Frozen chocolate bananas

Frozen bananas offer the perfect contrast between crunchy chocolate and soft, melting banana.

* Serves 4

• 4 firm but ripe small bananas
• 6 oz. milk chocolate, broken into chunks
• 6 tbsp. heavy cream
• 4 tbsp. orange juice

Freeze the bananas in their skins for about 2 hours.

Melt the chocolate in a small pan with the cream and orange juice, stirring occasionally until melted and smooth. Pour into a cold bowl and leave until it just begins to thicken and cool. Don’t let it get too cold otherwise it will not coat easily.

Take the bananas out of the freezer and remove their skins neatly. Dip each banana into the chocolate to coat thoroughly, then remove it using one or two long wooden skewers. Hold the banana over the bowl while the excess chocolate drips off. Then place the banana on waxed paper until the chocolate sets. Cut into 2 or 3 pieces and return to the freezer until ready to serve. Insert a popsicle stick into each piece for serving, if you wish.

These bananas do not keep well and should be eaten on the day they are made.

Variations:

• White chocolate banana pops

Prepare the basic recipe, but use white chocolate instead of milk chocolate.

• Double chocolate banana pops

When preparing the basic recipe, dip the bananas into the chocolate, then into chocolate sprinkles or chocolate chips.

• Nutty banana pops

Prepare the basic recipe. After dipping in chocolate, coat immediately in praline mixture or, for a less rich version, in very finely chopped toasted nuts.

• Crunchy banana pops

Prepare the basic recipe. After dipping in chocolate, coat immediately in crushed cornflakes, crispy rice cereal, or toasted breadcrumbs.

• Banana—mallow pops

Instead of chocolate-covered pops, make marshmallow ones. Cut the peeled frozen bananas into 4 or 5 pieces. Put each piece on a small wooden skewer. Melt 6 ounces of marshmallows slowly (in the microwave is best). When everyone is ready, hand around the banana sticks to dip immediately into the soft marshmallow. This is messy. These are not for keeping!