10+ Banana Recipes to Brighten Your Snack Time

Bananas are one of those fruits that just fit into everything. Whether you’ve got perfectly ripe ones or a few that are a little too spotty, you can always find a way to use them.

You can turn bananas into a variety of dishes that suit your taste and mood.

If you’re looking for ideas, banana recipes can spark some inspiration for snacks, desserts, or even breakfast. Tossing bananas into your cooking adds a bit of natural sweetness and some nutrition—without much hassle.

1) Classic Moist Banana Bread

Banana bread is a classic for a reason. Ripe bananas, butter, brown sugar, and eggs come together to make a loaf that’s moist and full of flavor.

You don’t need fancy gadgets—just a bowl and a spoon. Toss in walnuts or chocolate chips if you’re feeling fancy.

It’s the kind of thing you can slice up for breakfast or share as a snack. I mean, who doesn’t like fresh banana bread?

Ingredients

• 4 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1/2 cup (113g) butter, melted
• 1 cup (200g) brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups (190g) all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• Optional: 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or chocolate chips

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix mashed bananas, melted butter, and brown sugar in a bowl.
3. Beat in eggs.
4. Add flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir until just combined.
5. Fold in walnuts or chocolate chips if you want.
6. Pour batter into a greased loaf pan.
7. Bake for about 60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
8. Let it cool before slicing.

2) Vegan Banana Bars with Peanut Butter

Vegan banana bars are so simple—and they taste great. Bananas bring the sweetness, so you don’t have to dump in extra sugar.

Peanut butter makes these bars creamy and adds some protein. They’re gluten-free and packed with fiber from oats.

You only need a handful of ingredients, which is always a win. Add chocolate chips or nuts if you want to jazz them up.

They keep well in the fridge, so make a batch and snack all week.

Ingredients

• 3 ripe bananas
• 1/4 cup natural peanut butter
• 1 1/4 cups quick oats
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mash bananas in a bowl until smooth.
3. Stir in peanut butter and vanilla.
4. Add oats and salt, mix until combined.
5. Pour into a lined baking pan.
6. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden.
7. Let cool, then cut into bars.

3) Banana Pudding Parfait

Banana pudding parfait is just fun. You layer creamy banana pudding, fresh banana slices, and crunchy cookies or oats.

That mix of soft and crunchy is pretty satisfying. You can splash in some rum or vanilla for extra flavor.

It’s quick, it’s easy, and you can even throw in strawberries if you’re feeling wild. Kids and adults both love it.

Ingredients:

• 3 ripe bananas, sliced
• 2 cups vanilla pudding (store-bought or homemade)
• 1 cup vanilla wafers or crunchy oats
• 1 teaspoon rum extract or vanilla extract (optional)

Cooking Instructions:

1. Mix vanilla pudding with rum or vanilla extract if you’re using it.
2. In glasses, layer pudding, banana slices, and cookies or oats.
3. Keep layering until the glass is full.
4. Chill in the fridge for about an hour before serving.

4) Banana Crème Pie

Banana Crème Pie brings a creamy, smooth dessert packed with banana flavor. Start with a flaky pie crust and fill it with vanilla custard or pastry cream.

Add sliced bananas and finish it off with whipped cream. The pie tastes best chilled so the filling sets up nicely.

You can use a regular crust or swap in a cookie crust if you want. The filling’s made from scratch with milk, sugar, eggs, and vanilla.

Ingredients:

• 1 pie crust (flaky or cookie crust)
• 3-4 ripe bananas
• 2 cups whole milk
• ½ cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 4 large egg yolks
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar

Cooking Instructions:

1. Bake your pie crust and let it cool.
2. In a saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch. Slowly whisk in milk and cook over medium heat until thick.
3. Temper egg yolks with a bit of the hot mixture, then stir back into saucepan. Cook for 2 more minutes.
4. Take it off the heat, stir in vanilla, and let it cool a bit.
5. Slice bananas and lay them in the crust. Pour the custard over.
6. Whip cream with powdered sugar until soft peaks form, then spread or pipe on top.
7. Chill for at least 4 hours before serving.

For more details, check this banana cream pie recipe.

5) Frozen Banana Smoothie Bites

Frozen banana smoothie bites are such a good snack when you want something cold and fruity. Just blend ripe frozen bananas with strawberries and your favorite plant milk.

Pour the mix into small molds and freeze. The result? Creamy, fruity bites perfect for hot days.

You can use soy milk or any plant milk you like. A spoonful of hemp seeds adds nutrition, but you won’t really taste them.

Ingredients

• 1 ripe frozen banana
• 4 chopped strawberries
• 1 to 1.5 cups soy milk or plant-based milk
• 1 tablespoon hemp seeds (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Blend banana, strawberries, milk, and hemp seeds until smooth.
2. Pour into silicone molds or a lined tray.
3. Freeze for at least 3 hours, until solid.
4. Pop them out and enjoy cold.

