Recipes to Make with Overripe Bananas

Overripe bananas are the only past-its-prime produce to get excited about. While other overripe fruits are destined for the compost bin, overripe bananas can lead to many wondrous recipes.

We all know that overripe bananas make the best banana bread, but that’s not all. Pancakes, smoothies, cakes and more can all benefit from those overly-speckled beauties. Find inspiration with classic and creative recipes to make with overripe bananas.

Banana Nut Pancakes

These aren’t your typical pancakes! Ripe bananas are mashed and added directly to the batter to give just enough banana flavor to every bite.

20-Minute Banana Fritters

These pillowy fritters have all the classic flavors of banana bread in a cake-like, almost beignet-esque golden brown fritter.

Banana Granola Muffins

Unlike ordinary banana muffins with nuts, these light and fluffy muffins get their crunch from granola. Any flavor of granola works great, but my personal favorite is one loaded with toasted coconut and pecans.

Banana and Nutella Stuffed French Toast

French toast will never be the same once you get a taste of melted chocolatey spread with warmed, yet not mushy bananas.

Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies

These cookies are soft, chewy and cake-like. They’re perfect for finishing with a hearty pinch of sea salt.

Creamy Coconut Pineapple Smoothies

Coconut and pineapple may be the stars of this smoothie but the addition of banana adds creaminess and thickness. And if you like your smoothies extra-thick, use a frozen banana.

Banana Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake

This bundt cake stars ripe mashed bananas, mini chocolate chips and a moist cake batter that’s baked to golden brown perfection.

Banana Sour Cream Pancakes

These light and fluffy pancakes are for those that love small pieces of banana in each bite. The pieces are dropped atop the pancakes once they’re in the pan rather than being mixed into the batter to ensure the pancakes fluff.

Banana Bread French Toast

Admittedly, you already need to have banana bread on hand for this recipe, but its just too good not to add to this list.

Baked Oatmeal Cups

Forget boring ol’ oatmeal! These oatmeal cups are packed with flavor, totally customizable and freeze like a dream.

Easy French Toast with Caramelized Bananas

Two words: caramelized bananas. They take French toast to a whole new level.

Green Machine Smoothies

Smoothie lovers rejoice! Leafy greens and frozen fruit join forces with a secret ingredient that’s packed with protein and makes one heck of creamy smoothie.

Chocolate-Covered Frozen Bananas

This healthy frozen treat is loved by kids and adults alike. Best of all, you can customize them with all of your favorite toppings.

The Best Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Think of this banana cake like an extra-moist banana bread that’s layered with the silkiest cream cheese frosting to ever hit your lips.

Banana Pudding with Salted Caramel Sauce

This southern-inspired treat stars creamy banana pudding layered with sliced bananas, crunchy wafers and homemade salted caramel sauce. It’s the ultimate dessert for anyone that loves bananas!

Banana Chocolate Wonton Poppers

Wontons have never tasted so sweet. Store-bought wonton wrappers are filled with your chocolate of choice and sliced bananas then sealed and fried until golden.

Frozen Peanut Butter Banana Pie

Creamy, crunchy, salty, sweet—what more could you ask for in a dessert? This frosty treat stars a chocolate cookie crust, sliced bananas and a peanut butter whipped cream filling.

Banana and Nutella Dessert Bruschetta

Crunchy toasts are the perfect canvas for creamy chocolate-hazelnut spread, ripe bananas and chopped peanuts.

Banana Ice Cream

Take frozen bananas toss them in a blender or food processor and 5 minutes later you have healthy soft serve “nice” cream. Sandwich this creamy frozen treat between two peanut butter cookies and you have the ultimate peanut butter banana dessert.

Stuck with unripe bananas? No problem! Check out this simple trick for how to ripen bananas in 15 minutes or less.

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