25 Healthy Recipes to Make with a Bunch of Ripe Bananas (2024)

Do you have some black and mushy bananas sitting on the counter? Thought they were doomed for the dumpster? Think again! Those overripe bananas are perfect for these healthy recipes. From freezing them for smoothies to mixing them into the batter the next time you make pancakes—recipes like our Banana-Bran Muffins and 2-Ingredient Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream are our favorite healthy ways to use up the bunch.

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Blueberry-Banana Overnight Oats

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Blueberries, sweet banana and creamy coconut milk combine to turn everyday oatmeal into the best vegan overnight oats! Make up to four jars at once to keep in the fridge for quick grab-and-go breakfasts throughout the week.

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Banana-Bran Muffins

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By the end of the week, any bananas left in the fruit bowl are past their prime—just right for these moist bran muffins. Add a handful of dark chocolate chips to enhance this fiber-rich treat.

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2-Ingredient Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream

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Whir up frozen bananas into an "ice cream" without the cream! Peanut butter adds a natural swirl of flavor for a sweet and satisfying dessert with no added sugar.

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Banana-Blueberry Buttermilk Bread

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The slight acidity of buttermilk tenderizes and moistens baked goods while allowing you to cut way back on butter or oils. Here, it also lends a slight tanginess to the winning combination of bananas and blueberries.

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Banana-Chocolate Chip Pancakes

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This healthy whole-grain buttermilk pancake recipe adds mini-chocolate chips and mashed banana to the 100% whole-wheat flour base. If you want to experiment with different types of whole grains, replace up to 1/2 cup of the whole-wheat flour with cornmeal, oats and/or buckwheat flour. Or add extra fiber and healthy omega-3 fats by adding up to 3 tablespoons of ground flaxseed or chia seeds.

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Baked Banana-Nut Oatmeal Cups

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Muffins meet oatmeal in these moist and tasty grab-and-go oatmeal cups.

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Healthy Banana Bread

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Got leftover bananas? Give everyone's favorite baked good recipe a healthy whole-wheat spin with this easy banana bread recipe.

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Chocolate-Banana Protein Smoothie

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Red lentils give this smoothie a plant-based protein boost. To make this smoothie vegan, try using unsweetened coconut beverage or almond milk in place of the dairy milk.

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Banana Protein Muffins

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These healthy banana muffins are packed with protein thanks to ingredients like peanut butter and Greek yogurt, while white whole-wheat flour gives them a fiber boost. Serve them for breakfast or for a grab-and-go snack.

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Banana Bread French Toast

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Take banana bread to the next level when you soak it in a classic French toast batter and fry it for an impressive (but oh so easy!) breakfast or brunch. Top with chopped walnuts, sliced bananas and maple syrup for extra decadence.

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Banana Energy Bites

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Perfect for an on-the-go breakfast or snack, these energy bites will keep you fueled.

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Classic Banana Bread

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This versatile bread is the perfect on-the-go breakfast, gift for a host or holiday gift. Top it with whatever you like, and even throw in some additional ingredients like chocolate chips. It's the bread that everyone can get behind. Banana bread should form a crack down the center as it bakes—a sign the baking soda is doing its job. Serve toasted with a smear of cream cheese, Greek yogurt or peanut butter and top with mixed nuts, if desired.

No-Sugar-Added Vegan Oatmeal Cookies

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Soft, chewy and no added sugar! Sweeten these classic oatmeal cookies with ripe bananas and raisins or dates. Plus, a touch of nut butter adds lots of flavor and holds the cookies together while keeping them vegan and gluten-free.

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Banana-Chocolate Chip Cake

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Overripe bananas are naturally sweet, so you can use less sugar to make this cake.

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Banana-Coconut Bread

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A unique take on banana bread, this recipe introduces the banana-coconut flavor combination. This creative, diabetes-friendly recipe is the perfect solution for using overripe bananas and is easy to make.

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Oatmeal Banana Bread

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This oatmeal banana bread features old-fashioned oats, which provide texture. This banana bread is subtly sweet and well-balanced, making it perfect for teatime, breakfast time and anything in between.

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Zucchini Banana Bread

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Shredded zucchini and mashed banana complement each other, ensuring that this wholesome loaf stays nice and moist. The banana adds sweetness to this quick-bread mashup for just the right flavor without too much added sugar.

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Banana-Blueberry Muffins

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The muffin version of our Banana-Blueberry Buttermilk Bread is easy to grab and eat on the go.

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Two-Ingredient Banana Pancakes

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These delicious and unbelievably simple pancakes are best enjoyed right after cooking. With just eggs and a banana, you can have healthy grain-free pancakes with no added sugar. Serve with maple syrup and yogurt or ricotta cheese to add in some protein.

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Chocolate-Peanut Butter Protein Shake

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This creamy high-protein shake will keep you satisfied for hours and tastes like a chocolate-peanut butter banana milkshake. You don't even need to add protein powder, thanks to the naturally occurring protein in the soymilk, Greek yogurt and peanut butter.

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Strawberry-Blueberry-Banana Smoothie

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A smoothie with strawberries, blueberries and banana is delicately sweet and entirely kid-friendly, even with a boost of protein from hempseeds. Freeze the fruits ahead of time for an extra frosty texture once blended.

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Flourless Banana Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins

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Pulsing rolled oats with eggs, banana, brown sugar and oil creates the moist dough of these chocolaty muffins without a bit of all-purpose flour. These are two-bite muffins with a dense and gooey texture. They're delicately sweet and rich, too, so baking them as mini muffins makes them a perfect snack or quick morning bite.

