Wondering what to do with ripe bananas on your kitchen counter? I love banana recipes, so I decided to put together a HUGE list of 55 things to make with ripe bananas!
(Psst! Be sure to check out our family’s very favorite Freezer-Friendly Banana Bread Recipe! We also really love these Homemade Breakfast Cookies!)
What to Do With Ripe Bananas
We love bananas at our house, but occasionally, life happens and it’s easy to let bananas go past their prime. Or, sometimes, I’ll find bananas marked down at the store because they are starting to get too ripe.
I’m really weird in that I prefer to eat bananas when they have some black spots on them, but the rest of my family won’t touch them once they are at the “Black Spot” stage.
When we have an abundance of over-ripe bananas, I either freeze them to use in smoothies and baking later, or I go ahead and make one of our favorite banana recipes with them.
I thought it might be fun to put together a list of some of my favorite things to make with ripe bananas!
The recipes on this list are a mixture of some of my favorite banana recipes right here on this blog, plus some other recipes I gathered from other sites that I hope to try soon.
Most of them are fairly healthful (with a few exceptions) and many of them are family favorites. Enjoy!!
Table of Contents
Breakfast Recipes Using Ripe Bananas
1. Homemade Breakfast Cookies — Looking for a quick healthy breakfast option that will fill you up, give you energy for the entire morning, and taste great too? Try breakfast cookies — a nutritional and delicious breakfast on-the-go for busy morning.
2. Whole Grain Baked Oatmeal — This easy baked oatmeal is a great way to use up over-ripe bananas… and everyone can choose their own toppings for a make-your-own-breakfast buffet!
3. Fourth of July Toast — Isn’t this cute! You could do it on waffles too — just a bit of cream cheese, strawberry jam, sliced bananas, and blueberries.
4. Healthy Banana Pancakes — Only 6 ingredients (and they are grain-free!)
5. Banana Walnut Oatmeal — The deliciousness of oatmeal with sweet bananas and crunchy walnuts!
6. Brown Sugar Banana French Toast Casserole — Yes, it is as good as it sounds (and looks). This is the perfect dish for your next brunch!
7. Pan-Fried Cinnamon Bananas — A crispy, sweet, pop-in-your-mouth snack that’s sure to please.
8. Breakfast Banana Split — Don’t these look absolutely amazing! It’s like a yogurt parfait on steroids!
9. Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Breakfast Bars — These soft and chewy “brownie-like” bars are nutritious enough to be considered a breakfast food too!
10. Banana Pancakes — The best, lightest, and fluffiest pancakes with a hint of banana sweetness.
11. Banana Bread Oatmeal Bars — Need a quick breakfast or hearty snack on-the-go? Give these filly bars a try. They’re absolutely delicious.
12. Baked Banana Oatmeal Cups — Similar to a muffin, these oatmeal cups are packed with nutrients that will keep you feeling fuller longer.
Ripe Banana Snack Recipes
13. Breakfast Banana Pops — Yum! The kids will love these better-for-you popsicles!
14. Copycat Trader Joe’s Gone Bananas — These chocolate covered banana bites are such a great little treat, and they are quite addictive!
15. Chocolate Banana Roll-Ups — These sweet treats are the perfect after-school snack, mid-morning treat, or quick breakfast.
16. Banana Coconut Pudding — Such a light and refreshing snack that’s also dairy AND sugar-free!
17. Easy Banana Yogurt Bites — Bananas mashed with yogurt form the base of these frozen “cookies”. Then chocolate and peanut butter are drizzled over the top for a heavenly treat!
18. Baked Banana Chips — When you want a little something crunchy, savory, and sweet at the same time, these banana chips will suffice!
19. Banana Chocolate Chip Energy Bites — Banana Chocolate Chip Energy Bites are a healthy breakfast or grab-and-go snack. Perfect for lunch boxes! 5 ingredients and 5 minutes are all you need!
20. Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Yogurt Pops — These easy to make Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Yogurt Pops need to be in your freezer at all times during the summer! Made with simple ingredients, they’re perfect for snacking or dessert!
21. Nutella Banana Crepes — These Nutella banana crepes are super easy to make, indulgent, and delicious!
22. Nutella & Banana Sushi — These delicious Nutella and banana fruity snacks are so easy you can prepare them for the after-school rush in five minutes. They also look cute on party platters.
23. Banana Ice Cream — The best delicious and creamy banana ice cream is a healthy dessert or snack — only one ingredient and unlimited flavor options!
24. Chocolate Covered Frozen Bananas — A deliciously refreshing treat on a warm summer day — and so easy to make!
Breads to Make with Ripe Bananas
25. Freezer-Friendly Banana Bread — Our family has made this banana bread recipe for years and we LOVE it! It also makes an easy homemade gift idea!
