When you need a cheap cold treat that doesn’t come from a neon box, these Frozen Banana Bites do the job nicely. Banana pieces get dipped in melted chocolate, finished with whatever toppings you have on hand, and tucked into the freezer until they turn into bite-size summer relief.
During the hot summer months, it's great to have various frozen treats on hand. While popsicles certainly have their place, frozen fruit is an excellent way for the kids to replenish nutrients easily lost in the hot weather. These are delightfully simple to prepare, the kids will love helping!
Another variation that we really enjoy is to spread peanut butter between two slices of bananas and then dip them in chocolate.
They’re simple enough for kids to help with, flexible enough for pantry-foraging adults, and easy to customize with coconut, chopped nuts, sprinkles, or a little peanut butter if you want to get fancy without spending fancy money.
Ingredients
- Bananas
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon solid shortening
- Sprinkles, chopped nuts, coconut flakes, or other toppings you like (optional)
You only need three basic ingredients to make the base version. The toppings are where you clean out half-used bags in the pantry and pretend that was the plan all along.
How to Make Frozen Banana Bites
- Cut the bananas into 1 to 2-inch pieces.
- Insert a toothpick into each piece for easy dipping.
- Combine the chocolate chips and shortening in the top of a double boiler.
- Melt over low heat, stirring until smooth.
- Dip each banana piece in the melted chocolate and place it on wax paper.
- Add toppings right away while the chocolate is still wet. Try a walnut half on top, or roll the bites in chopped nuts, shredded coconut, granola, rice cereal, or colored sprinkles.
- Place the tray in the freezer for 2 to 4 hours, or until the banana bites are frozen solid.
- Transfer the frozen bites to a freezer-safe zipper bag or airtight container for storage.
If you want to dip several pieces at once, thread them onto skewers first. It gives you a little more control and a lot less banana-plopping into the chocolate.
Tips for Best Results
Use bananas that are ripe but still firm. Overripe bananas taste good, but they’re softer, slicker, and much more likely to slide around when you dip them.
Keep the heat low when melting the chocolate. Chocolate scorches fast, and once it seizes, it turns from smooth and useful to grainy and annoying in record time.
Line the tray with wax paper before you start dipping. That one small step keeps the bites from sticking and saves you from chiseling frozen banana concrete off the pan later.
Easy Variations
For a peanut butter version, spread a little peanut butter between two banana slices, then dip the stack in chocolate. If you like banana and peanut butter together, you might also want to try Peanut Butter Banana Muffin Mix for another inexpensive way to use ripe bananas.
You can also skip the shortening and stir 3 tablespoons of peanut butter into the chocolate instead. That gives the coating a softer set and a little extra richness.
Not in a banana mood but still want a cold make-ahead treat? Frozen Banana Pudding Graham Freezer Sandwiches are another easy freezer dessert worth keeping around.
Storage and Make-Ahead
Freeze the banana bites on a tray until solid, then transfer them to an airtight freezer container or zipper bag. For best quality, use them within 2 months. Frozen food stays safe indefinitely at 0 degrees F, but texture and flavor slowly decline over time, which lines up with general USDA guidance on freezer storage and food quality from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service.
These are best stored frozen, not refrigerated. In the refrigerator, the banana softens and weeps, and the chocolate loses that nice firm shell.
If you’re making them ahead for a party, prepare the tray a day or two in advance, freeze until solid, then bag them up and keep them frozen until serving time. That way they’re ready when you are, and you’re not still dipping bananas while everyone else is already eating.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these straight from the freezer as a snack, lunchbox-side treat packed in an insulated container, or an easy summer dessert. They also work well on a little frozen dessert platter with strawberries, grapes, or a few cookies if you’re stretching what looks like a lot without actually making a lot.
