I recently got a Zoku Quick Pop Maker. BEST THING EVER ! I love making pops but hate the wait time. Now I have ‘em in 7-9 minutes This is one of the recipes I pulled from the Zoku book – of course, I’ve tweaked many of the recipes to suit my own tastes, bring down calories, and to get creative with the pops, but some are in their original goodness.

You can make any of these recipes in traditional pop makers – each pop here is 2 oz. so adjust accordingly. And if you love pops like me, then do yourself a favor and get a Zoku

Zoku Quick Pop Maker

6 servings
265 calories per serving

1 c water
2 1/3 oz. bittersweet chocolate (I used ghiradelli bittersweet morsels)
1/3 c sugar
1 pinch salt
1/3 c skim milk
1 T fat free half and half
½ c very thin banana slices
6 T Magic Shell chocolate shell for ice cream
3 T chopped peanuts

In a saucepan whisk chocolate, sugar, water and salt and cook until completely melted, about 5 minutes. Let cool about 10 minutes in the fridge and then whish in the milk and half and half. Then return to the fridge and cool completely (about ½ hour).

Working in 2 batches – Place bananas on the sides of the maker molds then pour in the mix. In 7-9 minutes you’ll have creamy, fudgy goodness with a bit of banana thrown in for interest

If you are using traditional molds, you can suspend the bananas by filling the molds half way. Freezing a bit, then adding the bananas and the rest of the mix. Or you can just let the drop to the bottom – it will still taste dandy ! Freeze 6 hours.

I made 4, 3 of us ate one each and then fought over the 4th They are that good !! Make sure you use a nice creamy vanilla yogurt; one that tastes like ice cream. I love Turkey Hill brand. This is just one of those perfect desserts !

Nilla Parfait

4 servings
270 calories per serving

2 cups vanilla frozen yogurt, softened (I like Turkey Hill brand)
8 Nilla Wafer cookies, crushed well
1 1/2 bananas, sliced
1/4 c chopped toasted pecans

In small dessert cups or parfait glasses or even in wine glasses, layer ingredients and then freeze at least half an hour. Here are the layers:

Yogurt
Banana
Nuts
Yogurt
Banana
Nilla crumbs
Nuts
1 slice of banana for garnish

When you start out, you think you’re making these for the kids. Then you taste one and forget that, the plate is just for you Honestly, these are good enough to serve as dessert at an adult get together. Everyone loves the simplicity and the great banana and chocolate flavor. These disappear very quickly

Banana Grahams

1 serving
94 calories per serving

1 square reduced fat graham cracker, broken into 2 rectangles
1/2 t Nutella
2 slices banana
1/2 t sweetened shredded coconut

Break each graham square into 2 rectangles and spread with Nutella. Top with the banana slice and then sprinkle with coconut – watch them disappear !

These were sure a hit ! Whenever you cook bananas, you bring out the flavor 10 times and this recipe is no exception. The toast makes a perfect vessel to make this a finger food. Try putting some Redi-Wip on top. Next time I may even add a little nutella to the toast – that would make it even better.

Rum Glazed Banana Tarts

4 servings
266 calories per serving

4 large slices wheat bread, crusts removed
2 T butter
2 T light brown sugar
2 T rum
3-4 ripe bananas cut in half and then sliced thinly into long slices

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Flatten bread with a rolling pin to 1/8 inch thick and place on a baking sheet. Melt butter and brush both sides of bread with half the butter and bake until lightly browned, about 4 minutes per side. Reheat the leftover butter and add sugar and bring to a boil then remove from heat and add in rum. Place banana slices on bread overlapping them a little and bake 5 minutes then remove from heat and brush with rum mix.

Talk about decadent and delicious !! This breakfast dish will give you legendary ‘short order cook’ status ! The bananas and cream cheese make a perfect middle to the grilled raisin bread.

Grilled Banana French Toast

8 servings
206 calories per serving

8 slices 80 calories cinnamon raisin bread
2 medium bananas, in slices
1 c skim milk
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
3/4 c egg beaters
1/3 c Splenda
3 T flour
2 t vanilla
Powdered sugar (optional)
Pam

Spray skillet with Pam and heat well. Mix milk, cheese, eggs, sugar, flour and vanilla with a mixer until. Take 4 slices of bread and spread with cream cheese then add banana slices and top with the remaining bread. Gently dip into the egg mix and then place on pan and cook 2-3 minutes. Flip and cook another 2 minutes. Cut in half and sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.

