High Protein Banana Split Dilly Bars
Published Apr 03, 2024 Updated Jul 05, 2024
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These delicious Banana Split Dilly Bars are a healthier copycat of Dairy Queen’s famous ice cream bar. Made with high-protein yogurt, chopped fruit, and dipped in a crunchy chocolate shell.
What is a Dilly Bar?
A Dilly Bar is a popular frozen ice cream treat made by Dairy Queen. It consists of soft-serve vanilla ice cream on a stick, coated with a layer of crunchy coating such as chocolate, cherry, butterscotch, and sometimes other seasonal flavors.
The ingredients in a chocolate Dilly Bar, according to DQ’s website: “Milk Fat and Nonfat Milk, Sugar, Whey, Corn Syrup, Carob Bean Gum, Guar Gum, Carrageenan, Mono & Diglycerides, Artificial Flavor, Caramel Color, Vitamin A Palmitate), Coating (Coconut Oil, Sugar, Cocoa Processed with Alkali, Corn Starch, Soy Lecithin (Emulsifier), Salt, Natural Flavor.”
What Makes This Recipe Great
If you’ve tried my Healthy Banana Split Blizzard, you know how much I love a good Dairy Queen copycat recipe! Today, I’m introducing my Homemade Dilly Bars! These delicious ice cream bars are made with a base of Greek yogurt, honey, protein powder, and chopped fruit, then dipped in chocolate and peanuts for a delicious crunchy chocolatey coating.
I went full banana split with these delicious bars and I have to tell you they are the perfect warm-weather treat for kids and adults. Full of fruit, protein, and natural sweetener, with a delicious chocolate finish. Even better, they have just 10 grams of sugar making them a healthier, but still delicious treat or snack.
Naturally gluten-free, you can make these bars dairy-free by substituting your favorite non-dairy yogurt.
Ingredient Notes
- Strawberries
- Bananas
- Pineapples
- Cherries
- Plain Greek Yogurt: Or dairy-free yogurt of choice.
- Honey: To make these vegan, swap the honey for maple syrup.
- Vanilla extract
- Vanilla protein powder
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips: Use non-dairy or dark chocolate chips, whatever you have on hand or prefer!
- Coconut oil
- Crushed Peanuts
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Add the chopped fruit, plain Greek yogurt, honey, and vanilla extract to a large bowl. Combine thoroughly.
- Add a couple tablespoons of the yogurt mixture to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet from the clusters then add a popsicle stick. You can also add this mixture to a bar candy bar mold if desired.
- Place the baking sheet or mold in the freezer. Freeze until they are completely frozen, about 2 hours.
- When clusters are done in the freezer, melt the chocolate. Add the chocolate chips and coconut oil to a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 15 or 30-second intervals, stirring in between each one, until the chocolate has melted.
- Remove the frozen yogurt bars from the freezer and dip one side into the melted chocolate. Place bake on the baking sheet. Drizzle with more chocolate and add crushed peanuts.
- Place the clusters back in the freezer for a few minutes to allow the chocolate to set. Enjoy!
Mac’s Pro Tip
Expert Tips
- Non-Dairy Dilly Bars: For a dairy-free version, make sure to use your favorite non-dairy, plain yogurt and dairy-free chocolate chips.
- Vegan: For a vegan version, follow the dairy-free steps above and substitute maple syrup for the honey.
- Gluten-Free: These dilly bars are naturally gluten-free. Be sure to check labels for any cross-contamination if you have a severe allergy.
- Low-Carb: There are 12 net carbs per bar, making these a low-carb treat. They don’t fit into the “keto” lifestyle, but they are definitely a lower-carb option.
- Consistency: If you don’t want a super icy consistency, I recommend using full-fat Greek yogurt! However, I’ve used light and the ones with lower fat and it still turned out delish.
Serving Tips
Serve straight from the freezer for best results. Do not thaw or defrost.
Storage Tips
Store in a freezer-safe, airtight container. Separate layers with parchment paper so they don’t stick together.
Recipe FAQs
According to the Dairy Queen website, a chocolate dilly bar has 220 calories, 24 net carbs, and 21 grams of sugar. My homemade, healthier version has 145 calories, 12 net carbs, and 10 grams of sugar.
For sure! Simply use your favorite dairy-free yogurt, chocolate and vegan protein powder.
I’ve noticed this happens with lower-fat yogurt and if it’s been in the freezer too long. To avoid this, use full-fat yogurt (Greek or whole milk yogurt) as the higher fat content decreases this issue. Make sure to eat within a 2-week time frame. If the icy crystals don’t bother you, use any type of yogurt you want.
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High Protein Banana Split Dilly Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup chopped strawberries
- 1/2 cup chopped bananas
- 1/2 cup chopped pineapples
- 1/2 cup chopped cherries
- 2 cups plain greek yogurt or dairy-free yogurt of choice
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder optional
- 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
- 1-2 tbsp coconut oil
- 1/4 cup crushed peanuts
Instructions
- Add the chopped fruit, plain Greek yogurt, honey, and vanilla extract to a large bowl. Combine thoroughly.
- Add a couple tablespoons of the yogurt mixture to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet form the clusters then add a popsicle stick. You can also add this mixture to a bar candy bar mold if desired
- Place the baking sheet or mold in the freezer. Freeze until they are completely frozen, about 2 hours.
- When clusters are done in the freezer, melt the chocolate. Add the chocolate chips and coconut oil to a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 15 or 30-second intervals, stirring in between each one, until the chocolate has melted.
- Remove the frozen yogurt bars from the freezer and dip one side into the melted chocolate. Place bake on the baking sheet. Drizzle with more chocolate and add crushed peanuts.
- Place the clusters back in the freezer for a few minutes to allow the chocolate to set. Store in freezer for up to two weeks.
Notes
Expert Tips
- Non-Dairy Dilly Bars: For a dairy-free version, make sure to use your favorite non-dairy, plain yogurt and dairy-free chocolate chips.
- Vegan: For a vegan version, follow the dairy-free steps above and substitute maple syrup for the honey.
- Gluten-Free: These dilly bars are naturally gluten-free. Be sure to check labels for any cross-contamination if you have a severe allergy.
- Low-Carb: There are 12 net carbs per bar, making these a low-carb treat. They don’t fit into the “keto” lifestyle, but they are definitely a lower-carb option.
Serving Tips
Serve straight from the freezer for best results. Do not thaw or defrost.Storage Tips
Store in a freezer-safe, airtight container. Separate layers with parchment paper so they don’t stick together.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
The flavor is amazing, but mine are as hard as bricks right out of the freezer.
If I let them sit out a bit, they are still icy— not like a popsicle, but like chewing crushed ice.
Is that how they are supposed to be? Maybe I’m looking for more of a creamy texture. . .
P.S. I did not use fat free yogurt. Thoughts?
I’ve noticed this happens with lower-fat yogurt and if it’s been in the freezer too long. To avoid this, use full-fat yogurt (Greek or whole milk yogurt) as the higher fat content decreases this issue. Make sure to eat within a 2-week time frame. If the icy crystals don’t bother you, use any type of yogurt you want. Also, make sure you are covering them when you store in the freezer.