Don't Throw Those Overripe Bananas Away! Use Them in One of These Delicious Recipes Instead (2024)

Collect ripe bananas and stash them in a freezer-safe bag in the freezer. Keep adding to your stash as the weeks go by, and soon enough you'll have enough for banana cake or waffles—and you’ll be thanking yourself for such inspired planning.

How to Freeze Bananas to Use in Everything From Smoothies to Baked Goods

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Are these muffins better than banana bread? They definitely challenge everyone's favorite quick bread for easy deliciousness. Ripe banana adds banana flavor and sweetness to these cakey muffins.

Bananas-Foster Milkshake

Perhaps the best part about any banana recipe that calls for using a blender is that you can use up your stash of frozen bananas. Here, they're whirled into a decadent shake reminiscent of the classic rum-based dessert.

Banana Whoopie Pies

Just because those bananas are too brown and mushy to garnish the top of a fancy tart or pie doesn't mean you can't bake something beautiful. These whoopie pies are a fun project to take on and even more fun to eat and share with friends.

Gluten-Free Peanut Butter-Banana Waffles

This recipe will perfume the whole house with the smell of delicious toasted waffles, a guaranteed way to wake up the sleepyheads for family brunch. Using really ripe bananas in these gluten-free waffles is key to avoiding any starchy flavors.

Test Kitchen's Favorite Banana Chocolate-Chip Bread

Banana bread is often the destination for overripe bananas, and why not? It's an excellent vehicle for their sweetness. This recipe also uses the natural banana syrup that collects from thawed frozen bananas. This elixir is also known as "liquid gold" and imparts a pure, concentrated banana flavor to baked goods.

Banana Blueberry Smoothie

Bananas bring thickening power and a natural sweetness to all kinds of smoothies. If you already keep a bag of peeled bananas in your freezer, then you're well on your way to this easy three-ingredient smoothie snack.

Banana Walnut Chocolate-Chunk Cookies

If you're a little bored with banana bread, these cookies are the rut-buster you need. Moist—almost cake-like—and studded with toasted nuts and dark chocolate, they're a wonderful way to use up overripe bananas.

Chocolate, Banana, and Graham Cracker Icebox Cake

Make-ahead, no-bake desserts like icebox cakes have been around so long they inspire a sense of nostalgia in every slice. This playful version has you layer slices of ripe bananas into a loaf pan with graham crackers and chocolate pudding.

Streusel Banana Bread

Part coffee cake, part banana bread, this is the kind of baked good that—if set on the counter unprotected—will be gone by the end of the day due to walk-by grazing.

Banana Caramel Ice Cream

This luscious combination in an ice-cold scoop will make you wonder why you've never paired bananas and caramel before. If you're already a fan of this duo, then this is a must-make.

Banana Cream Pudding

A ripe banana recipe for a crowd, this glorious banana cream pudding uses six of our favorite fruits and feeds 12. It's a cooling, comforting dessert just right for parties and potlucks.

Banana Sheet Cake With Passion-Fruit Frosting

The passion fruit juice that is added to the frosting is a tart and refreshing counterpoint to this dense and rich banana cake. It's a stunning bake for all sorts of occasions—no one will know you were using up some old bananas!

Gluten-Free Banana Almond-Butter Muffins

These completely flourless muffins are ultra-moist, and the easy batter calls for ingredients you probably already have in the house, like almond butter and eggs.

Banana Pancakes

No collection of ripe banana recipes can be without one for banana pancakes. This recipe uses sliced bananas in the pancakes and more slices sautéed in butter to go on top.

The Best Banana Bread

Our list of recipes for overripe bananas wouldn't be complete without our best banana bread recipe. Featured in Martha's first book, Entertaining, it's been her go-to ever since. The secret ingredient—sour cream—gives the bread a subtle tang and moist texture. Try it once, and it's sure to be your favorite, too.

Bananas in Brown Sugar

So simple and so good, this easy dessert is the best way to use ripe bananas that still look good. Quickly sauté them in butter, add brown sugar to make a caramel, then rum and flambé. A little crème fraîche or sour cream is the finishing touch.

Banana Cake

This simple snacking cake uses ripe bananas and buttermilk to create a moist, fluffy, flavorful texture. Topped with a delicious crumb topping, it pairs well with coffee or tea or as an afternoon snack.