9 Ways to Use up Those Overripe Bananas That Isn't Just Banana Bread

Go Beyond Banana Bread

By
Erin Huffstetler
Erin Huffstetler
Erin Huffstetler is a writer with experience writing about easy ways to save money at home.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 06/21/20
Banana Pudding Cake

 Kristina Vanni

Those beautiful, just a tiny bit green bananas you bought just a few days ago all of a sudden are overripe and too soft to eat. That's a positive development if you love the foods you can only make with bananas that are soft, like banana bread, banana smoothies, banana pancakes, and banana pudding. And who doesn't adore banana cream pie? Here are some tasty ways to take advantage of your overripe bananas.

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  • 01 of 09

    Banana Bread

    banana bread with butter
    Diana Rattray

    Overripe bananas are great for adding moisture and flavor to bread recipes. Banana bread is a tasty treat for breakfast and a relatively healthful dessert, thanks to those potassium-packed bananas. You can even freeze extra loaves to eat later. Just wrap them well, and they should freeze beautifully.

  • 02 of 09

    Banana Cake

    Banana Cake With Banana Frosting

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

    Bananas can take the place of some of the oil in cake recipes, making them lower in fat, without sacrificing any flavor. In fact, adding bananas actually makes a cake taste better. You can also add bananas to buttercream frosting for a full-on sweet banana dessert experience.

  • 03 of 09

    Banana Pudding Cake

    Banana Pudding Cake

     Kristina Vanni

    This dessert recipe is the best of both worlds as it combines a moist, flavorful cake with a sweet pudding. Ripe bananas are folded into the cake batter, and once baked, the cake is covered with vanilla pudding, a layer of sliced banana, whipped cream, and crushed vanilla wafer cookies.

  • 04 of 09

    Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

    Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

     Kristina Vanni

    Take a typical banana chocolate chip muffin recipe up a notch with the addition of cocoa powder in the batter. Cocoa is mixed with melted butter and water and incorporated into the wet ingredients and mashed ripe banana. Once the batter is combined chocolate chips are added. Dust the baked muffins with powdered sugar for a pretty finishing touch.

    Continue to 5 of 9 below.
  • 05 of 09

    Banana Oatmeal Cookies

    Banana Oatmeal Cookies

     Kristina Vanni 

    Great for breakfast and after-school snacks, these banana oatmeal cookies are an optimal way to use up those ripe bananas while pleasing the whole family.

  • 06 of 09

    Banana Ice Cream

    Banana ice cream in a serving bowl with whipped cream and a cherry

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni 

    This unbelievably creamy banana ice cream is made with just one ingredient—ripe bananas. It's a vegan, gluten-free, non-dairy dessert with no added sugar, and none of the flakiness or iciness of other frozen fruit ice creams.

  • 07 of 09

    Banana Smoothies and Milkshakes

    Banana smoothie recipe

    The Spruce / Nita West

    Bananas give smoothies and milkshakes a creamy texture and add just enough sweetness than you can often skip adding sugar to the recipe. Freeze the bananas before you toss them in the blender for the best results in these super-quick recipes.

  • 08 of 09

    Banana Puddings and Custards

    banana pudding
    Diana Rattray

    Whip up a quick banana pudding to enjoy with tonight's dinner. This dessert with Southern roots is simple but elegant, with a garnish of sliced bananas and a little (or a lot of) whipped cream.

    Continue to 9 of 9 below.
  • 09 of 09

    Banana Cream Pie

    Banana cream pie with sweet tea shot overhead
    Lew Robertson / Getty Images

    Banana cream pie is at the top of the list of just about everyone's favorite kinds of pie. It's especially good in the summertime but, really, who cares what season it is.