Have you ever heard of “nice cream” aka ice cream made from bananas? It’s gained explosive popularity in recent years among the health foodie community, and for good reason. After they are frozen, bananas become super creamy when blended, resulting in a final product that is incredibly similar to ice cream.
With this in mind, I naturally had to create a recipe for homemade banana popsicles. While bananas already blend into a creamy texture, this recipe calls for the addition of Greek yogurt to add a ton of protein and make the popsicles even MORE creamy.
Next, we add maple syrup to the mixture to enhance the sweetness of the bananas and make them even more delicious. Our final ingredient is vanilla extract, which enhances the rest of these wonderful flavors and ties it all together.
Each of the ingredients used in this homemade popsicle recipe enhances the awesome flavor and texture of our creamy and nutritious bananas. The final result is a popsicle that you won’t even believe is good for you and the best part? It’s 100% kid-approved!
Serve these Creamy Banana Popsicles as a midday snack between meals, an after-dinner dessert for the kids, or a refreshing treat for guests at your next pool party. They are wholesome, easy to make, and wildly delicious. Get ready to make your new favorite homemade popsicles! Popsicle lovers also won’t want to miss these Lemon Lime Popsicles, Watermelon Popsicles, and Homemade Healthy Fudgicles.
Key Ingredients
To make these tasty frozen treats, you will only need 4 simple ingredients:
- Bananas: These nutrient-packed fruits are the star of the show! Bananas become ultra creamy when blended and make the perfect base for our popsicles.
- Greek yogurt:. Protein-packed Greek yogurt is what makes our popsicles extra rich and creamy. Any yogurt will work and flavored yogurt is a great option to switch up the flavor. Think Strawberry Banana, Coconut Banana, or Chocolate Banana.
- Maple syrup: This acts as a natural sweetener to enhance the sweetness of our popsicles. If needed, you can swap it out for honey or agave or leave it out.
- Vanilla extract: This ingredient enhances the rest of the flavors in our popsicles and I highly recommend you don’t leave it out!
Are Bananas Good For You?
Because bananas are fairly high in sugar and carbs, many people wonder whether or not they are actually good for you. If you’re a banana lover, you’re in luck!
While bananas do contain higher amounts of sugar than some other fruits (like berries), it’s natural sugar, which is very different from artificial sugars like high fructose corn syrup. Bananas are often enjoyed on their own as a snack, mixed into oatmeal and yogurt bowls, and blended into smoothies and popsicles.
Bananas are loaded with vital nutrients that provide a wide range of benefits for heart health, digestive health, and weight loss. They are also low in calories and relatively high in fiber, making them a great fruit to add to a diet focused on weight loss or weight maintenance.
All in all, while you should probably avoid eating 5 bananas a day, consuming bananas in moderation is perfectly healthy.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
Here are some of my top tips and tricks to help you make this dish:
- Feel free to double or even triple this recipe if you have enough popsicle molds to make more.
- Try to use the ripest bananas possible. The riper they are, the sweeter they will be!
- For a “Chunky Monkey” style popsicle, add peanut butter to the mixture and then either fold in chocolate chips or dip the popsicles in melted chocolate after they have been frozen.
- For a delicious tropical twist, try using full-fat coconut milk instead of Greek yogurt.
- If you want a bit of a crunch and added flavor, leave some room at the bottom of the popsicle mold and add shredded coconut, chopped nuts, or chocolate chips.
- Add fresh or frozen berries for even more flavor and nutrition. You can blend them right in or add them whole to the mixture.
- For a vegan-friendly option, swap out the Greek yogurt for coconut milk, almond milk, oat milk, coconut yogurt, or any other dairy-free milk or yogurt.
- Not a fan of maple syrup? You can replace it with raw honey or agave.
- For the creamiest popsicles, freeze your bananas before blending them with the rest of your ingredients.
- Try turning these into strawberry banana popsicles by adding fresh strawberries to the mixture before blending it up.
How to Store Homemade Popsicles
Homemade popsicles should be frozen for at least 6 hours before being removed from the popsicle molds. Within a day or two of freezing them, I recommend transferring the popsicles to an airtight storage bag. Once properly stored, the popsicles can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months.