I love bananas because not only are they sweet and tasty but they almost never go to waste. Smoothies, pancakes, cookies, pudding, there are a number of versatile ways to use up ripe bananas. And although banana bread might come to mind (check out this delicious Chrissy Teigen recipe), not all of us have the ingredients to whip up a full loaf. Instead, we've rounded up 31 banana recipes that are bread-less, delicious, and will definitely improve your at-home breakfast or dessert menu. Have a look through the ideas ahead — you may be surprised by all the yummy treats you can make.
— Additional reporting by Tessa Domzalski and Isadora Baum
Upgrade your breakfast with this healthy yet satisfying oatmeal recipe that takes plain old bananas to the next level.
If you're a fan of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, you should make this tasty and simple treat immediately. The bananas add an interesting texture, while the dark chocolate keeps things from getting too sweet.
This slightly boozy treat looks harder to make than it actually is. Serve with freshly whipped cream or ice cream for a showstopping dessert.
With two flavors of chia pudding separated by a layer of vegan banana cream, this dessert is not only healthy but easy to make as well.
Switch out your morning coffee for this healthy matcha smoothie, which only takes a few minutes to make. With only three ingredients, you're going to wonder why you didn't start making this smoothie sooner.
Nice cream has taken the world by storm, and it's easy to see why! Besides tasting delicious, it's also incredibly easy to make. The added coconut cream gives this recipe some incredible richness, and you won't even realize it's vegan!
This tart might look fancy, but it's actually easier to make than you'd think. You'll mainly be using a food processor (and some patience) as the tart is completely vegan and raw.
Get ready to trick your friends and family with these ice cream bars. The addition of heavy cream and condensed milk gives this recipe the sweetness and creaminess you won't find in ordinary 'nana ice cream.
Strawberries and bananas are a match made in fruit heaven, so it's no surprise that they would make a great nice cream flavor.
By taking your smoothies out of the cup and into a bowl instead, you can not only make them last longer, but they can wind up looking better, too! With a hint of peanut butter and chocolate, this banana smoothie bowl is going to feel less like breakfast and more like dessert.
Tahini might not be your first thought when it comes to ice cream, but the sesame spread is actually incredibly versatile. The rich nutty flavor of the tahini is a perfect complement to the banana and chocolate in this recipe.
A fast and simple dessert that has the chewiness of a soft cookie and the flavor of fresh bananas, you'll have to resist the urge to finish the whole batch in one sitting.
These dairy-free banana pudding pops have an assortment of berries in them, creating a beautiful presentation that begs to be photographed.
You might have thought that you could only find acai bowls at your local health-food restaurant, but it's actually really easy to make them from the comfort of your home. This acai bowl recipe focuses on the tropical nature of the fruit and adds frozen pineapple, banana, and mango.
This banana cream pie recipe will help you make a showstopping dessert that your whole house can enjoy.
The perfect midday snack for when you feel like taking a nap, these no-bake energy bites are so easy to make, even a beginner can whip them up!
Why buy a boxed pancake mix when you can make your own? This banana pancake recipe will make some of the fluffiest pancakes you've ever had, and they taste great with lots of maple syrup.
Best served warm, this decadent upside-down cake is a unique take on the familiar pineapple upside-down cake. With its caramelized bananas and a rich peanut butter flavor, your loved ones will definitely ask for seconds.
These tiny cheesecakes are not only tasty, but they're cute, too! Instead of making a traditional cheesecake crust, use vanilla wafers, which saves you loads of time and cleanup.
This refreshing drink is not only loaded with healthy fruits, but the color is gorgeous as well. The oranges and pineapple add hits of acidity, while the mango and bananas make it creamy.
Vegan and gluten-free, this tasty parfait takes less than 10 minutes to make and assemble, and involves one sliced banana. The date sauce is surprisingly rich, while the dairy-free coconut yogurt adds creaminess and a fun flavor.
Use that leftover, softened banana in a homemade "nice" cream recipe instead, where the creaminess of the mashed banana works super well to create a luscious and rich ice cream that's lower in calories, fat, and sugar than traditional brands. Plus, this particular recipe is vegan, too.
Got to run out the door in the a.m. but want a quick burst of energy? These banana oatmeal breakfast cookies are high in some natural sugars to wake you up, but also fiber to keep you full and avoid that insulin spike and subsequent crash. This banana breakfast cookie recipe takes you back only 74 calories per bite, so feel free to eat a second (or third).
Don't worry, this smoothie just tastes like banana bread. It involves a half of a banana to create thick base. Plus, bananas taste great with most fruits, vegetables, nut butters, and milks, so you can't really go wrong.
There's nothing like a warm bowl of baked oatmeal in the morning, especially when it's packed with nuts and fruit to keep you full and to satisfy that sweet tooth naturally. It's a great idea to use an overripe banana in oatmeal to create more creaminess so your oats will feel heartier with each spoonful.
It's so easy to use softened, ripe bananas in pancakes as a mix since it works well with other pancake ingredients and mashes well to create a batter. You can also use that overripe banana to create a banana sauce to drizzle atop pancakes, too. It adds that final touch of sweetness.
If you're thinking of french toast instead of pancakes, you can use a ripe banana to create that, too. Add fresh berries, as shown in this recipe, or pair it with chocolate chips, other fruit, a dollop of Greek yogurt, or cheese for a savory route.
If you want a crunchy sweet snack that isn't super high in sugary additives or salt, which can be the case in packaged veggie and fruit chips, these cinnamon banana chips are perfect for satisfying your craving without overloading you on the sugar.
Brownies taste amazing with overripe bananas, as the bananas make a dense, rich, and indulgent brownie that works well with chocolate, peanut butter, and other types of fillings. These are actually pretty healthy, too, so no need to worry about breaking a diet here.
You can easily make a healthy banana muffin that has some natural sweetness and some leafy greens thrown in. This spinach banana muffin use overripe bananas to make a soft muffin that's perfect for lazy mornings. Feel free to swap for different greens like kale or swiss chard if you prefer.
This four-ingredient microwaveable peanut butter and banana oatmeal recipe involves peanut butter, bananas, oats, and a little milk to come together. It's delicious, and the peanut butter gives the oatmeal a fluffy, cake-like consistency.