Recipe and image courtesy of Pollack Chabad Center for Jewish Life

These frozen banana penguins are a fun, simple and healthy treat to make with kids, while spending valuable learning time in the kitchen. Visit the Chabad Center for Jewish Life in Chandler on March 6 to join the Kids in the Kitchen class and learn to create your very own adorable animal creations.

INGREDIENTS

2 bananas

1 cup of milk chocolate chips

1⁄4 cup of Reese’s Pieces, or your favorite coated chocolate candy

1 pack of candy eyeballs

1 bag of pretzel sticks

DIRECTIONS

1. Peel and cut the bananas in half, then freeze overnight. They will gently thaw as you and your little ones work on the craft so they shouldn’t be too tough to eat when you finish.

2. Melt the chocolate chips using the microwave or a double boiler on the stove. If you microwave, add a tablespoon of water for every 1/2 cup of chocolate chips to ensure they won’t burn. Heat for two minutes or until the chocolate is melted. Take chocolate out of the microwave at the one-minute mark and stir to prevent burning, then resume heating. Be sure to use a microwave-safe bowl!

3. Carefully cut the Reese’s Pieces in half with a butter knife. Do this step for the little ones and then give them the halves already sliced.

4. Dip the bananas in the melted chocolate so that only the top and the back half are covered. Place the candy eyeballs near the top of the banana and use the melted chocolate to adhere them. Place the peanut butter pieces on the banana where the nose and feet belong using the melted chocolate to adhere. Push the pretzel sticks into the banana for wings (not pictured).

5. Place banana penguins in the freezer for 10-20 minutes to set and then enjoy!

Yields 4 banana penguins