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Bananas gone brown? Put them to good use in one of my many banana recipes! We’re going beyond the usual bread today with everything from banana cookies to banana cinnamon rolls.
The BEST Banana Recipes
My family has a knack for being very inconsistent with their banana consumption. Some weeks, the bananas disappear the day I buy them, while others sit on the counter til they are nearly unrecognizable. This predicament has led me to develop quite a few banana recipes. Most are perfect for scenario #2 above (the brown, overripe variety), but I do have a few for ripe, yellow bananas too!
If you only try one recipe from this list, let it be my banana muffin recipe. It’s been a top performer on my website for years, right alongside my pizza dough recipe and chocolate chip cookie recipe. They are truly the *best* banana muffins I’ve ever had, if not the best muffins, period. Try them with or without the streusel topping–you’ll love them either way! 🍌
1. Banana Muffins
My #1 banana recipe! These are incredibly popular. I also have sourdough banana muffins, if you bake with sourdough!
The Best Banana Muffin Recipe
Quick to make with NO mixer required! My recipe has a rich banana flavor and moist, fluffy texture.
BANANA MUFFIN RECIPE
2. Banana Cookies
These are especially good with toasted pecans folded into the dough–yum!
Banana Cookies
Skip the bread and make banana cookies instead! I carefully designed this recipe to have a chewy, classic cookie texture.
BANANA COOKIES RECIPE
3. Banana Bread
A classic! My recipe can handle add-ins like nuts or chocolate chips, though I do have a dedicated chocolate chip version recipe below.
The BEST Banana Bread
This recipe has an INCREDIBLE flavor! It’s made with brown sugar, buttermilk, vanilla, and plenty of bananas.
BANANA BREAD RECIPE
4. Banana Cake
Topped with silky smooth cream cheese frosting, this cake is a stunner.
The Best Banana Cake Recipe
This richly flavored banana cake has a plush, incredibly moist texture. It pairs beautifully with the silky smooth cream cheese frosting (balances the sweetness!).
BANANA CAKE RECIPE
5. Banana Pudding
One of my most popular no-bake desserts! You can even make it 100% homemade with my homemade vanilla wafers.
Homemade Banana Pudding (From Scratch!)
This 100% from-scratch recipe is far better than anything you can buy pre-made! It’s easy to make if you follow my tips.
BANANA PUDDING RECIPE
6. Chocolate Banana Muffins
Because sometimes you need a little chocolate for breakfast!
Chocolate Banana Muffins
I’ve perfected these muffins to have a rich flavor and soft, yet moist texture. Don’t miss my tricks for bakery-style muffin tops!
CHOCOLATE BANANA MUFFINS RECIPE
7. Banana Cinnamon Rolls
One of my newest banana recipes, these cinnamon rolls are incredible ✨
8. Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
So soft with plenty of chocolate! This recipe would be tasty with peanut butter chips thrown in the batter too.
Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
Super soft and simple, this bread will sweeten up any morning or afternoon. Add a sprinkle of coarse sugar overtop before baking for best results!
CHOCOLATE CHIP BANANA BREAD RECIPE
9. Banana Pancakes
If you are a fan of my buttermilk pancakes, try this banana-infused version! I actually ended up using a modified version of my pumpkin pancakes to perfect this recipe.
Banana Pancakes
Banana pancakes are like banana bread in pancake form! They are fluffy and packed full of banana flavor.
BANANA PANCAKES RECIPE
10. Banana Brownies
Classic, fudgy homemade brownies with an incredible banana flavor–this is one of the simplest and most satisfy banana recipes!
Banana Brownies
With only 15 minutes of prep and no mixer required, this recipe is incredibly easy to make. Feel free to add your favorite nuts or chocolate chips!
BANANA BROWNIES RECIPE
11. Banana Cream Pie
One of my go-to pie recipes! Don’t forget the homemade whipped cream on top 🤍
Banana Cream Pie Recipe
My banana cream pie starts with a vanilla wafer crust for the BEST flavor! We’ll top it with homemade pudding, plenty of bananas, and homemade whipped cream.
BANANA CREAM PIE RECIPE
12. Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins
These make a wonderful school snack, especially if you make them mini!
Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins
No mixer and just 10 minutes to prep! This recipe is great for busy mornings when you need something quick.
CHOCOLATE CHIP BANANA MUFFINS
13. Banana Coffee Cake
A fun take on classic cinnamon coffee cake, this banana version will be a hit at any brunch!
Banana Coffee Cake
This banana coffee cake is topped with a pecan and chocolate spiced streusel. It’s unique and so good!
BANANA COFFEE CAKE RECIPE
14. Chocolate Banana Bread
Similar to my chocolate zucchini bread, this recipe has a rich chocolate flavor and moist, tender texture.
Chocolate Banana Bread
This richly flavored bread is a chocolatey twist on the classic. It freezes beautifully–great for grab-and-go snacking!
CHOCOLATE BANANA BREAD RECIPE
15. Banana Bread Cookies
Of all the banana recipes in this list, this one might just be my favorite. It’s a thick, chewy gourmet cookie.
Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Cookies
These cookies have a brown butter base and classic add-ins like chocolate chips and pecans. No mixer or chilling needed!
BANANA BREAD COOKIES RECIPE
16. Banana Cupcakes
I top these with my brown butter frosting for a gourmet flavor.
Banana Cupcake Recipe
Perfect for parties, these banana cupcakes are ready in under an hour. No mixer needed for the batter!
BANANA CUPCAKE RECIPE
17. Nutella Banana Bread
Nutella fans will love the thick, chocolatey swirls in (and on top of!) this bread. Psst: if you love Nutella, try my Nutella cheesecake, too!
Nutella Banana Bread
Nutella and banana are a match made in heaven, and this recipe pairs the two in a unique way. Only 15 minutes to prep!
NUTELLA BANANA BREAD RECIPE
18. Hummingbird Cake
There are so many flavors happening in this cake–bananas, pineapple, cinnamon, pecans, cream cheese, and more.
Hummingbird Cake Recipe
This hummingbird cake is FULL of flavor! It’s frosted with cream cheese frosting and slices beautifully.
HUMMINGBIRD CAKE RECIPE
19. Banana Nut Muffins
A nutty twist on my classic muffins, these have a brown butter infusion that is just divine.
Banana Nut Muffins
Bakery-style banana nut muffins are a surefire way to spice up your morning! They bake tall with beautiful rounded muffin tops.
BANANA NUT MUFFINS RECIPE
Frequently Asked Questions
If your bananas are simply brown and soft, they are ideal for using in one of these banana recipes! However, if your bananas are moldy, smell off, or are releasing juice, they are too ripe and should be thrown away.
My banana cake and hummingbird cake both use about 2 cups of bananas (typically 4 large bananas). Most of my banana breads and muffins use just shy of that at 1 ½ cups or 3 large bananas. My banana cinnamon rolls are also a good option, as they use 1 ½ cups in the dough and an additional banana in the filling.
If your bananas are firm and still yellow (no brown), you can make something that doesn’t require cooking the bananas, like banana pudding or banana cream pie.
Serious Eats has a trick to quickly ripen bananas, if you need to use your bananas for one of the baked banana recipes above.
Do you have any requests for more banana recipes? Comment below so I can add them to my list! 🍌
Enjoy!
If you try any of these recipes, be sure to tag me on Instagram, and you can also find me on YouTube and Facebook
