Banana Desserts: 21 Recipes You'll Go Bananas For

February 19, 2016
Want a way to shake up those classic dessert recipes? Look no further than the overripe bananas on your kitchen counter. The banana is a versatile fruit that can be transformed into almost any dessert. So whether you prefer banana cake, banana pudding, or even banana ice cream, we've got 21 banana dessert recipes to try!
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Mocha-Filled Banana Cupcakes

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

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Banana-Butter Pecan Ice Cream

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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 deny!

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Banana Bars with Butter-Rum Frosting

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Perfect for potlucks and bake sales, these yummy banana bars are super moist and dense thanks to the addition of sour cream, yet they ring in at only 111 calories apiece! Top them with a savory butter-rum frosting and toasted banana chips.

Banana Dessert Tip: For a family-friendly take on this delicious banana dessert, simply skip the rum!

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Banana-Nut Pound Cake

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Perk up your next pound cake with toasted pecans and mashed bananas. This banana cake recipe gets its pretty finish from a fluted tube pan and powdered sugar topping.

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Banana Pudding with Shaved Dark Chocolate

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This gluten-free, energy-boosting banana pudding is so rich and creamy, you won't believe it's healthy! Agave nectar adds natural sweetness, while fresh bean curd gives the delicious dessert protein.

Banana Dessert Tip: Use high-quality dark chocolate to accent the banana flavor and provide an extra dose of antioxidants.

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Peanut Butter and Banana Drop Cookies

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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.

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Bananas Foster Mini Pies

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These adorable mini banana pies pack rich, heady flavor thanks to a splash of bourbon in the creamy caramel filling. Trade the typical ice cream for a buttery crust sprinkled with powdered sugar that sandwiches warm banana slices and toasted pecans.

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Banana Cream Pavlova Tower

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We've taken classic pavlova, the meringue dessert with a crisp crust and fluffy inside, and layered it with piles of bananas, pistachio nuts, and gooey whipped cream cheese. A drizzle of honey completes the elegant banana dessert.

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Chocolate-Banana Doughnuts

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Make these delicious banana doughnuts the night before for a fast and sweet start to your morning. Overripe bananas help keep the cake moist, while a warm chocolate glaze adds chocolaty flavor.

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Bananas Foster Gelato

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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.

Banana Dessert Tip: Practice moderation when using alcohol in ice cream recipes -- too much rum will interfere with the dessert's ability to freeze.

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Trend Spotting: Bananas

Bananas are a versatile fruit that can be transformed into many different dessert recipes, from bonbons to frozen yogurt. See why one Better Homes and Gardens editor picks bananas as trend of the year!

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Dark Chocolate-Raspberry Banana Bread

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Chopped walnuts, raspberry preserves, and dark chocolate pieces turn classic banana bread into an ultra-luxurious dessert recipe. Swirl the sinful ingredients into the cake, and drizzle melted chocolate and raspberry preserves on top.

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Banana Crunch Pops

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With just four inexpensive ingredients, you can make a fun and healthy banana dessert your 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.

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Banana-Butterscotch Cream Pie

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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.

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Island Bananas Foster Cupcakes

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For a fun party food, 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.

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Pineapple-Banana Crepas de Cajeta

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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.

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

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Peanut Butter-Banana Bonbons

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This good-for-you banana dessert is perfect for snacking. Simply sandwich a dollop of creamy peanut butter between two banana slices, dip in chocolate, and freeze for an anytime treat.

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Banana Chocolate Chip Bars

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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.

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Peanut Butter-Banana Trifles

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A savory blend of low-fat yogurt, smooth peanut butter, and gooey honey form the basis of this delicious layered trifle. Stacks of sliced bananas and multigrain clusters finish the fruit trifle with a crunch.

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Chocolate Chip Banana Snack Cake

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Ditch the packaged snack cakes and try our delicious homemade banana cake. Chunks of gooey chocolate dot the extra-moist banana cake that comes in at only 230 calories per serving.

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Banana Bread Pudding and a Kiss

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Leftover banana bread? 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.

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Dark Chocolate Banana Nut Pops

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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 roasted almonds, peanuts, or your favorite crushed candy.

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