11 Awesome Ways to Use Overripe Bananas

Banana bread calls for overripe bananas, and you sure can't go wrong with making a loaf or two to keep on hand for easy, portable breakfasts or a sweet but healthy dessert. This banana apple chunk bread is actually pretty good for you, as it's fewer than 150 calories a slice and has walnuts for extra fats and fiber.

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).

There's nothing wrong with using an overripe banana in a smoothie, as it lends a thick base that adds consistency to help keep you fuller longer. 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 still use that same ripened banana in creating a great base to then pair with toppings of your choice. You can go with fresh berries, as shown in this recipe, or you can pair 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 that make your baked good sweet and satisfying. Yet these are actually pretty healthy, too, so no need to worry about breaking a diet here.

If you need banana bread that's really high in protein, this one does the trick. Mashed banana works with protein powder really well, and it's a great recovery snack post-workout. The sweet potato also helps replenish lost electrolyte stores, too. Feel free to change the nut toppings if you like.

You can easily make a healthy banana muffin that has some natural sweetness and some leafy greens thrown in. This spinach banana muffin uses 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.