25 Delicious Recipes for Brown Bananas (2024)

ByStacie VaughanOn Updated

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I buy bananas with good intentions. They sit on the counter waiting to be grabbed for a quick snack. Sometimes they are eaten up quickly. Most often, however, they sit there till they start to turn brown and gross.

I hate to waste food so I’ll throw them in the freezer to use in recipes. When they turn brown like this, I can’t bring myself to eat one as is, but I don’t mind using them up in a recipe. In fact, some recipes require the bananas to be overripe! They have many, many uses.
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My mom always made banana bread with them. I remember having an after school snack of banana bread warm out of the oven and topping it with butter. The butter would melt and flavour the bread even more. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

Classic banana bread is one use for your brown bananas, but I’ve discovered a bunch of other yummy ways you can use them. Don’t let those bananas go to waste!

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to use brown bananas in addition to banana bread! This is a great list to inspire you to enjoy those bananas at the bottom of your freezer.

Whatever you do, DO NOT throw them away. Put them in the freezer until you are ready to use them.

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Looking for more banana recipes, but in a cookbook? Check out The Banana Cookbook.

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What is your favourite way to use brown bananas?

Don't throw them away! Brown bananas are sweet and delicious. Try one of these easy recipes with your overripe bananas.

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Banana Bread Breakfast Casserole

Use up your brown bananas and leftover bread in this crowd-pleasing breakfast recipe! It comes together in 10 minutes, bakes for 1 hour and is a recipe you’ll find yourself making again and again.

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Banana Chocolate Cake

Packed full of sweet flavor! Banana and chocolate are perfect together in this easy cake recipe.

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Banana Cake

An amazingly moist cake covered in cream cheese frosting. A perfect use for brown bananas!

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Banana Nut Muffins Recipe

A classic banana muffin that you can make with or without nuts. These muffins are moist and full of banana flavour, making them a go-to snack and lunch box favourite.

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Banana Cupcakes

These cupcakes will drive you bananas! They are super versatile, and can be made extra special with cream cheese icing, and the addition of peanut butter chips.

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Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

The perfect way to use up your brown bananas! This easy muffin recipe is incredibly moist and perfectly sweet.

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Super Easy Bread Machine Banana Bread

Photo Credit:noshingwiththenolands.com

I love an easy dump and go recipe and this Super Easy Bread Machine Banana Bread is just that. Just toss your ingredients in, press the button, and walk away.

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Pumpkin Banana Bread

Photo Credit:spaceshipsandlaserbeams.com

This easy Pumpkin Banana Bread is a simple recipe that produces a delicious homemade result. How about combining two fall favorite flavors into one sweet bread? I love a good quick bread and dreams come true with this amazing, moist banana pumpkin bread.

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Best Frosted Banana Walnut Cake

Photo Credit:mooreorlesscooking.com

The Best Banana Walnut Cake is topped with a thick and creamy cream cheese frosting. It’s baked up perfectly in a 13 x 9 baking dish with the best banana flavor, that is so soft & moist, and just crazy delicious. Optional garnish with sliced fresh bananas or banana chips and chopped walnuts for an amazing dessert!

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Easy Blender Banana Oatmeal Pancakes

Photo Credit:www.currytrail.in

Contemplating on what to do which the ripe banana?! Let’s turn it into an easiest breakfast that’s not just delicious but super healthy too. It’s gluten-free banana oatmeal pancakes.

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Bananas Foster Upside Down Cupcakes

Photo Credit:flavormosaic.com

Bananas Foster Upside Down Cupcakes are easy to make upside down cupcakes made with bananas instead of pineapple, and are a perfect mini dessert for a party.

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Best Chocolate Banana Muffins

Photo Credit:sweetandsavorymeals.com

Chocolate Banana Muffins are the best way to use overripe bananas. The muffins are very easy to make, soft, chocolaty and full of flavor.

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Healthy Donuts with Banana and Chocolate Chips

Photo Credit:deliciousonadime.com

These Healthy Donuts with Banana and Chocolate Chips are an easy, homemade snack for kids or treat for brunch. Whether you’re clean eating or just looking for a treat that’s baked instead of fried, these healthy donuts are the perfect DIY. Packed with honey, plain yogurt and oats, you can ditch all those muffin recipes for something more fun. Only have a muffin tin? This recipe will work for you too!

