Never Throw Away a Banana Again With These 30+ Easy Recipes

Bananas are one of the most affordable and filling fruits you can buy at the grocery store, making them a great raw snack or addition to baked goods. Since you usually buy them as a hand (the technical term for a bunch of bananas), you might not be able to finish them all before they go bad. But have no fear — we've compiled a list of 39 easy and delicious banana recipes so you'll never have to throw one away again. We've included everything from tasty smoothies and faux ice cream to decadent renditions of banana bread and brownies, so come on, get peeling.

01
Banana Bread Brownies
Self Proclaimed Foodie

Banana Bread Brownies

A drool-worthy combination of banana bread and brownies, this recipe is ridiculously simple to make and takes the same amount of time as a normal tray of brownies, so there's no excuse not to make it!

02
Caramelized Banana Oatmeal
Pinch of Yum

Caramelized Banana Oatmeal

Upgrade your breakfast with this healthy yet satisfying oatmeal recipe that takes plain old bananas to the next level.

03
Banana Muffins With Olive Oil and Dark Chocolate
How Sweet Eats

Banana Muffins With Olive Oil and Dark Chocolate

Switching out butter for olive oil gives these muffins a complex flavor that you won't get tired of. It's such a simple hack that makes a world of difference!

04
Vegan Caramelized Banana Chocolate Almond Butter Cups
Cotter Crunch

Vegan Caramelized Banana Chocolate Almond Butter Cups

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.

05
Rum-Caramelized Banana Berry Nut Crumble
Host the Toast

Rum-Caramelized Banana Berry Nut Crumble

This slightly boozy treat looks harder to make than it actually is. Serve with freshly whipped cream or ice cream for a showstopping dessert.

06
Banana and Chocolate Chia Cream Pie Parfaits
Half Baked Harvest

Banana and Chocolate Chia Cream Pie Parfaits

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.

07
5-Ingredient Nutella Banana Bread
Host the Toast

5-Ingredient Nutella Banana Bread

Nutella makes everything better, including banana bread. With only five ingredients, this is a great recipe for those who don't want a hectic trip to the store.

08
Vegan Banana Matcha Smoothie
Food Faith Fitness

Vegan Banana Matcha Smoothie

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.

09
Mini Chocolate-Covered Frozen Bananas With Almonds
She Likes Food

Mini Chocolate-Covered Frozen Bananas With Almonds

The perfect treat for anyone looking to get ice cream out of their system, these chocolate-covered bananas last for weeks and are perfect for snacking.

10
Paleo Banana Bread With a Chocolate Cinnamon Swirl
A Saucy Kitchen

Paleo Banana Bread With a Chocolate Cinnamon Swirl

This banana bread recipe is great for breakfast or dessert. Plus, it looks good too!

11
Creamy Coconut Banana Ice Cream
Get Inspired Everyday

Creamy Coconut Banana Ice Cream

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!

12
Banana Pudding Cake
Crazy For Crust

Banana Pudding Cake

This is how you take regular boxed cake mix to the next level. With Cool Whip and bananas, this recipe produces a moist cake that is both tangy and sweet.

13
Banana and Salted Caramel Tart
Tales of a Kitchen

Banana and Salted Caramel Tart

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.

14
Frozen Banana Ice Cream Bars
Love and Olive Oil

Frozen Banana Ice Cream Bars

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.

15
Strawberry Banana Fruit Leather
Fit Foodie Finds

Strawberry Banana Fruit Leather

Perfect for snacking or taking on the road, this strawberry and banana fruit leather is a great alternative to the artificial and too-sweet one you'd find in the grocery store. Take your time when making this recipe as you don't want to rush the dehydrating process.

16
Strawberry Banana Nice Cream Breakfast Bowls
Get Inspired Every Day

Strawberry Banana Nice Cream Breakfast Bowls

Strawberries and bananas are a match made in fruit heaven, so it's no surprise that they would make a great nice cream flavor.

17
Banana Nut Overnight Oats
Life Made Sweeter

Banana Nut Overnight Oats

Overnight oats are great for breakfast on the go. With rolled oats, nut butter, and chia seeds, this is not only a healthy meal but a filling one as well.

