Overripe bananas are a secret weapon in the kitchen. When your bananas are too brown to eat but too good to toss, it’s the perfect time to transform them into something delicious. From fluffy banana pancakes to indulgent Nutella banana bread, there’s no shortage of ways to put those sweet, speckled bananas to good use.
Table of Contents
Over the years, I have tried many overripe banana recipes, and these are the best easy recipes with ripe bananas. I have rated each of these 5 stars in my recipe rating system.
I’ve listed these in banana order based on the number of bananas you need for the recipe.
1 Banana: Egg Substitute in Baking
What To do with one overripe banana?
One overripe banana can replace two eggs in baking. It’s an easy, egg-free swap for cookies, muffins, and more that will add just a touch more sweetness than if you had used eggs.
If you’re using a an electric mixer, just throw that soft banana in and let the mixer do the mashing. Otherwise mash it with a fork or whisk.
In addition to sweetness, the banana does add a hint of banana flavor, so be sure to use it in a recipe where a hint of banana would be welcome.
2 Bananas: Banana Pancakes by All Recipes
This is an excellent pancake recipe. I would probably choose this over standard pancakes. They’re that good.
3 Bananas: One-Bowl Nutella Banana Bread by Knitrition
4-5 Bananas: Banana-Walnut Muffins by America’s Test Kitchen
Banana Walnut Muffins from cooksillustrated.com (aka America’s Test Kitchen): I’ve tried countless banana muffin recipes over the years, this is the one. (It’s in this cookbook if you can’t access the online recipe.) Feel free to sub the walnuts out for pecans, peanuts, etc. or leave them out altogether.
There’s a slight variation available for Peanut Butter Banana Muffins, and it’s excellent, too, when you want a non-traditional, less sweet banana muffin.
Final Thoughts
I hope you try these easy banana recipes! Each one pairs beautifully with an iced latte.
Transforming overripe bananas into delightful dishes is both satisfying and sustainable. I hope these recipes inspire you to get creative in the kitchen. Do you have a favorite banana recipe?
If you’re interested, I have recommendations for cookbooks, kitchen gadgets, and other recipes, too.
Enjoy!
