10 Recipes That Prove Bananas Make the Healthiest Frozen Desserts

These are truly magical times: Desserts are getting healthy makeovers (did someone say brain-boosting cacao truffles?!), often with nutrient-packed fruits and veggies playing an Oscar-worthy supporting role. But while you may have mastered the art of avocado chocolate mousse and cauliflower rice pudding, we often forget about an ingredient at the core of so many good—and good-for-you—treats: bananas.

Pop them in the freezer and bananas transform almost magically and effortlessly into a healthy dessert with delicious wow-factor. It’s bananas (go on, say it: b-a-n-a-n-a-s). They’re super low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium, and a great source of dietary fiber, potassium, and manganese. Plus, they have a non-dairy creaminess and a natural source of sugar that won’t make your nutritionist mad.

Here are 10 deliciously simple and healthy frozen banana recipes you’ll want to clear out the ice box for…

Originally posted June 21, 2013, updated August 4, 2017.

1. Salted Chocolate Frozen Banana Bites

These dark-chocolate banana bites are a decadent example of how glam and versatile frozen bananas can be. Gimme Some Oven’s Ali Ebright coats her banana bites with a dark chocolate magic shell (secret ingredient: coconut oil!) and a little bit of sea salt. The best part? The recipe calls for only four ingredients—and we bet you have them all already.

2. One-Ingredient Banana Ice Cream

All you need are bananas to make this delicious, dairy-free ice cream alternative. Plus, it’s as creamy as it is simple to make. Bananas, blender... and you’ve got a sweet staple to enjoy all year long.

3. Chocolate Covered Frozen Bananas

Inspired by the beloved Bluth family of Arrested Development, these banana stand-worthy treats make for a mouth-watering vegan treat. Coat frozen bananas in melted dark chocolate and roll them in nuts (optional, but extremely recommended) for an equally appetizing and ah-peelingtreat.

4. Banana Bread in a Bowl

There’s no actual bread in this recipe; it’s more like a breakfast cereal with whole food sources of fiber and protein. But it has that yummy banana bread flavor.

5. Nice Cream Blizzard

The Dairy Queen classic just got a major healthy makeover. Gin Butters of Eat Healthy Eat Happy combines creamy banana nice cream and homemade candy bars—made with coconut oil chocolate and whipped date peanut butter caramel (drooling yet?)-- for a healthified shake that is also paleo, vegan, and all-natural. Your ice cream and Snickers cravings just got a whole lot more fun to satisfy.

6. Banana Nice Cream Sandwiches

Bananas are used in both the cookie and the ice cream to create these delicious (and raw!) ice cream sandwiches. Carissa Alice of Alice in Cookingland packs her cookies a not-intimidating ingredients list (think rolled oats, coconut, and nut butter). Ready to take it to the next level? Add in a bar of chocolate (make it dark!) for a frozen s’more-inspired treat.

7. Chocolate Chia Pudding Pops with Banana

The secret to these fudge-y popsicles? Chia pudding. Sweeten with honey or maple syrup (your choice!) for a feel-good, refined sugar-free dessert.

8. Peanut Butter Banana Popsicles

Elvis would totally approve of this creamy peanut butter-banana coupling. The vegan popsicles, which serve up healthy fats thanks to the nut butter, are basically a delicious smoothie bowl in popsicle form.

9. Chunky Monkey Breakfast Ice Cream

Ben & Jerry’s may have gone vegan, but we’re going bananas over Foodscape’s Michaell Johnson take on nice cream. No judgement if you make a pint of it for yourself.

10. Frozen Banana Bonbons with Pistachios

Looking for something to enjoy with your glass of homemade pistachio milk? Try one of these antioxidant-rich bites from Cristina A-Moore of Teenie Cakes. If you’re feeling fancy, you can totally call them bonbons.

Now that desserts covered, here are some healthy ideas for lunch and dinner.