13 Banana Desserts That Turn Those Spotty Bananas Into Something Amazing

We all do it. We buy a bunch of bananas with the best intentions, and a few days later they are covered in brown spots on the counter. Do not throw them away! Spotty bananas are sweeter and more flavorful, which makes them perfect for baking. From old fashioned banana pudding to fancy banoffee pie, these banana desserts are budget friendly, kid approved and full of comfort. Which one will you make first..

Southern Banana Pudding, the Queen of Banana Desserts

In the American South, banana pudding shows up at every church potluck, family reunion and holiday table. Layers of homemade vanilla custard, ripe banana slices and vanilla wafers soften together into something creamy and dreamy. Some families top it with toasted meringue, others with whipped cream, and both sides feel strongly about it. Of all the banana desserts, this one feels the most like a warm hug. Meringue or whipped cream, which team are you on?

You will need: 3/4 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, pinch of salt, 3 cups milk, 4 egg yolks, 2 tsp vanilla, 2 tbsp butter, 1 box vanilla wafers, 5 ripe bananas. Meringue of 4 egg whites and 1/3 cup sugar.

How to make it: 1. Whisk sugar, flour, salt, milk and yolks in a pot and cook until thick. 2. Stir in vanilla and butter. 3. Layer wafers, banana slices and warm custard in a dish, repeating twice. 4. Whip egg whites and sugar to stiff peaks and spread on top. 5. Bake at 375F for 10 minutes until golden, then chill.

Banana Cream Pie

Banana cream pie is a diner classic that never goes out of style. A buttery, flaky crust is filled with sliced bananas and a silky vanilla pastry cream, then piled high with whipped cream. The trick is to slice the bananas right before assembling so they stay fresh. Chill it for a few hours so it slices cleanly. Be honest, do you eat the whipped cream first?

You will need: 1 baked 9 inch pie crust, 3 ripe bananas, 2 1/2 cups milk, 2/3 cup sugar, 1/4 cup cornstarch, 4 egg yolks, 2 tbsp butter, 2 tsp vanilla, 1 1/2 cups whipped cream.

How to make it: 1. Cook milk, sugar, cornstarch and yolks until thick. 2. Stir in butter and vanilla and cool slightly. 3. Layer sliced bananas in the crust. 4. Pour the cream over them and chill 4 hours. 5. Top with whipped cream before serving.

Banoffee Pie, British Banana Desserts at Their Best

Banoffee pie was invented in 1972 at a restaurant called The Hungry Monk in England, and the name mixes banana and toffee. It has a crunchy cookie crust, a thick layer of soft toffee, sliced bananas and a cloud of whipped cream, finished with chocolate curls. It is one of the richest banana desserts you can make, and there is no baking needed for the filling. Use store bought dulce de leche to save time.

You will need: 2 cups crushed digestive or graham crackers, 1/2 cup melted butter, 1 can dulce de leche, 3 bananas, 1 1/2 cups heavy cream, 2 tbsp powdered sugar, chocolate curls.

How to make it: 1. Mix crumbs and butter and press into a tart pan. 2. Chill 30 minutes. 3. Spread the dulce de leche over the crust. 4. Add sliced bananas. 5. Whip cream with sugar, spread on top and add chocolate curls.

Bananas Foster

Bananas Foster was created at Brennan’s restaurant in New Orleans in 1951, and restaurants still set it on fire tableside for a big show. At home, you can skip the flames and the rum and still get the magic: bananas cooked in a bubbling butter, brown sugar and cinnamon sauce, then spooned over vanilla ice cream. It takes about 5 minutes. A, plain vanilla ice cream, or B, butter pecan?

You will need: 4 tbsp butter, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 2 bananas sliced lengthwise and halved, 1 tsp vanilla, splash of orange juice, vanilla ice cream.

How to make it: 1. Melt butter in a skillet and stir in brown sugar and cinnamon. 2. Cook until bubbly. 3. Add the bananas and cook 1 minute per side. 4. Stir in vanilla and orange juice. 5. Spoon over ice cream right away.

Best Ever Banana Bread

Banana bread is the most famous way to rescue brown bananas, and for good reason. The darker the bananas, the sweeter and more moist your loaf will be. This version uses melted butter and brown sugar for a soft crumb with a crunchy, golden top. Add walnuts, chocolate chips or a swirl of cinnamon sugar. Did you bake banana bread during lockdown, too?

You will need: 3 very ripe bananas mashed, 1/3 cup melted butter, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla, 1 tsp baking soda, pinch of salt, 1 1/2 cups flour, optional nuts or chips.

How to make it: 1. Mix mashed bananas and melted butter. 2. Stir in sugar, egg and vanilla. 3. Add baking soda, salt and flour and mix just until combined. 4. Pour into a greased loaf pan. 5. Bake at 350F for 55 to 60 minutes.

Banana Cake, Frosted Banana Desserts for a Crowd

Banana cake is lighter and fluffier than banana bread, and it gets a thick layer of tangy cream cheese frosting. It is perfect for birthdays, bake sales and potlucks because it stays moist for days. Some families sprinkle toasted pecans on top, others add a drizzle of caramel. This is one of those banana desserts that always comes back with an empty pan.

You will need: 1/2 cup butter, 1 1/4 cups sugar, 2 eggs, 1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas, 1 cup buttermilk, 2 cups flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt. Frosting of 8 oz cream cheese, 1/4 cup butter and 2 cups powdered sugar.

How to make it: 1. Beat butter and sugar, then add eggs and bananas. 2. Mix in flour, baking soda and salt alternately with buttermilk. 3. Bake in a greased 9×13 pan at 350F for 30 to 35 minutes. 4. Beat the frosting until smooth. 5. Frost the cooled cake.

