Homemade popsicles are seriously underrated in my opinion. They’re a really fun way to get kids involved in cooking, and much like smoothies, you can pack in a bunch of nutrition without them having a fit. I get a kick out of knowing that we actually snuck some solid nutrition into a fun snack, and my kids, well, they just enjoy making a drippy, delicious mess.

Bananas are a great ingredient for popsicles because they give the mix a good texture that freezes really well, plus they have a ton of micronutrients and some fiber to help keep things moving, if you know what I mean. 

So today, I’m sharing my favorite chocolate banana popsicle recipe that you’ll be making all summer long! 

(Smoothies are also a fantastic warm weather staple. Grab my favorite recipes!)

Chocolate Banana Popsicles Recipe

Let’s talk about bananas and why they’re the perfect popsicle ingredient! 

Are Bananas Healthy For Your Kids?

Bananas are definitely healthy for kids! Like I mentioned above, they’re a great source of micronutrients including potassium, vitamin C, and several B vitamins. They are a good carbohydrate source of energy, and they have the all-important fiber that our kids need to help keep them satisfied and…not constipated. 

Did you know that different colors of bananas actually have different types and amounts of fiber? Green bananas are higher in fiber, whereas yellow-brown bananas are higher in antioxidants. The nutritional components of bananas actually change as they ripen. One isn’t necessarily better than another, but it’s cool to know that you’re getting different things based on when you’re eating it! 

You can use whatever bananas you have on hand, but I think a yellow banana is best here. Green doesn’t blend up quite as smooth and the brown ones I like to freeze and keep for banana bread! They have a different, sweeter taste that I think is best for baking. 

How To Make Chocolate Banana Popsicles For Kids

Ingredients

• 3 medium bananas (not brown, but not green- a nice, bright yellow banana works best here texture-wise) 
• 3/4 cup plain Greek yogurt (I used 0% fat Siggi’s yogurt, but you can use whatever fat content you have on hand)
• 3 Tbsp cocoa powder, unsweetened
• 1.5 tsp honey (omit for babies)

Instructions 

This might be the easiest recipe of all time! 

Step 1: Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.

Step 2: Pour mixture into popsicle molds (I like these ones for babies and these ones for bigger kids!).

Step 3: Freeze for 6+ hours (or overnight) until set.

Step 4: Remove from mold and enjoy! 

Expert Tip

Keep these popsicle molds handy all summer! You can literally dump any leftover smoothie contents into these molds, freeze them, and you’ve got your next snack ready in just a few hours. 

I don’t know about you but sometimes when I make a smoothie for two kids, I accidentally make a smoothie for 10 kids, so having these molds on hand kills two birds with one stone. 

Also, these popsicles can totally work for babies, as well. If you want to make them baby-friendly, make sure to skip the honey. Not only do kids under 2 not need any added sugar, babies under 1 actually need to avoid honey because of the possible presence of botulism spores in honey. Their immature systems aren’t yet able to fight those spores off, so honey is not safe for under 1! The good news is that banana is plenty sweet on its own, so these pops still taste great even without any added sweetener!

Picky Eater Modifications

What I love about popsicles (and smoothies) is you can customize them to your family’s liking. If you have a picky eater that is particular about texture or ingredients, that’s fully in your control here. I made these banana popsicles chocolate flavored with cocoa powder, but you certainly don’t have to. You can add in mini-chocolate chips or sprinkles to the mixture before you freeze it in the molds if they are more prone to eat things that have a little extra element of fun. You can also change the flavor profile if you want. You could blend up some strawberries for a strawberry banana take or add some frozen pineapple chunks to your blender for a tropical vibe. I’d keep the banana and yogurt base as is, but feel free to get creative with it! The great thing about popsicles is that they all freeze up pretty well, so the world is your oyster here! 

Why I Love these Banana Popsicles

You know me, always trying to find a way to maximize the nutritional value of the foods my kids will actually eat. I’m not really interested in trying to force them to eat things that don’t sound good to them. But I’m also not interested in just serving convenience items all the time that are often void of much good nutrition. I get a little thrill of looking at the things my kids actually enjoy and asking myself, “how can we make this just a little bit better (nutritonally!)?” I’m often adding yogurt, nut butter, nuts and seeds, or sneaking in fruits or veggies to foods to see if they still pass the test for my kids! 

These popsicles definitely passed the test and with protein-rich Greek yogurt, banana, and very low added sugar, they definitely passed my test, too! 

Going bananas

Summer with kids can be really fun, but really long. The long, hot days of kids at home wanting snack after snack can wear on you, but I’m hoping this recipe gives you something to do together and provides a nutritionally balanced snack for the whole family. 

If you’re interested in other healthy recipes that aren’t loaded with sugar that you can whip up with the kids on any given morning, I’ve got you covered. I love this chocolate chip banana bread recipe, and these blueberry muffins with a hemp seed streusel for a little glow up!

Happy baking, freezing, snacking, and HAPPY SUMMER!