6) Chocolate Espresso Banana Cake

If you love chocolate and bananas, this cake is a must-try. Mashed bananas keep it moist, and espresso powder adds a subtle coffee kick.

The chocolate and espresso together make for a bold, rich flavor. You can add a simple frosting, or just eat it as-is.

Ingredients

• 1 cup mashed ripe bananas
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 tsp espresso powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup buttermilk

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Cream butter and sugar until light.
3. Add eggs one by one, mixing each in.
4. Stir in mashed bananas.
5. In another bowl, sift flour, cocoa, espresso, baking soda, and salt.
6. Add dry mix and buttermilk to the wet ingredients, alternating.
7. Pour into a greased loaf pan.
8. Bake 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
9. Let it cool before slicing.

Try this for a fun twist on banana cake! Check out this Chocolate Espresso Banana Cake recipe.

7) Peanut Butter Banana Muffins

Peanut butter banana muffins are a go-to for me. They mix ripe bananas’ sweetness with creamy peanut butter for a snack that’s hard to resist.

You can use regular flour, or swap in whole wheat or Greek yogurt if you want to make them a little healthier. The muffins bake up soft and nutty.

Just mix wet and dry ingredients separately, then combine gently. Bake them until they’re golden and your kitchen smells amazing.

Ingredients

• 2 ripe bananas
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup milk or dairy-free milk

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Grease or line a muffin tin.
3. Mash bananas in a bowl.
4. Stir in peanut butter, eggs, honey, and milk.
5. In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
6. Add dry to wet ingredients and stir until just mixed.
7. Spoon batter into muffin cups, about 2/3 full.
8. Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
9. Let them cool before eating.

You’ll find more ideas and variations at Peanut Butter Banana Muffins – Sally’s Baking Addiction.

8) Banana Nut Loaf

Banana nut loaf is a classic, and it’s hard to beat that combo of moist banana and crunchy nuts. Ripe bananas, a little sugar, and your favorite nuts—simple, but so good.

Start by creaming butter and sugar for a soft batter. Add eggs and bananas, then fold in the dry stuff and nuts.

Bake in a greased pan at 350°F (175°C) for about an hour. Perfect for breakfast, snacks, or sneaking a slice for dessert.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 3 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Cream the butter and sugar together until smooth.

3. Add the eggs one at a time.

4. Mix well after each addition.

5. Stir in the mashed bananas.

6. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt.

7. Add the dry mix to the wet ingredients.

8. Stir until just combined.

9. Gently fold in the nuts.

10. Pour the batter into a greased loaf pan.

11. Bake for about 60 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

12. Let it cool before you slice it up.

9) Healthy Banana Pancakes

These healthy banana pancakes are honestly a breeze to whip up. You just need ripe bananas, eggs, and a bit of flour—nothing fancy.

If you’re into cinnamon, toss some in for a little extra flavor. The bananas bring enough sweetness, so you don’t really need to add sugar.

They turn out fluffy and are perfect if you want breakfast fast.

Just cook them in a pan with a little butter or coconut oil.
Flip once they’re golden on both sides.

Serve with fresh fruit or maybe a drizzle of honey if you’re in the mood.

Ingredients

• 1 ripe banana, mashed
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons oat flour or whole-grain flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• A pinch of salt
• A dash of cinnamon (optional)
• Butter or coconut oil for cooking

Cooking Instructions

1. Mash the banana in a bowl until it’s mostly smooth.

2. Beat the eggs and mix them into the banana.

3. Add the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.

4. Stir until everything’s combined.

5. Heat a pan over medium.

6. Add a bit of butter or coconut oil.

7. Pour small scoops of batter into the pan.

8. Cook for about 2–3 minutes per side, or until golden.

9. Serve warm.

Check out more ideas for healthy banana pancakes at this banana pancakes recipe page.

10) Banana Skillet Cake with Chocolate

This banana skillet cake is honestly a fun way to use up ripe bananas, especially if you’re craving something with chocolate. You get a moist, flavorful dessert, and it’s surprisingly easy.

Bake it right in the skillet—yeah, less cleanup.
The center stays soft and warm, which just feels cozy.

Chocolate brings a rich contrast to the sweet bananas.
If you want more flavor, add brown sugar, vanilla, or even a touch of nutmeg.

Chocolate chips or a fudge layer? Go for it.
It’s your cake, after all.

Ingredients

• 3 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Grab a bowl and mash up those bananas. Toss in the brown sugar, melted butter, and a splash of vanilla.

3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and a pinch of nutmeg.

4. Pour the dry mix into the wet stuff. Stir gently—don’t overdo it.

5. Fold in the chocolate chips. That’s the good part.

6. Grease your skillet and pour in the batter.

7. Bake for about 30-35 minutes. Check with a toothpick—if it comes out clean, you’re golden.

8. Let it cool a bit before you dig in.

This recipe’s perfect when you’re craving that banana-chocolate combo. Honestly, who isn’t?

For something similar, take a look at this banana skillet cake with chocolate chips.