Bananas are my favorite fruit, and how can you go wrong covering them in dark chocolate? I just came up with a new way to enjoy this yummy snack. Are you ready to try chocolate covered bananas with granola crunch? I think you are going to enjoy this new and unique way to bring that crunch you love to the chocolate covered banana. Nature Valley™ Protein Granola comes in 5 great flavors that pair perfectly with this delicious treat.
I am calling this a “snack” rather than a “dessert,” but it can really be justified as either. Your kids will be tricked into this healthier version of dessert and love every minute of it. You can feel good offering it anytime though. With this snack, you have the great potassium and fiber found in the banana. Dark chocolate is a great source of antioxidants and may lower blood pressure. Nature Valley™ protein granola adds a touch of protein to this delicious treat.
As mentioned, Nature Valley™ has a variety of flavors, and I chose the Oats N’ Honey, Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter N’ Dark Chocolate and Oats N’ Dark Chocolate to top my bananas. I loved having the variety to offer. I much prefer this granola option over the traditional nut topping any day.
Ingredients to Make Chocolate Covered Bananas with Granola Crunch (yields 8)
- 4 Bananas
- 8 Wooden Craft Sticks
- 8 ounces Dark Chocolate (I chose 60%)
- 1 Cup (1/8 cup per banana) Nature Valley™ Protein Granola using the following flavor options: Oats N’ Honey, Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter N’ Dark Chocolate and Oats N’ Dark Chocolate
How to Make Chocolate Covered Bananas with Granola Crunch
- Cut bananas in half.
- Add a craft stick to each banana half and place on a tray. I used a jelly roll pan covered in a silicone baking mat, but you could cover it in parchment paper as well.
- Cover with plastic wrap.
- Place in the freezer for 4 hours.
- Choose which Nature Valley™ Protein Granola you want to add to your bananas. I chose 4 different kinds. I like people to have choices, and they all sounded too great to choose between.
- Each banana has 1/8 cup granola. Therefore, you will want a shallow dish or plate to have enough to cover your bananas. Because I chose 4 flavors and was making 8 bananas, I had 1/4 cup on each of the plates. There was some left over in the end, which were covered in dark chocolate. Confession: I ate the rest by the spoonful.
- Melt 8 oz chocolate in a double boiler. If you do not have a double boiler, use a glass bowl over a pot with water. You want the steam to melt the chocolate. The boiling water should not touch the vessel above it.
- Once melted, transfer chocolate to a tall glass. Quickly dip the frozen banana in the chocolate. Hold over the cup to allow the excess chocolate to drip off.
- Quickly dip chocolate covered banana in granola and sprinkle granola on the top of the banana.
- Place on a parchment sheet or silicone baking back while chocolate firms.
- Serve immediately. These can be wrapped individually and served later, but they do get mushy.
I really hope you enjoy this new tasty treat in your family.
For more great ideas and recipes, I encourage you to follow Nature Valley® on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Nature Valley Protein Granola via Burst Media. The opinions and text are all mine.