20 Healthy Ripe Banana Recipes (that aren’t banana bread or smoothies!) - Snacking in Sneakers (2024)

Table of Contents

1. No Added Sugar Banana Raisin Oatmeal Cups from Better is the New Perfect 2. Blender Bliss Banana Date Oatmeal Cookies from Desi-licious RD 3. Banana Mug Cake from Snacking in Sneakers 4. Healthy Banana Peanut Butter Cookies from Snacking in Sneakers 5. Grain Free Banana Granola from A Saucy Kitchen 6. Healthy Banana Bread Granola from Lively Table 7. Healthy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies from Snacking in Sneakers 8. Quick Banana Salsa from Healing Tomato 9. Peanut Butter Banana Chia Pudding from Nutrition Starring You 10. Peanut Butter Banana Mocha S’mores Waffles from Eat Right Live Well 11. Flourless Gluten Free Banana Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting from The Athletic Avocado 12. Banana Oat Bars from The Lean Green Bean 13. Peanut Butter Banana Cups from A Virtual Vegan 14. Banana Date Granola Bars from A Saucy Kitchen 15. Banana Nut Butter Donuts from Raia’s Recipes 16. Pan Fried Cinnamon Bananas from Dizzy Busy and Hungry 17. Banana Blueberry Smoothie Pops from Kleinworth & Co. 18.Chocolate Banana Oat Bites from the Nutrition Adventure 19. Frozen Banana Bites from Snacking in Sneakers 20. Chocolate Almond Butter Overnight Oats fromApples for CJ FAQs References

These 20 healthy ripe banana recipes will ensure you always have something besides banana bread to make with those extra browning bananas!

Last month we had a little shindig for my son’s second birthday. I went with a Curious George theme – we made pizzas with the kids a la “Curious George and the Pizza Party” and we had a banana split bar for dessert. I definitely overbought bananas, though, and a week later we had some browning ones sitting on our counter begging to be used.

I set aside a bunch for smoothies, but still had quite a few to use up. Since I already had banana muffins stocked away in the freezer too, I needed something new. Something different than the traditional banana breads, banana muffins, smoothies, and nice creams (though all of those are awesome too!).

But in searching the web for recipes for ripe bananas other than banana bread, I was coming up a little short on healthy options. So I reached out to my fellow dietitian friends and food bloggers to find their favorite healthy ripe banana recipes!

Healthy is of course a subjective term, so some of these may be ‘healthy’ in a way that suits a need – like it’s allergen-friendly or vegan. But on the whole these are some good-for-ya, nutrient-rich options.

Next time you have some browning bananas sitting on your counter, whip up one of these recipes.

1. No Added Sugar Banana Raisin Oatmeal Cups from Better is the New Perfect

These baked oatmeal cups are perfect for snacking or an addition to your breakfast plate. There’s no added sugar; the sweetness naturally comes from the bananas and raisins.

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2. Blender Bliss Banana Date Oatmeal Cookies from Desi-licious RD

Another no added sugar recipe! To make these, just toss a few simple ingredients together in a blender then bake into chewy, wholesome cookies.

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3. Banana Mug Cake from Snacking in Sneakers

This easy to make mug cake is made with wholesome ingredients and packs in 8 grams of protein! It’s such a fun single-serving recipe to make with your overrip banans.

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4. Healthy Banana Peanut Butter Cookies from Snacking in Sneakers

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Just five simple ingredients make up these delicious cookies: banana, peanut butter, vanilla, maple syrup, and coconut flour. They’re naturally gluten free and easy to throw together when you’re craving a sweet treat.

5. Grain Free Banana Granola from A Saucy Kitchen

I would have never thought to use banana to sweeten a granola recipe but it’s brilliant. This version is grain free (but I’ve also made this recipe by cutting out the cashews and adding in a few cups of oats). It’s yummy, and probably one of my favorite recipes for ripe bananas other than banana bread.

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6. Healthy Banana Bread Granola from Lively Table

Another yummy banana granola recipe! This one includes a mixture of oats and nuts and has no added sugar. I love this one too.

