20+ Banana Recipes (Irresistible & Creative)
20+ Best Banana Recipes 🍌 – I’m sharing with you some of my go-to recipes that showcase ripe and overripe bananas in all their speckled glory! 100% Plant based 🌱
CREATIVE BANANA RECIPES USING OVERRIPE BANANAS
Hello, fellow banana lovers! Today I have a special treat for you all – a collection of delectable recipes to rescue those ripe and overripe bananas sitting on your kitchen counter.
We’ve all been there: we buy a bunch of bananas with the best intentions, but life happens, and suddenly we’re left with a few too many overripe, speckled bananas.
But fear not, because these recipes are here to save the day! Not only are we giving new life to those seemingly “past their prime” bananas, but we’re also doing our part to reduce food waste.
Overripe bananas are little treasures, offering an intense natural sweetness and incredible moisture that can elevate a wide range of dishes.
In this blog post, I’m excited to share some of my favorite recipes that hero overripe bananas, perfect for breakfast, brunch, snacks, and even dessert.
These dishes are not only simple and delicious, but some will also make your home smell heavenly. So, let’s give those ripe bananas the love they deserve and get cooking and baking!
🍌 20+ BEST BANANA RECIPES
We’ve compiled all the best banana recipes from the archives. You’ll find full nutrition information in the recipe card, and most include tips and substitution ideas!
BEST BANANA BREAD (HEALTHY + EASY)
A tried and true, classic vegan banana bread! It’s a fan favorite for a reason. Perfectly moist and delicious, this healthy banana bread recipe makes a terrific snack or a great way to start the day!
BLUEBERRY BANANA SMOOTHIE
The best blueberry banana smoothie is a creamy blend of blueberries, bananas, protein-rich nut butter, and non-dairy milk with a hint of cinnamon for a healthy and delicious smoothie that’s quick and easy to make!
1 BOWL STRAWBERRY BANANA MUFFINS
Packed with healthy fresh fruit and made without dairy or eggs, these delicious strawberry banana muffins are so easy to make and perfect any time of day!
CHOCOLATE ALMOND BUTTER SMOOTHIE BOWL
Whip up a bowl of pure bliss with this dreamy and creamy chocolate almond butter smoothie bowl. Easy to make and refined sugar-free. It makes a great treat any time of day!
CINNAMON APPLE BAKED OATMEAL (HEALTHY + 1 BOWL)
Baked oatmeal with tender apples and cinnamon is naturally sweetened with banana and maple syrup. It’s full of fiber and a deliciously healthy way to start your day!
ALMOND CHUNKY MONKEY ICE CREAM
Thick, creamy, and delicious, Almond Chunky Monkey soft serve is a straightforward and non-dairy no-churn ice cream that’s easy to make with just 4 simple ingredients!
VEGAN CHOCOLATE CHIP OATMEAL COOKIES
A classic chocolate chip oatmeal cookie made dairy and egg free. It’s full of oats and chocolate chips for a true crowd-pleasing cookie that’s easy to make and delicious as can be!
VEGAN BANANA FRENCH TOAST
Banana French Toast with no eggs? Yes, it’s true! It’s made with healthy, whole food plant-based ingredients and makes a scrumptious breakfast the whole family will love! Eggless and dairy-free recipe.
BANANA SPLIT SMOOTHIE
Banana Split Smoothie is a combo of fruits, cocoa powder, vanilla, and non-dairy milk for a delicious and healthy way to get in a serving of natural fruits!
RAW CHOCOLATE BANANA ICE CREAM
Amazing chocolate banana ice cream with minimal ingredients to the rescue! No dairy, no churn, no guilt – just YUM! And it’s so easy to make.
OVERNIGHT STEEL-CUT OATS OATMEAL (SLOW COOKER)
Overnight Steel Cut Oats Oatmeal made in a slow cooker with banana, cinnamon, vanilla, and naturally sweetened with pure maple syrup is a warm and cozy way to start the day! 100% whole food plant based recipe.
MANGO PINEAPPLE BANANA SMOOTHIE
Mango Banana Smoothie with banana and non-dairy milk is a delicious and refreshing tropical treat any time of day!
ALMOND FLOUR + BANANA PANCAKES
Vegan gluten-free pancakes made with a mix of GF flour blend, almond flour, and banana make for a healthy breakfast, lunch, or dinner. No eggs, no dairy – just simple pantry staples!
BUCKWHEAT BANANA BREAD
Buckwheat, a nutty-flavored and highly nutritious flour, makes a healthy replacement for white flour. And it works perfectly in this richly colored banana bread recipe!
