Not sure what to do with those overripe bananas on your kitchen counter? We’ve got you covered!
These recipes celebrate the humble banana, transforming it into a range of delightful and nutritious treats that cater to various tastes and dietary needs. Not only would any of these healthy banana recipes make a delicious addition to your weekly meal plan, but they’re also packed with beneficial nutrients like potassium and vitamin C, so you can feel good about eating them.
Explore the wholesome goodness of healthy banana bread, a guilt-free treat that swaps refined sugar and flour for healthier options. Or, discover the convenience of healthy banana oatmeal pancakes, blending ripe bananas, almond milk, and oats for a gluten-free, dairy-free breakfast recipe option that is both wholesome and satisfying.
From no-machine-required healthy strawberry banana ice cream to the fudgy delight of 3-ingredient brownies, these recipes offer a delightful fusion of health and taste.
Without further ado, dive in and experience our 18 favorite healthy recipes with bananas, perfect for a breakfast or dessert.
1. Healthy Banana Bread!
This healthy banana bread is a delightful and nutritious take on the classic, offering a fluffy and moist texture with sweet banana flavor. This recipe stands out as it incorporates 100% whole wheat flour, replacing refined flour found in traditional recipes, and opts for natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup instead of processed sugar. With the addition of a modest amount of unrefined oil (coconut, olive, or vegetable oil), this banana bread not only maintains its deliciousness but also boasts healthier ingredients, making it a guilt-free treat for both adults and kids.
2. Healthy Banana Muffins
This healthy banana muffins recipe stands out for its deliciousness, low sugar content, and minimal calorie count (just over 100 calories per muffin). These muffins prioritize health without compromising flavor, boasting a moist texture and rich taste despite being oil-free. The recipe emphasizes simplicity, utilizing common ingredients like mashed bananas, vanilla extract, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt, all-purpose flour, and a touch of melted butter. The result is a batch of 12 flavorful muffins that can be enjoyed fresh from the oven or conveniently stored in an airtight container in the freezer for future snacks or quick breakfasts.
3. Vegan Peanut Butter Banana Pudding
This delicious and easy-to-make vegan peanut butter banana pudding is perfect for a celebration. The 5-ingredient recipe starts with a creamy peanut butter pudding whipped with coconut whipped cream, creating a fluffy and sweet peanut butter base. The layers consist of homemade vegan vanilla wafers, fresh sliced bananas, and a topping of coconut whip, bananas, and crumbled wafers. The result is a cold, creamy, and satisfying dessert that’s both salty-sweet and perfect for warm weather. It’s a delightful treat for birthdays or any special occasion, showcasing a combination of creaminess from the pudding, fluffiness from the coconut whip, and crunchiness from the vanilla wafers. With its incredible taste and texture, this vegan and gluten-free peanut butter banana pudding is a must-try dessert.
4. Healthy Banana Oatmeal Pancakes (Made right in the blender!)
Indulge in the perfect blend of simplicity and deliciousness with these healthy banana oatmeal pancakes, crafted effortlessly right in your blender. Free from flour, butter, and added sugar, these banana pancakes are a delightful treat suitable for everyone, including kids. Combining ripe bananas, eggs, almond milk, rolled oats, and essential pancake ingredients, this gluten-free, dairy-free breakfast packs a punch with 12g of protein per serving. Customize this easy recipe with your favorite mix-ins, top with pecans, banana slices, or a drizzle of peanut butter and maple syrup, and savor this blender-made pancake perfection.
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5. Blueberry Banana Baked Oatmeal
This delightful and nutritious blueberry banana baked oatmeal recipe, perfect for a quick breakfast or a leisurely weekend brunch. This gluten-free and dairy-free baked oatmeal is sweetened with maple syrup, enriched with bananas, and enhanced with cinnamon, chia seeds, flaxseed, and juicy blueberries. The recipe is not only delicious but also versatile, allowing for make-ahead preparation and freezing, offering a wholesome and convenient morning treat.
6. Paleo Zucchini Banana Bread Bars
Satisfy your sweet cravings with paleo zucchini banana bread bars, blending the moistness of zucchini, natural sweetness from ripe bananas, and the rich flavor of cashew butter. These grain and gluten-free treats, enhanced with a chocolate drizzle, strike the perfect balance of flavors and textures. Ensure they stay moist by avoiding over-baking and consider trying different nut butters for a personalized twist.
7. Chocolate Peanut Butter Overnight Oats W/ Banana
Revitalize your mornings with the delectable taste of chocolate peanut butter overnight oats. In just 5 minutes of prep time, you can create this no-cook, grab-and-go delight that blends the rich flavors of cocoa, peanut butter, and banana. This hassle-free recipe, combining simple and wholesome ingredients, offers a satisfying and nutritious option to kickstart your day without sacrificing taste.
8. Honey Baked Bananas
Sliced bananas are baked to perfection with a drizzle of honey and a sprinkle of cinnamon, highlighting the natural sweetness and flavor of the fruit in this simple and delightful honey baked bananas recipe. This quick and low-calorie treat, with less than 130 calories, is a versatile dessert suitable for various occasions and can be served with toppings like ice cream, yogurt, or on porridge for breakfast. The recipe offers a creative way to use up ripe bananas, turning them into warm, gooey, and caramelized delights.
