✔ Updated · 52 banana desserts grouped by type + a ripeness guide
Bananas are one of the most useful fruits for dessert: very ripe ones add moisture and sweetness to breads, cakes and brownies, just-ripe ones slice neatly into pies and puddings, and frozen ones blend into creamy ice cream with nothing added.
The most popular banana desserts are banana bread, banana pudding, banana cream pie, banoffee pie, bananas Foster, banana splits, hummingbird cake and banana muffins. Use very ripe, brown-speckled bananas for breads, cakes and brownies, and just-ripe yellow bananas for pies, puddings and anything sliced. Frozen bananas blend into a creamy no-churn "nice cream."
- Easiest: banana nice cream, peanut butter banana bites or campfire banana boats.
- Best for overripe bananas: banana bread, muffins and fudgy banana brownies.
- Best for a crowd: Magnolia Bakery-style banana pudding or banana split cake.
- Most impressive: bananas Foster, flambéed at the table.
Below are 52 banana desserts grouped by type, from classic banana bread and Southern banana pudding to banoffee pie, bananas Foster, hummingbird cake and no-bake frozen treats, plus a guide to which bananas to use for each.
Banana Breads, Muffins and Donuts
Very ripe, heavily speckled bananas make the moistest, sweetest loaves and muffins. Two of these use a baking-mix shortcut, and banana bread is the one I bake most.
1. Bisquick Banana Bread
A quick banana loaf made with baking mix, mashed ripe bananas, eggs and sugar; stir, pour and bake with no creaming or measuring of leaveners.
Get the recipe →
2. Starbucks-Style Banana Bread
A copycat of the coffeehouse loaf: moist, lightly spiced banana bread with chopped walnuts folded through and scattered over the top.
Get the recipe →
3. Chrissy Teigen's Banana Bread
An extra-rich loaf made with instant vanilla pudding mix, shredded coconut and chocolate chips for a dense, cake-like banana bread.
Get the recipe →4. Vegan Banana Bread
Egg-free banana bread made with oil or plant butter and non-dairy milk; very ripe bananas do the binding and sweetening.
5. Bisquick Banana Muffins
Tender banana muffins made with baking mix, mashed bananas, milk and an egg, topped with a cinnamon-sugar crumble before baking.
Get the recipe →6. Banana, Walnut and Maple Muffins
Banana muffins with toasted walnuts, sweetened with pure maple syrup and brushed with warm maple syrup as soon as they come out of the oven.
7. Banana Coffee Cake
A banana cake layered with sweetened cream cheese and a thick cinnamon-pecan streusel; the coffee in the name is what to serve it with.
8. Baked Banana Donuts
Cake-style banana donuts baked in a donut pan, then dipped in cinnamon sugar or a simple vanilla glaze; no deep-frying needed.
Banana Cakes
Banana keeps cakes moist for days, and it pairs especially well with cream cheese frosting, brown butter and warm spices.
9. Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
A soft, moist sheet cake made with plenty of mashed ripe banana and buttermilk, covered with tangy cream cheese frosting.
10. Hummingbird Cake
A Southern layer cake of banana, crushed pineapple, pecans and cinnamon with cream cheese frosting between the layers and on top.
11. Elvis Pudding Cake
A poke-style cake inspired by Elvis Presley's favorite sandwich: banana cake, peanut butter pudding, sliced bananas and whipped topping.
12. Banana Upside-Down Cake
Halved bananas laid in brown sugar and butter in the pan, covered with vanilla batter and flipped after baking to reveal a glossy caramel top.
13. Banana Cheesecake
Creamy baked cheesecake with mashed banana blended into the filling, on a graham cracker or vanilla wafer crust, topped with caramel.
14. Banana Cupcakes
Fluffy banana cupcakes topped with brown sugar or cream cheese frosting; fill the centers with vanilla pudding for a banana cream twist.
15. Banana Bundt Cake
A tall banana cake baked in a Bundt pan with sour cream for moisture, finished with a brown butter or vanilla glaze.
16. Banana Nut Waffle Cake
Stacked banana waffles layered with whipped cream, sliced bananas and toasted nuts, then drizzled with maple syrup or caramel.
Banana Pies, Puddings and Custards
Creamy banana desserts are best made with bananas that are just ripe, yellow with a few freckles, so the slices hold their shape.