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7. Healthy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies from Snacking in Sneakers

These babies are a great healthy ripe banana recipe – they’re kind of like a cookie-muffin top hybrid. They were a go-to sweet treat for me when I was nursing since they’re dairy, soy, and egg free! (They’re also nut free, so this is another recipe that’s ideal for many food allergies).

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8. Quick Banana Salsa from Healing Tomato

Banana in a salsa?! Count me in! (And serious bonus points for creativity). This version also has tomatoes, cucumbers, coconut, and more. I can’t wait to give it a whirl.

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9. Peanut Butter Banana Chia Pudding from Nutrition Starring You

A breakfast pudding that packs in 17 grams of plant-based protein and 18 grams of fiber? Heck yes!

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10. Peanut Butter Banana Mocha S’mores Waffles from Eat Right Live Well

S’mores waffles. Need I say more?!

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11. Flourless Gluten Free Banana Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting from The Athletic Avocado

For those of you looking for minimal ingredient, whole food dessert recipes – this is a nice one. The cake itself is just simple ingredients.

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12. Banana Oat Bars from The Lean Green Bean

This is one of my favorite recipes to make with my son. He loves them!

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13. Peanut Butter Banana Cups from A Virtual Vegan

I’ve been digging healthier peanut butter cup recipes lately. Probably because Easter just passed and those Reese’s eggs are a total temptation. But I like this version as a better-for-you option! This recipe only calls for 1 tbsp of added sugar thanks to the natural sweetening power of the bananas.

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14. Banana Date Granola Bars from A Saucy Kitchen

These bars have no added sugar, being naturally sweetened with dates and bananas. You can add an optional chocolate drizzle to the top (I highly recommend it, because – well, chocolate).

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15. Banana Nut Butter Donuts from Raia’s Recipes

I cannot wait to make these! For anyone with dietary limitations, these are grain free/gluten free and dairy free. They also contain no added sugar in the donut, and just a smidge of honey in the nut butter frosting. YUM. A perfect healthy ripe banana recipe!

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16. Pan Fried Cinnamon Bananas from Dizzy Busy and Hungry

What a yummy dessert that only requires a few ingredients! I’d use these with slightly overripe bananas – not ones that have become really mushy to the touch. You can also reduce or eliminate the sugar if you’d like to!

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17. Banana Blueberry Smoothie Pops from Kleinworth & Co.

This is one of the simplest recipes in this roundup – made with just three ingredients. I guess technically it’s a different version of a smoothie, but these looked so delish as popsicles that I wanted them in here!

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18.Chocolate Banana Oat Bites from the Nutrition Adventure

I’ve been all about the energy bites lately, so these will definitely be going down in my kitchen soon!

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19. Frozen Banana Bites from Snacking in Sneakers

Just three ingredients makes these amazing frozen snacks! I recommend making a big batch ahead of time on the weekend and then keeping them in a freezer bag and popping them out to snack on throughout the week.

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20. Chocolate Almond Butter Overnight Oats fromApples for CJ

Overnight oats are so convenient for a make-ahead breakfast (perfect for kids on busy school days or adults on busy workdays!). This version is vegan and gluten free.

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Share with me: Do you have any more ideas for other recipes for ripe bananas other than banana bread?!Which of these healthy ripe banana recipes are you dying to try? What do you usually make with your overripe bananas?

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Chrissy Carroll

Chrissy Carroll is a Registered Dietitian and USAT Level I Triathlon Coach. She specializes in sharing nutrition and fitness tips, as well as recipes, for runners, triathletes, and active women.Chrissy holds a Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition, a Masters Degree in Public Health, and is also an ACSM Certified Personal Trainer.

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FAQs

20 Healthy Ripe Banana Recipes (that aren’t banana bread or smoothies!) - Snacking in Sneakers? ›

They may improve your digestion and heart health, thanks to their fiber and antioxidant content. Plus, they may support weight loss because they're relatively low in calories, nutrient-dense, and filling. Both ripe (yellow) bananas and unripe (green) bananas can satisfy your sweet tooth and help keep you healthy.

