26 Ripe Banana Recipes That Go Beyond Banana Bread
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
If you're wondering what to do with ripe bananas, you've come to the right place. We've all found ourselves with too many ripe bananas and not enough time to consume them. Sure, you can always freeze bananas, but if space in the freezer is looking a little tight, you might have no choice but to start cooking with them. Banana bread is always an option, and we include many different versions of the treat in this collection of recipes, but we also offer so many more ways to put ripe bananas to good use.
Hummingbird Cake
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
This trusty classic cake happens to be a great way to make use of ripe bananas. If you don't want to fuss with stacking layers, try our Hummingbird Sheet Cake instead.
Pumpkin Banana Bread
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Fold a bit of fall flavor into your banana bread with this pumpkin twist on the classic.
Banana Cake
Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey
Think of this cake like a fancy version of banana bread. With an easy cream cheese frosting, it feels a touch more elevated than your average loaf.
Banana Muffins
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Start the day off right with these ultra-moist banana muffins.
Banana Pudding Cheesecake
Two of our favorites desserts come together in this luscious recipe. While overripe bananas are perfect for the filling, make sure to have a few less ripe bananas on hand for topping it.
Banana Snack Cake
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Snacks cakes like this are easy little desserts perfect for last-minute get-togethers, bake sales, or an emergency sugar craving.
Peanut Butter-Banana Blondies
Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
These blondies use more than just ripe bananas for moisture; they also use a little bit of mayo!
Banana Layer Cake With Caramel Icing
Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
Caramel and banana compliment each other perfectly in this recipe submitted by Southern Living reader Mary Vail-Grube.
Banana Nut Bread
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Although you can use any nut in this bread, we're partial to the Southern staple of pecans.
Banana Bread Cobbler
Use up ripe bananas in this fun twist on a cobbler. And don't forget vanilla ice cream for serving!
Banana Pudding Cheesecake Bars
"Made it for Thanksgiving dinner, and it was a hit. Everyone requested a second for Christmas as well," reads one, five-star review on this recipe.
One-Bowl Banana Bread
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Banana bread with less cleanup? Sign us up!
Bananas Foster Cake
If your bananas have already turned brown, you can actually skip the roasting step in this recipe as your fruit is already very soft, which is the primary objective for the roasting.
Strawberry-Banana-Peanut Butter Smoothie
A lazy way to use up overripe bananas is to blend them into a smoothie. This recipe combines them with peanut butter and strawberries for a PB&J-like flavor.
Banana Bundt Cake
Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
We like to think of this Bundt cake as a large format banana bread. Topped with a beautiful glaze and chopped nuts, it feels slightly more impressive than just a normal quick bread.
Blueberry Banana Bread
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Blueberries add the most beautiful pop of color to this banana bread.
Nutella Banana Bread
A luscious swirl of hazelnut spread is exactly the kind of easy banana bread upgrade we love.
Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Chocolate makes most things better, including banana bread.
Hummingbird Bread
Jessica Furniss
Our favorite layer cake also happens to make an excellent loaf cake.
Cream Cheese-Banana-Nut Bread
Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas
This recipe comes with three fun flavor variations to choose from: Toasted Coconut-Topped Cream Cheese-Banana-Nut Bread, Cinnamon Crisp-Topped Cream Cheese-Banana-Nut Bread, and Peanut Butter Streusel-Topped Cream Cheese-Banana-Nut Bread.
Sour Cream Banana Bread With Pecan Streusel Topping
"Made this last night to use up ripe bananas and some sour cream and, oh my goodness, this is the best banana bread I've ever made!" writes Southern Living reader, Patti Petree.
Hummingbird Pancakes
Swap your normal buttermilk pancakes for these ultra-flavorful banana-infused ones.
Hummingbird Snack Cake with Brown Butter Frosting
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke
The brown butter frosting is really what makes this simple banana cake sing.
Cream Cheese Banana Bread
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Enjoy this banana bread with a cup of coffee in the morning or as an afternoon pick-me-up.
Banana Pudding Brownies
Hannah Hufham, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
Take dessert up a notch with these special brownies. They have all the flavors of classic banana pudding due to the creamy banana filling.
Grilled Bananas
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Impress a crowd with this summertime treat. These grilled bananas only require 4 ingredients!
Related: Our 36 Best-Ever Banana Recipes: Cakes, Breads, Pies, Pudding, and More
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