CHERRY GARCIA NICE CREAM
A delicious, non-dairy nice cream made with a mix of cherries and chocolate chunks blended with bananas. This is my plant-based version of Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia. It’s easy no-churn ice cream or soft serve ready in minutes!
PEANUT BUTTER & BANANA GRANOLA SNACK CLUSTERS
If you love large-cluster granola, this recipe is for you! It’s a healthy granola recipe with oats, nut butter, banana, almonds, pepitas, maple syrup, coconut oil, and cinnamon. It’s great any time of day and travels well!
BLUEBERRY BANANA OAT BREAD
This vegan blueberry banana bread is moist, super easy to make, and not overly sweet. Plus, it’s made with heart-healthy, wholesome ingredients!
VEGAN BUTTER PECAN ICE CREAM
Rich, decadent butter maple pecan ice cream made with wholesome plant-based ingredients! It’s richly flavored and one of our favorites.
VEGAN BANANA CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS (HEALTHY + EASY)
Made with lots of love and a sprinkle of chocolate chips, these vegan chocolate chip banana muffins are a perfect way to start the morning or enjoy them as a mid-day snack!
3 INGREDIENT BANANA OATMEAL COOKIES
With only 3 ingredients, these Banana Oatmeal Cookies with chocolate chips are little mounds of healthy goodness! Perfect for the morning time, a grab-and-go snack, or anytime you feel like having a healthy treat.
RAW AVOCADO CHOCOLATE PUDDING – 3 FLAVORS
Raw Chocolate Avocado Pudding with banana can be made using 3 flavor combinations, creating a deliciously healthy and dairy-free pudding that will rival any other!
COCONUT GINGER BANANA ICE CREAM
Cool down this summer with a bowl of this simple banana ice cream or soft-serve made with coconut and ginger. It’s naturally sweetened with pure maple syrup, and there is NO ice cream maker required!
EASY VEGAN BANANA CAKE
Moist, tender, and perfectly sweet, with just the right amount of banana flavor and topped with a dreamy coconut cashew buttercream frosting, this vegan banana cake is perfect for snacking and sharing!
BANANA CHIA PUDDING
Easy banana chia seed pudding, with only 3 simple ingredients, is great for breakfast, dessert, or a light snack!
CARROT BANANA BREAD
Spice up your traditional banana bread with added carrot and cinnamon for a healthy and delicious breakfast or snack! Plus, it’s dairy and egg free!
🌟 PRO TIPS FOR THOSE SPOTTY BANANAS
Here are some of my favorite tips and hacks for using bananas in recipes. These sweet, versatile fruits are just amazing, and they can add a little something extra to a wide range of dishes. So let’s get started, shall we?
Brown bananas are gold: Overripe bananas might not look very appetizing, but trust me, they’re perfect for baking. Their natural sweetness intensifies, and they become super soft, which is great for moist, flavorful banana bread or pancakes. So don’t throw them away; put them to good use!
Freeze for smoothies: If you’ve got bananas that are about to go bad, peel them and throw them in a zip-top bag in the freezer. They’ll add a creamy, frosty touch to your smoothies, and you won’t need any ice.
Banana ice cream: Speaking of frozen bananas, blend them up with a splash of non-dairy milk for a creamy, one-ingredient ice cream. You can add cocoa powder, peanut butter, or any other mix-in you like to create your own customized flavor.
Sweeten oatmeal: Skip the sugar and mash a ripe banana into your oatmeal while it’s cooking. It’ll add a natural sweetness and a little texture, making your morning bowl of goodness even better.
Roast ’em: Have you ever tried roasted bananas? Slice them in half lengthwise, sprinkle with a little cinnamon and brown sugar, and bake at 400°F (200°C) for 10-15 minutes. They’ll become caramelized and tender, perfect for topping yogurt, oatmeal, or even ice cream!
Savory side: Don’t limit bananas to just sweet dishes. Fry up some plantains (cooking bananas) with a little oil and serve them as a side dish. They’ll add a delightful hint of sweetness that can balance out spicy or savory flavors.
Substitute for fat: You can often replace some or all of the fat (like oil or butter) in a baking recipe with mashed bananas. This will not only reduce the fat content but also add moisture and a subtle banana flavor. Just remember that the texture might change slightly, so experiment to find the perfect balance.
Now that you’ve got some fresh tips and hacks for incorporating bananas into your recipes, go ahead and have a little fun in the kitchen. You’ll be surprised at just how versatile this humble fruit can be. Happy cooking!
MORE INGREDIENT INSPIRATION!
- 40+ Best Quinoa Recipes (Healthy + Easy)
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- 12 Super Smoothie Recipes (Healthy, Delicious + Refreshing)
- See all recipe roundups on TSV!
For more recipes using specific ingredients, be sure to check out the ingredient index page for more delicious recipes!