22 Amazing Banana Desserts to Use the Fruit for More Than Bread

Mashed bananas and shortening make these adorable banana cupcakes extra moist and flavorful. Each bite packs a delightful banana butter frosting, warm banana cake, and rich espresso cream cheese filling. For a bit of crunch, top with baked banana chips.

If you're a fan of butter pecan ice cream, you'll love this fruity twist on the classic. Mashed bananas add a hint of fresh fruit to the ice cream without masking its traditional caramel flavor. Top with freshly sliced bananas for a dessert that's hard to resist!

Related: 11 Delicious Ways to Use Up Bananas Before They Get Overripe

Perfect for potlucks and family gatherings, this stunning banana dessert is super moist and dense thanks to the addition of sour cream (yet only rings in at only 111 calories apiece!). Top the banana bars with a savory butter-rum frosting and toasted banana chips.

Test Kitchen Tip: For a family-friendly take on this delicious banana dessert, simply skip the rum.

Perk up your next pound cake with toasted pecans and mashed bananas. This banana dessert recipe gets its pretty finish from a fluted tube pan and powdered sugar topping. To achieve the perfect cake texture and rise every time, be sure to follow the timings in the beating steps.

Buy It: Nordic Ware Party Bundt Cake Pan ($38, Williams Sonoma)

Here's an easy banana dessert to satisfy your sweet tooth. Add crunch to packaged peanut butter cookie dough with crushed banana chips and coarse sugar. The tasty twist on chocolate chip cookies has just 86 calories per serving and can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.

When you think of fruit crisp recipes, berries or apples might be the first ingredients that come to mind. Now you can add bananas to the lineup of warm baked treats. Butter, brown sugar, and a bit of rum all come to play in this take on bananas foster. Serve your warm banana dessert with a scoop of ice cream.

This gluten-free, energy-boosting banana pudding is so rich and creamy, you won't believe it's hiding a secret healthy ingredient: tofu! Agave nectar adds natural sweetness, while the tofu gives the delicious banana dessert protein and creaminess. Use high-quality dark chocolate to accent the banana flavor and provide an extra dose of antioxidants.

Buy It: Endangered Species Chocolate Natural Dark Chocolate ($3, Target)

Combine the flavors of traditional bananas foster (cinnamon, brown sugar, dark rum, and banana) into a cool and creamy gelato. Serve with sliced bananas and a drizzle of warm caramel topping. Practice moderation when using alcohol in ice cream recipes, as too much rum will interfere with the dessert's ability to freeze.

Related: 8 No-Churn Ice Cream Recipes That Are Unbelievably Easy to Make

These adorable mini banana pies pack rich flavor without going overboard on the oil content. We used pre-made empanada dough to get the process going faster for this easy banana dessert recipe. While your mini pies are in the air-fryer, make some homemade cinnamon-infused whipped cream to go on top.

Buy It: NuWave Brio 4.5-Quart Air Fryer ($60, Bed Bath & Beyond)

If hummingbird cake tends to make the Easter dessert table every year, consider this easy-to-make version that doesn't require multiple cake layers. Along with bananas, the same delicious tropical notes (pineapple and coconut) are all here. The caramel frosting features cream cheese and a hint of salt for a sweet and tangy finish.

Buy It: OXO Good Grips 9-Inch x 13-Inch Cake Pan ($22, Bed Bath & Beyond)

For a quick banana dessert, look no further than this easy chocolate snack cake. The combo of shredded zucchini and mashed banana allow the cake to achieve a super moist texture. They're almost like banana bread brownies! To keep this dessert on the healthier side, we use whole wheat flour and flaxseed meal for an extra boost of whole grains.

With just four inexpensive ingredients, you can make a fun and healthy banana dessert the kids will love. Fat-free yogurt and granola coat banana halves, which are then skewered with a wooden crafts stick for low-fat fruit pops. You'll definitely want to keep the quick banana dessert stocked for warm summer days.

Related: Healthy No-Bake Desserts When You Need a Sweet with Less Fuss

Vanilla cream pies are great, but this banana dessert is worth indulging in. Silky smooth thanks to a butterscotch-infused custard filling, this classic banana cream pie recipe has all the banana flavors you love plus a chocolaty topping. If you're short on time, use a refrigerated unbaked piecrust.

For an upgrade to your cupcake baking game, try these adorable bananas foster cupcakes. Inspired by the classic dessert, the cupcakes stay moist and crumbly thanks to a helping of unsweetened coconut milk and rum. Toast some shredded coconut for a pretty, crunchy topper.

If banana bread gets a spotlight on a list of desserts, you know it's going to be good. Chopped walnuts, raspberry preserves, and dark chocolate pieces turn classic banana bread into a fancy-looking banana dessert recipe. Swirl the decadent ingredients into the cake, then drizzle melted chocolate and raspberry preserves on top.

Buy It: Wilton 9x5-Inch Loaf Pan ($8, Target)

Crepas de Cajeta, a caramel crepe recipe borrowed from Mexico, only get better when stuffed with your favorite fruit. We've paired the light and fluffy breakfast food with chunks of fresh pineapple and bananas and a creamy cajeta sauce. If you can't find dulce de leche at the store, try making your own with our easy recipe.

Test Kitchen Tip: To prevent crepes from burning, make sure to blend any chunks in the batter and to swirl the batter in the skillet evenly.

This easy banana dessert is perfect for snacking. Simply sandwich a dollop of creamy peanut butter between two banana slices, dip in chocolate, and freeze. It's a quick, anytime treat that won't last long in the freezer.

Bananas, chocolate, and peanut butter create a winning flavor combination when mixed into these banana brownie bars. Packaged cookie dough and rolled oats make prep quick, while chocolate frosting gives the bars a delicious, creamy finish. Stash some of the bar cookies in the freezer for when sweet cravings strike.

Peanut butter and banana prove to be a stellar combo in this easy dessert recipe. A savory blend of low-fat yogurt, smooth peanut butter, and sticky-sweet honey form the base of this delicious layered trifle. Stacks of sliced bananas and multigrain clusters finish the fruit trifle with crunch.

Ditch the packaged snack cakes and try our delicious homemade banana cake. Chunks of rich chocolate dot the ultra-moist banana cake that comes in at only 230 calories per serving (though we won't judge if you don't stop at only one).

Leftover banana bread? Don't let it go to waste! Cube it and throw it into a bowl with egg yolks, sugar, and half-and-half for a quick and easy banana bread pudding. Once baked, top the dessert with chocolate kisses for the ultimate bite.

Related: 24 Comforting Bread Pudding Recipes to Use Up Stale Bread

Stack banana slices around creamy almond butter, skewer with a lollipop stick, and dip in dark chocolate for a frozen banana treat everyone will love. For added crunch, roll the pops in chopped roasted almonds, peanuts, or your favorite crushed candy.

Buy It: 4-Inch Lollipop Sticks By Celebrate It ($2, Michaels)