We always have bananas at home. Sometimes my son absolutely loves them, and then sometimes he does not, and then we're left with that bunch of bananas going overripe slowly. So here is a list of 22 easy banana dessert recipes that will make sure those bananas never go to waste.
Don't lose this article. Enter your email below, and I'll send it to you right now. Plus a little encouragement and inspiration from me, straight to your inbox.
Absolutely foolproof; you don't need any pastry skills- nothing fancy here. It's just about getting rid of those overripe bananas instead of throwing them away. We always think, oh, banana bread, but here are even easier recipes to make.
Five simple dinners. One grocery list.
No recipe hunting, no messy shopping notes, no complicated chef projects. Just family dinners that fit real weeks.
Banana Dessert Quick-Glance Table
These recipes range from super quick (about 2 minutes) to an average of around 15 minutes. There are tons of different styles here, from baked desserts and cookies to no-bake treats, frozen desserts, warm desserts, and even quick mug cakes.
Some are perfect if you don't want to turn the oven on, especially in summer, and some even contain just three ingredients or involve literally just a banana and one other thing. This is a super handy, easy guide, and it literally just comes down to how much time you've got to throw things around the kitchen.
| Recipe Name | Dessert Type | Prep Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Classic One-Bowl Banana Bread | Baked Good | 10 mins |
| 2. Three-Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Cookies | Cookies | 5 mins |
| 3. No-Bake Banana Pudding Cups | No-Bake | 10 mins |
| 4. Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins | Baked Good | 10 mins |
| 5. Peanut Butter Banana Blender Ice Cream | Frozen | 5 mins |
| 6. Banana Caramel Poke Cake | Cake | 15 mins |
| 7. Cinnamon Baked Bananas | Warm Dessert | 5 mins |
| 8. Banana Split Dump Cake | Baked Dessert | 10 mins |
| 9. Cream Cheese Stuffed Banana Bread | Baked Good | 15 mins |
| 10. Banana Nut Brownies | Brownies | 10 mins |
| 11. Frozen Chocolate Dipped Banana Bites | Frozen | 15 mins |
| 12. Banana Foster Skillet Crumble | Warm Dessert | 10 mins |
| 13. Microwave Banana Mug Cake | Quick Treat | 2 mins |
| 14. Banana Coconut Macaroons | Cookies | 10 mins |
| 15. Upside-Down Banana Caramel Cake | Cake | 15 mins |
| 16. Banana Snickerdoodle Cookies | Cookies | 15 mins |
| 17. Easy Banana Cream Pie | No-Bake | 15 mins |
| 18. Banana Chocolate Chip Blondies | Bars | 10 mins |
| 19. Peanut Butter Banana Roll-Ups | Quick Treat | 5 mins |
| 20. Banana Bread French Toast Casserole | Breakfast/Dessert | 15 mins |
| 21. Strawberry Banana Yogurt Popsicles | Frozen | 10 mins |
| 22. Banana Magic Custard Cake | Cake | 20 mins |
1. Classic One-Bowl Banana Bread
This is your classic one-bowl banana bread recipe, a real go-to. I make this when I'm having friends or girlfriends over for tea, and I need to get rid of those bananas that are going black. The darker they get, the sweeter and more flavorful the loaf is going to be. Also, since it's a one-bowl bread, that's literally all you have to wash: one bowl.
A big tip I can give you on this one is don't overmix the batter, because the loaf becomes super dense, and that's not what you want out of a banana bread. I love throwing in some walnuts, pecans, and sometimes chocolate chips, or even frozen blueberries, since it adds a whole different dimension to the bread and flavor profile.
This one freezes really well too. I love serving this with some malted butter, or you can even toast it the next day. Prep is 10 minutes, cook is 55 minutes, yield is eight servings.
1. Classic One-Bowl Banana Bread
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan.
- In a large bowl, mix the mashed bananas and melted butter.
- Stir in the baking soda and salt.