9. Healthy Banana Cake
This moist and fluffy banana cake is made without eggs, sugar, or dairy but maintains a delicious taste, complemented by a luscious cream cheese frosting. The recipe calls for simple ingredients, all combined in one bowl, featuring white wholewheat flour, granulated sweetener, baking soda, cinnamon, oil, and overripe bananas. The cakes are layered and frosted, providing a guilt-free treat that retains its sweetness and banana flavor. For added versatility, the cakes can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week or frozen for up to six months.
10. Banana Breakfast Cookies
These banana breakfast cookies are not only a tasty way to use up ripe bananas but are also naturally sweetened, gluten-free, and easy to prepare. Loaded with banana, oatmeal, chopped nuts, and a touch of honey, these cookies are a wholesome and satisfying breakfast option. The recipe is simple, requiring basic ingredients that you likely have on hand. These banana oatmeal cookies are also versatile, allowing for optional add-ins like chocolate chips or raisins for those who crave a bit of sweet decadence. With no need for a mixer, the recipe involves mashing bananas, combining ingredients, forming cookies, and baking them until golden. Perfect for busy mornings, on-the-go breakfasts, lunchboxes, or as a healthy snack, these banana breakfast cookies make for a quick and delicious start to your day.
11. Healthy Strawberry Banana Ice Cream (No Machine!) – Step by Step
Indulge in a guilt-free treat with this quick and easy-to-make healthy strawberry banana ice cream (aka nice cream). Using just two ingredients—ripe bananas and fresh strawberries—and requiring no ice cream machine or additional sweeteners, this delightful and healthy dessert is both refreshing and ideal for spring and summer. Simply freeze bananas and strawberries, blend until smooth, and enjoy a soft-serve consistency immediately or freeze for a firmer texture, making it a perfect, healthy alternative to traditional ice cream.
12. 3 Ingredient Brownies
This healthy and easy-to-make, flourless and eggless chocolate treat bakes in just 20 minutes. To make these guilt-free brownies you only need 3 ingredients—ripe bananas, peanut butter, and unsweetened cocoa powder. These brownies are fudgy, rich, and perfect for satisfying chocolate cravings without compromising health. The recipe is versatile, accommodating dietary swaps and substitutions, such as using applesauce or pumpkin puree instead of bananas or opting for different nut butters. Sweetness can be adjusted with various sweeteners, including liquid stevia, maple syrup, agave nectar, or coconut palm sugar. Storage is convenient, with options to keep them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 6 months.
13. Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
Savor the delightful combination of flavors in this peanut butter banana smoothie, offering a creamy and naturally sweetened treat for breakfast. Packed with bananas, peanut butter, Greek yogurt, and a hint of cinnamon, this easy and nutritious smoothie is both satisfying and scrumptious. Whether you’re a smoothie enthusiast or a beginner, this recipe’s simplicity and deliciousness make it a perfect morning indulgence or a wholesome snack.
14. Sweet Potato Banana Oatmeal Bars
Elevate your breakfast routine with these sweet potato banana oatmeal bars—a convenient grab-and-go option perfect for busy mornings. Combining rolled oats, mashed banana, cooked sweet potato, coconut sugar, an egg, and optional raisins, these bars are a quick and nutritious addition to your meal prep. Gluten-free and vegetarian, they offer a delectable taste resembling an oatmeal cookie for breakfast. Prepare a batch in just 10 minutes, bake for 30 minutes, and have a supply of wholesome bars ready to make your mornings easy, delicious, and veggie-loaded.
15. Frozen Chocolate Covered Banana Bites
Satisfy your sweet cravings with these delightful frozen chocolate covered banana bites—a simple yet healthier alternative to mini ice cream bars. With only three core ingredients and no baking required, these treats are quick and easy to make. Enjoy frozen banana slices adorned with your favorite toppings, coated in semi-sweet or dark chocolate, and finished with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. Let your creativity shine with toppings like peanut butter, pretzels, honey, coffee, coconut, jam, and cinnamon sugar, creating a variety of flavor combinations. These frozen bites are a delicious and healthy summertime treat, perfect for enjoying during warm weather.
16. Healthy Protein Packed Banana Chia Seed Pudding Peanut Butter Parfait
Indulge in a high-protein breakfast with the healthy protein packed banana chia seed pudding peanut butter parfait. This delightful parfait layers overnight chia seed pudding infused with protein powder, granola, yogurt, and sliced bananas, topped with a drizzle of RX Nut Butter for a delicious start to your day. Easily customizable with vegan and gluten-free options or your nut butter of choice such as cashew or almond butter, it’s a quick and nutritious breakfast solution.
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17. Paleo Banana Cream Pie: Easy, No Bake & Vegan Dessert
Indulge in the simplicity of this no-bake, easy-to-make paleo banana cream pie, which is also vegan-friendly. The crust, crafted from almonds (or pecans), almond flour, dates, coconut oil, cinnamon, and vanilla extract, forms a delectable base. Layered with sliced bananas and a whipped filling made from coconut cream, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and cinnamon, this dessert delights without the need for traditional pie crust. Allow it to set in the fridge for a few hours or freeze for a quick treat, topping it with fresh bananas and chopped pecans or almonds just before serving.
18. 10-Minute Banana French Toast Recipe
Savor a quick and delightful morning with this 10-minute banana French toast recipe, a unique twist on the classic breakfast dish. The batter, a blend of mashed banana, egg, vanilla, and cinnamon, is the star, transforming ordinary bread slices into golden perfection. Dip the bread slices into the batter, ensuring a thorough coating, and fry them in coconut oil until both sides achieve a tempting golden brown. Serve immediately, perhaps with honey or your preferred fruit toppings, for a simple, delicious, and efficient breakfast experience.