Chocolate Covered PB&J Banana Bites

Jazz up those bananas by turning them into these irresistible Chocolate Covered PB&J Banana Bites! This simple and delicious homemade treat is perfect to make-ahead and keep in your freezer dessert stash!

Everyone needs a little freezer stash of bite-sized chocolate covered goodies, am I right? There’s only one banana’s worth of chocolate covered bananas in a package of Gone Bananas! from Trader Joe’s. When I realized this, I knew I had to make these bite-sized chocolate covered goodies myself.

Then I got it in my head to jazz them up with peanut butter. A few seconds after that, PB&Js popping to my head. And these little chocolate covered goodies were born.

I keep these little delights in a meal prep container in my freezer so I can just grab one whenever I feel like it. The optional toppings (crushed freeze dried strawberries and salted peanuts) add some texture, salty contrast, and a cute little vibe that I love! I hope you enjoy this treat as much as I do 🙂

What are the ingredients in these Chocolate Covered PB&J Banana Bites?

These freezer banana bites are made from super simple ingredients you might already have on hand, especially if you have ripe bananas. Here are the ingredients I used and tips for each:

• bananas – You want to use two ripe but firm bananas, nothing mushy! You want them to be ripe enough to enjoy. Do not use previously frozen bananas for this recipe.
• peanut butter – Any peanut butter will freeze well, so you can use whatever kind you have on hand. I love Kirkland Natural Creamy Peanut Butter. Try to go for the thicker PB or it will run a bit, but that’s okay 🙂
• strawberry jam – You can use any jam or preserves you already have (they all freeze well) or that you like in your PB&Js. I like to use strawberry jam to go with the freeze-fried strawberries, and it goes well with chocolate too.
• chocolate chips – This recipe works with both milk and dark chocolate chips, so you can use whatever you have on hand. I did like the dark chocolate better with the salty peanuts and sweet strawberry flavor.
• coconut oil – Adding coconut oil to the melted chocolate chips helps smooth out the chocolate and make it perfect for coating the banana sandwiches.
• crushed freeze-dried strawberries & salted peanuts – These are fun toppings that are totally optional but make the chocolate covered PB&Js banana bites extra cute, and give you a hint about what’s inside.

How do you make these Chocolate Covered PB&J Banana Bites?

The recipe instructions below may seem a little long for something so simple, but they’re just full of good tips on how to make these bites in the easiest way possible.

You want to start by making the banana sandwiches and sticking them in the freezer before getting the chocolate melted. This way, when the mini banana sandwich is frozen, it won’t slide apart while you’re covering it in chocolate.

I prefer to use a quarter sheet pan (affiliate link!) and line it with parchment paper, but you can use any surface that will fit into your freezer, like a plate or cutting board.

Cut each banana into 16 even slices. The easiest way to do this is to cut the banana in half, then cut each half into 8 slices (discarding or eating the very tip). Arrange the 16 slices on the prepared sheet pan and keep the other 16 aside.

Next, top each banana with a smear of peanut butter and then a dollop of jam. The jam tends to be a bit runnier so you’ll need less of it. Top each one with another banana slice, making a little sandwich.

Stick the tray of PB&J banana bites into the freezer for at least 20 minutes to chill and harden. This makes it easier to cover with chocolate without falling apart.

Start melting the chocolate in your preferred method after at least 15-20 minutes has passed. You can use the stovetop with a double boiler or use the microwave to melt your chocolate chips and coconut oil.

Microwave in 20 second intervals, stirring in between each one, until the chocolate and coconut oil is completely smooth. Start covering the banana bites in chocolate after they’ve been in the freezer for at least 20 minutes.

Using a fork and spoon, carefully coat each banana sandwich in chocolate. Place the banana on the fork and spoon chocolate over the top. This way, the excess chocolate can easily drip back into the bowl, and you don’t get any banana or peanut butter coming off into the chocolate.

Tap the fork on the bowl to make sure as much excess chocolate drips off as possible before placing the banana bite back on the tray where it came from. In between coating every 3 or 4 banana bites, sprinkle the crushed freeze-dried strawberries and peanuts over the chocolate before it hardens.

Once all the banana bites are covered in chocolate and toppings, place them back into the freezer to harden. For best results, let them chill in the freezer for at least 30 minutes before enjoying.

Best tips for making Chocolate Covered PB&J Banana Bites:

Here are my best tips for you to remember while making these Chocolate Covered PB&J Banana Bites:

• Freeze between steps. It’s important to freeze the banana sandwiches before covering them in chocolate to keep them from falling apart. I know it’s tempting to go right for it, but I promise you’ll have better results with 20 minutes of freezer time.
• Add toppings often. Once the chocolate hardens, the toppings won’t really stick as well. It helps to sprinkle the toppings on when the chocolate is just freshly added, every 2-3 banana bites or so that you dip works well.
• Cut the bananas carefully to ensure you have enough pairs! You want each banana to be cut into 16 pieces. It helps to cut the banana in half, and then cut each half into 8 slices (7 cuts).

Can I use milk chocolate chips instead of dark chocolate chips?

Yes, this recipe works with both milk and dark chocolate chips, so you can use whatever you have on hand. I did like the dark chocolate better with the salty peanuts and sweet strawberry flavor.

Ways to customize these banana bites:

Here are some ways to change up the banana bites and customize them to your own tastes:

• Change the nut: Use almond butter or cashew butter, along with some crushed almonds or cashews on top.
• Change the fruit: Use a different jam and and different freeze-dried fruit. Trader Joe’s sells a couple different kinds!
• Go classic bananas: The original Trader Joe’s version of Gone Bananas! is just plain bananas coated in chocolate. If you wanna skip the PB&J, you definitely can 🙂
• Mix and match: Add just some PB on top, add only toppings, make just a sandwich with your favorite jam or even some caramel! As long as you freeze it, the final result will be easy to coat in chocolate.

How do you meal prep these Chocolate Covered PB&J Banana Bites?

This recipe was made for dessert meal prep! It’s super simple to make ahead of time and perfectly portioned to grab as many as you want and enjoy.

Follow the recipe instructions for the best way to meal prep these banana bites. Store them in the freezer for best quality.

Is this recipe freezer-friendly?

Yes! This recipe is intended to be stored in the freezer. I keep them in an airtight container like a rectangular glass container with lid or Stasher bag.

How to store Chocolate Covered PB&J Banana Bites:

Store these banana bites in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months for best quality. I like to keep them in a glass meal prep container with lid or Stasher bag and grab one or two whenever I have a craving!