- Mix in the sugar, beaten egg, and vanilla extract.
- Gently fold in the flour until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Pour the batter into your prepared pan and bake for 50 to 55 minutes.
2. Three-Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Cookies
You can't get easier than this one. It's just three ingredients, and because there's no flour, this is naturally gluten-free; just check your oats. The bananas act as both the sweetener and the binder, so it's pretty low sugar, which is also great for little kids. And then they have that soft, chewy texture rather than a crisp cookie texture.
I throw these into my kids' lunch boxes. Five-minute prep, twelve-minute cook, makes twelve cookies.
2. Three-Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix the mashed bananas and quick oats in a bowl until a thick dough forms.
- Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Scoop tablespoon-sized mounds onto the baking sheet and flatten them slightly.
- Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until the edges are golden.
3. No-Bake Banana Pudding Cups
I make these when it's way too hot outside, and no one wants to touch the oven. This is definitely a summer dessert, which needs some time to chill in the fridge. It just gets all those layers set, and I find that the flavors come together really well. You usually layer it with some vanilla pudding, bananas, whipped cream, and some wafers, or crushed biscuits if you don't have wafers, that work just as well.
These are great also because you can make them way ahead, so they're ideal for parties or picnics, easy to grab and go. And sometimes if you want to spice things up, you could add something like caramel sauce, crushed toffee, or chocolate shavings.
People think these are fancy because they're served in individual cups, which makes them feel a bit more special, whether it's for family or friends. Prep is 10 minutes, no cooking, and this makes four servings.
3. No-Bake Banana Pudding Cups
Ingredients
Method
- Whisk the pudding mix and cold milk in a bowl for two minutes. Let it sit for five minutes to thicken.
- Layer crushed vanilla wafers at the bottom of four small cups.
- Add a layer of sliced bananas, then a layer of pudding.
- Repeat the layers once more.
- Top each cup with a dollop of whipped topping and serve immediately or chill.
4. Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins
My son loves licking the bowl after making these delicious, moist banana muffins. They take a little bit longer to make, about 30 minutes, and you must use a ripe banana here because it makes the muffins so much moister and so flavorful. Just like the banana bread, don't overmix this because it makes the muffins super tough.
My son loves arranging the chocolate chips on top of the muffins in the last few minutes of baking. These make really, really good muffins for lunch boxes, and they freeze surprisingly well too. You can choose what type of chocolate you want to use here: milk, dark, or even white chocolate chips; it all depends on the flavor you're after.
These always disappear really quickly at my house. Prep takes 10 minutes, cooking takes 20 minutes, and this makes 12 muffins.
4. Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a muffin tin with paper liners.
- Mix the mashed bananas, sugar, oil, and egg in a large bowl.
- Stir in the flour and baking soda until just combined.
- Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups.
- Bake for 18 to 20 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
5. Peanut Butter Banana Blender Ice Cream
I always have about 10 frozen bananas in my freezer, because when I see them going really, really brown, that's where they go straight away, and plus my son begs for ice cream. Honestly, there's no sugar, no cream, nothing. You just throw them all into the blender with a little bit of peanut butter, and I like to add a little bit of almond milk or fresh milk just to get it going.
Then I promise you he sits there and eats it like he's eating store-bought vanilla ice cream, and I feel so great and not guilty that he's consuming too much sugar. I still have tons of bananas in the freezer that we need to get through. This takes 5 minutes, no cook time, and serves two.
5. Peanut Butter Banana Blender Ice Cream
Ingredients
Method
- Place the frozen banana chunks into a high-speed blender or food processor.
- Add the peanut butter and milk.
- Blend on high until the mixture becomes smooth and creamy like soft-serve ice cream.
- Serve immediately or freeze for 30 minutes for a firmer texture.
Ganiza 14Pcs Personal Smoothie Blender
Check Price6. Banana Caramel Poke Cake
This banana caramel poke cake is quite a funny name for a cake, but it's very literal. It's because it's full of holes, which allows the filling to soak in. Can you actually think of a more delicious combination than banana and caramel?
