Find new and classic ideas for what to make with ripe and overripe bananas—which includes banana bread, yes, but so much more!—with these easy banana recipes.
Banana Recipes
The next time you find yourself with overripe bananas, do not waste them! Transform them into one of these recipes right away, or stash them into the freezer to use on a future day. There are so many delicious ways to use ripe bananas including French toast, muffins, breads, smoothies, desserts, and more.
I love banana recipes that I’m always trying to deliberately buy ripe bananas at the store!
This collection of healthy banana recipes is meant to give you lots of easy ideas to consider when you have bananas to use.
All of the banana recipes are easy and involve straight-forward methods and cooking techniques to ensure they are doable for you—even if you have a little one underfoot or you were up and down all night with the kids.
Ripe Banana Recipes
In all of these recipes, ripe bananas work best. Ripe bananas, by which I mean bananas with a lot of brown spots, have more natural sugars and sweetness. This means that when used in recipes, they add more flavor and deliciousness.
You can use fresh ripe bananas or frozen ones. If using frozen ones, thaw and drain before starting the recipe steps.
Banana Breakfast Recipes
Below you’ll find some of our go-to recipes for breakfast that use bananas including French toast, pancakes, milk, smoothies, and more.
Banana French Toast
Make a batch of these super yummy French Toast Sticks to share with the kids. It’s so much easier to bake French Toast, rather than standing by the stove flipping each slice, and the leftovers store so well for future meals! (There are lots of allergy-substitutions in the recipe too.)
You can use any sliced bread that you like. I typically use whole grain or sourdough. You can also bake full slices of bread, then cut into sticks with kitchen scissors. See Notes for allergy-substitutions.
2-Ingredient Banana Pancakes
Blend up a fruit or veggie with an egg for the fluffiest, easiest, healthy pancakes for kids. These 2-Ingredient Pancakes use one simple method for all 4 flavors and are a perfect baby pancake or toddler pancake.
This recipe makes one small batch of super tender 2-Ingredient Pancakes. It usually makes 1-2 little-kid-size servings. To make more, simply double the recipe. These are delicate pancakes with a texture that’s sort of custardy like French toast, so be gentle when flipping them. See the NOTES at the bottom for the flavor variations.
Banana Oatmeal Pancakes
Serve up a balanced mix of complex carbs and protein with these delicious Banana Oatmeal Pancakes. Bonus: The leftovers reheat so well and they’re delish with or without maple syrup.
Very ripe (with brown spots) bananas will give these pancakes the best flavor. Dice them up or serve whole, according to how the kids prefer to eat them.
Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies
Whether you’re looking for a make-ahead breakfast or a healthy snack option, these Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies fit the bill. They’re easy to make, take about 30 minutes, and are packed with nutrients. Plus: They store so well!
Banana Milk
Blend up the most delicious homemade Banana Milk with super simple ingredients and low added sugar. So good and nutritious!
Use a very ripe banana with a lot of brown spots in this recipe for the best flavor.
Blueberry Banana Smoothie
This quick and easy Blueberry Banana Smoothie is a great option for breakfast, snack time, or even dessert. It packs Vitamin C, potassium, healthy fats, and fiber to keep little bellies full and happy.
Frozen banana will create a slightly thicker smoothie, so if you plan to serve this through a straw, I recommend doing either frozen blueberries OR bananas, but not both. You can do all frozen fruit if you plan to serve it through a pouch or in an open cup—or if your child is used to drinking thick smoothies!
Banana Bread and Muffin Recipes
Scroll below to find easy banana muffins, banana breads, banana bread muffins, and baby muffins using bananas.
Sugar-Free Banana Muffins
Mix up a batch of these easy-to-make Sugar-Free Banana Muffins to share with your baby or toddler come breakfast or snack time. You don’t need any special ingredients and they are super moist and flavorful. (P.S. There’s a vegan option too!)
Be sure to use very ripe bananas (with lots of brown spots!) for the best flavor and natural sweetness. (I updated this recipe December 2020 to ensure the most reliable results. The original version of this recipe is the “Egg-free” option in the Notes if you loved that. In the main recipe, I reduced the oil, added an egg, increased the baking soda a smidge, and reduced the baking time. They’re great!)
Banana Oatmeal Muffins
With just a handful of nutritious ingredients, you can bake up super easy Banana Oatmeal Muffins to share with the kids. Bonus: These store so well in the fridge for days!
For the best flavor and sweeteness, use bananas with a lot of brown spots.
Spinach Banana Muffins
These Spinach Muffins with Banana are a super healthy and yummy toddler or big kid breakfast or snack. Each bite is packed with nutrients from greens and fruit—and the interior is so moist that even babies can enjoy these easy blender muffins!
These healthy muffins taste like a delicious banana muffin, but with the added nutrition of a big handful of spinach. These store well, so you can make them ahead of time and pull them out of the fridge or freezer to serve.
ABC Muffins
Made with a nutrient-packed ingredient list, these tender Baby Muffins are a perfect first muffin. They are easier to chew than a regular muffin, have three kinds of produce, are added sugar free, and they boast a solid dose of healthy fats—exactly what the littles need!
