Whether you’re baking or making sweets, bananas can be a real hit.
They can be used in a breakfast smoothie or to complement chocolate or caramel in a biscuit. Their flavor profile really blends with a lot of different foods.
Bananas can also be the star of puddings and pies. They can be served raw or cooked, whole, sliced, smashed, hot or cold.
With such incredible range, we’ve put together some recipes for you if you’re staring at a beautiful handful of ripe bananas on your counter and beginning to wonder how to help them be their best selves.
5 delicious ripe banana recipes
Here are 5 delicious recipes to put your ripe bananas to use, they pack a lot of flavor and are easy enough to prepare.
Banana nut pancakes
Ingredients:
- One medium mashed ripe banana
- One cup of pancake mix
- Three ounces of softened cream cheese
- One tbsp. of sugar
- 1/2 cup of whipped topping
- 3/4 cup 2% milk
- One large egg
- 1/2 cup of chopped pecans
- Two teaspoons of canola oil
- Optional: Sliced ripe banana and chopped pecans
Instructions:
- It would be best to beat cream cheese until smooth in a small bowl. Let’s combine whipped topping and remaining ingredients (blending will be rigid); cast aside.
- Combine the pancake mix and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Combine the egg, milk, and oil in a mixing bowl; add to the pancake mix and stir well. Combine banana and pecans in a separate bowl.
- By 1/4 cupfuls, pour batter onto a lightly oiled hot griddle; turn when bubbles establish on the tops of the pancakes. Cook until golden brown on the second side. Serve with a cream cheese topping and bananas and pecans, if desired.
Gluten-free banana bread
Ingredients:
- Two cups mashed ripe bananas (or 4-5 medium)
- Four large eggs at room temperature
- Two cups of gluten-free all-purpose baking flour
- One cup of sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
- One tsp. of baking soda
- One tsp. of vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup canola oil
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Whisk together bananas, sugar, eggs, oil, applesauce, and vanilla extract in a small bowl. Incorporate wet ingredients into dry ingredients only until moist.
- Transfer to two 8×4-inch greased loaf pans. Sprinkle walnuts on top. Bake 45-55 minutes, or once a toothpick implanted in the center comes out clean. Allow 10 minutes for cooling before transferring from pans to wire racks.
Cranberry banana coffee cake
Ingredients:
- Two medium ripe bananas, mashed (about 3/4 cup)
- 1/2 cup of sugar
- One cup of whole-berry cranberry sauce
- 1/2 cup of softened butter
- One tsp. of vanilla extract
- Two large eggs at room temperature
- One tsp. of ground cinnamon
- Two cups of all-purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp. of salt
- Two tsp. of baking powder
- 1/4 tsp. of ground allspice
Topping:
- Two tsp. of melted butter
- 1/2 cup of chopped pecans
- Two tsp. of all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup of packed brown sugar
Instructions:
- Cream butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl till light and fluffy, about 5-7 minutes. Incorporate eggs and vanilla extract. Combine the dry ingredients; add alternately with the bananas to the creamed mixture, battering well after each addition. Distribute evenly in a greased 13×9-inch baking pan. Serve with cranberry sauce on top.
- Combine brown sugar, pecans, and flour in a small bowl; stir in butter. Sprinkle cranberries with sugar. Bake for 45-50 minutes at 350 degrees, till a toothpick injected directly in the center point comes out tidy. Allow cooling in the pan on a wire rack.
Chocolate banana bundles
Ingredients:
- Two medium ripe bananas (halved lengthwise and cut into small pieces)
- Four ounces of semisweet melted chocolate
- Two tbsp. of butter
- 1/4 cup of packed brown sugar
- Vanilla ice cream, optional
Instructions:
- Melt butter and chocolate in a big cast-iron or other heavy skillets over medium heat. Incorporate brown sugar until well combined. Stir in bananas to coat.
- Take the pan off the heat and set it aside.
- Put sticks or toothpicks in banana pieces. Serve warm, if desired, with vanilla ice cream.
Egg-free double chocolate banana muffins
Ingredients:
- 1-1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
- 1-1/3 cups of mashed ripe bananas (about 2 to 3 medium)
- 2/3 cup of sugar
- One tsp. of baking powder
- 1/2 cup of baking cocoa
- 1/2 cup of plain yogurt
- 1/2 tsp. of baking soda
- 1-1/2 tsp. of vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup of semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/3 cup of canola oil
- Baking cocoa, optional
Instructions:
- You should preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the first five ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk the bananas, yogurt, oil, and vanilla extract until smooth. Stir into flour mixture until just moistened. Chocolate chips should be folded in.
- Fill 12 muffin cups that have been greased or lined with foil three-fourths full. Bake for 15-20 minutes, till a toothpick implanted in the center, comes out clean. Allow 5 minutes for cooling before transferring to a wire rack. Sprinkle with baking cocoa if desired. Serve immediately.
Final thoughts
Bananas, both ripe and overripe, are a superhero in a healthy kitchen. They have a huge range of possibilities which means your ripe bananas should never go to waste!
Keep your ripe bananas and whip together these delicious recipes today.
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