Banana Ghosts

Spooky, Sweet, and Seriously Simple: Meet Your New Favorite Halloween Treat!

Hey there, flavor friend! Isla here, from BiteTide. Can you feel it? That crisp, cool air, the rustle of brightly colored leaves, and the undeniable buzz of excitement that means Halloween is just around the corner. I don’t know about you, but my favorite part of any holiday isn’t just the decorations or the costumes—it’s the food. The opportunity to create a little edible magic that makes people, especially little ones, light up with joy.

But let’s be real for a second. Between helping with last-minute costume adjustments, carving pumpkins, and answering the door for what feels like a thousand tiny ghosts and goblins, who has time for elaborate, fussy party snacks? I certainly don’t! That’s why I’m absolutely obsessed with these ridiculously easy, impossibly cute, and naturally sweet Banana Ghosts.

We’re talking three ingredients, ten minutes, and zero baking required. These little phantoms are the hero of healthy Halloween treats, offering a delightful break from the sugar rush without sacrificing any of the fun. They’re perfect for classroom parties, a spooky snack platter, or a fun cooking project with your mini chefs-in-training. So, let’s banish the stress and conjure up some kitchen fun together. This is one recipe wave you’re gonna want to ride!

Banana Ghosts

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• Author: islamerrick
• Total Time: 10 minutes
• Yield: 6 ghosts 1x

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Description

Banana Ghosts are a frightfully fun and healthy Halloween treat that’s perfect for kids and party platters. Made with just bananas and chocolate chips, these ghostly snacks come together in minutes and deliver a naturally sweet bite with a spooky twist. No tricks—just a simple treat that disappears fast.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

3 ripe bananas

18 mini chocolate chips (for eyes)

9 regular chocolate chips (for mouths)

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Instructions

Peel bananas and cut each in half crosswise to create six ghost “bodies.”

Stand each half upright, flat side down, on a plate or tray.

Gently press two mini chocolate chips into each banana for eyes.

Add one regular chocolate chip below the eyes to form a mouth.

Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Dessert

Nutrition

• Calories: 90 per serving
• Sugar: 10g
• Fat: 2.5g
• Fiber: 2g
• Protein: 1g

A Ghostly Kitchen Memory

This recipe always takes me right back to my grandma’s warm, always-busy kitchen. Halloween in our small coastal town was a huge deal, and her house was the official pre-trick-or-treating rally point. She’d have a spread of spooky snacks laid out, but she always made sure we had something “to line our stomachs” before we headed out for our candy haul.

One particularly chaotic year, my dad was trying to help her by cutting up fruit for a platter. He held up a halved banana, stuck two chocolate chips in it, and made a silly groaning sound. “Look,” he announced, “a fruit phantom!” My grandma laughed so hard she almost dropped the bowl of popcorn she was seasoning. We all started making them, creating a whole army of lopsided, cross-eyed banana ghosts on a baking sheet. It was messy, it was silly, and it’s one of my most cherished food memories. It wasn’t about perfection; it was about the togetherness, the laughter, and the simple, shared joy of creating something fun. That’s the exact spirit I want to bring to your kitchen with this recipe.

Gathering Your Ghostly Crew: The Ingredients

The beauty of this recipe is in its stunning simplicity. You likely have everything you need already! Here’s the lowdown on our tiny but mighty ingredient list.

• 3 ripe bananas: This is your ghostly canvas! You want them ripe—think bright yellow with maybe a few freckles—but not mushy or brown. A firm banana holds its shape better and gives you that perfect, creamy-sweet base. If they’re too green, they’ll be starchy and not as sweet. Pro Chef Insight: Bananas are a powerhouse of natural sweetness and potassium, making these a treat you can feel good about!
• 18 mini chocolate chips: These are for the eyes! The mini size is key—they’re the perfect scale for our petite phantoms and they press in easily without splitting the banana. Substitution Tip: No minis? You can use regular-sized chocolate chips, but they’ll give your ghosts a more surprised, wide-eyed look! For a dairy-free option, any mini vegan chocolate chip will work perfectly.
• 9 regular chocolate chips: These form the classic, spooky “O” mouth. The slightly larger size helps define the expression. Chef’s Hack: Feeling creative? Use a combination of regular chips and minis to give your ghosts different personalities—a little smile, a frown, a shocked “O”! White chocolate chips are also a fun swap for a different kind of spooky vibe.

Conjuring Your Banana Ghosts: A Step-by-Step Séance

Ready to make some magic? Let’s get assembling! This is the perfect time to get the kids involved. I call it “playing with your food,” the BiteTide-approved way.

