I spent a semester abroad in Paris during the fall of my junior year, and many of my most potent memories revolve around the amazing food that the city of lights is so famous for. I can remember one night, my roommates Tyla, Mara, and I ventured out for a late night snack to a nearby crepe vendor in the 3rd arrondisement. We each treated ourselves to crepes with our favorite filling combintation — nutella and bananas. When we arrived back at our doorstep, we were soon shocked to realize our keys wouldn’t open the door and we were officially locked out — just one of the many joys of living in such an old, yet beautiful, Parisian building. I can remember sitting on the floor, slouched against the door, cell phone glued to my ear calling locksmiths, all the while picking away at my delicious crepe. We eventually got in, although it cost us a pretty penny and many future headaches, but we all later agreed that nutella crepes were always worth it.
I haven’t attempted to make crepes yet, but Mara celebrated her birthday this past weekend, and since she is particularly fond of nutella (as in, we had to stop buying jars of it because she just couldn’t control herself around the chocolate-hazelnut goodness), I knew these frozen treats would be perfect for her New York City rooftop dinner party. Here they are jazzed up for the party with decorative candles:
Since I was staying at my friend’s apartment for the weekend, I wanted an easy recipe that I could whip together without completely destroying her kitchen, and this certainly did the trick. With so many enticing fruit vendors on the corners in NYC, I had no problem finding ripe, cheap bananas and had brought with me from CT a jar of Nutella, some chocolate candy melts, lollipop sticks, and a few bags of toppings (coconut, walnuts, heath bar, and pretzels). This isn’t even much of a recipe, more of a simple idea to work from in order to wow guests and please nutella-obsessed friends. Happy birthday Mara!!
Nutella Covered Frozen Bananas
Recipe adapted from Bell’ailmento
6 ripe, large bananas
1 small jar Nutella
1/2 cup dark chocolate candy melts
Lollipop sticks
Toppings of your choice
– Slice bananas into fourths, discarding the ends
– Place them vertically on a tinfoil-lined baking sheet, and insert a lollipop in each
– Freeze bananas for at least 2 hours, ideally overnight, so they hold their form well during dipping
– When bananas are frozen, melt the chocolate candy melts in a double boiler, adding the nutella towards the end
– Dip each banana into the chocolate and roll immediately in toppings
– Freeze for another hour or so until serving
Recipe yields approximately 24 banana pops
I was there so I can vouch – these are AMAZING!!!
THANKS love! I’m telling all of my friends at work about your blog right now ;)
Yum!!!! I am one of those you have to hide the nutella from.:)
Running around France with your best friends must have been so much fun!
These nutella-dipped bananas sound delicious. I love chocolate covered frozen bananas as is…but nutella sounds even more wonderful!
I helped decorate these! But, i have to say, they were the 2nd best dessert you made last weekend. Can’t wait til you post the 1st!
Yum!! Anything with nutella is good!! I love how this is so simple!!
Would you mind checking out my blog? :D http://ajscookingsecrets.blogspot.com/
that is definitely something I have to try with all my younger cousins, they’ll definitey love it! thx for sharing ;)
definitely doing this as soon as i can!
These look awesome! I’m going to make these for my daughter’s birthday this weekend, dipped in rainbow colored sprinkles. Do you think I need the lollipop sticks, or would toothpicks alone be strong enough?
Erica — January 10th, 2013 @ 4:58 pm
Yup I think toothpicks would work! Enjoy :)
Thanks! I’m looking forward to them!
Would the chocolate with the Nutella harden on the spot without putting them back on the freezer ?
Erica — February 11th, 2015 @ 11:44 am
It will take a few minutes for it to fully harden, usually not on the spot. If you want to serve them unfrozen, I would still recommend putting them in the fridge for 20 minutes to allow the Nutella to harden. Enjoy!