26. Freezer-Friendly Chocolate Banana Bread — This recipe uses frugal ingredients we almost always have in the house, it’s deliciously moist, and it’s more nutritious than most desserts (but it tastes just as rich).
27. Whole-Wheat Chocolate Chip Banana Bread — Looking for a hearty snack or delicious addition to your breakfast table? Look no further than these fabulous whole-wheat banana chocolate chip muffins!
28. Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread — This bread is so easy and delicious with swirls of cinnamon throughout.
29. Gingerbread Banana Bread — Soft and moist gingerbread combines with sweet homemade banana bread for the ultimate holiday baked good.
30. Honey Cinnamon Banana Bread Scones — These tender scones are filled with the comforting flavor of banana bread and are topped with a cinnamon sugar dusting and a simple cinnamon brown sugar glaze!
31. Whole Grain Banana Bread — Over-ripe bananas are the perfect complement to freshly ground whole grain as they give lots of extra moisture and sweetness.
Banana Muffin Recipes
32. Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins — These muffins are not “healthy”, but they are yummy, frugal, and so easy to whip up.
33. Gluten-Free Banana Chocolate Muffins — All the deliciousness of banana chocolate chip muffins, but gluten-free!
34. Whole-Wheat Banana Coconut Muffins — These healthy, vegan muffins are made with whole wheat flour, bananas, coconut milk, coconut oil, coconut sugar, and coconut! Coconut lovers will go crazy for these muffins!
35. Protein-Packed Double Chocolate Banana Muffins — These muffins are so rich and delicious — and packed with extra protein to keep you satisfied for longer.
Smoothies to Make with Ripe Bananas
36. Clean Eating Banana-Coconut Smoothie — A great option for those with food allergies or dietary restrictions
37. Pick-Me-Up Smoothie — This deliciously refreshing smoothie is packed with frozen fruit, protein, and just a touch of honey for that “pick-me-up” you need mid-afternoon. Give it a try instead of reaching for cookies or another cup of coffee.
38. Blueberry Banana Green Tea Smoothie — A delicious recipe that contains lots of wonderful antioxidants.
39. Green Monster Spinach Smoothie — Packed with good-for-you ingredients… you can enjoy this smoothie often for breakfast, snack, or anytime you need a pick-me-up!
40. Cinnamon Roll Smoothie — A cinnamon roll you can sip through a straw. You can’t beat that… but you can blend it. 🙂
41. Tropical Shake — This thick, creamy, refreshing shake is the perfect recipe for the long, hot summer afternoons. It’s a healthy version of “Pina-Colada meets Orange Julius,” combining some of my all-time favorite flavors.
42. Sweet Potato Smoothie — Don’t knock it till you try it. The banana adds so much creaminess… it’s extremely refreshing!
43. Red, White, and Blue Smoothie — Looking for a fun, festive and healthy way to kick off a patriotic holiday? You can’t go wrong with this colorful smoothie!
44. Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie — This chocolate peanut butter banana smoothie is ridiculously simple, super healthy, and SO delicious! It’s the perfect afternoon pick-me-up!
Desserts Using Ripe Bananas
45. No Bake Banana Split Cake — All the fabulous flavors you’d expect from a scrumptiously melty banana split sundae, all in an easy to prepare no-bake dessert.
46. Double Chocolate Banana Cake — Lightly sweet, moist, and chocolatey. No frosting required!
47. Zucchini Banana Sheet Cake — need to feed a crowd? This sheet cake will do it! Topped with delicious cream cheese frosting, you can’t go wrong!
48. Brown Sugar Banana Blondies — Delicious dessert bars that will have everyone going ape! The banana batter is baked to perfection then topped with incredible brown butter frosting!
49. Whole Wheat Banana Coconut Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies — These healthy cookies are a favorite in our house. They are good right out of the oven or eaten frozen.
50. Chocolate Bottom Banana Bars — These bars are so delicious, you’ll want to make a double or triple batch!
51. Banana Chocolate Chip Snack Cake — A healthified cake your family will love!
52. Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding — Just like the Banana Pudding from Magnolia Bakery in NYC
53. Healthy Chocolate Banana Fudge — This healthy banana chocolate fudge has just a slight taste of banana to it. I cut it up into 16 bars, hoping it would last longer.
54. Banana Fritters with Vanilla Caramel Sauce — These banana fritters are crisp on the outside and tender on the inside, loaded with big chunks of caramelized banana and served with vanilla caramel sauce.
55. Chocolate Banana Tart — This quick and simple recipe only has five ingredients and it’s gluten-free, Paleo and vegan.
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