1. Peel and Prep: First, give your bananas a quick rinse and dry. Peel them completely. I like to work on a clean cutting board with a paper towel nearby for any sticky fingers. This is your ghost workshop!
2. The Grand Cut: Take each banana and, using a gentle sawing motion with a paring knife, cut it in half crosswise. You’ll now have six sturdy, ghost-body-ready banana halves. Why crosswise? Standing them upright on their flat ends gives them stability and that classic ghost shape. No wobbly phantoms on our watch!
3. Create a Landing Zone: Grab a plate, a small baking sheet, or even a cutting board to assemble your ghosts on. If you’re planning to refrigerate them before serving, make sure whatever you use will fit in your fridge! Line it with parchment paper for super easy cleanup.
4. Eye-Spy: Now for the fun part—giving them personality! Take two mini chocolate chips. Gently press them, pointy-side down, into the top third of the banana to create the eyes. Don’t push too hard or you’ll go right through the banana! You want them to be secure enough that they don’t fall out. Pro Tip: Space the eyes apart enough so your ghost doesn’t look cross-eyed (unless that’s the look you’re going for—we don’t judge here!).
5. Say “Boo!” with a Mouth: Just below the eyes, press one regular chocolate chip, pointy-side down, to form a perfect little “O” mouth. And just like that, you’ve brought a ghost to life! See how easy that was?
6. Chill Out (Optional): You can serve these little guys immediately for the best banana texture. But if you’re prepping for a party, pop the whole tray into the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes. This helps them firm up just a touch and makes them extra refreshing.

How to Serve Your Spooky Specters

Presentation is part of the fun! Don’t just plop these on a plate. Create a scene. Arrange them on a dark slate board for a dramatic graveyard effect. Pile them on a platter surrounded by clementine “pumpkins” (clementines with a small piece of celery for a stem) and strawberry witches’ hats. For a real showstopper, place each ghost on a stick or a wooden popsicle stick planted in a piece of foam or a weighted cup to create a floating ghost army. The possibilities are endless and half the fun!

Ride the Flavor Wave: Spooky Variations

The basic formula is perfect, but why not get creative? Here are a few fun twists to keep your Halloween spread exciting:

• Peanut Butter Ghosts: Before adding the facial features, give your banana halves a thin “coat” of peanut butter or almond butter. The chocolate will stick even better, and you add a yummy protein punch.
• Yogurt-Dipped Phantoms: For an even spookier, whiter ghost, dip the banana halves in Greek yogurt (dairy or non-dairy) and freeze for 30 minutes before adding the faces. It adds a delicious tangy creaminess!
• Boo-nana Pops: Insert a popsicle stick into the flat end of each banana half before decorating. Now you have a perfect, handheld ghost pop!
• Spooky Sprinkles: Roll the bottom of the banana in black or orange sprinkles to add a festive “hem” to your ghost’s sheet.

Isla’s Chef Notes & Kitchen Confessions

I’ve made these Banana Ghosts more times than I can count, and they’ve evolved over the years. One year, my nephew decided every ghost needed *three* eyes, and you know what? The cyclops ghost trend was born in my kitchen that day. Another time, I was in a huge rush and used melted chocolate to pipe on faces instead of chips. It was messier and took longer, but the dramatic, swoopy faces were a hit! The moral of the story? There’s no wrong way to do this. Embrace the imperfections. A lopsided smile just gives your ghost more character.

My biggest kitchen confession? I almost never have mini chocolate chips. I’m a baker at heart, so my pantry is always stocked with regular semi-sweet chips. I just use a sharp knife to carefully chop a few into smaller pieces for the eyes. It works like a charm! This recipe is all about using what you have and having fun with it. No stress, just good, spooky fun.

Banana Ghosts FAQs: Solving Your Spooky Problems

Q: How far in advance can I make these?
A: Honestly, these are best made the day-of, ideally within a few hours of serving. Bananas brown naturally when exposed to air (oxidation). You can give them a very light spritz of lemon juice to slow this down, but it might add a slight tart flavor. For a party, I assemble them about an hour before guests arrive and keep them chilled until showtime!

Q: My chocolate chips won’t stick! What am I doing wrong?
A: This usually means the banana surface is too wet. Make sure your bananas are completely dry after peeling. If you’re still having trouble, a tiny, *tiny* dot of honey or peanut butter on the back of the chip can act as edible glue.

Q: Can I use something other than chocolate chips for the face?
A: Absolutely! Get creative! Raisins, currants, or even blueberry pieces work well. For a completely refined-sugar-free version, try chia seeds or dark espresso beans for a fun, quirky look.

Q: The bananas are too soft to cut without smushing. Help!
A: Ah, you’ve got an overripe banana! That’s perfect for banana bread, but not ideal for ghosts. Make sure your bananas are still firm. Pop them in the freezer for 10-15 minutes before cutting to firm them up slightly, making for a cleaner cut.

Nutritional Information (Per Serving)

Servings: 1 Ghost (1/2 banana) | Calories: 90 kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2.5g | Saturated Fat: 1.5g | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 10g

Note: Nutritional information is an estimate and can vary based on specific ingredients used.