25 Delicious Recipes for Brown Bananas (2024)

ByStacie VaughanOn Updated

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I buy bananas with good intentions. They sit on the counter waiting to be grabbed for a quick snack. Sometimes they are eaten up quickly. Most often, however, they sit there till they start to turn brown and gross.

I hate to waste food so I’ll throw them in the freezer to use in recipes. When they turn brown like this, I can’t bring myself to eat one as is, but I don’t mind using them up in a recipe. In fact, some recipes require the bananas to be overripe! They have many, many uses.
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My mom always made banana bread with them. I remember having an after school snack of banana bread warm out of the oven and topping it with butter. The butter would melt and flavour the bread even more. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

Classic banana bread is one use for your brown bananas, but I’ve discovered a bunch of other yummy ways you can use them. Don’t let those bananas go to waste!

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to use brown bananas in addition to banana bread! This is a great list to inspire you to enjoy those bananas at the bottom of your freezer.

Whatever you do, DO NOT throw them away. Put them in the freezer until you are ready to use them.

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Looking for more banana recipes, but in a cookbook? Check out The Banana Cookbook.

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What is your favourite way to use brown bananas?

Don't throw them away! Brown bananas are sweet and delicious. Try one of these easy recipes with your overripe bananas.

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Banana Bread Breakfast Casserole

Use up your brown bananas and leftover bread in this crowd-pleasing breakfast recipe! It comes together in 10 minutes, bakes for 1 hour and is a recipe you’ll find yourself making again and again.

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Banana Chocolate Cake

Packed full of sweet flavor! Banana and chocolate are perfect together in this easy cake recipe.

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Banana Cake

An amazingly moist cake covered in cream cheese frosting. A perfect use for brown bananas!

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Banana Nut Muffins Recipe

A classic banana muffin that you can make with or without nuts. These muffins are moist and full of banana flavour, making them a go-to snack and lunch box favourite.

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Banana Cupcakes

These cupcakes will drive you bananas! They are super versatile, and can be made extra special with cream cheese icing, and the addition of peanut butter chips.

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Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

The perfect way to use up your brown bananas! This easy muffin recipe is incredibly moist and perfectly sweet.

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Super Easy Bread Machine Banana Bread

Photo Credit:noshingwiththenolands.com

I love an easy dump and go recipe and this Super Easy Bread Machine Banana Bread is just that. Just toss your ingredients in, press the button, and walk away.

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Pumpkin Banana Bread

Photo Credit:spaceshipsandlaserbeams.com

This easy Pumpkin Banana Bread is a simple recipe that produces a delicious homemade result. How about combining two fall favorite flavors into one sweet bread? I love a good quick bread and dreams come true with this amazing, moist banana pumpkin bread.

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Best Frosted Banana Walnut Cake

Photo Credit:mooreorlesscooking.com

The Best Banana Walnut Cake is topped with a thick and creamy cream cheese frosting. It’s baked up perfectly in a 13 x 9 baking dish with the best banana flavor, that is so soft & moist, and just crazy delicious. Optional garnish with sliced fresh bananas or banana chips and chopped walnuts for an amazing dessert!

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Easy Blender Banana Oatmeal Pancakes

Photo Credit:www.currytrail.in

Contemplating on what to do which the ripe banana?! Let’s turn it into an easiest breakfast that’s not just delicious but super healthy too. It’s gluten-free banana oatmeal pancakes.

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Bananas Foster Upside Down Cupcakes

Photo Credit:flavormosaic.com

Bananas Foster Upside Down Cupcakes are easy to make upside down cupcakes made with bananas instead of pineapple, and are a perfect mini dessert for a party.

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Best Chocolate Banana Muffins

Photo Credit:sweetandsavorymeals.com

Chocolate Banana Muffins are the best way to use overripe bananas. The muffins are very easy to make, soft, chocolaty and full of flavor.

