Bananas are way more than just a fruit. The simple ingredient is incredibly versatile and can be made to use infinite sweet treats — and even some savory ones too!
These mouthwatering banana recipes will let you in on just how many different ways the fruit can be added to a recipe.
24 BANANA RECIPES TO MAKE FOR A SWEET TREAT
Have a lot of bananas sitting on your counter that you don’t know what to do with? It’s a good thing you are here, then. These banana recipes will show you several ways how to use up those bananas before they go bad and reimagine them into delicious treats.
Bananas are a top-tier fruit. Sure, they are simple in theory, but they can be added to so many recipes. They are great additions to cakes, muffins, or pretty much any baked goods. When they are super ripe, the flavor is incredibly strong and tasty. Not only do they add a great flavor, but they also help to keep baked goods super moist.
Not sure where to start with all of those extra bananas you’ve got sitting around? These banana recipes will walk you through all of the best ways to incorporate them into your favorite treat. Start the day off with banana pancakes, snack on a piece of banana bread, and finish off the day with a scoop of banana pudding. It will be a banana-filled day of goodness!
1. Banana Pancakes
There is nothing better than waking up to a fresh stack of banana pancakes. The fluffy, banana-filled treats are the best way to start the day.
These pancakes get their banana flavor by adding the bananas directly into the batter. They make the pancakes super moist, too!
If you want even more bananas, slice a few to add on top of your stack.
2. Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
Are these muffins secretly dessert? Whatever they are, they are truly delicious.
These banana chocolate chip muffins easily fall in the top when it comes to muffins. They are moist, sweet, and full of chocolate.
Do yourself a favor and double this banana recipe when you make it. That way, you can freeze half of the cooked muffins so you can enjoy one whenever you want.
3. Banana Bread
Banana bread is perhaps the most classic treat when it comes to cooking with bananas.
The hardest part about this recipe is waiting until your bananas are ripe enough to make the bread. It will truly be worth the wait, as the riper the bananas, the stronger the flavor of the bread will be.
We won’t judge you if you dig into this bread first thing in the morning!
4. Chocolate Chip Banana Bars
Chocolate chips and bananas are a match made in heaven. There is something about the combinations that are just so good, especially in these chocolate chip banana bars.
The bars are basically a combination of banana bread and blondies. They take the best characteristics of each of them.
If you really want to make these bars and don’t have ripe bananas on hand, don’t worry. Simply cook your bananas — peel and all — in the oven for about 15 minutes to speed up the process.
5. Banana Pudding Poke Cake
Banana pudding is great, but want to know what is even better? This banana pudding poke cake.
The cake takes everything you love about banana pudding and turns it into an even better creation.
If you love banana-flavored desserts, get ready to fall in love, as bananas are all over this treat.
6. Banana Muffins
There is something to be said about plain and simple banana muffins.
These banana muffins are the best thing to eat for breakfast. They are not too sweet and taste even better warmed up.
This recipe is great to let your little ones help out with since it is all made in one bowl. They will taste even better knowing the whole family got to help out in making them.
7. Banana Bread Brownies
Can’t decide between making blondies or banana bread? Well, with these banana bread blondies, you don’t have to decide.
The secret to getting the perfect texture on these blondies is all due to the bananas and the sour cream. The two ingredients work together to make the blondies moist and give them a great crumb.
Good luck eating just one of these treats — they are so good you’ll want to eat the whole batch!
8. Banana Scones
When you think of scones, banana isn’t the typical flavor that comes to mind. One bite of this banana scone will quickly change that!
Don’t let the banana flavor scare you off. The sweet treat still has everything you love about a classic scone, including a tender inside and flakey crust.
The scone gets finished with a cinnamon cream cheese glaze for the ultimate finishing touch!
9. No-Bake Banana Split Pie
You don’t have to be a pro in the kitchen to make a show-stopping dessert. Case in point: this no-bake banana split pie.
The pie comes together with instant pudding, frozen cool whip, and a whole lot of bananas.
The best part about this dessert is that it only takes about 10 minutes to come together.
10. Layered Banana Pudding
Talk about layers and layers of banana goodness!
This banana layer pudding takes everything you love about classic banana pudding and takes it to the next level.
The creamy pudding combined with the whipped topping and Nilla wafers makes for a truly melt-in-your-mouth bite.
BANANA RECIPES THAT WILL USE UP YOUR RIPE BANANAS
11. Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls
You’ll never want to eat a plain cinnamon roll again after taking one bite of the banana bread cinnamon rolls.
Now, these aren’t your typical cinnamon rolls with bananas thrown in on top. The bananas are incorporated into the batter, spreading the banana flavor all over.
It has goodness and deliciousness in each and every bite.
12. Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins
If you thought chocolate chips and bananas were a top-tier combo, just wait until you add peanut butter into the mix.
