Not Sure What to Do with Ripe Bananas? Here Are 30 Delicious Recipes to Inspire You (2024)

food

Not Sure What to Do with Ripe Bananas? Here Are 30 Delicious Recipes to Inspire You (1)

By Katherine Gillen

Published May 14, 2020

It happens every time: We buy a bunch of green bananas with the intent of eating every single one, then we blink twice, and they’re all verging on black. And as much as we love banana bread (truly, we do), we’re going to need to add a few more recipes to our repertoire so we don’t get bored. Thankfully, they’re as plentiful as our stash of fruit. Not sure what to do with ripe bananas? Behold, 30 recipes to inspire your taste buds.

RELATED

How to Keep Bananas Fresh for Longer

Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell

1. Chocolate Banana Bread Babka

Even the best bakery babkas can be a little dry. Thanks to bananas, this one is moist and sweet every time.

Get the recipe

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

2. Upside-down Banana-caramel Bread

Banana bread, but make it fancy. The best part is, you don’t even have to make a caramel sauce.

Get the recipe

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

3. Overnight Oats With Peanut Butter And Banana

Don’t tell PB and J, but we might like PB and B even more. This one is ready before you even roll out of bed.

Get the recipe

Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell

4. Miniature Banoffee Cobblers

Banoffee pie, a traditional British dessert, combines all our favorite things: gooey caramel, soft bananas, airy whipped cream and crisp graham cracker crumbles. Swoon.

Get the recipe

Lomelino’s Pies: A Sweet Celebration of Pies, Galettes and Tarts

5. Banana Tarte Tatin

Baked in your trusty skillet, a crispy puff-pastry crust cradles buttery, sticky bananas. What could be bad about that?

Get the recipe

The Full Helping

6. Old-fashioned Vegan Banana Cake With Creamy Cashew Frosting

It turns out bananas are especially useful in binding together this egg-free vegan cake. Leave it on the counter so you can snack all day.

Get the recipe

Lomelino’s Pies: A Sweet Celebration of Pies, Galettes and Tarts

7. Banoffee Pie With Honeycomb

The DIY honeycomb topping is crispy, sweet and tastes like caramel, but it’s actually much easier to make.

Get the recipe

8. Salted Peanut Butter Cup Smoothie

Whip up this recipe for breakfast, as a post-workout snack or, heck, even for dessert. (Tip: Stash your ultra-ripe bananas in the freezer so you’re always prepared for smoothie time.)

Get the recipe

Karen Wise/Tiki with a Twist

9. The Lono Tiki co*cktail

You’ll need a fully stocked bar for this one (it’s kind of like a zhuzhed up piña colada), but boy is it worth it.

Get the recipe

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

10. Paleo Almond Butter Blender Muffins

Just like a fruit smoothie, you toss all your ingredients into a blender and puree away. But unlike ordinary muffin recipes, there’s no flour or whisking required—wahoo!

Get the recipe

Erin McDowell

11. Green Smoothie With Avocado And Apple

The combination of apple, avocado, spinach and banana (plus a splash of coconut water and a bit of honey) makes for a not-too-sweet drink that’s fit for breakfast or a snack.

Get the recipe

12. Protein Pancakes

What has no refined grains, no refined sugar and comes together all in the blender? This guy.

Not Sure What to Do with Ripe Bananas? Here Are 30 Delicious Recipes to Inspire You (14)

Spoon Fork Bacon

13. Grilled Baby Banana Splits

Psst: You don’t even have to wait for super ripe bananas to make a delicious sundae. The grilling brings out their natural sugars, even if they’re still a little green.

Get the recipe

14. Peanut Butter Banana Cookies

If banana bread and peanut butter cookies had a very delicious baby, this would be it. Plus, they take just 20 minutes to make.

15. Banana Scones With Maple Glaze

If you’re convinced that all scones are dry and hard as a rock, try these and reconsider. They’re tender, moist and don’t even get us started on that glaze.

16. Banana Pudding Pie

We know you want to dive right in, but we promise the hour-long rest in the fridge is worth it. (That’s when the magic happens.)

