36 Best-Ever Banana Recipes You Need To Bookmark Immediately

Let's get slicing and baking.

We're very aware that bananas are just fine and tasty to eat as they come—peel and reap the potassium-packed health rewards, right? But just as raw Brussels sprout slaw isn't as delicious as caramelized bacony Brussels sprouts straight out of the oven, bananas taste better when used in these delectable recipes. Instead of enjoying a banana "out of the peel," delight your taste buds and try baking a warm slice of banana nut bread or layering classic banana pudding with whipped cream. 

We've rounded up 36 delicious ways to use up all your bunches of ripe bananas before they spoil, from Nutella-swirled banana bread to banana pudding-inspired cheesecake to Elvis-approved peanut butter-banana pie. So you might want to grab an extra bunch or two—because these best-ever banana recipes will have you begging for more.

Banana Pudding Poke Cake

A poke cake topped with banana pudding? That's about as celebration-worthy as it gets. Make sure to enjoy every single banana-laden bite.

Peanut Butter-Banana Icebox Pie

Elvis would definitely approve, and that's all we need to know. This cool, creamy chocolate-drizzled dessert is sure to have you coming back for more. It combines a graham cracker crust, chocolate, peanut butter filling, and banana topping.

Banana Cake

The best-ever banana cake should be well-spiced and frosted with a heavy layer of cream cheese frosting. That's precisely the calling card of this insanely delicious sheet cake. The butter and sugar base upgrade this cake from a traditional banana cake recipe.

Mini Bananas Foster Sticky Buns

Saturday morning coffee pairs perfectly with these adorably miniature caramelized sticky buns. The sweetness instantly melts in your mouth, meaning you'll want more than one. Bananas just starting to show signs of ripeness—small brown dots—will create the sweetest sticky buns.

Banana Bread French Toast Casserole

Tell your usual brunch casserole to watch out—because there's a new heavy-hitter in town. Banana bread meets French toast in this fan-favorite breakfast bake. Make extra Honey-Banana Topping to enjoy on the side of your breakfast bake.

Chocolate-Banana Custard Pie

Bittersweet chocolate chips can make this pie less sweet if you prefer, but the ultra-rich chocolate custard transforms this dessert into an instant classic. Blind bake the pie crust or save time by purchasing a store-bought crust. After constructing the crust, the remaining recipe calls for layering and refrigerating before you enjoy.

Banana Pudding Cheesecake

You might never have known you needed this heavenly hybrid. Banana pudding gets an even creamier, more decadent twist with cheesecake filling. Crust made from vanilla wafers, chopped pecans, and butter is the perfect base for the smooth cheesecake filling, topped with sliced bananas and homemade whipped cream.

Nutella Banana Bread

We can get behind this upgrade to classic banana bread. After one slice, you won't be able to stop dreaming about those swirls of Nutella. Baking in a little over an hour, this nine-ingredient bread will be your family's new favorite.

Coconut-Banana Pudding

This time-honored treat gets a flavorful twist. From brunch to dessert, with an irresistible hit of coconut, this isn't your run-of-the-mill banana pudding. Store-bought vanilla wafers help this treat come together with only 30 minutes of hands-on time.

Banana Ice Cream

Homemade ice cream is a real treat, no matter the flavor. This recipe is extra creamy, custard-based, and packed with fresh banana flavors. None of that fake stuff! Banana split, anyone?

Banana Fritters

These quick and easy banana "beignets" are the ultimate brunch treat. The puffy and cinnamon-infused fritters pair easily with a scoop of ice cream or fresh fruit. Top with caramel drizzle or a light dusting of powdered sugar.

Banana Pudding Pie

No one ever said no to pie, right? So we made a sliceable banana pudding with a brown butter vanilla wafer crust and a thick, creamy custard filling. Substitute vanilla paste if you can't find a whole vanilla bean.

Banana Pancakes

Lightly spiced with cinnamon and just a little salty, these banana pancakes are guaranteed to take lazy Saturday morning breakfasts up a notch. Honey is the only added sweetener used in these pancakes. The naturally sweetened breakfast staple is fluffy and tender from using buttermilk.

Banana Nut Cake

An even fluffier, slightly sweeter version of banana bread, this cake recipe has all the things you love about the classic dish. But, lucky for us, it shifts decidedly more into the dessert category. With 15 minutes of active cooking time, you can have a nutty, sweet snack.

No-Bake Banana Split Pie

Transform the ultimate ice cream dessert into a cake that's just as sweet with this recipe. Start by using your food processor to chop chocolate cookies to combine with butter and form the pie's base. After, add layers of pudding, strawberries, and bananas, topped with whipped cream, chocolate sauce, and pecans.

Banana Cream Pie

Learn how to make this old-school diner dessert with almost as much panache as those waitresses in roller skates. While the total recipe time is long, the active cooking time is only slightly more than 20 minutes. Fresh bananas and crisp vanilla wafers will leave you wanting more.

