These 20 healthy ripe banana recipes will ensure you always have something besides banana bread to make with those extra browning bananas!
Last month we had a little shindig for my son’s second birthday. I went with a Curious George theme – we made pizzas with the kids a la “Curious George and the Pizza Party” and we had a banana split bar for dessert. I definitely overbought bananas, though, and a week later we had some browning ones sitting on our counter begging to be used.
I set aside a bunch for smoothies, but still had quite a few to use up. Since I already had banana muffins stocked away in the freezer too, I needed something new. Something different than the traditional banana breads, banana muffins, smoothies, and nice creams (though all of those are awesome too!).
But in searching the web for recipes for ripe bananas other than banana bread, I was coming up a little short on healthy options. So I reached out to my fellow dietitian friends and food bloggers to find their favorite healthy ripe banana recipes!
Healthy is of course a subjective term, so some of these may be ‘healthy’ in a way that suits a need – like it’s allergen-friendly or vegan. But on the whole these are some good-for-ya, nutrient-rich options.
Next time you have some browning bananas sitting on your counter, whip up one of these recipes.
1. No Added Sugar Banana Raisin Oatmeal Cups from Better is the New Perfect
These baked oatmeal cups are perfect for snacking or an addition to your breakfast plate. There’s no added sugar; the sweetness naturally comes from the bananas and raisins.
2. Blender Bliss Banana Date Oatmeal Cookies from Desi-licious RD
Another no added sugar recipe! To make these, just toss a few simple ingredients together in a blender then bake into chewy, wholesome cookies.
3. Banana Mug Cake from Snacking in Sneakers
This easy to make mug cake is made with wholesome ingredients and packs in 8 grams of protein! It’s such a fun single-serving recipe to make with your overrip banans.
4. Healthy Banana Peanut Butter Cookies from Snacking in Sneakers
Just five simple ingredients make up these delicious cookies: banana, peanut butter, vanilla, maple syrup, and coconut flour. They’re naturally gluten free and easy to throw together when you’re craving a sweet treat.
5. Grain Free Banana Granola from A Saucy Kitchen
I would have never thought to use banana to sweeten a granola recipe but it’s brilliant. This version is grain free (but I’ve also made this recipe by cutting out the cashews and adding in a few cups of oats). It’s yummy, and probably one of my favorite recipes for ripe bananas other than banana bread.
6. Healthy Banana Bread Granola from Lively Table
Another yummy banana granola recipe! This one includes a mixture of oats and nuts and has no added sugar. I love this one too.
7. Healthy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies from Snacking in Sneakers
These babies are a great healthy ripe banana recipe – they’re kind of like a cookie-muffin top hybrid. They were a go-to sweet treat for me when I was nursing since they’re dairy, soy, and egg free! (They’re also nut free, so this is another recipe that’s ideal for many food allergies).
8. Quick Banana Salsa from Healing Tomato
Banana in a salsa?! Count me in! (And serious bonus points for creativity). This version also has tomatoes, cucumbers, coconut, and more. I can’t wait to give it a whirl.
9. Peanut Butter Banana Chia Pudding from Nutrition Starring You
A breakfast pudding that packs in 17 grams of plant-based protein and 18 grams of fiber? Heck yes!
10. Peanut Butter Banana Mocha S’mores Waffles from Eat Right Live Well
S’mores waffles. Need I say more?!
11. Flourless Gluten Free Banana Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting from The Athletic Avocado
For those of you looking for minimal ingredient, whole food dessert recipes – this is a nice one. The cake itself is just simple ingredients.
12. Banana Oat Bars from The Lean Green Bean
This is one of my favorite recipes to make with my son. He loves them!
13. Peanut Butter Banana Cups from A Virtual Vegan
I’ve been digging healthier peanut butter cup recipes lately. Probably because Easter just passed and those Reese’s eggs are a total temptation. But I like this version as a better-for-you option! This recipe only calls for 1 tbsp of added sugar thanks to the natural sweetening power of the bananas.
14. Banana Date Granola Bars from A Saucy Kitchen
These bars have no added sugar, being naturally sweetened with dates and bananas. You can add an optional chocolate drizzle to the top (I highly recommend it, because – well, chocolate).
15. Banana Nut Butter Donuts from Raia’s Recipes
I cannot wait to make these! For anyone with dietary limitations, these are grain free/gluten free and dairy free. They also contain no added sugar in the donut, and just a smidge of honey in the nut butter frosting. YUM. A perfect healthy ripe banana recipe!
16. Pan Fried Cinnamon Bananas from Dizzy Busy and Hungry
What a yummy dessert that only requires a few ingredients! I’d use these with slightly overripe bananas – not ones that have become really mushy to the touch. You can also reduce or eliminate the sugar if you’d like to!
17. Banana Blueberry Smoothie Pops from Kleinworth & Co.
This is one of the simplest recipes in this roundup – made with just three ingredients. I guess technically it’s a different version of a smoothie, but these looked so delish as popsicles that I wanted them in here!
18.Chocolate Banana Oat Bites from the Nutrition Adventure
I’ve been all about the energy bites lately, so these will definitely be going down in my kitchen soon!
19. Frozen Banana Bites from Snacking in Sneakers
Just three ingredients makes these amazing frozen snacks! I recommend making a big batch ahead of time on the weekend and then keeping them in a freezer bag and popping them out to snack on throughout the week.
20. Chocolate Almond Butter Overnight Oats fromApples for CJ
Overnight oats are so convenient for a make-ahead breakfast (perfect for kids on busy school days or adults on busy workdays!). This version is vegan and gluten free.
Share with me: Do you have any more ideas for other recipes for ripe bananas other than banana bread?!Which of these healthy ripe banana recipes are you dying to try? What do you usually make with your overripe bananas?
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Chrissy Carroll
Chrissy Carroll is a Registered Dietitian and USAT Level I Triathlon Coach. She specializes in sharing nutrition and fitness tips, as well as recipes, for runners, triathletes, and active women.Chrissy holds a Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition, a Masters Degree in Public Health, and is also an ACSM Certified Personal Trainer.
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