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Strawberry-Banana Bread

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Give classic banana bread a sweet twist with the addition of juicy strawberries. The combination of the fruits turns this simple quick bread into a bright, sweet breakfast bread, snack or dessert. For an extra-decadent treat, serve each slice with a scoop of sliced strawberries.

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Pumpkin Banana Bread

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Two favorite quick breads come together in this healthy pumpkin banana bread recipe. Pumpkin puree and mashed banana add sweetness to help cut down the amount of added sugar while ensuring this 100% whole-wheat loaf stays moist and tender.

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No-Sugar-Added Oatmeal Cookies

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Classic oatmeal cookies without all the sugar, these better-for-you gluten-free treats get their sweetness from ripe bananas and chopped dates.

25 Healthy Recipes to Make with a Bunch of Ripe Bananas (2024)

FAQs

What can I do with too many ripe bananas? ›

What to Do with Overripe Bananas
  1. Mash Into Oatmeal. Breakfast is a great time to take advantage of the energy boost that comes from eating the natural sugars in bananas. ...
  2. Blend Into Waffle or Pancake Batter. ...
  3. Make Banana Muffins. ...
  4. Bake Banana Cookies. ...
  5. Add to a Smoothie. ...
  6. Turn Into Ice Cream. ...
  7. Whip Up Beignets.
Mar 12, 2024

What are very ripe bananas good for? ›

Overripe bananas are beneficial for heart health too! They are rich in minerals like potassium and magnesium, which help in controlling blood pressure. Cholesterol is also reduced by eating overripe bananas. It is also helpful in reducing the risk of heart diseases.

How do you not waste ripe bananas? ›

  1. Add Them To Your Smoothie. Ripe bananas add the perfect sweetness and body to your smoothies. ...
  2. Freeze Them. Catch your bananas before they turn black. ...
  3. Make Ice Cream. Blend up frozen bananas with a touch of cocoa powder until smooth for instant homemade chocolate ice cream!
  4. Dry Them.

Can you freeze overripe bananas? ›

Instead of tossing overripe bananas, try freezing them instead. You'll always have ripe bananas on hand when the urge strikes to bake banana bread or bars—or make a smoothie! But instead of freezing them whole, peel them first then freeze in resealable freezer bags.

What happens if you eat overripe bananas? ›

According to a spokesperson for the FDA, "Generally, as long as it is not visibly moldy, it is safe." Rogers concurs, saying he hasn't seen any studies linking foodborne illness to eating extremely ripe bananas.

Can dogs eat bananas? ›

Yes, dogs can eat bananas. In moderation, bananas are a great low-calorie treat for dogs. They're high in potassium, vitamins, biotin, fiber, and copper. They are low in cholesterol and sodium, but because of their high sugar content, bananas should be given as a treat, not part of your dog's main diet.

What color banana is the healthiest? ›

The resistant starch and pectin in green bananas can provide a number of health benefits, including improved blood sugar control and better digestive health ( 3 , 4 ). Green bananas contain a high amount of resistant starch and pectin, which have been linked to several health benefits.

Is a banana a day too much sugar? ›

One medium banana (about 126 grams) contains 29 grams of carbs and 112 calories. The carbs are in the form of sugar, starch, and fiber ( 3 ). A medium banana contains about 15 grams of sugar ( 3 ). Bananas do contain simple carbs, which can cause blood sugar levels to rise more than other nutrients.

What is the old species of banana? ›

Gros Michel (French pronunciation: [ɡʁo miʃɛl]), often translated and known as "Big Mike", is an export cultivar of banana and was, until the 1950s, the main variety grown.

Can I freeze bananas? ›

Store them in a freezer-safe bag, taking care to remove as much air as possible from the bag before you seal it. Frozen bananas will last for months in the freezer (especially if well protected from the dreaded freezer burn). But for the best quality, use frozen bananas within two to three months of freezing.

Is it better to freeze bananas with or without peel? ›

You can freeze whole, peeled bananas in large plastic bags like smaller banana chunks. You can also freeze bananas whole in their peels, but this will only work if you want mashed bananas. After thawing and peeling a banana frozen in its peel, it will come out of the peel in an essentially mashed texture.

Can you freeze bananas in a Ziploc bag? ›

Place bananas so they are not touching on a plate and freeze for one hour. (This will prevent the bananas from sticking together.). Transfer to a resealable freezer bag, pressing out as much air as possible before sealing the bag, and return bananas to freezer.

When should you not eat frozen bananas? ›

Freeze bananas for up to 3–6 months. Freezing bananas beyond 6 months may be fine, but the peeled bananas do begin to darken over time, and then they thaw into an overly mushy mess. I've found up to 6 months is fine, and under 3 months is even better.

Can you use overripe bananas as fertilizer? ›

Homemade liquid fertiliser and non-toxic pest repellent

Start by cutting your banana peels into small pieces and putting them in a bucket or container and covering them with water. Leave them for two to three days. Stir occasionally. Strain and use the liquid to water your plants.

Can ripened bananas be saved to use later? ›

If done correctly, you'll have ripe bananas for 2 to 3 months and will stay good for use when stored in the freezer over the long term. And that is how to freeze bananas. It's so easy that it makes food storage seem easier than …

What happens when you put ripe bananas in the fridge? ›

If they're kept at a cold temperature, the enzymes that enable them to ripen are inhibited. And as those enzymes become inactive, other enzymes operate more efficiently. Some cause cell damage, while others (browning enzymes) cause the skin to blacken.

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