Name: Banana Bark Recipe (Better Method!)
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 130 min
Ingredients: 2 ripe bananas; ¼ cup peanut butter ((see notes)); ½ cup chocolate chips; flaky sea salt ((optional topping))

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You should probably know that banana-flavored desserts are not usually my thing, but this banana bark is an exception. That’s because we’re making it in a totally different way than the viral recipes floating around on the internet.

Instead of layering sliced bananas on a pan, then waiting for them to freeze, then adding another layer and waiting for that to freeze again… this method is faster. And it tastes more like ice cream than banana.

The secret? It’s mixing the peanut butter with the banana first. If you’ve ever tried peanut butter banana ice cream, you know how ridiculously creamy and ice cream-like these two ingredients become.

banana bark broken into pieces on parchment paper.

Why You’ll Prefer this Method

If you’re familiar with the viral chocolate-banana bark on TikTok, the traditional method is to arrange banana slices on a lined baking sheet. (As pictured below.) While this is an easy way to spread them out, the bananas can quickly dominate the flavor.

I don’t know about you, but I’m not crazy about a dessert that tastes mostly like bananas.

The other problem with this method is that it’s hard to spread the next layer—peanut butter—over fresh banana slices. That means you need to freeze the banana layer first, then spread the peanut butter, then freeze it again, before moving on.

It’s a lot of waiting for a simple 3-ingredient dessert. Luckily, I figured out a better and faster method, which I’ll show you next.

the old way of arranging banana slices for banana bark.

How to Make Banana Bark (Better!)

Step 1:

Peel two very ripe bananas and place them in a large mixing bowl. Add 1/4 cup of peanut butter to the bowl, then use a fork to mash it all together.

Continue stirring until no large chunks of banana remain. (This recipe is up to your taste buds; add more peanut butter if desired.)

Note: Feel free to swap the natural peanut butter for almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter.

bananas mashed in a bowl with peanut butter.

Step 2:

Next, line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Make sure this pan can fit on a flat shelf in your freezer; a large plate will also work!

Pour the mashed banana peanut butter mixture onto the parchment paper and spread it out into a thin layer.

mashed banana on parchment paper with melted chocolate.

Step 3:

Next, melt 1/2 cup of chocolate chips. I always melt mine by creating a double boiler on the stove. Use dark chocolate chips or white chocolate chips, if you prefer.

Drizzle the melted chocolate over the banana layer on the parchment paper. Then use a fork to evenly swirl it. It’s okay if the banana and chocolate layers intertwine.

If desired, sprinkle flaky sea salt on top, then transfer the pan to the freezer. It should freeze for 2 hours or overnight.

How to Make a Double Boiler

Fill a small saucepan with 1 inch of water, then place a heat-safe bowl on top of the pot. Bring the water to a boil. The steam from the boiling water will gently melt the chocolate chips. Alternatively, you can use a microwave to melt the chocolate in 30-second increments.

Note: If the melted chocolate isn’t easy to work with, add a teaspoon of coconut oil and stir again. It will thin out the consistency, making it easier to pour.

chocolate swirled and then frozen on banana bark.

Serving & Storage Tips

The banana bark is ready to serve when the bananas are frozen. (You can lift the parchment paper and check the bottom to ensure it’s firm.)

Break the banana bark into bite-sized pieces. Work quickly to keep the bananas frozen.

Always serve banana bark frozen. If left at room temperature for too long, the bananas will soften and become soggy.

Storage Tip: Once the banana bark has been broken into pieces, transfer them to an airtight container to help preserve their flavor. This should keep well in the freezer for up to 3 months when tightly sealed.

banana bark broken into chunks on parchment paper.

Banana Bark Recipe (Better Method!)

I can't wait for you to try this banana bark recipe, because it tastes 100% better than the viral version you've seen on TikTok. Instead of a base of boring banana slices, which, not surprisingly, tastes like banana… this banana bark tastes like peanut butter ice cream topped with a crispy chocolate shell. All you need are 3 ingredients to make it!

prep10 mins cook0 mins Freeze Time:2 hrs total2 hrs 10 mins

Servings:10

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Ingredients

2 ripe bananas
¼ cup peanut butter (see notes)
½ cup chocolate chips
flaky sea salt (optional topping)

Instructions

Peel the two bananas and add them to a large mixing bowl. Pour in the peanut butter and mash with a fork until no banana lumps remain.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, then transfer the banana mixture to the pan. Spread it out in a thin layer. (See photos in this post for reference.)
Melt the chocolate chips in a double boiler. Make one by filling a small saucepan with 1-inch of water. Bring the water to a boil over high heat, then place a heat safe bowl snugly over the top of the pan. Add the chocolate chips and stir often until they melt. Note: If the mixture looks thick, you can add 1 teaspoon of coconut oil to help thin it out.
Drizzle the melted chocolate over the banana layer. Use a fork to swirl the chocolate evenly into the banana mixture. It's okay if they mix a bit! Sprinkle some flaky salt over the top, if desired. Then transfer the pan to a flat shelf in the freezer. Let it freeze for at least 2 hours.
Once the banana layer feels firm, break it into bite-sized chunks. Serve this bark frozen for the best texture; the bananas will melt if left at room temperature. Store the pieces in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Notes

Nutrition information is for 1/10 of the recipe. Due to the nature of this recipe, each piece might vary. This information is automatically calculated using generic ingredients, so it’s just an estimate and not a guarantee.

Peanut Butter Note: I tested this recipe with salted, all-natural, creamy peanut butter (the kind you have to stir when you first open the jar). Using a more processed peanut butter might make the mixture thicker. If you use unsalted nut butter, you may want to add a pinch of salt to the banana mixture.

Nutrition

Author: Megan Gilmore

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: banana bark

More Recipes to Try

If you try this banana bark recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below, letting me know how you like it.