One challenge I have is consuming bananas before they get too ripe. What do you do with too many ripe bananas? Tired of baking banana bread? This recipe is so simple to make and on the healthy side too.
In our area, it’s cheaper to buy bulk bananas at Costco than a few at the local grocery. So most of the time I buy them at Costco and more often than not, I have several bananas that don’t get eaten before they are past their prime. I usually peel these leftover bananas and freeze them whole to make banana bread.
Today, however, I wanted to make something different. One of my favorite “old-time” sandwichs is open-faced peanut butter and banana. This sandwich was introduced to me by my hubby’s 90+-year-old aunt years ago. You see, I grew up in an Italian American family where eggplant sandwiches on focaccia bread were the norm, not peanut butter sandwiches.
A little nostalgia hit me today as I fondly remember “Aunt Isabel” and I felt like creating a peanut butter and banana sandwich without the bread. Covering the bananas in chocolate is just a bonus!
I am delighted with how these banana peanut butter bites came out and have a handful in the freezer now for snacking. Oh yay!
Cut bananas into dials – thin-ish is better than too thick for me, but make them the thickness that suits you.
Sandwich peanut butter in between two slices of banana.
Cover in chocolate and you are done!
These banana peanut butter treats should be eaten shortly after taken out of the freezer as they soften quickly (especially on a hot day).
Save RecipeIngredients
- 1 large banana
- 1 cup chocolate chips (dark chocolate if you prefer)
- 1/4 cup peanut butter (or substitute your favorite nut butter)
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper.
- Cut banana crosswise into coins (not too thick). Lay flat on the baking sheet. Spread with nut butter and lay another banana slice on top (creating a sandwich).
- Freeze bananas for about an hour.
- Melt chocolate chips either in double boiler (one pot placed over another pot with water in the lower pot) or in a glass bowl in the microwave (heat in short spurts of 15 seconds or so until melted).*
- Dip banana sandwiches in the melted chocolate using a fork or spoon.
- Placed chocolate covered bananas back on the baking sheet and place them back in the freezer until hard (about 1/2 hour).
- Ready to eat or package in a freezer safe container for the future.
Notes
* I have better luck melting the chocolate on the stove.