These peanut butter banana chocolate chip muffins are flavor bombs first thing in the morning. They are basically cupcakes disguised as muffins.
Not only are these muffins loaded with excellent flavor, but they are also a breeze to make. It’s a one-bowl recipe that only takes about 10 minutes to fully come together.
13. Sour Cream Banana Bread
Sure, you’ve had regular, plain old banana bread. But have you ever had sour cream banana bread? Get ready to blow your taste buds out of the water.
The sour cream works with the bananas to provide an out-of-this-world flavor. And if you thought the flavor of the cake sounded good, wait until you try the texture.
The fat from the sour cream makes the cake super-rich, creamy, and moist.
It’s a genuinely addicting sweet treat.
14. Old Fashioned Banana Cake
There is a reason why classic desserts never go out of style. I mean, look at this old-fashioned banana cake.
If you haven’t had the pleasure of trying a piece of old-fashioned banana cake, you are in for a treat.
The cake is basically like a twist on banana bread and banana muffins.
The cake gets finished with a classic cream cheese frosting. It’s so good everyone will be asking for seconds and thirds!
15. Banana Upside Down Cake
Talk about banana overload — in the best way of course!
This banana upside down cake is everything you want in a banana dessert and more.
The upside down cake is overflowing with banana flavor. Seriously — there are bananas in the batter and a thick layer sitting on top, or upside down, depending on how you look at it.
16. Nutella Banana Muffins
Love muffins? How about bananas? Nutella, too? Then you are guaranteed to fall in love with these banana Nutella swirl muffins.
The muffins are elements of the creamy hazelnut spread and bananas in each bite.
Do yourself a favor and double this banana recipe. Then, go ahead and freeze a whole batch so you can snack on these muffins whenever you’d like.
17. Banana Cream Pie
The best part of this banana cream pie is that you only need five ingredients to make the whole thing come together.
Most of the ingredients are already premade too, so it will take no time to assemble this delectable treat.
The hardest part about making this pie will be the two hours waiting for the layers to set. Trust us, it will be worth the wait!
18. Blueberry Banana Bread
There is always room for more fruit when it comes to banana bread. Just look at this blueberry banana bread!
Blueberries and bananas might not be the combination you think of when you think of banana bread, but it will be quickly one that you will fall in love with.
The blueberries complement the bananas and give the bread an unexpected, refreshing flavor.
19. Double Chocolate Banana Bread
More chocolate is always a good idea. That is especially the case when it comes to this double chocolate chip banana bread.
Not only is this banana bread filled with chocolate chips, but the batter is also teaming which chocolate, making it a chocolate lover’s dream come true.
Don’t worry about the bananas getting overpowered by the chocolate. They stand out and make an incredible pairing in the best way possible.
20. Banana Bread Pudding
What happens when you combine bread pudding with banana bread? You get this excellent banana bread pudding.
Good luck eating just one serving of this dessert. It’s so addicting.
The addition of fresh bananas into the pudding gives it a sweetness you never knew it needed.
21. Banana Nut Bread
Nuts can be controversial when it comes to adding them to sweet treats. If you are team nuts and love them flowing all around your treats, then you are going to love this banana nut bread.
Any nut will stand out in this bread. Walnuts or pecans are normally the go-to, but feel free to add any of your favorite nuts to the bread.
With the addition of all of the nuts, you may think the bread might dry out. However, the secret ingredient of yogurt keeps everything nice and moist.
22. Coffee Cake Banana Bread
If you didn’t think banana bread could get even better, let me introduce you to coffee cake banana bread.
This bread takes classic banana bread and mixes cinnamon swirls throughout the batter.
And it doesn’t stop there — the bread is then finished off with a cinnamon crumb topping.
23. Banana Chocolate Granola Muffins
It can be hard to find a healthy option that still tastes good in the morning. Luckily, these banana chocolate granola muffins check all the boxes.
The muffins are great to keep around for a quick breakfast in the morning. They are also great as a simple snack in the afternoon.
Even your pickiest eater will want a bite of these muffins!
24. Oatmeal Banana Breakfast Cookies
These oatmeal banana breakfast cookies will have you jumping out of bed first thing in the morning.
These delicious cookies are especially great for when you are on the go and still want a filling breakfast to get your day started.
Don’t let the whole cookie label let you think you are eating dessert for breakfast.
These cookies are packed with whole grains, protein, and fruit, making them an excellent option for breakfast.
FAQs
To make the bananas ripe and ready to use, you can put them in a brown paper bag for a couple of days. This will speed up the ripening process.
You bet! Just peel them and store them in a freezer-safe bag. Then, when you’re ready to use them, you just thaw them in the fridge and add them to your baking recipe.
You can, but it will change the flavor. Bananas that aren’t ripe lack that banana flavor that we all love and crave. For the best flavor and taste, the bananas really do need to be ripe.
