Vegan Chai-Spiced Banana Popsicles

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My Vegan Chai-Spiced Banana Popsicles can cool you off on a hot day! This spiced popsicle recipe will become your go-to healthy choice. It’s a base of wholesome banana, your favorite non-dairy milk, spices, and the sweetener of your choice.

vegan banana chai-spiced popsicle on a plate on top of a wooden table with some green bush on the background — Some chai-spiced banana popsicles for summer? Why not?

This was a banner week for finding the cheap marked-down bananas. I shop at a few different stores and managed to score 4 large bunches for half price. I peeled 2 bunches then cut them up to freeze for smoothies during the week. The rest I made into these chai-spiced banana vegan frozen treats.

These icy banana pops take no time to make. I mashed mine in a measuring cup so I could give you an exact amount, but it was about 1 medium bunch of bananas. You could skip measuring and just toss them into your blender after you peel them.

Popsicles aren’t as delicate or precise as ice cream. These will freeze up nicely even if you guestimate.

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What frozen treats can I enjoy during the summer?

I’m sure you’ll enjoy having mango and avocado, either in popsicles or in a smoothie, or both. So, I encourage you to check out my 7 Easy Vegan Homemade Popsicles; you’ll have lots to choose from there. You can also see 20 of My Best Vegan Frozen Desserts — I’ve got lots of chocolates and berries on that list!

In fact, you should try these other popsicle recipes too: Banana Pudding Popsicles, Banana Peanut Butter Fudgsicles, Mango Lassi Popsicles, or my ginger red bean frozen treats.

So, are popsicles healthy?

As you know, these treats can have a little more extra fat and sugar, but most of them are healthier for you when they’re made vegan. Not only do they refresh you during the summer months, but they also provide sweet relief during the hottest days of the year.

But this recipe lets you pick your own sweetener and you could choose an unrefined option like date syrup or maple syrup. You can make other dry sweeteners into a syrup by dissolving them into hot water, then cool before using.

Is it healthier than ice cream?

Popsicles are lower in fat compared to our cool comfort food: ice cream. While most of us love frozen treats, some prefer popsicles because they have lower calories. When you make your own, you get to pick the ingredients you use, so you are in control.

Do frozen bananas taste like ice cream?

So long as you’ve peeled, chopped, and frozen the bananas, they will be as creamy, as cold, and as indistinguishable from the taste and texture of ice cream. It’s as easy as throwing frozen chunks into your blender or food processor with a little vanilla and pulse until they have an ice-cream-like consistency.

Why is frozen fruit better than fresh?

Hmm. This one may be a little subjective — I mean, how do we even qualify ‘better’? Well, I generally think fresh fruits have their place on anyone’s table, and so do frozen ones.

But at least based on studies, fruits, and vegetables picked and frozen at peak ripeness mostly retain more of their vitamins, minerals, and phytochemical contents, compared to their fresh counterparts.

Now you know there’s no shame in using frozen fruit or veggies!

vegan chai-spiced banana popsicle on a plate placed on top of wooden table outdoors, with green bush on the background — It’s a sweet treat for a cooler summer.

Do banana popsicles have potassium?

Bananas are super rich in potassium. That doesn’t change when you turn these lovely bananas into ice pops. The same goes for many other fruits and veggies, so start experimenting.

Are banana popsicles gluten-free?

Not all ice pops are gluten-free, but good news: my banana chai popsicles are. These vegan banana pops also have a natural flavor and is peanut/nut-free and lactose-free.

Many vegan popsicles are gluten-free but watch for ones that have cookies or cake pieces. Some brands have those and are gluten-free too, so make sure to read the labels to double click.

Do popsicles help with dehydration?

Yes, they help those who have dehydration. These frozen treats are a great way to stay cool and hydrated, especially in the summer. And, when you make them right, popsicles can even slip some healthy nutrients into your body.

What is chai made of?

Chai just means tea and Indian tea is full of spices. It can include many different spices and the recipe can change family to family.

The most common are cardamom, a little mix of cinnamon, ginger, star anise, and cloves. Some variations even contain pepper, coriander, nutmeg, and fennel.

What spices go well with bananas?

Bananas go nice with almost everything! They pair well with many spices as well as with other fruits. I’ve done a few recipes using bananas with blueberries, caramel, cherries, chocolate, cinnamon, coconut, and even coffee.

Bananas taste amazing with ginger – ground or fresh, cardamom, allspice, cloves, in popsicles, bread, muffins, or cookies.

How do you make banana popsicles from scratch?

It’s simple. Put the bananas in a blender or food processor together with your preferred flavors. Then, fill the popsicle molds with the mixture and insert popsicle sticks.

How long does it take popsicles to freeze?

It can depend on how cold your freezer is, but it usually takes at least 8 hours for the pops to freeze solid.

Letting them freeze long enough makes sure they come out in one piece and don’t break off in the mold.

close up shot of a vegan chai-spiced banana popsicle on a plate — Banana popsicles are easy to prepare and quick to satisfy.

Ingredients needed for your Vegan Chai-Spiced Banana Popsicles

Here’s everything you’ll need to prepare to make your new summer favorite:

Bananas – this is the main part and what makes them creamy
Vanilla non-dairy milk – helps think out the banana
Ground cinnamon
Ground ginger
Ground cardamom
Ground allspice
Ground cloves
Sweetener of choice (I used sweetened milk and no extra sweetener) – try any liquid sweetener, just add to taste

How to make Vegan Chai-Spiced Banana Popsicles

It’s super quick and easy and requires only three steps. You can do the second step overnight and surprise yourself with a treat the next mid-morning!

Add all of the ingredients into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
Fill up popsicle molds and freeze for at least 8 hours.
Run cold water over the molds to release the popsicles.

Are banana popsicles good for dogs?

Leave the sweetener out of these popsicles and turn them into pup-sicles!

Instead of buying those expensive frozen dog treats, freeze the banana popsicle mixture in small 1/4 – 1/2 cup portions and let them lick their way through.

You could add in cooked sweet potato chunks to make it even better for your best friend.

More recipes to try

If you’re with someone who’s not a fan of chai, you could make them these Vegan Banana Pudding Popsicles instead. This recipe gives a cool twist on banana pudding without turning on the stove on a hot summer day.

But if you don’t mind the heat and even love a fuller chai experience, you could make this Homemade Chai Concentrate. Cook it on the stovetop or keep your kitchen cooler and use your slow cooker. Enjoy a glass hot or iced every morning.