The Ultimate Guide to Using Ripe Bananas + 12 Recipes

Bananas are one of the few fruits that are harvested year-round, meaning they are always in season. Even during winter, when seasonal produce can be more difficult to come by, bananas are still available to add to breakfast dishes or desserts.

How to tell if a banana is ripe

Ripe bananas snap off the stem easily. If it’s not ripe, it’s often a struggle to get the banana off the stem, while if it’s overripe, it’ll sometimes fall off just by touching the banana. Ripe bananas peel easily and do not make much sound when you peel them. They may start to get brown spots and soften, and this makes them easier to use in baked goods.

Ways to use ripe bananas

• Smoothies: Bananas add flavor and a creamy texture to protein fruit smoothies. They often are the strongest flavor in the smoothie, so choose other fruits accordingly.
• Bread: Banana bread is a popular type of quick bread to bake. You can use a basic recipe or add mix-ins like chocolate chips, nuts, or peanut butter.
• Banana splits: It’s hard to beat this old-fashioned ice cream dessert. It often consists of a banana, lots of ice cream, and toppings galore.
• Snacks: Bananas are the perfect snack. They can be eaten whole or sliced.
• Dog treats: Bananas are safe for dogs to eat, so you can share a sliced banana with your dog. For a fun treat, combine mashed banana and peanut butter and freeze it.

Easy ripe banana recipes

Bananas are a very versatile ingredient. They can be pureed into smoothies. They can be sliced and used in banana pudding or be left whole in a traditional banana split. The baking possibilities are endless, too, from banana bread to banana pancakes.

1. Strawberry banana smoothie

Bananas are the perfect addition to your morning smoothie. They help make it creamier. If they’re frozen first, you don’t have to add as much ice. If you use fresh bananas, consider adding frozen strawberries for that reason with the almond milk.

2. Creamy banana pudding trifle

This Southern layered dessert is another favorite since it’s easy to prepare and no baking is involved. Begin by preparing a package of pudding and then let it chill. Add layers of vanilla wafers, Cool Whip, pudding, and sliced bananas to a trifle bowl.

3. Old-fashioned banana split

Who doesn’t love a traditional banana split? All you need is one large banana and your favorite fixings. Traditional ones are topped with chocolate ice cream and hot fudge, vanilla ice cream and crushed pineapple, and strawberry ice cream and strawberry sauce. Don’t forget the nuts and whipped cream.

4. No-bake banana split dessert

This layered dessert is customizable and easy to make. Prepare a crust with graham cracker crumbs and butter. Then layer it with cream cheese, whipped dessert topping, and a sugar layer. Cut three bananas into slices and arrange them in a single layer. Arrange more layers of canned pineapple, more whipped dessert topping, and Maraschino cherries.

5. Peanut butter-banana yogurt parfaits

For a quick breakfast or snack, layer dried banana chips, peanut butter Multi-Grain Cheerios and vanilla yogurt into parfait glasses. Add banana slices and nuts.

6. Bananas foster on the grill

Bananas foster is a super easy dessert. Grill the bananas in their peels for a few minutes on each side until the peel is dark brown and the bananas are soft. Prepare a caramel sauce. To serve, cut each banana in half longways, place vanilla ice cream and the bananas in bowls, and ladle caramel sauce over it.

7. Two-ingredient banana pancakes

These two-ingredient pancakes have trended everywhere from fitness sites to parenting sites since they are protein-rich and low fat. They’re made out of one ripe banana and two eggs. You can add baking powder for fluffier pancakes.

8. Banana bread

Banana bread is the perfect way to use ripe bananas. You can use your mixer to mash bananas even more efficiently. Adding softened unsalted butter, Greek yogurt, and dark brown sugar makes a moist and buttery texture.

9. Maple pecan banana muffins

These maple-pecan banana muffins are healthier since they are moistened and sweetened with natural applesauce and pure maple syrup. They rise more by cooking the muffins first for five minutes at 425 °F and then lowering the heat to 350 and cooking for an additional 20 minutes.

10. Three-ingredient banana & Nutella puff pastry

These puffed pastries are an easy weeknight dessert. Thaw your puff past pastry dough and cut eight equal squares. Place sliced bananas and a spoonful of hazelnut spread on four squares. Affix the other squares on top and pinch them together to secure. Bake until golden brown.

11. Hummingbird cupcakes

If you love hummingbird cake, these cupcakes made with a whole-wheat flour blend, ripe bananas, crushed pineapple, and chopped pecans will satisfy your craving. The cream cheese frosting takes it to the next level.

12. Cinnamon-fried bananas

If your bananas got too ripe, slice them and fry them with some cinnamon. It’ll taste delicious over ice cream or pound cake.

Other ways to use ripe bananas

Many people enjoy eating bananas for a snack on their own. Another fun snack is peanut butter and banana sandwiches. If you’re not planning to eat your ripe bananas right away, consider freezing them. They will stay fresh in the freezer for up to three months.

It’s easy to freeze large batches of ripe bananas by slicing them and layering them on a baking sheet. Place them in freezer bags after they are frozen, labeling the contents.

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Final thoughts on using ripe bananas

Bananas are an easy ingredient to use. They can cream up your morning smoothie. They can be used in various desserts. Alternatively, you or your dog could enjoy a banana as a snack. There are so many fun classic recipes that use bananas. Find the ingredients you need with Instacart.

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