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Freezer-Friendly Blueberry Banana Oatmeal

Photo Credit:www.saltycanary.com

This Blueberry Banana Oatmeal has only three simple ingredients, but you can add additional optional toppings such as nut butters, sliced fruit, nuts, seeds, or even chocolate chips! And, it’s great for large batch meal prepping because it’s freezer-friendly!

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Chocolate Banana Sourdough Bread Pudding

Photo Credit:ofbatteranddough.com

Chunks of thick sourdough bread soaked in a sauce of cream, Nutella, and mashed banana, dotted with chocolate chips and then baked until it turns into a rich and creamy chocolatey scoop of heaven with a consistency that’s a cross between chocolate cake and chocolate pudding.

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Banana Crumb Coffee Cake Recipe

Photo Credit:www.urbanblisslife.com

This Banana Crumb Coffee Cake is a popular, tried & true, 5-star recipe for a reason! It's moist and fluffy, with a delicious cinnamon sugar filling and topping - perfect to enjoy with a cup of coffee.

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Banana Coconut Bundt Cake with Coconut Icing

Photo Credit:www.christinascucina.com

Why make banana bread when you can make this unique banana coconut bundt cake? It's simple, yet delicious and will earn rave reviews!

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Banana Strawberry Smoothie

Photo Credit:nourishplate.com

A great healthy and delicious banana strawberry smoothie to start your day. You can also enjoy it as a snack, or have it as a post-workout quick smoothie. It’s nutritious and packed with plant-based protein.

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Chocolate Chip Banana Nut Bread Bread Pudding

Photo Credit:bakeitwithlove.com

If you thought your banana bread couldn’t get any better, try your hand at my Chocolate Chip Banana Nut Bread Bread Pudding for a sensational dessert! Made from our tasty chocolate chip banana nut bread loaf, the already flavorful banana bread is baked in a creamy custard!

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Three Ingredient Slow Cooker Banana Bread

Photo Credit:www.supergoldenbakes.com

Three ingredient banana bread – just bananas, condensed milk and self raising flour! Best baked in a slow cooker, it is easy to make and delicious.

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Banana chocolate chip pancakes

Photo Credit:www.everyday-delicious.com

Amazing banana chocolate chip pancakes! It’s a great idea to use up ripe bananas. These pancakes come out thick, fluffy, they have an almost plush texture.

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Brown Sugar Banana Bread Recipe

Photo Credit:www.wenthere8this.com

This Brown Sugar Banana Bread takes 5 minutes to mix up and a little less than an hour of hands-off baking time, resulting in the most perfectly moist banana bread you have ever eaten!

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No bake peanut butter banana energy bites

Photo Credit:www.salads4lunch.com

No bake peanut butter banana energy bites are soft, sweet, and the perfect little healthy snack to tide you over until your next meal! No baking required and made with just 6 healthy ingredients.

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Best Chunky Monkey Bars

Photo Credit:mooreorlesscooking.com

These bars are a full-flavored chewy dense bar. They have a brownie texture but are just as delicious as my homemade banana bread.

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Easy Banana Doughnuts

Photo Credit:www.thebossykitchen.com

This recipe of easy banana doughnuts is an awesome way to use ripe bananas that are sitting around. It is also a great recipe to put together for a brunch. Are you a grandma and kids are coming over for a visit? Make these!

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25 Delicious Recipes for Brown Bananas (2024)

FAQs

Why are brown bananas better for baking? ›

Bananas can go from yellow with brown spots to totally black and still be okay to eat and use for baking. In fact, black bananas are some of the best for making banana bread because they have developed more sugar as they sit around and therefore taste sweeter. They may also be moister, which is perfect for baked goods.

What makes banana taste better? ›

Furthermore, less ripe bananas contain higher levels of starch and therefore have a “starchier” taste. As they ripen a more distinctive fruity flavour develops accompanied melon, pineapple, candy and clove flavour notes. Yellow bananas have higher sugar concentrations and therefore taste sweeter.

What foods taste good with bananas? ›

Chocolate, rum, coconut and cream are noted as classic combinations. And bananas with tropical fruits, brown sugar, nuts, caramel and yogurt come as no suprise. But chicken, coriander, cinnamon and cardamom are also on the list. Bacon and maple syrup, too.

