I’m always excited when summer rolls around. I love planning family trips, spending the day at the swimming pool, or even just sitting out in the shade with a good book. But amidst all the fun of the season, there is one aspect of summer I’m never excited about. The sweets. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good summer dessert. But with all the ice cream, slushies, lemonade, and popsicles, my healthy lifestyle (or what’s left of it) quickly disappears down the drain. It can be difficult to turn down treat after treat, especially the frozen ones that are real life-savers in temperatures like these. Is there a way to stick to a healthy diet without having to do away with every summer dessert?
The Sweet Summer Dessert Solution
For me, turning down a chocolate fudge sundae or a frozen key lime pie is nearly impossible. But if I have my own summer dessert with healthy ingredients all ready to go in the freezer, it makes that decision much easier. The trick is finding a delicious treat that you love without stepping outside your eating plan. That’s where this sweet summer dessert solution comes in.
They’re called Frozen Chocolate-Dipped Peanut Butter Banana Bites, and they are to die for. These classy, simple, chilled desserts have a serious peanut-butter cup vibe that you can’t resist. And the best news is, you don’t have to! With these natural, wholesome ingredients you don’t need to feel guilty about licking your fingers.
How Can This Summer Dessert Be so Delicious and so Healthy?
I know it’s hard to believe, but this treat will fulfill all your summer dessert dreams without kicking you off-plan. But you don’t have to take my word for it! Read the benefits of the ingredients for yourself.
- Bananas – This fruit has the potential to protect your body from oxidative stress. It’s also a great source of fiber and potassium. (1, 2)
- Natural Peanut Butter – Eating organic peanut butter is an excellent way to get protein and healthy fat. It has also shown to have disease preventative properties. (3)
- Unsweetened Dark Chocolate – The darker the chocolate (or the more cocoa bean it contains) the more beneficial it is for your body. Dark chocolate has magnesium, iron, zinc, and the potential to improve cardiovascular health. (4)
- Coconut Oil – Another great way to get healthy dietary fat! Coconut oil could also protect against heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and other infectious diseases. (5)
Let’s Get Dessert-ing!
Don’t worry if you’re not an expert in the kitchen. The recipe is incredibly simple. You could recruit your kids to help and get them excited about this healthy summer dessert. So, without further ado, start peeling your bananas and let’s get started!
A Healthy Summer Dessert Recipe
Original Recipe by Healthy Liv
Ingredients:
- 3 bananas
- 1/4 cup natural peanut butter (or other nut or seed butter)
- 1/3 cup unsweetened dark chocolate chips or chunks
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
Directions:
- Peel and slice the bananas into 1/4 inch rounds. Feel free to slice them thinner or thicker, according to your liking.
- Spread a layer of peanut butter between two slices of banana to make a sandwich. Again, feel free to add as much peanut butter as you like. Repeat until you’ve used all the slices.
- Place the sandwiches on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze for three hours.
- Add the dark chocolate and coconut oil to a microwaveable bowl and melt in the microwave for 15-30 seconds. Stir until smooth. Add more coconut oil if it clumps.
- Dip each sandwich sideways into the chocolate, covering half of the treat. If you want to cover them completely you can stick the sandwiches with a toothpick or popsicle stick (before freezing) dip that way.
- Place the sandwiches back on the baking sheet and freeze until solid.
And We Have a Delicious Winner!
Over the years I’ve tried a variety of diets and eating plans in an attempt to keep a healthy lifestyle. But I’ve found that regardless of the diet guidelines, the key to sticking to it was finding a healthy replacement for my favorite desserts. I don’t know about you, but this chocolaty summer dessert is a definite and delicious winner in my book!