💸 Budget101® Price Breakdown: Frozen Banana Bites
Ingredient |
Walmart Item |
Pkg Price |
Amount Used |
Cost Used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Medium bananas |
$0.18 |
3 |
$0.54 |
|
Semi-sweet chocolate chips |
$2.32 |
1 C. |
$1.16 |
|
Solid shortening |
$3.98 |
1 T. |
$0.04 |
|
Coconut flakes |
$2.24 |
1 ≈ light garnish sprinkle |
$0.06 |
💸 |
Cost |
|---|---|
🧾 Total Batch Cost |
$1.80 |
👨👩👧👦 Cost Per Serving |
$0.08 |
📅 Walmart prices last verified August 26, 2026. Prices may vary by location and are subject to change. Learn how to calculate the cost of a recipe on your own!
🛒 Walmart Grocery List
- Fresh Banana, 1 each
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips, 12 oz
- Vegetable Shortening, 48 oz
- Rainbow Sprinkles, 10 oz
Not sure exactly what this batch costs you per serving? Here’s how to break down the real cost of any recipe so you know before you shop.
Frequently Asked Questions about Frozen Banana Bites
Plan on about 24 bites if you use 3 medium bananas and cut them into roughly 1 1/2-inch pieces. That number can shift a little depending on banana size and how thick you slice them, but it gives you a solid estimate for serving and budgeting.
You can swap it in at the same 1 tablespoon amount. It helps thin the melted chocolate so it coats the banana more smoothly, which is handy because plain melted chips can be a bit stubborn.
It usually means the chocolate got too hot or needs a little more fat to loosen it. Stir in another teaspoon of shortening or coconut oil, keep the heat low, and melt slowly over barely simmering water instead of blasting it and hoping for the best.
No, not for this version. Fresh banana pieces dip more easily, and then the whole tray freezes for 2 to 4 hours after coating, which gives the chocolate time to set and the centers time to firm up.
Light toppings like coconut, finely chopped nuts, crushed cereal, and sprinkles work best because they cling before the chocolate sets. Add them immediately after dipping, since waiting even a minute can leave you with toppings rolling off like they were never invited.
Absolutely. Use two forks to roll each piece through the chocolate, then lift and tap off the excess before setting it on wax paper. It’s a little messier, but still completely workable.
You can, and it works two ways. Spread a thin layer between two banana slices before dipping, or replace the shortening with 3 tablespoons of peanut butter for a softer chocolate coating with more peanut flavor.
Freeze them solid on the tray first, then bag them once the coating is firm. If you’re stacking several layers, put wax paper or parchment between them so you can grab a few at a time instead of peeling apart one giant banana brick.
Yes, strawberries and cantaloupe chunks both work well with this same dip. Just dry the fruit very well first, because extra surface moisture makes chocolate seize, slip, or set patchy instead of smooth.
Serve them straight from the freezer and let them sit 1 to 2 minutes if they’re rock hard. That short wait softens the banana just enough to bite cleanly without turning the whole tray into a melty situation.
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🖨️ Print-Friendly Frozen Banana Bites
Frozen Banana Bites
Ingredients
- 3 medium bananas
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon solid shortening
- Sprinkles optional
- Chopped nuts optional
- Coconut flakes optional
Equipment
Instructions
- Cut the bananas into 1 to 2-inch pieces.
- Insert toothpicks into each piece for easier dipping.
- Combine the chocolate chips and shortening in the top of a double boiler.
- Melt over low heat, stirring until smooth.
- Dip each banana piece in chocolate and place on wax paper.
- Add toppings immediately, if using.
- Freeze the tray for 2 to 4 hours, until the bites are frozen solid.
- Transfer to a freezer-safe zipper bag or airtight container and store frozen.
Recipe Size Alteration
💡 If you altered the ingredients above by doubling or tripling the recipe, you may also need to change the pan/dish size and adjust the cook time.
Notes
Prep time is an estimate based on peeling, slicing, dipping, and topping the banana pieces.
Cook time is listed as 0 minutes because the recipe uses gentle melting only, not active baking or stovetop cooking.
For a peanut butter variation, spread peanut butter between two banana slices before dipping, or omit the shortening and stir 3 tablespoons peanut butter into the chocolate.
For best quality, store frozen in an airtight container and use within 2 months.