These are deliberately very moist (and moister than regular muffins) to ensure they are easy for baby to chew and swallow, so expect that from the interior. If you’d like to make them sweeter for older kiddos, add ¼ cup sugar to the batter.
Banana Bread Muffins
Transform pantry staples and ripe bananas into the very best Banana Bread Muffins with this tried and true recipe. (Plus, they’re lower in sugar and store so well!)
Be sure to use super ripe bananas—the more black and brown spots, the better the flavor and sweetness will be!—for the best results here.
Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
These whole grain Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins are made with nutritious ingredients (including whole grains and less sugar) and have the BEST flavor. They’re a great breakfast or snack option to have on hand during busy weeks…or just as a way to use up overripe bananas!
These muffins are best with very ripe bananas (they should have a lot of brown spots, which indicate sweetness). Then, simply stir everything together in one bowl and bake up a batch of delicious Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins to share with the kids.
Easy Banana Bread
Bake up healthy comfort food with this super easy and super delicious lower sugar Banana Bread. It’s so easy, so good, and is a perfect breakfast or snack to share with the kids.
Be sure to use super ripe bananas—the more black and brown spots, the better the flavor and sweetness will be!—for the best results here. Adapted from The Salty Marshmallow
Strawberry Banana Bread
Take classic banana bread up a level with the addition of fresh or frozen strawberries.
Bursting with fruit and the moistness you expect from a classic loaf, this lower-sugar Strawberry Banana Bread is a seriously delicious breakfast or snack to share with the kids.
Blueberry Banana Bread
I may be prone to hyperbole, but this Blueberry Banana Bread is ridiculously delicious. Imagine the very best banana bread crossed with the ultimate blueberry muffin. Epic!
This bread is incredibly moist from the bananas and berries, so it takes a little while to bake through. I add foil in Step 4 to prevent it from becoming too brown.
Banana Dessert Recipes
In this section, you’ll find the very best banana cookies and desserts to share with the kids.
Healthy Banana Cookies
With simple ingredients including ripe bananas and rolled oats, fiber and natural sweetness, these Healthy Banana Cookies are a super yummy everyday treat to share with the family. They’re easy, delicious, and packed with nutrition. (Win, win, win!)
These are an easy whole grain cookie to share with the kids—they’re a great baby cookie! Try them for snack, dessert, or as a breakfast cookie
Healthy Banana Cake
Mix up a simple batter bursting with banana, whole grains, and flavor for a healthy Banana Cake to celebrate a kids birthday or special event. Bonus: The simple whipped cream cheese frosting seals the deal and the whole thing can be made ahead!
This lightly sweetened cake is perfect for a first or second birthday—or just any day where you’re craving some cake to share!
Banana Brownies
Fudgey, moist, and loaded with chocolate…and banana flavor, these brownies are a favorite dessert to share.
Plan to make the sweet potato ahead of time or use canned puree. Otherwise, this one-bowl recipe is super simple!
Banana Ice Cream
Stash ripe bananas in the freezer so you can blend this up in minutes with the craving strikes.
Make a batch of the easiest Banana Ice Cream to share with the kids with just two ingredients and the creamiest texture! It takes about 5 minutes, there are easy ways to customize it for your preferences, and it is just so good.
Banana Popsicles
With just two base ingredients, these popsicles are a favorite toddler snack.
These fresh banana popsicles are incredibly creamy and easy to make—and they’re a balanced snack or dessert to share with the kids. Try the base recipe or one of the optional flavors.
Chocolate-Covered Banana Pops
Frozen bananas coated with chocolate? Sign us up!
These Chocolate Covered Bananas are frozen into popsicles that are so easy to make and so seriously fun. The chocolate pudding has a perfect texture once frozen, you can add sprinkles if you want, and use either paper lollipop sticks or popsicle sticks.
How to Store
Store baked goods, oatmeal, and pancakes in airtight containers in the fridge for 3-5 days. Warm as needed in 15-30 second increments.
Store frozen banana recipes, such as Banana Ice Cream and Popsicles, in a freezer bag or container in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Best Tips for Success
- Use very ripe bananas with a lot of brown spots for best natural sweetness and flavor.
- To bake with frozen bananas, thaw and drain before starting the recipe.
- Freeze bananas you can’t use, but that are about to spoil, in the freezer to use on a future day.
Related Recipes
I’d love to hear your feedback on this post, so please rate and comment below!
-
Add the ingredients to a blender.
-
Blend, starting on low and working up to high.
-
Serve immediately.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 24 hours.
- Dairy-Free: Use your favorite nondairy milk. Omit the sweetener and vanilla if using another other than plain unsweetened.
- Added-Sugar-Free: Make this without added sugars by just using the milk and banana. (It will taste best with a very ripe banana!)
- Do half milk and half yogurt to make drinkable banana yogurt.
- Add ice to make it more of a smoothie consistency.
- See the rest of the post for additional ways to use bananas.
Calories: 120kcal, Carbohydrates: 17g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 12mg, Sodium: 53mg, Potassium: 305mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 13g, Vitamin A: 222IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 144mg, Iron: 1mg
