was a BIG hit and I will certainly be making it again and again!
These bananas are on the roster as an edible activity for a grown up cousin’s weekend this 4th. I made your blackberry pie bars last night to bring with me as well (substituting raspberries and blueberries to make it red-white-blue)… the house is filled with the smell of hot berries and lemon sugar. I’ll be spreading a little Joy (the Baker) this weekend – Thanks!
What a great idea! Now if you could please scoot back in time to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk and figure out how to make those chocolate dipped grahamcracker vanilla ice cream sandwiches rolled in walnuts(?)
peanuts (?), I’d be most obliged.
Those are SO CUTE!
Looks AWESOME and super simple!
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