From banana bread and muffins to my fabulous banana layer cake and moist banana blondies ~ these are the cozy banana recipes we’re craving right now.

Bananas have a knack for making any baking project a little more comforting, and that’s what we’re looking for right now. Here are some of my favorite banana recipes, perfected over the years in the Great Island kitchen.
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.
- Quick ripen bananas in the oven! Roast atย 350ยฐF (165ยฐC) for 20โ25 minutes.
- 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.
- 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! Just make sure the consistency is similar to mashed banana.
- Flavors that pair well with banana: cinnamon, nutmeg, bourbon, vanilla, caramel, maple, molasses, toffee, walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, and last but not least, chocolate!
Banana Bread Recipes
There’s nothing quite like a warm, freshly baked banana bread and there are lots to choose from in my recipe archives ~ make one of these favorites today!
Banana bread recipes clockwise from top left
Banana Cake Recipes
You don’t see banana cakes quite as much as classic banana breads, but I’ve made lots over the years in the Great Island kitchen, 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! My Banana Cake with Nutella Frosting makes a great birthday cake for banana lovers, and my latest banana dessert, Warm Banana Pudding Cake is a house favorite!
Banana cake recipes clockwise from top left
Banana Bars & Blondies
If I had to choose (do I have to choose??) I think banana bars and blondies are my first pick. So rich and moist, they really showcase the unique qualities of banana. My frosted banana blondies are to die for.
Banana bars and blondies recipes clockwise from top left
- My Favorite Banana Blondies
- Banana Poppy Seed Cake with Lemon Buttercream
- Banana Walnut Bars with Caramel Frosting
- Hummingbird Cake Bars
More Banana Treat Recipes
Beyond breads and cakes, there’s a whole delicious world of banana goodies out there…my copycat Crumbl banana bread cookies are a must try!
I just baked the banana bread, and WOW! I have baked many banana breads, and this one is the absolute best! I had three bananas, which was slightly more than a cup, so I used sour cream to make two cups. It baked in exactly 60 minutes without covering the top with foil. Itโs beautiful and so extraordinarily delicious! Great recipeโthanks!!
Yay! Which banana bread did you make?
I want to make every single one of these recipes! So glad I found your site! Can’t wait to try everything!!
Lol, happy baking Marie ๐
What a coincidence to see your post today, Sue! Over the last few days I’ve made two banana recipes – a banana bread I made with those “baby bananas” you see once in a while as there were no other bananas to be had in our grocery, and your banana cake with Nutella buttercream! I encourage folks to try the baby bananas! They’re much sweeter than a full sized banana! You buy them when they’re very dark green, but in no time they ripen fully! Oh – and the banana cake just transports you to another world, which we all need right now!
Cheers!
I’m so happy to hear you love that cake, it’s one of my personal favorites!
hi Sue!
ROASTING bananas? wow! Now my stupid question… in the skin or out?
Thanks
The skin on ~ they’ll become super black. Let them cool so you can handle them, and then peel.