Do brown bananas have more flavor? ›

For baking, you always want to use brown bananas. Brown bananas have a more intense flavor, which will come through even after cooking.

What can you use overripe bananas for? ›

  • 01 of 17. Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins. ...
  • 02 of 17. Bananas-Foster Milkshake. ...
  • 03 of 17. Banana Whoopie Pies. ...
  • 04 of 17. Gluten-Free Peanut Butter-Banana Waffles. ...
  • 05 of 17. Test Kitchen's Favorite Banana Chocolate-Chip Bread. ...
  • 06 of 17. Banana Blueberry Smoothie. ...
  • 07 of 17. Banana Walnut Chocolate-Chunk Cookies. ...
  • 08 of 17.

Can dogs eat bananas? ›

Bananas are safe for dogs, but moderation is key. Bananas are high in sugar, so too much of it can put your dog at risk of developing medical conditions. You should give your dog only a few thin slices of banana once in a while. At least 90% of your dog's food should be regular dog food.

Why do I feel good after eating a banana? ›

Plus bananas also make you happy, literally! Bananas contain high levels of tryptophan, an amino acid, which is converted into serotonin in your body. Serotonin is the feel-good, brain neurotransmitter, which makes you feel happy!

Why do chiquita bananas taste better? ›

One of the reasons why Chiquita is known as the world's best banana brand is because of our laser-like focus on providing the highest quality products for our consumers. Our team – the employees behind our sticker – is truly what makes our products so special.

What did a banana look like 100 years ago? ›

Cavendish bananas are the crop we see in our mind's eye when we imagine a banana today, but that was hardly the case 100 years ago. Gros Michel bananas were yellow as well, but the peels were heartier and more resistant to bruising.

How many bananas should a person eat in a day? ›

While there's no blanket rule, sticking to one to two bananas per day shouldn't cause issues for most people. With that said, remember that they are relatively high in carbohydrates, so eating them along with protein or fat is also advisable to support stable energy levels.

What is the best time to eat a banana? ›

On top of that, our body's metabolism is at its lowest in the night. Therefore, one should ideally consume bananas in the morning or the evening and must avoid eating them at night.

Can you eat bananas before bedtime? ›

Bananas are a Sleep-Friendly Snack: Bananas contain essential nutrients like magnesium, potassium, and vitamin B6, which can promote better sleep quality. These nutrients help reduce muscle cramps, lower stress and anxiety, and support the production of sleep-regulating hormones like serotonin and melatonin.

What is the rarest color of banana? ›

The rarest banana is said to be the “Blue Java” banana, also known as the “Ice Cream” banana. This unique banana variety is notable for its blue-green color when unripe and its sweet, creamy texture and flavor when ripe, reminiscent of vanilla ice cream.

Can diabetics eat bananas? ›

A person with diabetes should include a variety of fresh, whole foods in their diet, such as nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables. Bananas are a safe and nutritious fruit for people with diabetes to eat in moderation as part of a balanced, individualized eating plan.

What are brown bananas called? ›

Cavendish Bananas

Super ripe and browning bananas can be thrown in the fridge -- peel and all -- and peeled and used to make ​smoothies or banana bread. Williams bananas are the same as Giant Cavendish. They are large, mild, and sweet.

What color bananas are best for baking? ›

Bananas with Mostly Yellow Peels and Brown Spots are my sweet spot. The bananas are ripe enough to offer good sweetness and moisture without being overwhelming. Bananas with A Mostly Brown or Black Peel: This is where the magic happens!

Why overripe bananas for baking? ›

A banana that is perfectly ripe for eating is not at the same stage in its ripening process as one that is perfect for making into a banana cake. For baking, you need the sweetness that comes from an overripe banana – this means it will be very yellow with a few brown spots and feel soft.

Can bananas be too overripe for banana bread? ›

As long as your bananas are not rotten or infested with fruit flies, they should be perfect for a delicious loaf of banana bread. So, don't hesitate to use those ripe or overripe bananas sitting on your counter – they could be the key ingredient for a tasty treat everyone will enjoy!

Are brown bananas healthier than green? ›

The nutritional content doesn't change depending on how ripe the banana is. The only thing that really changes is the taste and how your body processes the sugar. So the kind of banana you should eat is pretty much just based on preference.

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