Are ripe bananas good for you? ›

See Details ›

At what point is a banana not good to eat? ›

Mold on bananas is fuzzy white, gray, or greenish—it looks a lot like mold on bread. If a banana smells rotten or fermented or is leaking fluid, it's time to say goodbye. If the fruit inside, not just the peel, is black, that's a sign that your banana is too far gone to safely eat.

Learn More Now ›

What can I use instead of banana? ›

Banana Substitute

Ripe plantains.
Applesauce.
Avocado.
Sweet potato.
Pumpkin puree.
Greek yogurt.
Coconut cream.
Oats.

More items...

Feb 7, 2024

Can a banana be too ripe for a smoothie? ›

Using Bananas in Smoothies

Overripe bananas add sweetness and creaminess to smoothies. Use frozen bananas and you won't need to add ice! You can use overripe bananas in any smoothie recipe that calls for bananas.

Tell Me More ›

Can I eat 4 bananas a day? ›

How many bananas a day should you eat? While there's no strict rule, it's best not to eat more than one or two bananas a day. Eating more could lead to weight gain, as they contain both carbohydrates and sugar. Ensure you're eating a balanced diet by including a range of fresh fruits and vegetables.

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Is it OK to eat bruised banana? ›

The reaction does change the color as well as make the tissue feel softer or even mushy but it is not an indication that the fruit should no longer be eaten. The bruise is simply displeasing aesthetically but not a health hazard.

What's healthier than a banana? ›

Although bananas are a good source of potassium, many other nutritious foods, including sweet potatoes, legumes, and beets, offer more potassium per serving. Swiss chard, yams, and white beans even have twice as much potassium per cup as a medium banana.

Find Out More ›

What is the closest fruit to a banana? ›

1. Plantains: They belong to the same genus as bananas (Musa) and are often considered a type of banana, but they are typically larger and starchier. Plantains are commonly used in cooking and are a staple food in many tropical regions.

Keep Reading ›

What foods have the same texture as banana? ›

Smoothies: Avocados or Greek yogurt can provide the creamy texture that bananas usually contribute. Sweetening: Dates or figs can be an alternative for adding natural sweetness to recipes.

What can overripe bananas be used for? ›

What to Do with Overripe Bananas

Mash Into Oatmeal. Breakfast is a great time to take advantage of the energy boost that comes from eating the natural sugars in bananas. ...
Blend Into Waffle or Pancake Batter. ...
Make Banana Muffins. ...
Bake Banana Cookies. ...
Add to a Smoothie. ...
Turn Into Ice Cream. ...
Whip Up Beignets.

Mar 12, 2024

Can bananas be too ripe for a recipe? ›

If they smell off, that's another good indicator that they are no longer okay to use. Rotten bananas will often have a fermented or alcohol-like smell. While it's okay if the banana peel is dark brown or even black, if the inside is too, then the fruit is beyond ripe and now on its way to rotten.

Can bananas be too ripe for baking? ›

Bananas can go from yellow with brown spots to totally black and still be okay to eat and use for baking. In fact, black bananas are some of the best for making banana bread because they have developed more sugar as they sit around and therefore taste sweeter. They may also be moister, which is perfect for baked goods.

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Is it better to eat ripe or unripe bananas? ›

Underripe bananas contain more of the prebiotic fiber called resistant starch, while ripe bananas contain less. Which one should you eat? We say: eat both.

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What color banana is the healthiest? ›

Good for digestive health and the immune system

Green (unripe) = more starch, less sugar, promotes gut health. ...
Yellow (ripe) = more sugar, less starch, nutritious and easy to digest. ...
Brown (really ripe) = bursting with antioxidants and sugar — and perfect for mashing.

Get More Info ›

Are ripe bananas full of sugar? ›

Yellow, or ripe, bananas contain less resistant starch than green bananas, as well as more sugar, which is more quickly absorbed than starch. This means fully ripe bananas have a higher GI and will cause your blood sugar to rise faster than green unripe bananas ( 12 ).

Read On ›

Are bananas better raw or ripe? ›

Ripe or unripe bananas, both are good for health. You can eat either of them to improve your health. However, people with uncontrolled blood sugar levels must avoid eating ripe bananas. They can instead have unripe bananas in different forms.