From frozen chocolate-covered bananas, banana splits, to banana bread with chocolate chips, chocolate and banana are a very popular flavor combination. But have you had a banana hot chocolate before? It’s so easy to make and deliciously creamy, frothy, and naturally sweet. You can get your fruit in while having it in liquid form, and it’s the perfect sweet treat to make on a cold day.

Here’s how to make a banana hot chocolate at home!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• It’s super easy to make in only 4 steps.
• Try another variation of the classic banana and chocolate combination.
• It’s a healthier hot chocolate that isn’t too sweet or caloric.
• The banana makes it naturally thicker, so it’s satisfying and easy to make dairy-free.

What is Banana Hot Chocolate?

Banana hot chocolate is hot chocolate with mashed or blended bananas in it. It’s not a super common flavor, but it should be because it’s so delicious. Bananas and chocolate are a common dessert flavor, but in a hot chocolate, it’s so satisfying and filling.

You could use banana syrup or banana milk, but I like to use a whole ripe banana to add the best flavor and texture. Once blended, it makes the hot chocolate creamy, as if it had cream added. It’s also naturally sweet, so you don’t need to add any extra sugar, which is perfect if you’re watching your sugar intake.

It’s great with some whipped cream, banana slices, and chocolate shavings. This hot cocoa is comforting and unique, and will definitely turn heads.

What Does Banana Hot Chocolate Taste Like?

It tastes like a chocolate banana pudding or liquid chocolate-covered banana. It’s most similar to a chocolate and banana smoothie, but warm. You can’t go wrong with this flavor combination. It’s sweet, rich, and fruity, and the banana complements the chocolate’s bitterness nicely.

It’s also such a nostalgic flavor, especially if you grew up eating chocolate-covered bananas.

Can You Put Bananas in Hot Chocolate?

Why not? Go wild! Bananas totally work in hot chocolate, and you can add them in a variety of ways. My recommended method is blending bananas so that they’re smooth and incorporate well with milk and melted chocolate.

You could also mash the bananas with a spoon or a potato masher instead. This gives you fewer dishes to wash and a chunkier texture in your hot cocoa if that’s your preference!

If you don’t have bananas or want an alternate method, you can use banana syrup or extract. More details below!

What Bananas to Use

You can use any banana for this recipe! I use regular grocery store Cavendish bananas, but you can use any as long as they’re ripe! Baby bananas or ripe plantains work just as well since they’re sweet.

Make sure you use ripe bananas for the best flavor! The peel should be yellow with some brown spots and give a little when pressed with a finger. If your banana isn’t ripe, you can still use it, but it might give you a starchy flavor. You can artificially ripen bananas by roasting them in a pan in the oven or broiling them until the peels turn black.

Banana Hot Chocolate Recipe

What You’ll Need:

• A small blender or potato masher
• A small to medium-sized pot

Ingredients:

• 1 ripe banana
• 1 ½ cup milk
• 1-2 tbsp cocoa powder (I used 1)
• ½ tbsp maple syrup (optional)
• ¼ cup chopped dark chocolate
• ¼ cup whipped cream
• 3-4 slices of banana

How to Make Banana Hot Chocolate

1. Blend Banana, Milk, and Cocoa. Peel a banana and add it to a blender cup with milk and cocoa powder. Blend for 5 – 10 seconds until smooth with no visible chunks. Avoid overblending to keep a smooth texture
2. Heat Mixture. Pour the blended banana cocoa milk into a pot and heat on low until hot and steaming.
3. Melt the Chocolate. Chop and add dark chocolate to the hot milk and stir until completely melted. If it’s grainy, heat the mixture for longer until the small bits melt. Once melted, take it off the heat and let it slightly cool.
4. Make Whipped Cream. Buy or make whipped cream! For homemade whipped cream, whip heavy cream and sugar together until stiff peaks.
5. Serve and Enjoy! Serve banana hot chocolate in a mug and garnish with whipped cream, banana slices, and chocolate shavings. Best when hot.

How to Make it Non-Dairy

If you’re lactose intolerant, never fear! You can easily make this banana hot chocolate dairy-free by swapping out the milk for your favorite plant-based milk. I recommend oat milk for the most neutral flavor and a creamy texture.

You can also easily use just cocoa powder or source a dairy-free dark chocolate. Because of the blended banana, the hot chocolate is actually thicker naturally, so you really won’t miss the dairy milk, to be honest!

Tips for Making Banana Hot Chocolate

• Cut the Banana Beforehand: I like cutting my banana beforehand to make it easy for my small blender to get a smooth texture. However, if you’ve got a really powerful blender, feel free to just chuck it in.
• Use Good Quality Chocolate: I feel like chocolate is one of those treats that tastes different between different pricepoints. You don’t need the most expensive one, but something that’s better than the bottom-tier chocolate will taste miles better! Although, use whatever you got at home.
• Don’t Overblend: Try not to overblend the banana milk mixture, because it can get extremely frothy and less liquid. When it’s heated, the foamy parts tend to dry out and create a different texture, so try to blend just enough.
• Adjust Texture: If your hot chocolate is too thick, add a little more milk to thin it out. If it’s too watery, you can add a little more chocolate or blended banana. It’s easy to customize based on your preference.

Other Banana Hot Chocolate Methods

Here are some other ways to make a delicious banana hot chocolate:

• Use Storebought Banana Milk: Korean banana milk is a great alternative to homemade banana milk. You can find it in most Asian grocery stores in boxed containers. However, it’s extremely sweet, so you might need to dilute it with milk.
• Add Banana Syrup: You can use banana syrup as well. Again, it’s also really sweet, so be sparing with the amount you add.
• Add Banana Extract: The extract is super powerful, so you’ll only need a couple of drops to get the banana flavor. However, it can sometimes have an artificial flavor, so try it out before making this hot cocoa.
• Use Freeze-Dried Banana Powder: You can blend up freeze-dried banana slices to get banana powder, which you can easily add to milk with cocoa powder. I think this is the best alternative and gives you a nice banana flavor with less of it. Since dried fruit is more intense, you don’t need a lot for good flavor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do bananas and chocolate go together?

Yes! Bananas and chocolate are an iconic flavor combination, from chocolate-covered bananas to banana split sundaes. The chocolate pairs so well with banana, and makes it less tart and more creamy. You can’t go wrong with it.

Can you mix banana and milk together?

Yes, although bananas are mildly acidic, they won’t curdle milk as intensely as orange or strawberry. It’s a great combination, and something you probably do all the time unintentionally by making smoothies. It also makes delicious banana milk.

Can you make this cold?

If you’d like to enjoy this iced, let the banana hot cocoa cool to room temperature, then add it to a cup with ice. You can also chill it in the fridge for a couple of hours and serve it when it’s cold. It’s just as good iced as it is hot.

Other Hot Chocolate Recipes to Try

Banana hot chocolate is such a unique drink and always makes me want to come up with other fun ideas. So, here are some other hot chocolate recipes you should try next:

• Earl Grey Hot Chocolate
• French Hot Chocolate
• Mexican Hot Chocolate
• Chai Hot Chocolate
• Thai Tea Hot Chocolate