Now that it's finally getting warmer and summer aka the season of just re-watching everything I've already watched is upon us, I think of warm weather treats and what shows are on the agenda. This Bluth Boardwalk staple came to mind. Not only is it the center of so many funny moments on the show, it's also the most obvious Arrested Development-related food. Actually, it has been on the list of things to make since before the blog even existed, but there's a time and a place for everything and this one is here now. It doesn't take a genius to freeze a banana and coat it in chocolate, but through some research, I got more ideas. The good thing about this treat is that you can use whatever toppings you like once you know the general process. Mine included milk chocolate, caramel, peanut butter, coconut chips and nuts, but there's plenty more months of warm weather to experiment with more combinations. The bad thing about it is that no matter what it will always be awkward to eat and photograph. But when all is said and done, there's always money in the banana stand.
Frozen chocolate bananas
inspired by Arrested Development
1 banana makes 2 servings (I made 12)
the toppings are really up to you, but here's what I used:
- 6 just-ripe bananas
- 1 bag milk chocolate chips*
- 1/2 cup coconut flakes
- 1/2 cup mixed nuts
- 1/4 cup peanut butter
- 1/4 cup
- shortening (optional)
- popsicle sticks or skewers
Cut bananas in half and peel. For peanut butter and caramel coated bananas, put cover bananas with these toppings and place in a tupperware or on a baking sheet lined with wax or parchment paper. Freeze bananas (including the ones with no initial topping).
Make the coconut chips. Toast a single layer of coconut flakes (not the shredded kind you find on Easter cupcakes) in a 350ºF oven for 8-10 minutes until the edges are golden and the flakes become stiff and chip-like. Let cool and crumble into smaller pieces for topping the chocolate.
If you want, roast the nuts at 400ºF for 5-7 minutes, until they start to give off a scent from the oven. Take out immediately or they will burn quickly! Do this before chopping them if you want them roasted.
Once the bananas are frozen, melt the chocolate over a double boiler or in the microwave in 15 second increments, stirring in between. Use a teaspoon and a half of shortening if your chocolate becomes hard to manage (or more if you are melting your chocolate at once).
In a perfect world, stick a banana on a stick and dip it in chocolate to coat. I don't live in a perfect world and I have issues dealing with melted chocolate, so I used a silicone spatula to spread the chocolate. If using a topping sprinkle on or roll the banana in them and set on a parchment lined baking sheet to set, or right back into the oven. Re-freeze the bananas. Serve cold.
*I thought I had semi-sweet chips at home, and it turned out I had used them, but I intended to do half milk and half semi-sweet, in that case adjust the measurements for the chips accordingly.
recipe adapted from Simple Roots Wellness.
[made while watching The Great British Baking Show.]
"There's always money in the banana stand."