Load up on your potassium and satisfy that sweet tooth craving with this simple and tasty snack.

Frozen banana pops are delicious and can be made to your own personal preferences. With little preparation, this dessert is perfect for a last-minute chocolate craving or great to share with a study group. Not only are they tasty, but the ingredients are cheap.

The best part is you can incorporate your favorite type of candy and not feel too guilty because the bulk of this treat is fruit. Instead of purchasing the candy, save your hard-earned cash and just use the leftover Halloween candy you acquire.

Candy-Coated Banana Pops

4 bananas, sliced in halves

8-16 skewer sticks

1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips

Candy of your choice

Cut the bananas in half, lengthwise. Depending on how many banana pops you want, cut the halves in half which will make four pops per banana.

Stick the skewers into the bottom of each banana piece. While the banana is raw, the skewers will not stay in place but slide them into each banana piece carefully. Place the banana pop pieces into a plastic sandwich bag.

The skewer sticks will be hanging out of the bag. Place them in the freezer overnight.

When the banana pieces have frozen, prepare a cookie sheet covered with foil or parchment paper.

Unwrap the candy of your choice and chop it up into little pieces. Any tool can be used. I simply used the handle of a large metal spoon, which did the trick just fine. In a pot, boil water. Place a metal mixing bowl over the pot and empty the bag of chocolate chips into the bowl. Stir the chocolate continuously until fully melted.

Dip the frozen banana – one at a time – into the chocolate and then immediately cover with candy.

Depending how messy you want to get, you can roll the banana in the candy, or sprinkle it over the pop with your fingers. Once the banana pieces are covered in candy and chocolate, place them on the cookie sheet.

Repeat with remaining banana pops.

Place the cookie sheet in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes or until chocolate is solid. Voila, you have homemade banana pops.

For a healthy yet sugary treat to help you focus and stay alert, share these yummy banana pops with your study group.

Alex Mecredy can be reached at [email protected]