25 Healthy Recipes to Make with a Bunch of Ripe Bananas (2024)

Do you have some black and mushy bananas sitting on the counter? Thought they were doomed for the dumpster? Think again! Those overripe bananas are perfect for these healthy recipes. From freezing them for smoothies to mixing them into the batter the next time you make pancakes—recipes like our Banana-Bran Muffins and 2-Ingredient Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream are our favorite healthy ways to use up the bunch.

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Blueberry-Banana Overnight Oats

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Blueberries, sweet banana and creamy coconut milk combine to turn everyday oatmeal into the best vegan overnight oats! Make up to four jars at once to keep in the fridge for quick grab-and-go breakfasts throughout the week.

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Banana-Bran Muffins

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By the end of the week, any bananas left in the fruit bowl are past their prime—just right for these moist bran muffins. Add a handful of dark chocolate chips to enhance this fiber-rich treat.

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2-Ingredient Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream

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Whir up frozen bananas into an "ice cream" without the cream! Peanut butter adds a natural swirl of flavor for a sweet and satisfying dessert with no added sugar.

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Banana-Blueberry Buttermilk Bread

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The slight acidity of buttermilk tenderizes and moistens baked goods while allowing you to cut way back on butter or oils. Here, it also lends a slight tanginess to the winning combination of bananas and blueberries.

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Banana-Chocolate Chip Pancakes

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This healthy whole-grain buttermilk pancake recipe adds mini-chocolate chips and mashed banana to the 100% whole-wheat flour base. If you want to experiment with different types of whole grains, replace up to 1/2 cup of the whole-wheat flour with cornmeal, oats and/or buckwheat flour. Or add extra fiber and healthy omega-3 fats by adding up to 3 tablespoons of ground flaxseed or chia seeds.

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Baked Banana-Nut Oatmeal Cups

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Muffins meet oatmeal in these moist and tasty grab-and-go oatmeal cups.

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Healthy Banana Bread

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Got leftover bananas? Give everyone's favorite baked good recipe a healthy whole-wheat spin with this easy banana bread recipe.

Chocolate-Banana Protein Smoothie

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Red lentils give this smoothie a plant-based protein boost. To make this smoothie vegan, try using unsweetened coconut beverage or almond milk in place of the dairy milk.

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Banana Protein Muffins

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These healthy banana muffins are packed with protein thanks to ingredients like peanut butter and Greek yogurt, while white whole-wheat flour gives them a fiber boost. Serve them for breakfast or for a grab-and-go snack.

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Banana Bread French Toast

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Take banana bread to the next level when you soak it in a classic French toast batter and fry it for an impressive (but oh so easy!) breakfast or brunch. Top with chopped walnuts, sliced bananas and maple syrup for extra decadence.

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Banana Energy Bites

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Perfect for an on-the-go breakfast or snack, these energy bites will keep you fueled.

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Classic Banana Bread

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This versatile bread is the perfect on-the-go breakfast, gift for a host or holiday gift. Top it with whatever you like, and even throw in some additional ingredients like chocolate chips. It's the bread that everyone can get behind. Banana bread should form a crack down the center as it bakes—a sign the baking soda is doing its job. Serve toasted with a smear of cream cheese, Greek yogurt or peanut butter and top with mixed nuts, if desired.

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No-Sugar-Added Vegan Oatmeal Cookies

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Soft, chewy and no added sugar! Sweeten these classic oatmeal cookies with ripe bananas and raisins or dates. Plus, a touch of nut butter adds lots of flavor and holds the cookies together while keeping them vegan and gluten-free.

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Banana-Chocolate Chip Cake

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Overripe bananas are naturally sweet, so you can use less sugar to make this cake.

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Banana-Coconut Bread

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A unique take on banana bread, this recipe introduces the banana-coconut flavor combination. This creative, diabetes-friendly recipe is the perfect solution for using overripe bananas and is easy to make.

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Oatmeal Banana Bread

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This oatmeal banana bread features old-fashioned oats, which provide texture. This banana bread is subtly sweet and well-balanced, making it perfect for teatime, breakfast time and anything in between.

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Zucchini Banana Bread

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Shredded zucchini and mashed banana complement each other, ensuring that this wholesome loaf stays nice and moist. The banana adds sweetness to this quick-bread mashup for just the right flavor without too much added sugar.

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Banana-Blueberry Muffins

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The muffin version of our Banana-Blueberry Buttermilk Bread is easy to grab and eat on the go.

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Two-Ingredient Banana Pancakes

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These delicious and unbelievably simple pancakes are best enjoyed right after cooking. With just eggs and a banana, you can have healthy grain-free pancakes with no added sugar. Serve with maple syrup and yogurt or ricotta cheese to add in some protein.

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Chocolate-Peanut Butter Protein Shake

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This creamy high-protein shake will keep you satisfied for hours and tastes like a chocolate-peanut butter banana milkshake. You don't even need to add protein powder, thanks to the naturally occurring protein in the soymilk, Greek yogurt and peanut butter.

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Strawberry-Blueberry-Banana Smoothie

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A smoothie with strawberries, blueberries and banana is delicately sweet and entirely kid-friendly, even with a boost of protein from hempseeds. Freeze the fruits ahead of time for an extra frosty texture once blended.

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Flourless Banana Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins

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Pulsing rolled oats with eggs, banana, brown sugar and oil creates the moist dough of these chocolaty muffins without a bit of all-purpose flour. These are two-bite muffins with a dense and gooey texture. They're delicately sweet and rich, too, so baking them as mini muffins makes them a perfect snack or quick morning bite.

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Strawberry-Banana Bread

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Give classic banana bread a sweet twist with the addition of juicy strawberries. The combination of the fruits turns this simple quick bread into a bright, sweet breakfast bread, snack or dessert. For an extra-decadent treat, serve each slice with a scoop of sliced strawberries.

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Pumpkin Banana Bread

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Two favorite quick breads come together in this healthy pumpkin banana bread recipe. Pumpkin puree and mashed banana add sweetness to help cut down the amount of added sugar while ensuring this 100% whole-wheat loaf stays moist and tender.

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No-Sugar-Added Oatmeal Cookies

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Classic oatmeal cookies without all the sugar, these better-for-you gluten-free treats get their sweetness from ripe bananas and chopped dates.