Banana Popsicles

Bursting with flavor, these healthy banana popsicles can be blended up in just minutes. Banana popsicles have a creamy texture and natural sweetness that mimics traditional frozen treats, but as a healthier alternative, you can feel good about serving these popsicles for an afterschool treat anytime.

Medically reviewed and co-written by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).

Healthy Banana Popsicles

If you’re like me, the answer to the question of what to do with those ripe bananas on the counter has usually been either a) banana pancakes or b) banana muffins. But now we’ve got option c) banana popsicles!

Bananas are not only a great source of potassium and fiber, but when frozen and turned into popsicles, they make for a refreshing frozen treat that can be enjoyed guilt-free (I’m speaking from experience). I also like knowing that there’s no hidden ingredients in these healthy banana popsicles, like added sugars or artificial flavors.

With simple ingredients and less than 5 minutes (seriously, peeling the bananas is probably the most labor-intensive part), you’ll have creamy, dare-I-say-dreamy, banana-flavored popsicles that everyone will love.

If you are looking for more easy and healthy frozen desserts for your little one, then be sure to check out these delicious Strawberry Yogurt Popsicles, Healthy Green Smoothie Popsicles, these reader-favorite Homemade Yogurt Tubes, or these hidden-veggie filled Healthy Popsicles for Toddlers. You can also find more recipes and information in my best-selling cookbook Little Foodies: Recipes for Babies and Toddlers with Taste.

Reasons to Love Banana Popsicles

Make sure to read the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions!

• Simple to prepare
• Makes for a refreshing treat on a hot day
• Naturally sweetened for a healthier treat
• Easy to eat and can be enjoyed on-the-go
• Quick source of hydration and nutrients for kids who don’t drink enough water
• Great recipe for kids to help with in the kitchen
• Easy to customize with your favorite add-ins

Ingredients

• Bananas: you’ll need 3 ripe bananas with lots of brown spots, or you can use frozen and thawed bananas.
• Maple Syrup: for this recipe, we are going to use maple syrup, but you can also use honey (for babies over 1), agave nectar, or simple syrup.
• Yogurt: plain whole milk yogurt, or a plant-based yogurt like coconut or almond. Whichever you choose, using yogurt with more fat will help make a creamier popsicle.
• Cinnamon: this flavor blends so well with the bananas and sweetener, but you can also add a dash of vanilla extract or cocoa powder

Health Benefits of Banana Popsicles: These popsicles are ripe with nutritious benefits. Bananas provide tons of potassium, important electrolytes, and fiber to help keep digestive systems regular. And yogurt makes these popsicles rich in calcium for healthy bones and protein and fats for growth and development.

Step-By-Step Instructions

1. Place all of the ingredients into a blender and puree until smooth.
2. Pour the mixture into your popsicle molds and place in the freezer.
3. Freeze for at least 5 hours, but preferably overnight.
4. Pop the popsicles out of the molds and enjoy!

Add-Ins

You can make these easy popsicles as-is, or you can add in one or two extra ingredients. Here are a couple of our favorite additions:

• chopped strawberries
• mini chocolate chips
• crushed graham crackers
• slices or chopped pieces of banana
• a swirl of peanut butter or your favorite nut butter
• blend with a handful of spinach
• mango
• dip half of the frozen popsicles in melted chocolate and roll in chopped nuts, coconut flakes, or sprinkles, for a sweet dessert for older kids

Cooking with Kids

This recipe is great for having your little ones help you with it.

Toddlers

• Toddlers can help measure and pour the ingredients into the blender.
• They can help put the lid on the blender and push start. Note: make sure to talk about not touching the blender blade while making something in the blender, as it can be sharp.
• Once blended, toddlers can help pour the popsicle mixture into the popsicle molds. You may want to pour the popsicle mixture into a smaller measuring cup with a pour lip to make it easier on them.
• With help, they can place the popsicle molds into the freezer. My kids always spill the tray at this point, so just give them an extra hand.

Kids

• You can pretty much let older kids make this recipe by themselves.
• They can pick out and measure all of the ingredients. Note: make sure to talk about not touching the blender blade while making something in the blender, as it can be sharp.
• Kids can pour the popsicle mixture into the molds and place the popsicles into the freezer.

How to Store

After removing the popsicles from the popsicle mold, store popsicles in a freezer-safe bag for up to 1 month in the freezer.

Best Popsicle Molds

If you’re looking for fun and colorful popsicle molds, check out my guide to 6 of the best kid-friendly popsicle molds. There are options for every age – babies, toddlers, and big kids (including adults). – link to our popsicle mold post

Get the recipe: Creamy Banana Popsicles (5-Minutes)

5 stars (3 ratings)

Bursting with flavor, these healthy banana popsicles can be blended up in just minutes. Banana popsicles have a creamy texture and natural sweetness that mimics traditional frozen treats, but as a healthier alternative, you can feel good about serving these popsicles for an afterschool treat anytime.

Yield: 6 medium popsicles

Prep: 5 minutes minutes

Freeze Time: 5 hours hours

Total: 5 hours hours 5 minutes minutes

Author: Michele Olivier

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

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Ingredients 

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• 3 ripe bananas (with lots of brown spots)
• 1/4 cup plain whole milk yogurt, regular or plant-based yogurt
• 3 tbsp maple syrup, agave nectar, honey (babies over 1) or simple syrup
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon

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Instructions 

• Place all of the ingredients into a blender.
  
• Blend for 1-2 minutes or until the mixture is completely smooth.
  
• Pour the banana mixture into popsicle molds.
  
• Place in the freezer for at least 5 hours, but preferably overnight.
• Remove the popsicle from the mold, and enjoy!
  

Notes

Age: 9+ months (omit the sweetener for 12 months and younger)

Yield: this recipe makes roughly 2 1/2 cups of popsicle mixture. You may need to increase/decrease that amount based on your popsicle mold size. If you have any leftovers, feel free to serve it as a smoothie or smoothie bowl to your kiddos (or yourself). 

Notes on Yogurt: you can use plain, vanilla, honey (for babies over 1), or whichever other flavor sounds good or you have on hand. I recommend using whole milk yogurt to help boost the flavor and thickness. You can also use any plant-based yogurt you prefer as well – oat, cashew, almond, soy, etc. 

Sweetness: Depending on the sweetness of your fruit and your sweetness preference, I recommend tasting the popsicle base before pouring it into the molds, you may need a little more maple syrup. 

Equipment

Blender

Big Popsicle Molds

Small Popsicle Mold

Measuring Cups

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