But I’m here to tell you that bananas will never go out of style! Good for your hair, skin, digestive health, and even your vision, they can be baked, fried, frozen, mashed, and used in place of oil in baking. Bananas are sweet, delicious, and crazy versatile. Don’t believe me? Check out this list of 24 banana desserts that go way beyond your average lock-down banana bread.
1. Elvis’ Pudding Cake
The King of Rock-and-Roll certainly knew how to make a sandwich. Fried peanut butter, bananas, and bacon! If you’ve never tried Elvis Presley’s Favorite Sandwich, I suggest you drop everything and give it a go. Back to the cake! Between the banana pudding, banana cake mix, and dried banana chips, there’s no mistaking what this dish is about. The best part is it comes together in 10 minutes, and after a few hours in the slow cooker, you’ll have a delicious warm dessert. Looking for an extra nod to the King? Serve with a sprinkle with bacon bits.
2. Banana Cream Pie Muddy Buddies
Also known as puppy chow or monkey munch, muddy buddies are a super-easy sweet snack. This variation combines Chex-Mix, white chocolate, condensed milk, and banana pudding mix. It’s ready in just 10 minutes and will probably be gone in less than 5! If you want something different, try drizzling a little dark chocolate on top.
3. Double Chocolate Banana Bars
I like to pretend that using whole wheat flour in recipes makes them acceptable for breakfast. And with the number of bananas in this recipe, it’s almost healthy… This recipe is best made with a spatula to avoid over-mixing, so no need for a mixer. It’s not too sweet and freezes well. You can use any chocolate chips you like, or even try peanut butter chips for a pleasant change.
4. Easy Banana Magic Cake
Magic cakes are pretty impressive. They separate into three distinct and delicious layers when baked. Just make sure you whip your egg whites to stiff peaks and don’t panic when your batter looks thin. It’s supposed to be. Having just a little flour is how the middle creates that custard-like texture. Somehow in the baking, the egg whites and flour find their way to the top to form the crust. With its three different layers, this banana dessert is perfect served alone.
5. Pan-Fried Honey Bananas
These sweet bites are a fun little treat and take less than 5 minutes to whip up. Combine the honey with a little butter or oil and a pinch of cinnamon before adding in your sliced bananas. After just a couple of minutes on either side, you’ll have a warm, sticky-sweet topping for pancakes, French toast, or ice cream.
6. Banana Cream Pavlova Tower
This Aussie classic has a crispy meringue crust with a chewy marshmallow center. Topped with whipped cream and fruits, it is a go-to BBQ dessert Down Under. For the meringue, don’t be tempted to open the oven door. Trust the process! But be aware that humidity can cause your meringue to weep, so save this one for cooler days. You can add whatever fruits you like, but the combination of bananas, pistachios, and honey makes this twist on a classic absolutely worth your time.
7. Dark Chocolate Banana Nut Pops
Frozen banana pops are easy to make and are a healthier alternative to other frozen desserts. This recipe involves spooning nut butter over the banana slices and then making stacks. However, an easier method would be to cut the banana into chunks and insert the sticks, keeping the bananas as solid pieces. Once frozen, you can dip into melted nut butter, refreeze, and dip into melted chocolate. Sprinkle with chopped nuts or sprinkles for a funky frozen treat.
8. Banana Mousse
With just four ingredients, this banana dessert is simple but delicious. Everything here gets blitzed together before being portioned out and chilled. The lime juice will prevent the bananas from going brown, and the honey brings out the naturally sweet flavor in the fruit. Try topping with some chocolate shavings or a few strawberry slices.
9. Vegan Banana Blender Pancakes
Banana pancakes are such a comfort food. You can add chocolate chips, blueberries, or drizzle with caramel for a little extra indulgence. These pancakes have the same delicious banana flavor, with no need for milk or eggs. The best part? All it takes is a few minutes in the blender for everything to combine, followed by some time in a hot pan. This recipe is healthy, sweet, and will give you fluffy pancakes that nobody will know are vegan.
10. Monkey Squares
Brown butter is made by slowly cooking your butter until it turns golden brown. The flavor is rich, nutty, and the perfect partner for these banana squares. Similar to banana bread, you’ll want to add sour cream to your mix for the moistest crumb possible. Alone, these squares are pretty darn delicious. But with the added brown butter frosting, they become irresistible.
11. Quick and Easy Banana Pudding Recipe
There’s something about banana pudding that just keeps me coming back for more. Not only is it crazy easy to make, but the combination of smooth pudding and vanilla wafers just can’t be beat. All you need is instant pudding mix, condensed milk, and Cool Whip, layered with vanilla cookies and sliced bananas. I love mine with some chocolate and caramel drizzled all over.
12. Banana Bread Cake Pops
I’m pretty sure cake pops were invented because someone accidentally overcooked their sponge cake or had leftovers. But who has leftover banana bread? It might seem like a lot of work to make banana bread just to crumble it up, but it’s worth it. This recipe is actually for vegan cake pops, but you can use your own recipe if you prefer. If you want a bite-sized banana treat, these should be your go-to.
