Frozen Banana Snickers Healthy Candy Bars
Make these frozen banana snickers healthy candy bars deliver all the satisfying flavors of your favorite candy bar without processed ingredients. They’re topped with rich date caramel or peanut butter, crunchy peanuts, and melted chocolate for a naturally sweetened treat that’s gluten-free and dairy-free.
Craving something sweet but want to skip the processed ingredients? These frozen banana snickers healthy candy bars deliver all the satisfying flavors of your favorite candy bar with simple, wholesome ingredients. Creamy bananas get topped with rich date caramel, crunchy peanuts, and a drizzle of melted chocolate for a naturally sweetened treat that actually nourishes your body.
What sets this recipe apart is using my homemade date caramel made without refined sugar—the dates give it a deep, earthy flavor that tastes so much better than traditional sugary caramel made with corn syrup. My family loves having these dairy-free no-bake banana bars ready in the freezer for when sweet cravings hit, and I love that they’re made with ingredients I can actually pronounce. You can make them ahead of time and pull one out whenever you need that perfect frozen treat that tastes like dessert but supports your gut health.
Why You’ll Love This Frozen Banana Snickers Recipe
- Simple ingredients frozen banana snack: Made with just bananas, date caramel, chocolate, and peanuts for a wholesome treat.
- No-bake frozen treats: Zero oven time required—just assemble, freeze, and enjoy whenever cravings strike.
- Naturally sweetened banana chocolate bars: Skip the refined sugar and corn syrup for dates that add rich, caramel-like sweetness.
- Kid-friendly frozen snack: My kids think they’re getting candy, but I know they’re eating real food ingredients.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here is everything you need to make frozen banana snickers healthy candy bars:
Bananas: The creamy base that mimics the nougat center of traditional candy bars. Use ripe but still firm bananas that won’t get mushy when frozen. You can swap with thick banana slices or even use frozen banana chunks.
Date Caramel or Peanut Butter: My homemade date caramel gives that signature Snickers flavor without refined sugar. You can use store-bought peanut butter, almond butter, or any nut butter if you’re short on time.
Chocolate Chips: Creates that satisfying chocolate shell when melted. Use any variety that meets your dietary needs—dark chocolate, dairy-free, or sugar-free chips all work perfectly.
Coconut Oil: Helps the chocolate melt smoothly and creates a nice snap when frozen. You can substitute with a tiny bit of butter or skip it entirely if your chocolate melts well on its own.
Peanuts: Add that classic Snickers crunch and salty contrast. Try chopped almonds, cashews, or sunflower seeds for different flavors and textures.
Flaky Salt: Just a pinch brings out all the flavors and gives that gourmet touch. Regular sea salt or kosher salt work great too.
Easily Adapt This Recipe for Any Diet
This recipe is naturally easy to tweak! Follow these simple swaps to make it gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegan while keeping the same great texture and flavor.
Gluten-Free: This recipe is naturally gluten-free as written—just double-check your chocolate chips don’t contain any gluten-containing ingredients.
Dairy-Free: Use dairy-free chocolate chips and you’re all set for a completely dairy-free frozen dessert.
Vegan: Choose vegan chocolate chips and stick with date caramel or nut butter instead of any honey-based spreads.
💡 Pro Tip: If you try a substitution, let us know how it worked in the comments!
How to Make My Frozen Banana Snickers Healthy Candy Bars Recipe
Here are easy, detailed, step-by-step instructions that are also repeated in the recipe card at the bottom of this blog post.
Step 1: Make the Date Caramel
(skip this step if you’re using peanut butter instead)
Soak the dates in hot tap water for 10 minutes. Combine the 16 dates, 3/4 cup almond milk, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a food processor or high speed blender and blend until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. This batch makes about 1-1/4 cups of caramel. You only need 1/2 cup for this recipe. You can store the remaining caramel in the fridge for up to several weeks.
Step 2: Prepare the Bananas
Peel 2 bananas and slice each in half crosswise, then cut each half in half again lengthwise to create thick banana sticks. Arrange them on a parchment-lined baking sheet or plate that fits in your freezer.
