Banana Fudge Popsicles

When I was a kid, my mom used to freeze bananas for me as a treat.  And sometimes, she'd put chocolate on them.  I loved those flavors together then and still do!
These popsicles have all the creamy goodness of pudding pops combined with the deliciousness of chocolate frozen bananas.  Simple, tasty, perfect!

Banana Fudge Popsicles

Adapted from Kraft Foods

Ingredients:

1 cup mashed banana (aprx 2 medium)

1/2 tsp lemon juice (optional: to prevent the bananas from oxidizing)

3 cups milk

3.4 oz vanilla instant pudding (or banana pudding)

3.4 oz chocolate fudge instant pudding

Directions:

1.  Get ready your popsicle molds (or paper cups) and sticks/handles.  This recipe makes about 10 standard popsicles.

2.  In a medium bowl, whisk together the banana and lemon juice.  Whisk in 1 cup of the milk.  Whisk in the vanilla pudding until the mixture thickens.

3.  In a separate medium bowl, whisk the remaining 2 cups of milk together with the chocolate pudding until the mixture thickens.

4.  There are several different ways you can do this next step:

     

     Method 1: alternate pouring tablespoons of the two flavors carefully into the mold cavities, making stripes.  This method ensures equal flavor portions and looks neat and pretty.

     Method 2: alternate pouring tablespoons of the two flavors into the mold cavities, then swirl the mixture with a stick or skewer to create a marbled effect.  This method ensures equal flavor portions and gives a pretty design.

    Method 3: very gently combine the two flavors into one bowl.  Stir once or twice to swirl.  Pour the mixture into the mold cavities.  This is an easy method that gives a pretty, swirled design.

    Method 4: fill each mold cavity halfway with one flavor, then fill the other half with the second flavor.  This is the easiest method and ensures equal flavor portions.

5.  Insert handles/sticks.  Cover and freeze until completely frozen solid (if you try to unmold too soon, the handles will pull out of the parfrozen centers).

6.  Hold the mold under hot running water.  Try to loosen the pops.  Repeat until you can remove the pops from the mold.

7.  Serve!