I don't know, there's something about that combination that just does it for me, that caramel falling into all those little holes. Then it's finished with some whipped cream and extra caramel for serving. This is quite an indulgent one, plus it's great because you can make it ahead, and it actually tastes better after a few hours in the fridge.
I like to add a pinch of sea salt and toasted pecans to cut the sweetness and add delicious texture. Prep is 15 minutes, cook is 30 minutes, and it serves 12.
6. Banana Caramel Poke Cake
Ingredients
Method
- Prepare the cake mix according to the package directions, but fold the mashed bananas into the batter before baking.
- Bake in a 9×13 inch pan as directed.
- While the cake is still warm, poke holes all over the top using the handle of a wooden spoon.
- Pour the caramel sauce over the cake, letting it seep into the holes.
- Let the cake cool completely, then spread the whipped topping over the top. Garnish with sliced bananas right before serving.
7. Cinnamon Baked Bananas
Cinnamon Baked Bananas is a classic, easy, throw-together dessert that I absolutely love. I think it brings me back to my childhood. It's a cinnamon-and-banana dish, and I like to add some brown sugar. One banana typically serves about four people.
A huge common mistake here, guys, is underbaking. That banana should be soft and the skin black if it's done right. A squeeze of lemon juice also helps keep the bananas from browning before they go into the oven. It's delicious served with some whipped cream and a drizzle of honey. Prep takes 5 minutes; cooking time is 15 minutes.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and lightly grease a baking dish.
- Place the banana halves flat side up in the dish.
- Brush the melted butter over the bananas.
- Sprinkle evenly with brown sugar and cinnamon.
- Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until the bananas are soft and the sugar is bubbly.
8. Banana Split Dump Cake
I love serving this banana split dump cake when I've got a huge crowd of people around, because it's just so easy to scoop and serve. It goes so well with some vanilla ice cream, which melts into the cake. It's kind of like a banana split sundae in some ways; it's got that flavor going.
I found this super easy to make because it's just layering. This is definitely the kind of dessert that's simple to make but always feels like a treat. 10 minutes prep, 45 minutes cook, serves 12.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Spread the undrained crushed pineapple evenly across the bottom of the dish.
- Spread the cherry pie filling over the pineapple.
- Layer the sliced bananas on top of the cherries.
- Sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly over the fruit layers.
- Place the butter squares evenly across the top of the dry cake mix.
- Bake for 45 minutes until the top is golden and bubbly.
9. Cream Cheese Stuffed Banana Bread
I make this banana bread when the bananas are very ripe. I just find it gives the loaf the best flavor, and it keeps it really moist. The cream cheese adds a really rich, tangy contrast to a sweet banana bread. Make sure you chill the cream cheese for a few minutes, because it makes it much easier to layer in.
It's really important with this one not to overbake, because you want the center of the bread to stay sticky and soft. It also freezes really well, although it does taste better fresh. Goes great with a cup of coffee or tea. Prep time: 15 minutes; cooking time: 60 minutes; this makes 10 servings.
9. Cream Cheese Stuffed Banana Bread
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan.
- In a small bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, sugar, and egg until smooth.
- Pour half of the banana bread batter into the prepared loaf pan.
- Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the batter.
- Pour the remaining banana bread batter on top, covering the cream cheese layer.
- Bake for 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
10. Banana Nut Brownies
If there's one note I can give you about these banana nut brownies, it's to pull them from the oven early. Don't let these go, because the banana adds tons of moisture, so you'd think to leave them in the oven, but overbaking is normally what happens here.
This is another one my son loves to help prepare because his whole hand goes in that bowl. Let these cool completely before you cut them, because they tend to go all over the show if you don't, and letting them cool makes it slightly easier.