17. Paleo Protein Chocolate-chip Banana Bread Doughnuts

Thanks to coconut flour, these babies are paleo-diet friendly and, not to mention, delicious. We wouldn’t mind a dozen or two.

18. Easiest Coconut Banana Cake With Fudgy Chocolate Frosting

Single-layer cakes might not have the same pro-baker energy as multi-tiered ones, but when they taste this good, it doesn’t matter.

19. Grilled Nutella Banana Sandwich

With this recipe in your back pocket, at-home lunches are looking up.

20. Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream

Would you believe us if we told you it’s only two ingredients and surprisingly pretty healthy?

21. Three-ingredient Strawberry Banana Popsicles

Bet still our 8-year-old hearts. We’re buying popsicle molds just for the occasion.

22. Vegan Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls

We bet your local bakery doesn’t have these on the menu. The banana isn’t just for flavor here: It also makes the rolls soft and fluffy, just the way we like them.

23. Banana And Chocolate Chip Baked French Toast

So you’ve made banana bread, and now you need something to do with all of it. Look no further.

24. Gluten-free Vegan Chocolate Banana Bread

No one will know that it’s gluten-, dairy- and egg-free. The real question is, is it breakfast, dessert or both?

25. Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Bliss Balls

Keep a batch of these raw energy bites in your fridge so you’re ready when the dreaded 3 p.m. slump inevitably hits.

26. Coconut Banana Pancakes

These taste like a tropical vacation, and we’re not mad about it at all. In fact, we might never go back to the boxed mix.

27. German Chocolate Banana Bread

The good news about banana bread? There are about a billion ways to riff on it. This decadent version is next on our list.

28. Healthy Soft Banana Bread Cookies

Confession: You had us at cream cheese frosting, but the gluten-free factor isn’t bad either.

29. Banana Cupcakes

Memorize this rule: The riper the bananas, the better the cupcakes. The recipe calls for a few spices, but you could also just use vanilla extract and they’ll turn out better than fine.

30. Banana Bars

They’re ideal for breakfast, snack time, dessert, second snack time, you get the idea.

RELATED

How to Freeze Bananas for Future Deliciousness

Not Sure What to Do with Ripe Bananas? Here Are 30 Delicious Recipes to Inspire You (32)

Katherine Gillen

Senior Food Editor

Katherine Gillenis PureWow’s senior food editor. She’s a writer, recipe developer and food stylist with a degree in culinary arts and professional experience in New York City...

read full bio

Not Sure What to Do with Ripe Bananas? Here Are 30 Delicious Recipes to Inspire You (2024)

FAQs

What can overripe bananas be used for? ›

What to Do with Overripe Bananas
  • Mash Into Oatmeal. Breakfast is a great time to take advantage of the energy boost that comes from eating the natural sugars in bananas. ...
  • Blend Into Waffle or Pancake Batter. ...
  • Make Banana Muffins. ...
  • Bake Banana Cookies. ...
  • Add to a Smoothie. ...
  • Turn Into Ice Cream. ...
  • Whip Up Beignets.
Mar 12, 2024

What are very ripe bananas good for? ›

Overripe bananas are beneficial for heart health too! They are rich in minerals like potassium and magnesium, which help in controlling blood pressure. Cholesterol is also reduced by eating overripe bananas. It is also helpful in reducing the risk of heart diseases.

What makes banana taste better? ›

As they ripen a more distinctive fruity flavour develops accompanied melon, pineapple, candy and clove flavour notes. Yellow bananas have higher sugar concentrations and therefore taste sweeter. Finally, when the peel has become brown, the banana contains notes which are reminiscent of vanilla, honey and rum.

Is it OK to freeze overripe bananas? ›

Instead of tossing overripe bananas, try freezing them instead. You'll always have ripe bananas on hand when the urge strikes to bake banana bread or bars—or make a smoothie! But instead of freezing them whole, peel them first then freeze in resealable freezer bags.

When should you not use ripe bananas? ›

If you notice any mold on your bananas, it's time to throw them away or toss them in the compost bin. The black skin itself is not mold. Mold on bananas is fuzzy white, gray, or greenish—it looks a lot like mold on bread. If a banana smells rotten or fermented or is leaking fluid, it's time to say goodbye.