18
Whole-Wheat Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Pancakes
Tastes Better From Scratch

Whole-Wheat Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Pancakes

It's time to throw out your boxed pancake mix and make it from scratch instead. Perfect for those brown bananas that are a little too ripe to eat raw, this recipe can also be prepared beforehand by prepping the dry ingredients and keeping them in a sealed container.

19
Mixed Berry Banana Bread
Inspired by Charm

Mixed Berry Banana Bread

The addition of berries adds tartness to this otherwise simple recipe, and the fact that they can be bought frozen makes your job even easier!

20
Banana Nut Smoothie Bowl
Creme de la Crumb

Banana Nut Smoothie Bowl

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 bowl is going to feel less like breakfast and more like dessert.

21
Chocolate Banana Tahini Popsicles
Snixy Kitchen

Chocolate Banana Tahini Popsicles

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.

22
Caramel Macchiato Banana Bread
Averie Cooks

Caramel Macchiato Banana Bread

Infused with salted caramel and topped with a brown sugar glaze, this caffeinated banana bread is like nothing you've ever had before.

23
Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Averie Cooks

Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

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.

24
Dairy-Free Paleo Banana Pudding Pops
Food Faith Fitness

Dairy-Free Paleo Banana Pudding Pops

These dairy-free pudding pops have an assortment of berries in them, creating a beautiful presentation that begs to be photographed.

25
Tropical Acai Bowl
Cookie and Kate

Tropical Acai Bowl

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.

26
Skillet Banana Cake
Inspired by Charm

Skillet Banana Cake

You finally have a reason to whip out that cast-iron skillet you bought last year (but still haven't used). The ooey-gooey topping on this cake is loaded with flavors and textures, and we highly recommend topping it with ice cream.

27
6-Banana Banana Chocolate Chip Cake
Averie Cooks

6-Banana Banana Chocolate Chip Cake

This super recipe is a great choice if you have a bunch of bananas that are past their prime and you aren't sure what to use them for. Made in one bowl, the cleanup for this is effortless.

29
Peanut Butter Energy Balls
The Cookie Rookie

Peanut Butter Energy Balls

The perfect midday snack for when you feel like taking a nap, these no-bake energy bites are so easy to make, even your kids can help!

30
Strawberry Banana Smoothie
Downshiftology

Strawberry Banana Smoothie

This colorful drink is loaded with fresh fruits and can easily be made vegan if you don't want to use Greek yogurt and milk. Make it for breakfast and start your day off on a high and healthy note.

31
Triple Chocolate Banana Bread
Self Proclaimed Foodie

Triple Chocolate Banana Bread

This superchocolaty banana bread is perfect for a chilly morning. With cocoa powder, chocolate chunks, and mini chocolate chips, it's a great sweet snack.

32
Banana Pancakes
Self Proclaimed Foodie

Banana Pancakes

Why buy a boxed pancake mix when you can make your own? This recipe will make some of the fluffiest pancakes you've ever had, and they taste great with lots of maple syrup.

33
Peanut Butter-Banana Upside-Down Cake
Spicy Southern Kitchen

Peanut Butter-Banana Upside-Down Cake

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 kids will definitely ask for seconds.

34
Mini Banana Cheesecakes
Lemons for Lulu

Mini Banana Cheesecakes

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.

35
Tropical Fruit Smoothie
Laylita

Tropical Fruit Smoothie

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.

36
Carrot Cake Banana Bread
Self Proclaimed Foodie

Carrot Cake Banana Bread

Who would've thought that carrot cake and banana bread would work so well together? The cream cheese glaze brings out the flavor of the carrots, while the banana adds moisture.

37
Breakfast Banoffee Parfait
Wallflower Kitchen

Breakfast Banoffee Parfait

Vegan and gluten-free, this tasty parfait takes less than 10 minutes to make and assemble. The date sauce is surprisingly rich, while the dairy-free coconut yogurt adds creaminess and a fun flavor.

38
Chocolate Chip Olive Oil Zucchini Banana Bread
Half Baked Harvest

Chocolate Chip Olive Oil Zucchini Banana Bread

This sweet treat is perfect for the picky eaters in your life. By sneaking in the zucchini, you're getting tons of added health benefits, while the chocolate chips make the vegetable flavor completely disappear.