A frozen banana dipped in Hot Honey Iced Oatmeal Cookie chocolate. Yep, that’s a real flavor, and it’s sitting on a menu in New Jersey right now.
The shop behind it offers more than 17 chocolate flavors. Toppings run from nuts to Fruity Pebbles to Cinnamon Toast Crunch, so your boring boardwalk banana just got a serious upgrade.
What gets me is the banana bread trick. Instead of cookies, they sandwich homemade banana cream ice cream between two slices of it.
I’d absolutely make a detour for that.
Then there’s the chocolate-dipped cheesecake, the cannoli pops, and the pineapple rings. Honestly, I’m not sure what’s more surprising, the menu or how small the shop is.
Where do you even start?
A Mother-And-Son Team Built A Whole Shop Around One Fruit
Twenty-five years in the ice cream business can teach you a lot about what makes people smile. Dina used all of that know-how to launch The Original Banana Company, a shop devoted to the humble frozen banana.
She didn’t rush it, either. Dina spent several years brainstorming and testing ideas with family and friends before opening a storefront.
Her goal was simple but bold. She wanted to elevate a classic treat that most of us only grab on a boardwalk once a summer.
Today she runs the shop with her son, Kyle Murphy. That family connection shows up in how personal the whole place feels, from the menu names to the local partners.
The shop calls itself New Jersey’s only and original chocolate banana shop. That’s a pretty confident title, and the menu backs it up with serious variety.
Before landing a permanent home, the business got its start at the Somers Point Farmers Market. The storefront came along around April 2023.
So when you stop in, you’re visiting a small business with a clear focus. One fruit, tons of chocolate, and a whole lot of creativity piled on top.
Honestly, that’s a fun recipe for a family business.
Seventeen-Plus Chocolates Means Decision Time Gets Tricky
Plain chocolate is on the list, sure. But so is Cotton Candy, and that’s where things start getting fun.
The shop offers more than 17 chocolate flavors for its frozen treats. Some items have over 20 options, which feels like a lot for one banana to handle.
A few names stand out right away. The Kitchen Sink, Dusty Road, and Toasted S’mores all sound like they belong on a road trip playlist.
Then there’s Hot Honey Iced Oatmeal Cookie. Now that is a lot of flavor packed into one coating, and it’s easily the most curious pick.
White chocolate is there for anyone who likes a sweeter, creamier style. It pairs nicely with brighter toppings since the colors really pop against it.
My tip is to pick a lane before you reach the counter. Decide whether you want classic, candy-shop silly, or something cozy like s’mores.
That way, you won’t freeze up like the banana itself. And if you can’t choose, well, there’s always a second visit for the next flavor.
Every coating gets the same frozen banana base, so the chocolate really steals the show here. It’s a smart way to keep things simple yet endlessly different.
Cereal On A Banana? Absolutely, And It Works
Breakfast cereal has found a second career. At this shop, Fruity Pebbles and Cinnamon Toast Crunch end up pressed onto chocolate-dipped bananas.
It sounds a little wild, and that’s exactly the point. The toppings are where the shop’s playful side really comes out.
Nuts are on the list too, for anyone who likes a more classic crunch. That old-school option keeps things familiar if you’re easing in.
The best part is the custom route. You can build an on-the-spot banana by choosing your own chocolate, sauce, and topping combination.
So it’s basically your own dessert lab. You call the shots, and the staff turns your idea into something on a stick.
Kids will probably love the cereal choices most. Bright Fruity Pebbles on a frozen banana feels like a cartoon snack come to life.
Grown-ups get to play too, though. Mixing a fancy chocolate with a crunchy cereal topping is a fun way to feel like a kid again.
Here’s my advice for first-timers. Pair a simple chocolate with a bold topping, or flip it around, so one flavor stays the star of the show.
Either way, you get a treat that feels completely yours.
Banana Bread Replaces The Cookies In These Out-Of-This-World Sandwiches
Ice cream sandwiches usually stick to cookies. The Original UFO Ice Cream Sandwich ignores that rule completely, and I love it for that.
Homemade banana bread takes the place of the usual cookies. In the middle sits small-batch, homemade banana cream ice cream.
That’s banana on banana on banana. If you’re a fan of the fruit, this might be the treat that makes the trip worth it.
The UFO is one of the shop’s most talked-about desserts. It’s easy to see why, since it feels both cozy and cool at the same time.
Banana bread brings that homemade, kitchen-counter comfort. The ice cream keeps it fun and summery, so it works on almost any afternoon.
