36 Recipes for Your Ripe Bananas (2024)

Home Recipes Ingredients Fruits Bananas

Don't toss out your old bananas just yet—make bread, pudding, cake, cookies and bars with these ripe banana recipes.

1/34

Best Ever Banana Bread

Calls for: 2 ripe bananas
Whenever I pass a display of bananas in the grocery store, I can almost smell the wonderful aroma of my best banana bread recipe. It really is that good! —Gert Kaiser, Kenosha, Wisconsin

Go to Recipe

You’ve probably heard ofmug cakes, so you get the idea. There’s no need for kneading with this banana bread in a mug recipe, try it out today!

2/34

Banana Bread Snack Cakes

Calls for: 1 ripe banana
This cake doesn’t need any frosting—just a dusting of powdered sugar. Guests are always amazed that I made this treat from scratch. —Denise Loewenthal, Hinckley, Ohio

Wondering if you have enough bananas to bake with? Read more about how many bananas are in a cup.

3/34

Pecan Banana Bundt Cake

Calls for: 2-3 ripe bananas
My daughter, Liz, often made this banana bundt cake for us. It was delicious and different. She discovered five-spice powder during a culinary class field trip. —Marina Castle Kelley, Canyon Country, California

Also, learnhow to store bananas so they last longer for you to make these interesting recipes.

4/34

Banana Oat Muffins

Calls for: 2 ripe bananas
Chopped pecans add pleasant crunch to these hearty banana oatmeal muffins with rich flavor. The muffins are low in cholesterol, but you’d never know it. My husband and I love them. —Marjorie Mott, Galatia, Illinois

5/34

Banana Split Brownies

Calls for: 1 ripe banana
How’s this for a dish—all the joy of a banana split without the mess. Everything in my recipe fits into one pan of delectable brownie bars. —Connee Sheckler, Chestertown, Maryland

6/34

Banana Nut Pancakes

Calls for: 1 ripe banana
I enjoy these versatile banana nut pancakes. Besides being a satisfying breakfast, they can be a deliciously different dessert. —Diane Hixon, Niceville, Florida

7/34

Banana Orange Bars

Calls for: 3-4 ripe bananas
I have been making these treats for many years. I no longer remember where the recipe came from, but one thing is certain—the bars are always a hit at family get-togethers and parties. The secret to tasty banana desserts is the ripeness of the bananas—the riper, the better. —Mary Sturgis, Hingham, Massachusetts

8/34

Bananas ‘n’ Cream Tube Pan Cake

Calls for: 3 ripe bananas
This absolutely scrumptious banana Bundt cake needs no icing…just a dusting of confectioners’ sugar. Even though the recipe has been a family secret for years, I’m delighted to share it with my fellow home cooks. —Oma Rollison, El Cajon, California

9/34

Cranberry Banana Coffee Cake

Calls for: 2 ripe bananas
I make this moist cake for Christmas morning every year. It tastes like banana bread but has a sweet golden topping with a nutty crunch. —Gloria Friesen, Casper, Wyoming

10/34

Banana Chocolate Cake

Calls for: 2 ripe bananas
This light-as-air chocolate cake has a yummy banana flavor. It’s scrumptious as is, but you can also dress it up with nuts or light frostings. —Tina Bellows, Racine, Wisconsin

11/34

Banana Pound Cake

Calls for: 2 ripe bananas
I adapted a basic pound cake recipe from my great-aunt for this treat. It makes a moist cake that pops out of the pan perfectly. —Nancy Zimmerman, Cape May Court House, New Jersey

12/34

Banana Oat Breakfast Cookies

Calls for: 2 ripe bananas
I use to buy name-brand breakfast cookies from the supermarket, but since I found this recipe I’ve enjoyed making my cookies more than buying them.—Linda Burciaga

13/34

Chocolate Banana Bundles

Calls for: 2 ripe bananas
Banana and chocolate are such an irresistible combo that I make this quick dessert often. You can also top them with the butter and brown sugar mixture left over from coating the bananas, or sprinkle on a dash of sea salt. —Thomas fa*glon, Somerset, New Jersey

14/34

Pumpkin Banana Bread

Calls for: 2 ripe bananas
I came across this recipe in a local newspaper about 10 years ago, and I still make the bread on a regular basis. The recipe conveniently yields a number of mini loaves, making gift-giving easy. —Linda Wood, Roanoke, Virginia

15/34

Peanut Butter-Banana Yogurt Parfaits

Calls for: 2 ripe bananas
For a lightening-fast breakfast, I layer vanilla yogurt with bananas, peanuts and multigrain cereal. It’s crunchy, easy and perfect for kids. —Teresa Miller, Hamilton, Indiana

16/34

Banana-Nut Bundt Cake

Calls for: 3 ripe bananas
Each slice of this cake has a temptingly tropical twist. If you’d like, sprinkle confectioners’ sugar over the top. —June Yeates, Bradley, Illinois

17/34

Banana Squares

Calls for: 2-3 ripe bananas
When we were first married, my husband was in the Navy. Stationed in Puerto Rico, we had banana trees growing in our yard, so I found ways to use dozens of ripe bananas at a time. I made these banana squares often. They freeze well and make a great snack to have on hand when friends drop in for coffee. —Susan Miller, Raleigh, North Carolina

18/34

Southern Banana Pudding

Calls for: 3 ripe bananas
This old southern banana pudding recipe features a comforting custard layered with sliced bananas and vanilla wafers, then topped with meringue. I serve it year-round. —Jan Campbell, Hattiesburg, Mississippi

