Never Waste a Ripe Banana Again: 17 Genius Recipes

Do you always end up with a few overripe bananas sitting on your counter? We’ve got you covered! This collection of recipes proves that those spotty, sweet bananas are the secret ingredient to some of the most delicious breakfasts, desserts, and snacks. Whether you’re craving super moist banana bread, fun cakes, quick smoothies, or even creamy ice cream, these recipes are easy to make and guaranteed to be a hit.

Green Oatmeal

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Shhh, don’t tell the kids! These amazing no-dye oats hide a serving of spinach, along with bananas, oats, and milk. It’s a super healthy start to the day, and we promise you won’t taste the veggies!
Get the Recipe: Green Oatmeal

Hawaiian Banana Bread

Take your traditional banana bread on a tropical vacation! This loaf is loaded with banana, pineapple, and coconut, then finished off with a sweet pineapple glaze and perfectly toasted coconut flakes.
Get the Recipe: Hawaiian Banana Bread

Healthy Breakfast Banana Split with Berries

This is one of the best healthy breakfast ideas, and it looks like a party! It’s a fantastic way for both kids and grownups to start the day with fruit, yogurt, and fun toppings.
Get the Recipe: Healthy Breakfast Banana Split with Berries

Healthy Pumpkin Banana Bread (With Golden Raisins)

Enjoy a guilt-free slice! This healthy recipe uses natural sweetness from bananas and golden raisins to create a flavorful, moist bread, perfect for coffee breaks.
Get the Recipe: Healthy Pumpkin Banana Bread (With Golden Raisins)

Healthy Pumpkin Banana Oat Muffins

Pumpkin banana oat muffins on a white plate with pumpkins in the background. — Healthy Pumpkin Banana Oat Muffins. Photo credit: Thriving In Parenting.

Savor the wholesome goodness of these lovely muffins! They blend the rich warmth of pumpkin, the natural sweetness of ripe bananas, and the hearty texture of oats for a truly guilt-free treat.
Get the Recipe: Healthy Pumpkin Banana Oat Muffins

Homemade Caramelized Banana Ice Cream

Ready to seriously upgrade your ice cream game? This homemade frozen treat features the rich, buttery flavor of caramelized bananas. It’s creamy, sweet, and makes for an unforgettable summer dessert.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Caramelized Banana Ice Cream

Hummingbird Cake

A slice of layered cake with cream frosting sits on a decorative plate inspired by Southern cakes. The cake is topped with a slice of dried pineapple. A fork rests beside it, while a green floral design adorns the plate, reminiscent of the classic Hummingbird Cake's charm. — Hummingbird Cake. Photo credit: Not Entirely Average.

Meet the most popular of all Southern cakes! An Old Fashioned Hummingbird Cake is essentially a dreamy combination of sweet banana bread and canned pineapple, making it moist and wonderfully tropical.
Get the Recipe: Hummingbird Cake

Vegan Pumpkin Banana Bread

An overhead view of a freshly baked loaf of pumpkin bread with chocolate chips and pumpkin seeds sits in a parchment-lined loaf pan. — Vegan Pumpkin Banana Bread. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Use up those ripe bananas with this easy one-bowl vegan bread! It’s delicious, perfectly moist, and you can top it with chocolate chips for an extra-decadent healthier dessert.
Get the Recipe: Vegan Pumpkin Banana Bread

Watermelon Strawberry & Peach Smoothie

A glass filled with a pink summer peach smoothie topped with frozen diced watermelon. — Watermelon Strawberry & Peach Smoothie. Photo credit: fANNEtastic food.

All the best summer fruits are blended into one creamy drink! Refreshing watermelon, peaches, and strawberries are whirled with banana and fresh mint for a light, frothy drink to cool you down.
Get the Recipe: Watermelon Strawberry & Peach Smoothie

Yellow Cake Mix Banana Bread

Two slices of banana bread on a red plate, with two ripe bananas and a glass of milk in the background. — Yellow Cake Mix Banana Bread. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Talk about easy peasy! You simply dump all the ingredients including the yellow cake mix right into your baking pan, mix it up, and pop it in the oven for quick, delicious banana bread.
Get the Recipe: Yellow Cake Mix Banana Bread

Soft Banana Cookies Recipe: With Chocolate Syrup

Delicious banana nut cookies displayed on a white plate. — Soft Banana Cookies Recipe: With Chocolate Syrup. Photo credit: Sassy Chopsticks.

These cookies are the perfect way to use up those last few bananas on your counter. They have a chewy texture, a rich banana flavor, and taste incredible drizzled with chocolate syrup.
Get the Recipe: Soft Banana Cookies Recipe: With Chocolate Syrup

Chewy Banana Mochi Recipe (Vegan, Gluten-Free!)

Soft, chewy banana mochi on a blue plate. — Chewy Banana Mochi Recipe (Vegan, Gluten-Free!). Photo credit: Sassy Chopsticks.

Experience the perfect fusion of texture and flavor! This recipe combines the satisfying chewiness of mochi with the natural sweetness of bananas for a unique treat.
Get the Recipe: Chewy Banana Mochi Recipe (Vegan, Gluten-Free!)

5 Ingredients Banana Bread

Moist and flavorful banana bread on a wooden cutting board. — 5 Ingredients Banana Bread. Photo credit: Sassy Chopsticks.

Keep it simple! You only need five ingredients and one bowl to make this quick, delicious, and incredibly moist banana bread. It doesn’t get much easier than this.
Get the Recipe: 5 Ingredients Banana Bread

Coffee Banana Smoothie Recipe With Walnuts (Vegan)

Coffee banana smoothie in two different glasses. — Coffee Banana Smoothie Recipe With Walnuts (Vegan). Photo credit: Sassy Chopsticks.

Get an energizing and refreshing start to your day! This smoothie combines the great flavors of coffee and banana with walnuts for a delicious and creamy vegan beverage.
Get the Recipe: Coffee Banana Smoothie Recipe With Walnuts (Vegan)

Banana Zucchini Bread

This quick bread is the absolute perfect way to use up both your overripe bananas and any extra zucchini. The result is an incredibly soft, moist, and delicious loaf, great for breakfast or a snack.
Get the Recipe: Banana Zucchini Bread

Banana Split Cupcakes

Cupcakes topped with white frosting, chocolate glaze, colorful sprinkles, and a cherry, with bananas in the background. — Banana Split Cupcakes. Photo credit: Ginger Snap’s Baking Affairs.

They taste exactly like the classic ice cream treat, but in cupcake form! These fun desserts are topped with sprinkles and a maraschino cherry for the full banana split experience.
Get the Recipe: Banana Split Cupcakes

Banana Split Layer Cake

Every bite of this layer cake will remind you of your favorite ice cream dessert! It’s topped with maraschino cherries and rainbow sprinkles, just like a classic banana split.
Get the Recipe: Banana Split Layer Cake