Also, make sure you chop those nuts before you add them in; it just adds a huge booster of flavor. These are delicious on their own. Prep is 10 minutes, cooking time is 25 minutes, and the recipe makes 16 servings.
Don't lose this article. Enter your email below, and I'll send it to you right now. Plus a little encouragement and inspiration from me, straight to your inbox.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease an 8×8 inch baking pan.
- Whisk the melted butter and brown sugar together in a large bowl.
- Stir in the egg, mashed bananas, and vanilla extract.
- Fold in the flour until just combined.
- Stir in the chopped walnuts.
- Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 25 minutes until the edges pull away from the sides.
11. Frozen Chocolate Dipped Banana Bites
I make these for the kids on a hot summer day when we don't have ice cream available. It's also a really great way to use up bananas before they get too soft. The trick here is freezing the banana first, because it helps the chocolate set into a crisp shell super quick.
I steer toward dark chocolate when I make these, but you can use whatever you like; they all just set a bit differently. Two to three bananas give me about six servings depending on the size of the banana. Let them sit at room temperature for a minute or so before eating, so the banana softens up a bit and isn't so cold.
Sometimes I like to roll them in chopped nuts, coconut, or even colorful sprinkles, which goes down like a huge treat with the kids. 15 minutes prep, no cooking time, and these servings work great for a hot day.
11. Frozen Chocolate Dipped Banana Bites
Ingredients
Method
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place the chocolate chips and coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring in between, until smooth.
- Dip each banana slice into the melted chocolate using a fork. Let the excess drip off.
- Place the coated slices on the parchment paper.
- Freeze for at least 2 hours before serving.
12. Banana Foster Skillet Crumble
Banana Foster Skillet Crumble was actually named after a customer, and it originated at Brennan's restaurant in New Orleans around 1951. Fun fact of the day. This takes about 25 minutes to cook.
12. Banana Foster Skillet Crumble
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- In a 9-inch cast iron skillet, toss the sliced bananas with the melted butter, half of the brown sugar, and the cinnamon.
- In a separate bowl, mix the oats, flour, and remaining brown sugar. Cut in the cold butter until the mixture is crumbly.
- Sprinkle the oat crumble evenly over the bananas in the skillet.
- Bake for 25 minutes until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
13. Microwave Banana Mug Cake
When my darling son has finished his dinner, he always asks, "Can I have something sweet now?" and I normally make him this one, because it literally takes less than five minutes.
It's one of the quickest banana desserts out there, and because we always have bananas at home, there's always one or two that are going a bit dark and need to be used right away.
Make sure you use a large microwave-safe mug, because this batter rises quite a bit when it cooks. And then, have it with some peanut butter and a drizzle of caramel. This one feels like a proper dessert with hardly any effort.
Prep: two minutes. Cooking time: two minutes. This makes one serving.
13. Microwave Banana Mug Cake
Ingredients
Method
- In a large microwave-safe mug, mash the banana until smooth.
- Add the flour, sugar, and baking powder. Stir well.
- Mix in the milk and vegetable oil until a smooth batter forms.
- Microwave on high for 90 seconds to 2 minutes, depending on your microwave.
- Let it cool for a minute before eating.
14. Banana Coconut Macaroons
This coconut banana macaroon recipe is such a fun twist on the classic recipe. They have a lovely chewy center and get all crisp and golden on the outside. These macaroons are super delicious just as they are, but if you're feeling a bit indulgent every now and again, you can drizzle some dark chocolate over them, and it just takes them to the next level.
A mistake I have made in the past is using sweetened coconut, which tends to make them a bit too sweet for my liking. I love to make these, put them away in an airtight container in the cupboard, and bring them out when I have my girlfriends over for coffee.
Prep time is 10 minutes, cooking time is 15 minutes, and it serves 15 people.
14. Banana Coconut Macaroons
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, mix the mashed bananas, shredded coconut, vanilla, and salt until well combined.
- Use a cookie scoop to drop mounds of the mixture onto the baking sheet.