The name is pretty clever, too. One look at the round, stacked shape and you get the flying saucer joke right away.
Thinking about bringing some home? Grabbing a few to go is an easy move, since they’re already frozen treats built for the freezer.
Just plan where they’ll go before you buy a stack. Freezer space disappears fast once a sandwich this good is involved.
Trust me, nobody wants to be the person left without one.
Valentine’s Red Hots And Halloween Pumpkin Keep The Saucers Fresh
Crushed Red Hot cinnamon candies once showed up in a Valentine’s Day UFO. That’s a spicy little twist on a sweet holiday.
Seasonal flavors are a big part of the fun here. The UFOs often change with the calendar, so the menu doesn’t stay the same for long.
Pumpkin has made an appearance for Halloween. Past versions have also included Cranberry, Apple Cider Donut, and Sweet Potato.
Those flavors read like a South Jersey harvest list. And that’s no accident, since many of these ingredients come from nearby farms.
Checking the shop’s social media before a visit is a smart idea. Limited flavors can come and go before you even hear about them.
I can see why seasonal items keep things exciting. They give you a real reason to come back once the leaves change or the holidays roll around.
Fall might be the coziest time to stop by. Apple cider donut and pumpkin flavors tucked into banana bread sounds pretty hard to beat.
Of course, winter has its charm too. A cranberry UFO feels like the dessert version of a holiday sweater.
Whatever the season, there’s probably a fresh saucer worth trying.
Not A Banana Fan? The Case Still Has Your Name On It
Cheesecake dipped in chocolate and frozen. Okay, that’s impressive, and it’s only one of the non-banana options here.
The shop partners with Sasscer’s Cheesecake in Ventnor, New Jersey. Plain cheesecakes get dipped into different chocolate flavors for a cold, rich treat.
Pineapple fans get a turn, too. Frozen pineapple rings are dipped in chocolate, and some folks even call them pineapple donuts.
That fruity tang is a nice break from all the creamy stuff. It’s also a fun pick if you want something a little lighter.
Then come the Frozen Chocolate Covered Cannoli Pops, new for 2025. Frozen cannoli cream gets dipped in chocolate and served on a bed of cannoli chips.
A Pumpkin Cannoli Pop even made an appearance for fall. So the seasonal fun stretches beyond the UFOs.
Gluten-free options are available as well. That’s great news for anyone who usually has to skip the dessert counter.
The funny part is how a banana shop ended up with such a big lineup. It turns out the dipping idea works on almost anything.
Bring a friend who swears off bananas and watch them find something anyway.
Timing Matters, So Check The Clock Before You Head Over
Monday cravings will have to wait. The shop is closed Mondays and Sundays, which catches plenty of weekend planners off guard.
You’ll find The Original Banana Company at 823 W Atlantic Ave, Laurel Springs, NJ 08021. It sits in South Jersey, an easy trip from many nearby towns.
Tuesday through Friday, the doors open from 2 pm to 7 pm. That makes it a handy after-school or after-work stop.
Saturday hours run from noon to 5 pm. So weekend visitors get one day, and it closes earlier than you might expect.
The shop itself is small. There’s limited room to eat inside, but outdoor tables are available when the weather cooperates.
Paying is easy, too. They take CashApp, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and major cards like Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover.
My advice is to arrive with a little time before closing. Choosing between this many flavors deserves more than a rushed minute at the counter.
And if you live farther away, plan a cooler for the ride home. Frozen treats and a hot car are not friends.
A little prep goes a long way here.
Party Trays And Market Booths Bring The Bananas To You
Mini bananas, mini cheesecakes, and mini cannoli pops on one party table. Good luck ignoring that at your next birthday or office gathering.
The Original Banana Company offers catering with these bite-size versions. You can customize them across their chocolate flavors.
That means guests get variety without committing to a full-size treat. It’s a smart pick for crowds with mixed tastes.
Can’t make it to Laurel Springs? The shop also shows up at farmers markets in Somers Point, Ventnor, and Wenonah.
Somers Point is a fun one, since that’s where the business first debuted. It’s a nice full-circle moment for this New Jersey favorite.
Markets bring a selection of their frozen treats, not the whole menu. So it’s a great sampler, especially if you’re new to the shop.
Want to show off your banana loyalty? Shirts, hoodies, totes, and stickers are for sale too.
A banana sticker on your water bottle is a pretty great conversation starter. Somebody will definitely ask, and then you get to tell them all about it.
Honestly, that might be my favorite detail. A tiny shop that found so many ways to share one big, sweet idea.