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Healthy Donuts with Banana and Chocolate Chips

Photo Credit:deliciousonadime.com

These Healthy Donuts with Banana and Chocolate Chips are an easy, homemade snack for kids or treat for brunch. Whether you’re clean eating or just looking for a treat that’s baked instead of fried, these healthy donuts are the perfect DIY. Packed with honey, plain yogurt and oats, you can ditch all those muffin recipes for something more fun. Only have a muffin tin? This recipe will work for you too!

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Freezer-Friendly Blueberry Banana Oatmeal

Photo Credit:www.saltycanary.com

This Blueberry Banana Oatmeal has only three simple ingredients, but you can add additional optional toppings such as nut butters, sliced fruit, nuts, seeds, or even chocolate chips! And, it’s great for large batch meal prepping because it’s freezer-friendly!

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Chocolate Banana Sourdough Bread Pudding

Photo Credit:ofbatteranddough.com

Chunks of thick sourdough bread soaked in a sauce of cream, Nutella, and mashed banana, dotted with chocolate chips and then baked until it turns into a rich and creamy chocolatey scoop of heaven with a consistency that’s a cross between chocolate cake and chocolate pudding.

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Banana Crumb Coffee Cake Recipe

Photo Credit:www.urbanblisslife.com

This Banana Crumb Coffee Cake is a popular, tried & true, 5-star recipe for a reason! It's moist and fluffy, with a delicious cinnamon sugar filling and topping - perfect to enjoy with a cup of coffee.

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Banana Coconut Bundt Cake with Coconut Icing

Photo Credit:www.christinascucina.com

Why make banana bread when you can make this unique banana coconut bundt cake? It's simple, yet delicious and will earn rave reviews!

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Banana Strawberry Smoothie

Photo Credit:nourishplate.com

A great healthy and delicious banana strawberry smoothie to start your day. You can also enjoy it as a snack, or have it as a post-workout quick smoothie. It’s nutritious and packed with plant-based protein.

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Chocolate Chip Banana Nut Bread Bread Pudding

Photo Credit:bakeitwithlove.com

If you thought your banana bread couldn’t get any better, try your hand at my Chocolate Chip Banana Nut Bread Bread Pudding for a sensational dessert! Made from our tasty chocolate chip banana nut bread loaf, the already flavorful banana bread is baked in a creamy custard!

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Three Ingredient Slow Cooker Banana Bread

Photo Credit:www.supergoldenbakes.com

Three ingredient banana bread – just bananas, condensed milk and self raising flour! Best baked in a slow cooker, it is easy to make and delicious.

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Banana chocolate chip pancakes

Photo Credit:www.everyday-delicious.com

Amazing banana chocolate chip pancakes! It’s a great idea to use up ripe bananas. These pancakes come out thick, fluffy, they have an almost plush texture.

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Brown Sugar Banana Bread Recipe

Photo Credit:www.wenthere8this.com

This Brown Sugar Banana Bread takes 5 minutes to mix up and a little less than an hour of hands-off baking time, resulting in the most perfectly moist banana bread you have ever eaten!

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No bake peanut butter banana energy bites

Photo Credit:www.salads4lunch.com

No bake peanut butter banana energy bites are soft, sweet, and the perfect little healthy snack to tide you over until your next meal! No baking required and made with just 6 healthy ingredients.

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Best Chunky Monkey Bars

Photo Credit:mooreorlesscooking.com

These bars are a full-flavored chewy dense bar. They have a brownie texture but are just as delicious as my homemade banana bread.

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Easy Banana Doughnuts

Photo Credit:www.thebossykitchen.com

This recipe of easy banana doughnuts is an awesome way to use ripe bananas that are sitting around. It is also a great recipe to put together for a brunch. Are you a grandma and kids are coming over for a visit? Make these!

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25 Delicious Recipes for Brown Bananas (2024)

FAQs

What can you use overripe bananas for? ›

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

Are brown bananas better for you than yellow? ›

As bananas ripen, the fibers begin to degrade and the complex starches transform into simple sugars ( 4 ). Thus, if you're worried about your sugar consumption or your blood sugar levels, it may be best to choose yellow, less ripe bananas more often than brown bananas.