- Bake for 15 minutes until the edges of the coconut are toasted and golden.
- Let them cool completely on the pan before moving them.
15. Upside-Down Banana Caramel Cake
You either turn that cake upside down, lift the tin, and get pleasantly surprised by the outcome, or you shudder a bit at the look of it, but overall it's still absolutely delicious. One little tip: let the cake cool for a few minutes before turning it out, because it gives that caramel time to settle without sticking to the pan.
This is a pretty straightforward recipe, and most of the time everyone's super impressed when I've made it. Serve with a delicious scoop of vanilla ice cream. Prep time is 15 minutes, cooking time 40 minutes, and it serves eight.
15. Upside-Down Banana Caramel Cake
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Pour the melted butter into the bottom of a 9-inch round cake pan.
- Sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over the butter.
- Arrange the banana slices flat side down over the sugar mixture.
- Prepare the yellow cake mix according to the package directions.
- Pour the cake batter gently over the bananas.
- Bake for 40 minutes. Let it cool for 10 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate.
16. Banana Snickerdoodle Cookies
My son and I made these banana snickerdoodle cookies recently for his bake sale at school, and apparently they went down really fast. A tip I can give you here is that they might look slightly underdone when they come out of the oven, but they actually continue to cook as they cool, so they stay wonderfully soft and gooey in the middle.
Try not to overbake them. I just find that warm cinnamon brings out such a delicious natural sweetness in the banana without either one being too overpowering. These are really delicious. Prep time is 15 minutes, cooking is 12 minutes, and this recipe makes 24 servings.
16. Banana Snickerdoodle Cookies
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and mashed banana.
- Stir in the flour and baking powder until a soft dough forms.
- Roll the dough into one-inch balls, then roll each ball in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
- Place on the baking sheet and bake for 10 to 12 minutes.
17. Easy Banana Cream Pie
This is a great, easy banana cream pie recipe that I like to serve on a hot day because it requires absolutely no cooking. You've just got to set it in the fridge for about two to four hours. I also like to save time here and use store-bought pastry instead of making it myself. One thing to watch for when making this pie is cutting it too soon.
You've got to let it fully set, because the bananas go brown and the filling can weep. It really is a timeless dessert that never goes out of style, and if you want to dress it up, a sprinkle of chocolate shavings or toasted coconut on top looks lovely and adds lots of extra flavor.
Just 15 minutes of prep time, no cooking, and it serves eight.
Ingredients
Method
- Line the bottom of the graham cracker crust with the sliced bananas.
- Whisk the pudding mix and cold milk together until it starts to thicken.
- Fold half of the whipped topping into the pudding mixture.
- Pour the pudding mixture over the bananas in the crust.
- Spread the remaining whipped topping over the pie. Chill for at least 2 hours before slicing.
18. Banana Chocolate Chip Blondies
These banana chocolate chip blondies are like the cousins of a chocolate brownie, and they're made even better with sweet, ripe bananas and tons of chocolate chips. I think the banana keeps everything really moist, and then that chocolate melts into little pockets throughout each batch. My husband begged me to make these, and he particularly likes the banana version.
The cool thing about this recipe is no mixer is needed; it's just a one-bowl mixing method. It takes about 35 minutes total, which is quite quick. Store them in an airtight container in the pantry, and these are gone within two days. Prep time is 10 minutes, cook time is 25 minutes, and it serves 16.
18. Banana Chocolate Chip Blondies
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13 inch baking pan.
- In a large bowl, whisk the melted butter and brown sugar. Add the egg and mashed bananas.
- Stir in the flour until just combined.
- Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Spread the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25 minutes until golden brown.
19. Peanut Butter Banana Roll-Ups
My son begs for these peanut butter roll-ups, and he gets them on Fridays in his lunch box as his treat of the day. They're really easy to make because it's a no-cook recipe, so I whip these up early in the morning.