17. Banoffee Pie
The British classic: a biscuit crumb crust filled with thick toffee or dulce de leche, sliced bananas and softly whipped cream.
18. Banana Cream Pie
A baked pie shell filled with vanilla pastry cream and layers of sliced banana, topped with whipped cream; chill until set.
19. Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding
The famous New York bakery-style pudding: instant vanilla pudding, condensed milk and whipped cream layered with vanilla wafers and bananas.
Get the recipe →20. Southern Baked Banana Pudding
Stovetop vanilla custard layered with vanilla wafers and sliced bananas, topped with meringue and baked until golden; served warm or chilled.
21. Banana Cream Pavlova Tower
Crisp meringue discs stacked with whipped cream, banana slices and caramel sauce, assembled just before serving so the meringue stays crunchy.
22. Banana and Chocolate Tarte Tatin
Bananas caramelized in a skillet with butter and sugar, covered with puff pastry, baked and flipped, then drizzled with melted chocolate.
23. Banana Bread Pudding
Cubes of day-old bread or brioche soaked in a cinnamon custard with mashed and sliced bananas, baked until puffed and served with caramel.
24. Banana, Chocolate and Peanut Crumble
Sliced bananas and chocolate chunks under a buttery oat and peanut crumble, baked until bubbling; ready in about 30 minutes.
25. Banana Tiramisu
A no-bake twist on tiramisu: coffee-dipped ladyfingers layered with mascarpone cream and sliced bananas, dusted with cocoa and chilled overnight.
26. Banana Custard
A simple British pudding of sliced bananas folded into warm vanilla custard, a long-time favorite in school and family kitchens.
Banana Bars, Brownies and Cookies
Bars and cookies are the easiest banana desserts to bake ahead, pack and share.
27. Double Chocolate Banana Bars
Fudgy cocoa and banana bars studded with chocolate chips, mixed in one bowl and cut into squares once cooled.
28. Fudgy Banana Brownies
Thick, chewy chocolate brownies made with mashed banana in the batter; best chilled before slicing for clean edges.
29. Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
Soft, cakey banana bars baked in a sheet pan and spread with cream cheese frosting; a classic potluck and bake sale treat.
30. Monkey Bars
Brown butter banana bars with chocolate chips; browning the butter gives a nutty, toffee-like flavor. Good warm or cold.
31. Banana Pudding Cheesecake Bars
Cheesecake bars on a vanilla wafer crust with banana pudding swirled through, frozen briefly and cut with a hot knife.
32. Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Soft, chewy cookies made with mashed banana, rolled oats and chocolate chips; less butter than a classic chocolate chip cookie.
Get the recipe →33. Potato Chip Banana Bread Cookies
Banana bread cookie dough with crushed potato chips folded in for a sweet and salty crunch.
34. Banana Cream Sandwich Cookies
Soft banana cookies sandwiched with a whipped banana cream filling; the dough can be made two days ahead and chilled.
Warm and Skillet Banana Desserts
These are quick, warm desserts and brunch treats that cook in a skillet, on the griddle or over a fire.
35. Bananas Foster
The New Orleans classic from Brennan's: bananas cooked in butter, brown sugar and cinnamon, flambéed with rum and spooned over vanilla ice cream.
36. Grilled Banana Brownie Sundaes
Bananas grilled in their skins until soft, then spooned over warm brownies with ice cream and chocolate sauce; about 15 minutes.
37. Banana Fritters
Mashed or sliced bananas in a light batter, fried until crisp and golden, then dusted with powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar.
38. Turon (Banana Spring Rolls)
A Filipino street snack of banana slices and brown sugar, sometimes with jackfruit, rolled in spring roll wrappers and fried until caramelized.
39. Campfire Banana Boats
Bananas split in the peel and stuffed with chocolate chips and mini marshmallows, wrapped in foil and warmed on the grill or campfire.
40. Banana Crepes
Thin crepes filled with sliced bananas and chocolate-hazelnut spread or a drizzle of caramel, folded and dusted with powdered sugar.
41. Banana Maple French Toast
Thick bread soaked in cinnamon custard and griddled, topped with sliced bananas and warm maple syrup; works for brunch or dessert.
42. Banana Pancakes with Honey Butter
Fluffy pancakes with mashed banana in the batter, served with a whipped honey butter that melts into the stack.
43. Banana Waffles
Crisp-edged waffles made with mashed ripe bananas and a touch of cinnamon, topped with more banana, syrup or whipped cream.