Banana Oat Muffins

These muffins are soft, lightly sweet and great for busy mornings or after school snacks. Oats and ripe bananas make them hearty, and you can use honey or maple syrup instead of white sugar. Freeze a batch and warm them in the microwave for a quick treat. Add blueberries, chocolate chips or walnuts. What is your favorite mix in: A, blueberries, B, chocolate chips, C, walnuts, or D, nothing at all?

You will need: 3 ripe bananas, 1/3 cup oil, 1/3 cup honey or maple syrup, 1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla, 1 cup flour, 1 cup oats, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp cinnamon, pinch of salt.

How to make it: 1. Mash the bananas and whisk in oil, honey, egg and vanilla. 2. Stir in flour, oats, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. 3. Fold in your mix ins. 4. Fill 12 lined muffin cups. 5. Bake at 350F for 18 to 22 minutes.

Crispy Banana Fritters

Banana fritters are a favorite street snack across Southeast Asia, where they are called pisang goreng in Indonesia and Malaysia and chuoi chien in Vietnam. Banana pieces are dipped in a light, crispy batter and fried until golden. The outside crackles and the inside turns soft and jammy. Dust them with powdered sugar or drizzle with honey. These easy banana desserts are best eaten hot.

You will need: 4 ripe bananas, 3/4 cup flour, 2 tbsp rice flour or cornstarch, 1 tbsp sugar, 1/2 tsp baking powder, pinch of salt, 3/4 cup cold water, oil for frying, honey or powdered sugar.

How to make it: 1. Whisk flours, sugar, baking powder, salt and water into a smooth batter. 2. Cut bananas into thick pieces. 3. Heat oil to 350F. 4. Dip bananas in batter and fry 2 to 3 minutes until golden. 5. Drain and serve hot with honey or sugar.

Frozen Chocolate Banana Pops

Frozen banana pops are a fun, easy treat that kids can help make. Banana halves go on sticks, get frozen, then dipped in melted chocolate and rolled in sprinkles, crushed nuts or coconut. When frozen, bananas turn creamy like ice cream. They are a lighter dessert you can keep in the freezer for weeks. Which topping would your kids pick?

You will need: 4 bananas halved, 8 popsicle sticks, 8 oz chocolate, 1 tbsp coconut oil, toppings like sprinkles, chopped peanuts or coconut.

How to make it: 1. Push a stick into each banana half. 2. Freeze on parchment for 2 hours. 3. Melt the chocolate with coconut oil. 4. Dip each banana and roll in toppings. 5. Freeze 30 minutes more and enjoy.

Brulee Bananas

Brulee bananas look fancy but take 5 minutes. Slice a banana lengthwise, sprinkle the cut side with sugar, and caramelize it with a kitchen torch or under a hot broiler until it turns into a crackly, glassy crust, like creme brulee. Tap it with a spoon for that satisfying crack. Serve it with yogurt for breakfast or ice cream for dessert. Have you ever used a kitchen torch?

You will need: 2 ripe but firm bananas, 2 tbsp sugar, pinch of cinnamon, Greek yogurt or ice cream to serve.

How to make it: 1. Slice the bananas lengthwise, leaving the peel on for stability if you like. 2. Pat the cut sides dry. 3. Sprinkle evenly with sugar and a little cinnamon. 4. Torch or broil until the sugar melts and turns amber. 5. Let it harden 1 minute and serve.

Chewy Banana Oatmeal Cookies

These cookies use mashed banana to replace some of the butter and sugar, so they are soft, chewy and a little cake like. Oats give them a hearty texture and chocolate chips make them feel like a treat. They are perfect for using up just one ripe banana. Pack them in lunchboxes or eat them warm with a glass of milk. Love easy desserts? Try our no bake desserts too.

You will need: 1 ripe banana mashed, 1/4 cup melted butter, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla, 1 1/2 cups oats, 3/4 cup flour, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 cup chocolate chips.

How to make it: 1. Mix banana, butter, sugar, egg and vanilla. 2. Stir in oats, flour, baking soda and cinnamon. 3. Fold in chocolate chips. 4. Scoop onto lined trays. 5. Bake at 350F for 11 to 13 minutes.

Banana Pancakes With Caramel

Banana pancakes are a weekend favorite. Mashed banana goes right into the batter for natural sweetness, and more slices go on top with a drizzle of quick caramel or maple syrup. Breakfast for dessert? Absolutely. They are fluffy, golden and smell incredible. Poll: A, banana slices on top, B, banana cooked into the pancake, or C, both?

You will need: 1 1/2 cups flour, 1 tbsp sugar, 2 tsp baking powder, pinch of salt, 1 cup milk, 1 egg, 2 tbsp melted butter, 1 ripe banana mashed, extra banana slices, caramel or maple syrup.

How to make it: 1. Whisk dry ingredients. 2. Whisk milk, egg, butter and mashed banana. 3. Combine gently, leaving a few lumps. 4. Cook 1/4 cup portions on a buttered griddle until bubbles form, then flip. 5. Top with banana slices and caramel.

Classic Banana Split, Fun Banana Desserts for Sharing

The banana split was created in 1904 by a young pharmacist named David Strickler in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and the town still celebrates it with a festival. The classic has a banana cut lengthwise, three scoops of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream, toppings, whipped cream, nuts and a cherry. Building one is the most fun of all banana desserts. What would go on yours?

You will need: 1 banana, 3 scoops ice cream (vanilla, chocolate, strawberry), 2 tbsp each chocolate sauce, strawberry topping and pineapple topping, whipped cream, chopped nuts, 1 cherry.

How to make it: 1. Split the banana lengthwise and place in a long dish. 2. Add three scoops of ice cream between the halves. 3. Spoon a different topping over each scoop. 4. Add whipped cream and nuts. 5. Top with a cherry and grab a spoon.