19/34

Egg-Free Double Chocolate Banana Muffins

Calls for: 2-3 ripe bananas
I am always looking to use up the brown bananas on my counter. My usual go-to was banana nut bread, but when my youngest developed an egg allergy I had to come up with something different. Since bananas and chocolate are so good together I decided to make these muffins. You would never be able to tell they are egg-free. —Danielle Siero, Farmington, Michigan

20/34

Calls for: 3 ripe bananas
We keep bananas on hand, but with just two of us in the house they ripen faster than we can eat them. That makes them perfect for roasting and baking into this cheesecake with a nutty crust. —Patricia Harmon, Baden, Pennsylvania

21/34

Calls for: 1 ripe banana
Oatmeal is a favorite breakfast food, quick, easy and filling. I came up with this version by using some of the same ingredients from my favorite breakfast smoothie. Add bran cereal for a heartier taste and more fiber. A brown sugar substitute and soy milk also blend in well. —Jessi Rizzi, Odenton, Maryland

22/34

Potluck Banana Cake

Calls for: 3 ripe bananas
I found this recipe more than five years ago and have been making it for family gatherings ever since. The coffee-flavored frosting complements the moist banana cake. —Kathy Hoffman, Topton, Pennsylvania

23/34

Banana Macadamia Muffins

Calls for: 3 ripe bananas
These muffins taste even better the next day, so to save time, I often make them the night before. They stay moist for days. —Stasha Wampler, Clinchport, Virginia

24/34

Banana Split Cake Bars

Calls for: 3 ripe bananas
Summer isn’t summer without a banana split or two, and these fun bars bring that same delicious flavor in potluck-perfect form. —Jasey McBurnett, Rock Springs, Wyoming

25/34

Pear-Blueberry Ambrosia with Creamy Lime Dressing

Calls for: 3 ripe bananas
This dessert is delicious and decadent, yet is chock-full of healthy fruit with a creamy lime dressing; the blueberries provide a lovely pop of color. —Laura Stricklin, Jackson, Mississippi

26/34

Banana Oatmeal Cookies

Calls for: 2 ripe bananas
My mom made these oatmeal banana cookies when I was young. Now my children like making them just as much as I did, and we quadruple the recipe to serve our large family. You can’t eat just one of these goodies packed with chocolate morsels. —Jaqueline Wilson, Armstrong Creek, Wisconsin

27/34

Banana Blueberry Pancakes

Calls for: 3 ripe bananas
This blueberry pancakes recipe is a favorite in our home. My kids don’t even realize how healthy it is! —Kelly Reinicke, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin

28/34

Cast-Iron Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Calls for: 3 ripe bananas
I love this cast-iron banana bread because it cooks evenly every time. The end result is so moist and delicious! —Ashley Hudd, Holton, Michigan

29/34

Frosted Banana Bars

Calls for: 3 ripe bananas
These bars are always a hit at potlucks in the small rural farming community where my husband and I live. I also like to provide them for coffee hour after church. They’re so moist and delicious that wherever I take them, they don’t last long. —Karen Dryak, Niobrara, Nebraska

30/34

Quick Bananas Foster

Calls for: 3 ripe bananas
Guests are always impressed when I ignite the rum in this delicious bananas Foster dessert. Use perfectly ripe bananas for best results. —Mary Lou Wayman, Salt Lake City, Utah

31/34

Banana Pudding

Calls for: 4 ripe bananas
I didn’t see my son, Lance Corporal Eric Harris, for more than two years after he enlisted in the Marines after high school. And when I saw him arrive at the airport, I just grabbed hold of him and burst out crying. When we got home, the first thing he ate was two bowls of my easy banana pudding recipe. He’s a true southern boy! It’s a dessert, but you can have it for breakfast, lunch or dinner. —Stephanie Harris, Montpelier, Virginia

32/34

Gluten-Free Banana Bread

Calls for: 4-5 ripe bananas
This gluten-free banana bread recipe isn’t dry and crumbly—it tastes like the real thing. I hope you try it! —Gladys Arnold, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

33/34

Air-Fryer Breakfast Cookies

I used to buy brand-name breakfast cookies from the supermarket, but since I found this recipe, I’ve enjoyed making my cookies more than buying them. —Linda Burciaga, tasteofhome.com

34/34

I Like to Eat Apples and Bananas Bread

Calls for: 4-5 ripe bananas
My children love to bake (and eat) all kinds of banana bread. They make this all by themselves, with just a little help from me to put it in the oven. —Kristin Metcalf, Charlton, Massachusetts

As deputy editor for Taste of Home magazine, Rachel has her hand in everything you see from cover to cover, from writing and editing articles to taste-testing recipes to ensuring every issue is packed with fun and fabulous content. She'll roll up her sleeves to try any new recipe in the kitchen—from spicy Thai dishes (her favorite!) to classic Southern comfort food (OK...also her favorite). When she's not busy thinking of her next meal, Rachel can be found practicing yoga, going for a run, exploring National Parks and traveling to new-to-her cities across the country.

As Senior Shopping Editor, Katie connects Taste of Home readers with the best gifts, deals and home products on the market. An avid foodie and a holiday enthusiast, Katie is an expert at cultivating meaningful moments.When she’s out of the office, you’ll find her exploring Wisconsin, trying out new vegetarian recipes and watching Christmas movies.