Do bananas lower blood pressure? ›

The Bottom Line. Bananas are a nutritious and tasty option for helping lower blood pressure. Loaded with essential nutrients like potassium, fiber and vitamin C, bananas offer several benefits for cardiovascular health. Their potassium content counterbalances sodium intake, promoting blood vessel relaxation.

Is a banana a day too much sugar? ›

True or False: Bananas have too much sugar- False!

An average medium sized banana contains about 14 grams of sugar, which is about 53% of its total 105 calories.

How many bananas should you eat a day? ›

How many bananas a day should you eat? While there's no strict rule, it's best not to eat more than one or two bananas a day. Eating more could lead to weight gain, as they contain both carbohydrates and sugar. Ensure you're eating a balanced diet by including a range of fresh fruits and vegetables.

What does eating 3 bananas a day do? ›

Bananas are a great source of potassium, with a medium banana providing 10% of the DV. A potassium-rich diet could help lower your blood pressure , reducing your risk of hypertension. A 2017 study in mice also suggests that potassium may lower the risk of heart disease by 27% .

Why eat 3 bananas a day? ›

Bananas are a great way to contribute to your daily potassium needs. Getting enough potassium in your diet may also help lower blood pressure. High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular disease, so eating foods containing potassium each day is an important part of a healthy lifestyle.

Why eat 2 bananas a day? ›

Bananas are a great source of many essential vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin B6, vitamin C, potassium, and magnesium. Eating several bananas per day can help you meet your daily nutrient requirements, and can even help you boost your energy levels and improve your overall health.

How to make bananas tastier? ›

Try slicing a banana into chunks and threading it onto skewers, along with pieces of other colorful fruits like kiwi, pineapple, or mangoes. A sweet dipping sauce makes this healthy snack even more kid-friendly.

Why are Dole bananas better than Chiquita? ›

“Chiquita bananas leave a film on my teeth and an aftertaste that is not pleasant. It hasn't always been that way,” writes Harriet Meaders. “Dole bananas are tastier and do not leave this awful residue in my mouth so I only purchase Dole. If not available, I buy other fruit.”

What is best to eat with a banana? ›

Therefore, they can be great a great addition to a well-rounded meal, especially when paired with other foods high in healthy fats or protein. For an easy way to enjoy bananas for breakfast, try adding them to smoothies, yogurt parfaits, oat bowls, or high protein breakfast bars.

Are overripe bananas still good to eat? ›

According to a spokesperson for the FDA, "Generally, as long as it is not visibly moldy, it is safe." Rogers concurs, saying he hasn't seen any studies linking foodborne illness to eating extremely ripe bananas.

Are overripe bananas still nutritious? ›

As bananas ripen, they produce and release ethylene gas, which causes the yellow pigment in the fruit skin to decay and turn brown ( 1 ). But nevertheless, a brown banana is not a useless one, and they're still nutritious too.

Do overripe bananas lose their nutritional value? ›

The nutritional content doesn't change depending on how ripe the banana is. The only thing that really changes is the taste and how your body processes the sugar. So the kind of banana you should eat is pretty much just based on preference.

Can you use overripe bananas as fertilizer? ›

Homemade liquid fertiliser and non-toxic pest repellent

Start by cutting your banana peels into small pieces and putting them in a bucket or container and covering them with water. Leave them for two to three days. Stir occasionally. Strain and use the liquid to water your plants.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Wyatt Volkman LLD

Last Updated:

Views: 6140

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (66 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Wyatt Volkman LLD

Birthday: 1992-02-16

Address: Suite 851 78549 Lubowitz Well, Wardside, TX 98080-8615

Phone: +67618977178100

Job: Manufacturing Director

Hobby: Running, Mountaineering, Inline skating, Writing, Baton twirling, Computer programming, Stone skipping

Introduction: My name is Wyatt Volkman LLD, I am a handsome, rich, comfortable, lively, zealous, graceful, gifted person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.