It’s a new year for the Improv Challenge and this month’s theme is bananas & nutmeg – two ingredients I eat pretty much every day. Lately, this Banana Mocha Frappe has been part of my daily breakfast routine and I recently waxed poetic about my microplane and my love for freshly grated nutmeg.
But I don’t think I’ve ever paired bananas with nutmeg until now with these Skinny Banana Splits. Let’s just say I’ll be adding grated nutmeg to my morning banana frappe from now on.
A typical banana split averages about 1,000 (!) calories per serving – these are around 300 calories. I mixed mascarpone cheese with Greek yogurt, maple syrup and nutmeg (in place of ice cream) which cuts down on the fat but still delivers that creamy and silky texture. Topped off with chopped pecans, shredded coconut with more fresh nutmeg, this certainly isn’t your traditional ice cream dessert but it still delivers on satisfaction.
Ingredients
- 4 small bananas
- 3/4 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup mascarpone cheese
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1/4 cup pecan halves
- 8 teaspoons unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Directions
- To assemble banana splits, cut each banana in half lengthwise and place on serving plate.
- In a mixing bowl or with a stand mixer, whip together yogurt, mascarpone, maple syrup and 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg.
- Use 1/4 cup of the maple yogurt mixture for each banana - dollop each portion on top.
- Over top each of the four banana splits, sprinkle 1 tablespoon pecans, 2 teaspoons coconut and 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg.
Come to think of it, I should have put a cherry on top!
Get your banana and nutmeg fix with more recipes below:
I love how you took a sinful dessert and made it healthy without losing the taste or feel of decadence!
Kristen recently posted..Bananas Foster in a Dutch Baby: Improv Challenge
This looks delicious! What a great way to indulge without all the calories! I am adding this into my breakfast rotation.
That’s what I should have named this post: “Banana Splits for Breakfast!”
What flavor Greek Yogurt? Plain? Will vanilla work?
I used plain but vanilla would totally work too
Love this idea and they look so pretty too! Maybe I’ll whip some up this weekend…:-)
EA-The Spicy RD recently posted..Sippity Sipping My {Sub} Tropical Smoothie by the Fire.
They are kind of addicting (I mean I couldn’t let all those splits in the photo go to waste
Mascarpone cheese is my weakness.
These look really delicious and healthy. I’d love to see the nutrition stats on them! Thanks for the great idea!
What a great January treat! I don’t think I’d miss the ice cream!
Liz recently posted..Nutty Brown Butter Banana Bread…#ImprovChallenge
Fabulous idea to use greek yogurt and maple syrup, Serena and Deanna. I’m sure my super-duper healthy husband would’ve preferred I go your route in recipes…But what can I say? My Nutella, banana and nutmeg Bundt did bring heavenly smells to our home…Still, I think I’ll use your recommended ingredients for the leftover bananas =)
That Bundt recipe sounds DIVINE! Believe me, I always have a jar of Nutella in my pantry
Wow, they look great. If my french toast idea didn’t work out I was going to do some rendition of a banana split.
Ah, but I’m glad you did the French toast – it looks so yummy and comforting.
This looks delicious! A bit healthier than my bananas foster french toast! I love making healthier desserts though – makes me feel a lot better when I splurge on them!
Looks yummy, a great idea for a breakfast treat!
Deanna, Your Banana Splits look awesome! I love your flavor combination …. buttery pecans, maple syrup, coconut and more. Sounds like a party for the taste buds.
Thanks for stopping in to look at my Breakfast Cookies.
Your yogurt mixture sounds wonderful, I want to make it very soon.
My Improv Cooking Challenge entry this month: Baked Bananas, hope that you’ll stop over and check the recipe out.
Lisa~~
Yum! Your take on banana splits looks amazing! B recently came home with some lactose-free yogurt, so I hope to try a modified version of your recipe!
Thanks for stopping by to check out my fried bananas with brown sugar sauce!
Very creative, this looks like a fun treat.
Mimi