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
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 🙂
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.