13. Baked Banana Donuts
Baked donuts are a wonderful alternative for when you can’t get the real thing. If you serve them warm and coated with spiced sugar, it’s like a fall night at the fair. The batter is as easy as mixing the dry into the wet and baking in a donut pan. Just be sure to coat with the sugar mixture while they’re still warm so it sticks all over. Looking for something sweeter? This recipe has a Salted Caramel Glaze that you’ll find hard to save for the donuts.
14. Banana Cookies
I like to think of whoopie pies as American macarons. Hear me out! They’re sandwich cookies that come in all colors and flavors, with some kind of delicious filling. These banana cookies are soft and full of flavor. You can make these and eat them happily without adding the filling. But doesn’t frosting just make everything better? If you really want to class them up, try adding some caramel or chocolate ganache inside.
15. Sticky Toffee Banana Cake
This banana dessert is perfect for a chilly night when you want something warm and comforting. Just like with monkey squares, there’s a banana bread base. It’s a favorite for a reason. I would suggest poking a few holes in the cake before pouring over the toffee sauce, to encourage full saturation!
16. Banana Samosa
You’ve probably had samosas with your Indian dinner. These savory fried pastries are a great little snack. Using store-bought spring roll wrappers, they can be fried or baked. Mashed bananas and chocolate are a winner every time. But you can just as easily substitute for peanut butter, blueberries, or chopped nuts.
17. Hummingbird Cake
I’ve always loved carrot cake. It’s sweet and full of texture, and the cream cheese frosting is tangy and a little less sweet than usual. I could eat it all day. And then I found out about hummingbird cake! Choose the ripest bananas you have and pair them with crushed pineapple and a collection of spices to create a cake that will have you at a loss for words. Don’t skip the toasting of the pecans, because it really enhances their flavor, which is what this cake is all about!
18. Banoffee Pie
I will fight over the last slice of banoffee pie. No question. In the UK, they use digestive biscuits, but graham crackers will work just as well. They’re a little sweeter, but you won’t be able to tell with everything else that’s going on. It’s important to use condensed milk for this recipe, to give it a little more stability. If you can find dulce de leche in the store, that will be perfect. You want it soft but strong enough to hold up in a slice. When it’s time to add the banana, don’t be shy. I like to add roughly double what the recipe calls for, and then more on top.
19. Banana Ice Cream
Sometimes it’s the simplest things that work the best, and it doesn’t get any simpler than frozen bananas. You won’t believe it until you try it, but blended frozen bananas are all you need to make the creamiest banana ice cream you’ve ever tasted. That being said, I like to add a few things. Try swirling in some chocolate, raspberry sauce, or chopped nuts for something truly drool-worthy. If you’re not a fan of creamy desserts, this Coconut Banana Sorbet is just as easy to make but has a slightly different texture.
20. Banana and Chocolate Tarte Tatin
Only 5 ingredients and 35 minutes are standing between you and this sticky, decadent banana dessert. A cast-iron skillet or oven-proof pan is essential for this recipe. Gently cook the caramel, swirling the pan occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved and the color is a rich golden brown. Top with sliced bananas, and then tuck it all in with the thawed out pastry. Once baked, allow to cool slightly before turning out and drizzling with dark chocolate.
21. Banana Coffee Cake
There’s a lot going on with this recipe. The banana cake batter is loaded with chocolate chips and walnuts, before being swirled with a sweet cream cheese filling. That gets topped with cinnamon and walnut streusel. But we’re still not done! Once baked and cooled, the whole thing gets drizzled with a sweet vanilla glaze. It may take a little longer to make, but it’s worth every extra step.
22. Banana Pudding Cheesecake Bars
What’s better than a cheesecake bar? How about a banana blondie topped banana pudding cheesecake bar? The base is chewy and full of banana flavor that is kicked up a notch with the no-bake cheesecake filling. Using whipped cream, cream cheese, and instant banana pudding, the cheesecake layer sets beautifully. You already know I’m going to suggest pouring some caramel over the top. But if you’re looking for a little crunch with your creamy cheesecake bar, how about topping with some candied pecans?
23. Fudgy Banana Brownies
I’m one of those people who doesn’t love overly chocolatey desserts. That doesn’t include brownies. This recipe will give you thick and fudgy brownies that are moist and perfect. Adding the bananas into the batter will really help to lock in that moisture. But I just love the addition of sliced bananas on top. That way, the flavor doesn’t get lost in with the rich chocolate. And since I like to add things to my bakes, I would probably go ahead and drizzle some peanut butter on top.
24. Deliciously Moist Banana Bread Recipe
This list of banana desserts would not be complete without banana bread. Now, I know it can be a hot topic. Everyone has their own cherished recipe and after this year, they have been perfected! But I happen to be in the sour cream camp, and this recipe makes the most banana-y and moist loaf you’ll ever have. I also prefer chocolate chips in my banana bread, but the walnuts give a delightful crunch that you’ll miss if you leave it out. Click on a star to rate it!
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