Can you bake with completely brown bananas? ›

Bananas can go from yellow with brown spots to totally black and still be okay to eat and use for baking. In fact, black bananas are some of the best for making banana bread because they have developed more sugar as they sit around and therefore taste sweeter. They may also be moister, which is perfect for baked goods.

When should you not use overripe bananas? ›

If you notice any mold on your bananas, it's time to throw them away or toss them in the compost bin. The black skin itself is not mold. Mold on bananas is fuzzy white, gray, or greenish—it looks a lot like mold on bread. If a banana smells rotten or fermented or is leaking fluid, it's time to say goodbye.

Can dogs eat bananas? ›

Bananas are safe for dogs, but moderation is key. Bananas are high in sugar, so too much of it can put your dog at risk of developing medical conditions. You should give your dog only a few thin slices of banana once in a while. At least 90% of your dog's food should be regular dog food.

Does banana raise blood sugar quickly? ›

Overall, bananas score low to medium on the GI scale (42–62, depending on the ripeness) (10). In addition to sugar and starch, bananas contain some fiber. This means the sugars in bananas are more slowly digested and absorbed, which could prevent blood sugar spikes.

Can diabetics eat bananas? ›

A person with diabetes should include a variety of fresh, whole foods in their diet, such as nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables. Bananas are a safe and nutritious fruit for people with diabetes to eat in moderation as part of a balanced, individualized eating plan.

How many bananas can a diabetic eat a day? ›

People with diabetes can eat 1-2 medium-sized bananas a day. You can also follow the given tips to minimize their effect on your blood sugar levels: Eat a smaller banana to reduce your sugar intake. Try eating less ripened bananas, so the sugar is slightly on the lower side.

Are brown bananas good for muffins? ›

You want to use BROWN bananas for baking. If your bananas only have a few brown spots, let them ripen for a little longer. The browner the better because the bananas will be riper and more sweet. Once the bananas are mostly brown and soft, your bananas will mix perfectly and effortlessly into this muffin recipe.

Can bananas be too old for banana bread? ›

No such thing as “too ripe for banana bread.” If you're going to freeze them, peel them first. Also great in smoothies. As long as they're not moldy, they're good. Bananas this far along will be a lot sweeter so I will sometimes reduce the amount of granulated sugar I add to the batter.

Can you use brown bananas in cake? ›

Ripeness of bananas: To make banana cake, your bananas need to be very ripe. Please don't try to make this with green or very firm bananas as it just won't work in the same way. The banana skins should be very speckled, or (ideally) almost totally brown or black on the skins.

What does eating 3 bananas a day do? ›

Bananas are a great source of potassium, with a medium banana providing 10% of the DV. A potassium-rich diet could help lower your blood pressure , reducing your risk of hypertension. A 2017 study in mice also suggests that potassium may lower the risk of heart disease by 27% .

Why eat 3 bananas a day? ›

Bananas are a great way to contribute to your daily potassium needs. Getting enough potassium in your diet may also help lower blood pressure. High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular disease, so eating foods containing potassium each day is an important part of a healthy lifestyle.

What to do with 40 bananas? ›

17 Delicious Ways To Use Up Old Bananas
  1. Make banana bread (duh). ...
  2. Freeze bananas and turn them into magic healthy soft-serve. ...
  3. Or blend a peanut butter-chocolate chip banana milkshake. ...
  4. Make a no-bake banana cheesecake. ...
  5. Whip up healthy instant chocolate pudding with avocado, banana, and peanut butter.
Jun 11, 2013

Are overripe bananas still good to eat? ›

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 I 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.

Are overripe bananas still nutritious? ›

Overripe bananas are higher in sugar than their green counterparts, but they also boast higher antioxidant levels. Eating overripe bananas isn't just a great way to reduce food waste. When fully ripe, these fruits are even healthier and more nutritious than their green counterparts.

How long can you keep overripe bananas in the refrigerator? ›

To start you want to place them in a dry area. If stored correctly, you'll have ripe bananas in 2 to 5 days. If you're curious about how to keep bananas fresh for longer, you should know about how to store bananas in your refrigerator. If you place them in the refrigerator, fully ripe bananas will last 5 to 7 days.

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