Baking with Bananas ~ The Recipes We’re Craving Right Now

Bananas have a knack for making anything a little more comforting, and that’s what we’re craving right now. I’m sharing some of my favorite banana recipes, from breads and cakes to scones, blondies, and more!

Tips for baking with bananas ~

• A lot of recipes call for browned or overripe bananas, but in my experience, there’s no reason why you can’t use bananas fresh from the supermarket, so don’t stress about it too much.
• If you’re lucky enough to have more ripe bananas than you can use, freeze them! Peel them and freeze separately on a lined baking sheet until stiff. Then pop them into a zip lock freezer bag and squeeze out the excess air before zipping up. You can freeze mashed banana, as well.
• To get extra flavor out of any banana, roast it! Put it on a baking sheet and roast at 350F for 30 minutes. You’ll be amazed.
• You can control the texture of the banana in your recipe by the way you mash it. Mash it with a fork for a chunkier texture and small bits of banana throughout your recipe, or beat it in a stand mixer or puree it for a smoother texture.
• Add an extra layer of flavor and texture to your recipe by dicing up an extra banana and folding it into the batter.
• If you’re mashing bananas ahead of time, prevent it from browning by adding a tiny bit of lemon juice.
• Fresh out of bananas? Try substituting drained applesauce, apple butter, or pumpkin puree in your recipe. You can also use banana baby food in a pinch!
• Flavors that pair well with banana: cinnamon, nutmeg, bourbon, vanilla, caramel, maple, molasses, toffee, walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, chocolate.

Banana Breads ~

There’s nothing quite like a warm, freshly baked banana bread ~ make one of these today!

Recipes clockwise from top left ~

• Double Chocolate Banana Bread
• Better Than Starbucks Banana Walnut Bread
• One Banana Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips and Walnuts
• Roasted Banana Bread with Walnuts

Banana Cakes ~

You don’t see banana cakes quite as much as classic banana breads, but I’ve made several over the years on the blog, and I’ve loved each and every one of them. There are so many flavors that pair well with banana, from spices to chocolate, rum and nuts, and a cake is a wonderful canvas to explore all the delicious options!

Recipes clockwise from top left ~

• Banana Cake with Nutella Buttercream
• Banana Poppy Seed Cake with Lemon Buttercream
• Banana Walnut Bread with Nutmeg Glaze
• Banana Cake with Spiced Vanilla Buttercream

More Banana Treats ~

Beyond breads and cakes, there’s a whole delicious world of banana goodies out there…

Recipes clockwise from top left ~

• Banana Chocolate Chip Blondies
• Bourbon Banana Butter
• My Favorite Banana Blondies
• Banana Walnut Scones with Browned Butter Icing