I definitely think you need to make these with a soft tortilla or wrap. It's such a simple filling, and you don't need a long list of ingredients to make a really delicious roll-up.
19. Peanut Butter Banana Roll-Ups
Ingredients
Method
- Lay the tortillas flat on a cutting board.
- Spread two tablespoons of peanut butter evenly over each tortilla.
- Sprinkle a little cinnamon over the peanut butter.
- Place a whole peeled banana near the edge of each tortilla and roll it up tightly.
- Slice into one-inch pinwheels and serve.
20. Banana Bread French Toast Casserole
This recipe takes me back to the farm, when my grandma would make it for us on a Saturday morning while my mom and dad were out on a hike. She'd use up the leftover banana bread, and I promise you, the whole casserole was something else. The top would go golden and slightly crisp, and she managed to always keep the middle soft and custardy.
Then we'd go pick fresh berries and strawberries from outside and serve it with some sliced banana and a large amount of maple syrup. This recipe still makes me feel really nostalgic. Prep is 15 minutes, cooking time is 45 minutes, and it serves eight.
20. Banana Bread French Toast Casserole
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9×9 inch baking dish.
- Place the cubed banana bread into the baking dish.
- In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, maple syrup, and vanilla extract.
- Pour the egg mixture evenly over the bread cubes. Let it sit for 10 minutes to soak.
- Bake for 40 to 45 minutes until the center is set and the top is golden.
21. Strawberry Banana Yogurt Popsicles
These popsicles are really refreshing, and they're super easy to make. I like using Greek yogurt because it gives the popsicles a smooth texture and makes them a little more filling, too. These are a huge hit with the kids, but honestly I think adults enjoy them just as much. The strawberries add a lovely fresh flavor, and the banana makes everything naturally creamy.
They usually need about 4 to 6 hours in the freezer, or overnight, to set properly, so you can't rush this one, guys. And you don't have to use strawberries; you can use whatever berries you've got. It takes 10 minutes to prep, no cooking, and makes six servings.
21. Strawberry Banana Yogurt Popsicles
Ingredients
Method
- Place the bananas, strawberries, yogurt, and honey into a blender.
- Blend until completely smooth.
- Pour the mixture into popsicle molds.
- Insert the popsicle sticks and freeze for at least 4 hours, or until completely solid.
BAUSAR Silicone Popsicle Molds with Colorful Sticks
Check Price22. Banana Magic Custard Cake
This is really a magic custard cake because you start with just one layer of batter, but as it bakes, it separates into three different layers: a spongy top, a custard in the middle, and then a slightly denser base. Adding banana gives it a lovely natural sweetness and makes the whole dessert even more comforting.
Make sure your custard layer is fully set before cutting; cooling time is often about two to three hours, so you can't rush this one, guys. It takes about 15 minutes to bake; try not to overbake it because the custard does collapse, and if you overbake it, it becomes really rubbery on top. This dessert looks a lot more complicated than it really is.
22. Banana Magic Custard Cake
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 325°F and grease an 8×8 inch baking pan.
- Beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, beat the egg yolks and sugar until pale. Beat in the melted butter and mashed bananas.
- Mix in the flour, then slowly pour in the lukewarm milk while mixing on low speed.
- Gently fold the stiff egg whites into the batter. The batter will be very thin and lumpy.
- Pour into the pan and bake for 50 to 60 minutes until the top is golden and the center only slightly jiggles. Cool completely before slicing.
Time to Rescue Those Bananas
Don't throw away your overripe bananas. I know my son won't touch a banana if it's got a brown spot on it, but what he doesn't know is that all of those brown bananas go into the freezer and get turned into deliciousness, or they get whipped up into a dessert that he begs for.
Also, a cool tip is to keep those banana peels and use them for composting, or add them into a jar with some water and let it sit for about a week and a half to make this amazing orchid fertilizer. It really smells, but it really makes your orchids bloom amazingly. Put it into a spray bottle and spray it onto your orchids.