Creamy cacao nib ice cream blanketed in dark chocolate, sprinkled with almond chunks, and finished with a touch of sea salt…oh yes!
I tried so hard not to pick favorites among the pops of Popsicle Week. But these have an unfair advantage…or three.
Unfair advantages in order from most obvious to least obvious:
1) Chocolate.
2) Chocolate coating.
3) Sea salt.
Need I say more? I didn’t think so. But I’m going to anyways.
From the very start of Popsicle Week planning, I knew one of the three recipes had to be chocolate. But the simple concept of a chocolate ice cream pop could go in about a zillion different directions depending on what mix-ins and toppings and yummy extras were involved.
Turtle pops? Nah I already did the caramel thing.
Cookies and cream pops? Then I’d have to actually bake cookies first.
Fudgesicles? Not enough mix-ins.
Mocha pops? Okay I didn’t actually think of this until just now.
Mint chocolate chip pops? Peanut butter cup pops? Triple chocolate cookie dough s’mores fudge brownie chunk with…
See my dilemma?
But I have noticed that when it comes to chocolate ice cream/ice cream bars with crunchy stuff, almonds seem to be a solid choice for the crunchy stuff. And when it comes to chocolate-covered chocolate anything, I know firsthand that a sprinkling of sea salt on top is never not a good idea…a.k.a. DO IT.
And that’s how I arrived at this exact lots-o-chocolate-on-a-stick situation. Nothing too crazy or controversial (looking at you mint) or requiring lots of prep (ahem, cookie dough). Just rich and decadent but also killing it on textural and sweet-salty balance.
Oh! And in my excitement about the chocolate ice cream + chocolate coating I may have bumped things up to triple chocolate by throwing a handful of cacao nibs into the ice cream too. Hello crunchy cacao surprise throughout. Chocolate chips work too btw.
Okay fine. I admit it, these pops are my favorite. But I love you too banoffee–promise!
Chocolate Almond Sea Salt Ice Cream Pops
Description
Creamy cacao nib ice cream blanketed in dark chocolate, sprinkled with almond chunks, and finished with a touch of sea salt!
Ingredients
- 4–5 frozen bananas
- 2 tbsp cacao powder ((or cocoa powder))
- 1/4 cup cacao nibs ((or chocolate chips))
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
- Chopped almonds
- Sea salt
Instructions
- In a high speed blender, combine the frozen bananas and cacao powder. Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Add the cacao nibs and blend briefly or stir to distribute them throughout.
- Spoon into popsicle molds. Freeze overnight.
- The following day, carefully remove the pops from the molds.
- Melt the chocolate chips. Allow the melted chocolate cool for 5-10 minutes.
- Dip/cover/drizzle the pops with the melted chocolate.
- Sprinkle with chopped almonds and a pinch of sea salt.
- Freeze to set. Enjoy!
Notes
This is the popsicle mold I used here. If you don’t have a popsicle mold, paper cups work too! Just freeze for about 30-60 minutes and then insert the sticks.
Update: Check out the rest of the Popsicle Week recipes with Banoffee and Strawberry Tahini. Or watch all 3 in the making HERE
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SWOONING! You’re slayin popsicle week already. The sea salt is such a perfect touch on these already beautiful pops <3
Why did it take me so long to realize how spectacular sea salt is on all the chocolatey things? My sodium intake has probably doubled in ice cream/pudding/chocolate bar form in the past few months lol😂
Kneel before cream pop
★★★★★
LOL😂😂 Made my day!
So I wasn’t sure how you would follow up Monday’s pop brilliance, but you’ve done it! Not to down play the amazing looking creation from Monday, but you had me at chocolate + almonds with these! I loooove love love almonds and obviously who is EVER going to say no to chocolate. Per usual, the pops themselves just take the “fun” level of this treat up to a whole other level. So perfect for all of this warm weather coming up!!
Even melted into a messy mound of popsicle photo aftermath I couldn’t resist🙊 Almonds + chocolate is too good, I agree. And the sea salt finishing touch…😋😋 I tried to give all the pops a special competitive edge but these still win for me. Thanks Sara and happy last day!!!
This is my kind of chocolate heaven! They look so decadent but they’re healthy! Beautiful photos too!
Salt + chocolate and it’s pretty much my kinda heaven regardless of form or temperature 🙂
Oh no you didn’t! Hahaha…These are just insane girl! I posted these on Twitter the other day and forgot to come comment but even my hubby saw my tweet about these and then promptly texted me right after, LOL! They seriously look so good and other than bananas, they contain my favorite ingredients…chocolate, almonds and sea salt. They are also GORGEOUS. Love your closeup shots of them, just too pretty. You are officially the popsicle queen….seriously. So creative and such nice add-ins. And no offense to all the people who do fruity ones out there, but those are not nearly as awesome as these, lol!
Haha I for one am certainly not offended, because no matter how much I love fruit no fruity flavored pop can top these for me either! Chocolate + sea salt and I cannot resist. That’s so funny that your husband texted you about them. I take it he’s a chocolate lover too then 🙂 Thanks for tweeting and commenting on all this banana-based craziness!
OMG… This is the perfect definition of food porn… You killed me! I have to buy molds and prepare it.
How much pops can you make from that amount? the whole 10?…
I will buy this mold or the one below.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-Cell-Frozen-Ice-Cream-Pop-Mold-Popsicle-Maker-Lolly-Mould-Ice-Tray-50-Sticks-/172820021259?hash=item283ce0400b:g:EfIAAOSw3QpZbwcZ
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DUAVDG6/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=AIRHG418VLWJT&psc=1
(The one you bought isn’t shipped internationally)
Thanks 🙂
★★★★★
You can get at least 10 with that amount, you may have a little leftover but that’s not usually a problem to find a use for😉 hope you enjoy!
Amazing, thank you
Just ordered this one
http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-Cell-Frozen-Ice-Cream-Pop-Mold-Popsicle-Maker-Lolly-Mould-Ice-Tray-50-Sticks-/172820021259?hash=item283ce0400b:g:EfIAAOSw3QpZbwcZ
That one look really similar to mine, should be perfect 🙂
Yes 🙂
I ordered this one because the second one can hold up to 6 only.
Will keep you updated 😉
Can’t wait to hear the verdict 🙂
This will be my first attempt at making pops. I have questions – 1)- you mentioned ice cream. Is that made from frozen bananas? Are the cocoa powder, nibs & chips sweetened or unsweetened? They look luscious. Can’t wait to try them.
Yep I am just referring to the ice cream like texture you get from the frozen bananas. And the cacao powder and nibs are both unsweetened, although the chocolate chips are sweetened (I used semi-sweet chips). Hope that helps and they turn out perfect fo you 🙂
Thanks.
My very first ice-cream for this summer and it was AMAZING!
I say very first ice-cream because I cannot buy ice-cream from store (due to diet limitations) and I’ve been lazy so far to make myself at home.
But today I stopped at your recipe because of the VERY few ingredients.
and it was DELICIOUS! Even my boyfriend was taken aback of how good it tasted. I used hazelnuts instead of almonds, the melted chocolate was 100% cacao and fortunatley, due to banana’s sweetness, this didn’t make the ice-cream too bitter :)) (from cocoa and melted chocolate). Plus, the cacao nibs were so good to have, for a crunchy feeling.
Really, VERY good. I’m so happy I have 2 more ice-creams in the fridge for the next days 🙂
★★★★★
I am SO happy you guys tried and loved it, and honored it was your first of the season🤗🤗 I bet it was extra delish with hazelnuts, that’s such a good idea. I hope you enjoy the rest and I appreciate your feedback!