New-Fashioned Banana Pudding

Are you tired of the same old banana pudding over and over again? Homemade vanilla custard, vanilla bean whipped cream, and a hint of nutmeg pack this banana pudding with flavors. It's so good it might just rival your Mama's traditional recipe.

Strawberry-Banana-Peanut Butter Smoothie

This smoothie might be the only healthy breakfast smoothie we actually want to make again and again. Peanut butter and banana make a dynamite duo. Add some strawberries, honey, and almond milk are you're ready to start your day.

Amy Grant's Banana Nut Bread

This classic banana bread recipe hits the spot every time. Plus, only 20 minutes of hands-on time makes it quick and easy enough to whip together on the fly. (If Amy Grant has time to make this, so do you.)

Brennan's Bananas Foster

Brennan's in New Orleans perfected this warm, caramelized classic treat—and now you can, too. No travel is required. It only takes six ingredients to create this masterpiece, served on top of vanilla ice cream.

Caramelized Banana Pudding

This toasted version of banana pudding almost tops Nana's famous recipe. (We said almost.) Caramelized bananas and meringue makes banana pudding feel even more special.

Bananas Foster Coffee Cake with Vanilla-Rum Sauce

This coffee cake is ideal for a special occasion. It takes a lesson from Brennan's famous bananas foster and tops it off with a sweetened rum glaze. Substitute extra cream for the rum in the sauce if you prefer.

Nutter Butter?-Banana Pudding Trifle

We combined two classics into one delicious dessert, then brought in Nutter Butter? sandwich cookies to add more flavor instead of the traditional vanilla wafer. Using on-hand staples such as milk, eggs, flour, and sugar, this homemade banana pudding trifle's flavor is enhanced by peanut butter sandwich cookies.

Strawberry-Banana Pudding Icebox Cake

You won't meet a fruit dessert as show-stopping as this perfect warm-weather icebox cake. Strawberries and bananas make a refreshing duo in the beloved graham cracker-layered dessert.

Quick & Tasty Banana Pudding

Ready in just 10 minutes and with only four ingredients, this super easy banana pudding recipe will save you in a pinch. Layers of bananas, whipped topping, vanilla pudding, and wafers help this dessert assemble quickly. Repeat the layers in individual serving glasses for a beautiful presentation.

Banana Daiquiri

If you like pi?a coladas, then you'll love these banana daiquiris. We can practically hear the ocean breeze already. You are five minutes away from a taste of the tropics.

Hummingbird Bundt Cake

We couldn't leave this Southern delicacy off the list. Make the classic Hummingbird Cake—or go with this fuss-free Bundt cake version instead. Either way, pineapple-studded, nutty heaven awaits with just a hint of extra moistness from your ripe bananas.

Cream Cheese-Banana-Nut Bread

This recipe makes two loaves of delicious bread, so it's perfect for enjoying one now and freezing one for later. Cream cheese adds a creamy twist to classic banana bread. Let the bread cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing.

Nana's Banana Bread Recipe

This banana bread takes 30 minutes of hands-on time to create a delicious and moist treat. The pillowy-soft quick bread uses banana chunks and a hint of lemon juice to enhance the fresh, fruity flavoring. Wrapping the bread after it cools, but is still warm, will help keep it moist.

Old-Fashioned Banana Pudding

Old-fashioned meringue is the secret ingredient to this classic banana pudding. This dessert is smooth, creamy, and decadent. Enjoy it warm or cold.

Skillet Baked Almond-and-Banana Oatmeal

Spruce up your morning oatmeal with this skillet version. This protein-packed breakfast, loaded with bananas and almond butter, is as delicious as nutritious. Like a bowl of oatmeal, this recipe is all about the toppings: cinnamon, honey, or fresh fruit.

Sour Cream Banana Bread With Pecan Streusel Topping

You'll love the smell of this banana bread baking in your oven. The sweet pecan-streusal topping adds the perfect amount of crunchy texture on top of this delicious loaf. Adding tangy sour cream to the batter enhances this cake's moisture.

Peanut Butter-Banana Bites

This no-bake recipe is reminiscent of cookie dough without raw eggs. The peanut butter and banana mixture combine with the perfect base made from quick oat flour, graham cracker crumbs, and flaxseed. Enjoy a sweet treat without a ton of added sugar.

Salted Caramel Banana Pudding

Do a double-take if you didn't think homemade banana pudding could get any better. This indulgent rendition, layered with slightly spiced Biscoff cookies, adds a shortcut salted caramel drizzle for extra sweetness. Scatter crumbled cookies on top of the whipped topping for some crunchy texture.

Banana Cream Donuts

While frying donuts may take some time, these brioche dough treats are worth the wait. Instant pudding makes this donut's filling easy to assemble. After frying, lightly coat each donut with a dusting of powdered sugar.

Banana Bread Cobbler

Create this banana bread cobbler with only six ingredients. Self-rising flour mixes with sugar and milk before combing with the melted butter to form the cobbler's light and sweet texture. Sliced bananas and streusel toppings elevate this quick bread into a dessert.

For more fruit-infused flavors, check out these 38 Sweet Strawberry Dessert Recipes.

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