Get the recipe →Frozen and No-Bake Banana Desserts
No oven needed: frozen bananas turn creamy when blended, and chocolate sets quickly over cold fruit.
44. Banana Nice Cream
Frozen banana chunks blended in a food processor until smooth and creamy, like soft-serve; add cocoa, peanut butter or berries.
45. Classic Banana Split
A halved banana with scoops of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream, sauces, whipped cream, nuts and a cherry on top.
46. Banana Split Cake
A no-bake layered dessert of graham crust, sweetened cream cheese, bananas, crushed pineapple, strawberries and whipped topping.
47. Chocolate-Dipped Frozen Banana Pops
Banana halves on sticks, frozen, dipped in melted chocolate and rolled in chopped nuts, sprinkles or toasted coconut.
48. Peanut Butter Banana Bites
Banana slices sandwiched with peanut butter, dipped in dark chocolate and frozen; a two-bite treat that keeps for weeks in the freezer.
49. Banana Cream Chocolate Truffles
Rich truffles with a creamy banana filling coated in melted chocolate; chill until firm and keep them in the fridge.
50. Banana Cream Pie Muddy Buddies
Crispy rice cereal coated in white chocolate and tossed with banana pudding mix and powdered sugar; a sweet snack mix for parties.
51. Banana Bread Cake Pops
Crumbled banana bread mixed with cream cheese frosting, rolled into balls and dipped in chocolate; good for birthdays and bake sales.
52. Banana Mousse
Ripe banana puréed with lemon juice and folded into whipped cream, chilled in small glasses and topped with crushed vanilla wafers.
Which Bananas to Use
Ripeness changes both flavor and texture, so match the banana to the dessert. If your bananas are still green, see how to ripen a banana quickly.
| Banana | Looks like | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Just ripe | Yellow, maybe a few small freckles | Banana cream pie, banana pudding, banana splits, bananas Foster, tarts |
| Ripe | Yellow with plenty of brown speckles | Cakes, muffins, pancakes, waffles, cookies |
| Very ripe | Mostly brown or black, soft | Banana bread, brownies, bars, nice cream |
| Frozen | Peeled and frozen in chunks or halves | Nice cream, frozen pops, peanut butter banana bites |
Tips for Better Banana Desserts
- Freeze overripe bananas. Peel them, then freeze whole or in chunks in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw and use the liquid too for breads and muffins. I always have a bag going in my freezer.
- Stop browning. Toss sliced bananas with a little lemon or pineapple juice, and add them to pies and puddings as close to serving as you can.
- Measure mashed banana. One medium banana gives about 1/2 cup mashed; recipes turn dense and gummy with much more than they call for.
- Chill dairy desserts. Banana pudding, cream pie and cheesecake should be refrigerated and eaten within about 2 to 3 days; don't leave them out longer than 2 hours.
- Flambé safely. For bananas Foster, take the pan off the heat before adding the rum, keep your face back and have a lid nearby to smother the flames.
- Need wafers? Homemade vanilla wafers make banana pudding and banana mousse even better.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I make with overripe bananas?
Very ripe, brown bananas are best for banana bread, muffins, pancakes, waffles, brownies and banana bars, where their extra sweetness and moisture help. You can also peel and freeze them for nice cream or frozen treats. Peeled frozen bananas keep for about 3 months.
What is the most popular banana dessert?
Banana bread is the most widely made banana dessert, followed by banana pudding, banana cream pie and banana splits. Bananas Foster from New Orleans and British banoffee pie are the best-known restaurant-style banana desserts.
What are easy banana desserts with few ingredients?
Banana nice cream needs only frozen bananas, and it’s my favorite summer trick. Peanut butter banana bites need bananas, peanut butter and chocolate, and campfire banana boats need bananas, chocolate chips and marshmallows. Caramelized bananas with butter and brown sugar are ready in about five minutes.
How do you keep bananas from turning brown in desserts?
Toss sliced bananas with a little lemon, lime or pineapple juice, layer them under pudding or cream so they are not exposed to air, and add them as close to serving as possible. Banana pudding and cream pies are best eaten within two days.
Can you freeze banana desserts?
Yes. Banana bread, muffins, cakes, bars and brownies freeze well for about 3 months when wrapped tightly. Pies and puddings with fresh sliced bananas and whipped cream do not freeze well, because the bananas turn brown and watery when thawed.