Step 2: Add the Caramel Layer
Spread about 1 teaspoon of date caramel or peanut butter on top of each banana piece using a small spoon or knife. Press 2 tablespoons of chopped peanuts gently into the caramel layer so they stick.
Step 3: Make the Chocolate Coating
In a microwave-safe bowl, combine 1/3 cup chocolate chips and 1 teaspoon coconut oil. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval, until completely smooth and melted.
Step 4: Finish and Freeze
Drizzle the melted chocolate over each banana piece, making sure to cover the caramel and peanuts. Sprinkle with a few pinches of flaky salt. Freeze for at least 30 minutes until the chocolate is set, or longer until the bananas are frozen through for the full frozen treat experience.
My Expert Recipe Tips
Use ripe but firm bananas: Too soft and they’ll get mushy when frozen, too green and they won’t be sweet enough to balance the other flavors.
Don’t skip the coconut oil: It helps create that satisfying chocolate snap that mimics real candy bar coating.
Work quickly with the chocolate: Melted chocolate starts to thicken as it cools, so drizzle it right after melting for the smoothest coverage.
Freeze on parchment: This prevents sticking and makes it easy to remove your healthy candy bars once they’re set.
Delicious Serving Suggestions
- Straight from the freezer: I love eating these completely frozen for that authentic frozen candy bar experience that takes longer to eat and feels more satisfying.
- Slightly thawed: Let them sit at room temperature for 2-3 minutes if you prefer a softer banana texture that’s easier to bite through.
- With coffee or tea: These make the perfect afternoon treat when you need something sweet with your warm beverage.
- Pack for lunch: Wrap individually and pack in insulated lunch boxes for a special dessert that won’t melt by lunchtime.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you love banana treats? Check out more of my easy banana dessert recipes:
- Peanut Butter Greek Yogurt Protein Bowl with Banana
- Frozen Cottage Cheese Banana Bark with Peanuts
- Viral Peanut Butter Banana Yogurt Clusters
- Salted Caramel Banana Cottage Cheese Ice Cream
- Lighter Gluten-Free Chocolate Banana Crepes
- Easy Gluten-Free Banana Cake with Chocolate Frosting
Frozen Banana Snickers Healthy Candy Bars
Ingredients
- 2 bananas
- 1/2 cup date caramel
- 1/3 cup chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
- 1/4 cup peanuts
- pinch salt
Date Caramel:
- 16 medjool dates
- 3/4 cup almond milk (any milk)
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Make the Date Caramel: (skip this step if you're using peanut butter instead)Soak the dates in hot tap water for 10 minutes. Combine the 16 dates, 3/4 cup almond milk, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a food processor or high speed blender and blend until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. This batch makes about 1-1/4 cups of caramel. You only need 1/2 cup for this recipe. You can store the remaining caramel in the fridge for up to several weeks.
- Peel 2 bananas and slice each in half crosswise, then cut each half in half again lengthwise to create thick banana sticks. Arrange them on a parchment-lined baking sheet or plate that fits in your freezer.
- Spread about 1 teaspoon of date caramel or peanut butter on top of each banana piece using a small spoon or knife. Press 2 tablespoons of chopped peanuts gently into the caramel layer so they stick.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, combine 1/3 cup chocolate chips and 1 teaspoon coconut oil. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval, until completely smooth and melted.
- Drizzle the melted chocolate over each banana piece, making sure to cover the caramel and peanuts. Sprinkle with a few pinches of flaky salt. Freeze for at least 30 minutes until the chocolate is set, or longer until the bananas are frozen through for the full frozen treat experience.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe has been reviewed by a healthcare professional for its nutritional balance and alignment with healthy eating principles.
These were really easy to make and the date caramel gives them lots of flavor! Are the same as a Snickers, no! But they satisfied my sweet tooth. And we happen to love bananas in our house.
Thank you, Jessica for the review!
Love having a healthier Snickers bar! Easy recipe 🙂
Thank you, Frank! I’m glad you enjoyed them 🙂
I can’t wait for you to try these!! They are so simple and so sweet and tasty 🙂