What to Do With Overripe Bananas: 15 Straightforward Recipes to Attempt | Pennyhoarder

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If the product department were high school, the banana would be your high school sweetheart.

Banana is the whole package: tasty, nutritious and versatile. It’s the most popular fruit consumed in the United States, and while it’s tough on the outside, it’s really soft on the inside. And it’s high in nutrients like vitamin B6 and potassium. What is there not to love?

Unfortunately, it has a very short shelf life. (He plays so hard to come by!)

When it’s been a busy week and I choose other snacks instead of bananas, that happy yellow starts to turn a sad, neglected brown. Then I avoid the bananas for a few more days until they are completely inedible on their own.

Feeling so guilty about food being wasted, I searched the internet high and low for ways to deal with overripe bananas.

15 recipes with overripe bananas

Banana bread recipes

I’m a fan of the classics, but I’m also a girl who loves re-rolling old favorites.

1. Banana bread

Everyone should have a proven banana bread recipe. This one from Simply Recipes is mine. It’s been the most popular recipe on the entire site for 10 years for good reason: It’s dead easy and delicious.

2. Death by chocolate banana bread

This chocolate banana bread from Delish uses cocoa powder and contains a generous serving of chocolate chips, making it a chocoholic’s dream. (So ​​my dream.)

3. Banana bread filled with cream cheese

I’m always looking for ways to combine my love for cheesecake with everything. I’m so glad Kristyn from Lil ‘Luna shared this cream cheese filled banana bread with us because I’m in love. Bananas + Cream Cheese = BAE.

Banana breakfast recipes

You could just grab coffee and a bagel for breakfast, but why would you use all of these sweet banana recipes?

They are like eating a dessert that is socially accepted as breakfast. Victory.

4. Banoffee scones

Banoffee is an English banana toffee flavor that is traditionally found in cake form. This Banoffee Scones Recipe from King Arthur Baking Company brings that combo to the breakfast table, and I’m not mad at it.

The reviews alone make me whip my apron and bake it.

5. Nutella Banana Swirl Muffins

Confession: I once took my roommate’s jar of Nutella and ate it with just a spoon. I love this stuff. So of course I indulged myself in this banana muffin recipe from Jessica at The Novice Chef!

6. Banana bread donuts with Browned Butter Caramel Glaze

She even has a tutorial on how to brown butter in the microwave. If you don’t have a donut pan, these also make large donut holes with a muffin pan.

Banana dessert recipes

Bananas in themselves are the dessert of the product department. But the real magic comes when you add a little flour and butter and bam! You have desserts that make all other fruits jealous.

7. Banana pudding cake

Banana pudding is one of my husband’s favorite desserts, but you need pretty firm bananas for it to look good. Submit this banana cake recipe from Holly at Spend With Pennies. The mixture goes easily and pudding-like in the oven and comes out as a cake with its own sauce. It’s the best of both worlds!

8. Banana upside-down cake

Do you like the sound of caramelized brown sugar and bananas on delicious cake? Then we can be friends. And we can find Jessica at Sprinkle Some Sugar and thank her for the brilliant idea of ​​swapping pineapples for bananas in this upside-down cake.

9. Velvet Elvis cupcakes

I didn’t think a list of overripe banana recipes would be complete without the king’s favorite flavor combo. Elvis may be known for their fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches, but Ingrid from The Cozy Apron perfected PB&B in these Velvet Elvis cupcakes. I mean, check out that peanut butter and cream cheese frosting!

10. Banana cookies

I had never heard of banana cookies before and had no idea how popular they are. These Lovefoodies banana cookies are simple and can be customized with your favorite add-ins.

Healthy banana recipes

I’d rather work out every day than give up my sweet tooth. So I had to find a happy medium with banana recipes that I feel okay with if I skip the gym.

11. Gluten- and dairy-free strawberry-banana muffins

I have a lot of gluten intolerant friends so I need to add some gluten-free recipes. These strawberry and banana muffins from Delicious Obsessions are a cool twist on the traditional smoothie pairing with coconut flour and coconut oil.

12. Paleo banana and blueberry breakfast bread

Michele at Paleo Running Momma runs 10 miles like I slept in the morning (note: very easy). And she still has time to bake delicious, healthy treats like this gluten-free banana bread! It is practically free from guilt.

13. Flourless banana bread biscuits with 3 ingredients

Arman in Big Man’s World creates simple, healthy candy and breakfast recipes. His banana oat cookies look really nice and are suitable even for beginners.

14. Tropical green smoothie

I wanted to include one of the many banana smoothie recipes, but of course I wanted it to be the best. I think I found it with this tropical green smoothie from Ashley at Baker by Nature. Cut your overripe bananas into pieces and freeze them so you can make this pina colada-like smoothie anytime!

Hearty surprise

When I said bananas were the whole package, I meant it. We have naively typed bananas in these sweet rolls for centuries. But bananas have a savory side too!

15. Filipino banana ketchup

Josh from Serious Eats made this banana ketchup recipe from Ray “Dr. BBQ “Lampes Cookbook” Slow Fire: The Beginner’s Guide to Grilling. “It’s sweeter than tomato ketchup, but spicier, with flavors like jalapeño, ginger, and rum. Bada Bing.

Jen Smith is a former employee of The Penny Hoarder.

This was originally posted on The Penny Hoarder, a personal finance website that empowers millions of readers across the country to make smart decisions with their money by providing actionable and inspiring advice and resources on making money, saving and managing money.