I recently got a Zoku Quick Pop Maker. BEST THING EVER ! I love making pops but hate the wait time. Now I have ‘em in 7-9 minutes This is one of the recipes I pulled from the Zoku book – of course, I’ve tweaked many of the recipes to suit my own tastes, bring down calories, and to get creative with the pops, but some are in their original goodness.

You can make any of these recipes in traditional pop makers – each pop here is 2 oz. so adjust accordingly. And if you love pops like me, then do yourself a favor and get a Zoku

Fudge Pops with Bananas

6 servings
132 calories per serving

1 c water
2 1/3 oz. bittersweet chocolate (I used Ghiradelli bittersweet morsels)
1/3 c sugar
1 pinch salt
1/3 c skim milk
1 T fat free half and half
½ c very thin banana slices

In a saucepan whisk chocolate, sugar, water and salt and cook until completely melted, about 5 minutes. Let cool about 10 minutes in the fridge and then whisk in the milk and half and half. Then return to the fridge and cool completely (about ½ hour).

Working in 2 batches – Place bananas on the sides of the maker molds then pour in the mix. In 7-9 minutes you’ll have creamy, fudgy goodness with a bit of banana thrown in for interest

If you are using traditional molds, you can suspend the bananas by filling the molds half way, freezing a bit, then adding the bananas and the rest of the mix. Or you can just let the drop to the bottom – it will still taste dandy ! Freeze 6 hours.

Healthy, sweet, frozen, different – these make a great snack ! Try serving with a little cookie pressed into the top.

Fruit and Creamsicles

12 servings
94 calories per serving

¼ c walnuts
2 ripe bananas
2 c non fat sour cream
8 oz. can unsweetened crushed pineapple, drained well
1/3 c mini marshmallows
¼ c sugar
1 t vanilla

Pulse walnuts in a blender to chop finely. Add bananas and pulse to blend then add cream, pineapple, marshmallows, sugar and vanilla and pulse to mix. Spoon ¼ c in each of 12 muffin cups and freeze 2 hours them remove and serve (I use silicone muffin cups).

This is like having a banana split, but without the ice cream ! The rich pudding mixed with the whipped cream is just fabulous. Add bananas and nuts, and you have a real winning dessert for just 76 calories per serving ! Go ahead, have 2 servings

Chocolate Banana Parfaits

6 servings
76 calories per serving

1 1.4 oz. package sugar free instant chocolate pudding mix
1 c Cool Whip, thawed
1 large banana, thinly sliced
1 T sliced almonds

Prepare pudding according to package instructions using skim milk and refrigerate until set. Divide half of the pudding between 6 parfait glasses or goblets. Use half the cool whip to make a thin layer atop the pudding in each glass. Top with a few banana slices and repeat the three layers. Sprinkle with almonds, cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

So extremely yummy and so easy to put together – you buy a prepared angel food cake, mix up an orange juice syrup and add some fruit – feel free to mix it up and use whatever is the freshest at your market. This week I added fresh blackberries !

Angel Food Cake and Fruit

8 servings
205 calories per serving

1 small angel food cake
1 cup orange juice
1 orange, peeled and cut into slices and then cut in quarters (or one small can mandarin oranges, drained and rinsed lightly)
1/3 c Splenda
1 T plus 1 t cornstarch
1 large banana, sliced
2 kiwis, peeled and cut into pieces

Mix OJ, Splenda and cornstarch and blend to dissolve cornstarch. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and thicken the sauce cooking a few minutes. When done, stir in the bananas and kiwi and stir to coat. Add oranges and mix then serve the fruit mix over cake.

Add some Cool Whip Lite for a great indulgent dessert.

You can use the popsicle ‘molds’ you get at the store, or even more fun is placing the mix in Dixie cups, adding a stick, and then peeling away the cup just before serving. Simple, simple to do and a very tasty evening treat. At only 82 calories per creamy pudding pop, I might just have one every night

Bananasicles

7 servings
82 calories per serving

3.4 oz. package of instant banana pudding mix
2 c skim milk
1 banana cut into small pieces
7 T sugar free chocolate syrup (the type you use to make chocolate milk)

Place 1 T of chocolate syrup into the bottom of each cup. Combine pudding and milk until thick then stir in banana pieces and divide mix into 3 oz. paper cups. Cover with foil and poke through popsicle sticks and freeze 3 hours. Peel away cup to serve.