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10 Surprising Things to Do with Ripe Bananas

Banana bread, begone! There are so many other options for those ripe bananas on your counter. With soup, salsa, ice cream, and more, get ready to celebrate the classic fruit all over again.

By Abby Wolner

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Everything In This Slideshow

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Don't Toss Those Ripe Bananas!

You'll never feel guilty for trashing a browning banana again. We've got 10 a-peel-ing ways to enjoy the fruit even past its prime.
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#1: Make Ice Cream Creamier

You know what your ice cream needs? More creaminess. Enter ripe bananas. Adding a few ripe bananas to this butter pecan ice cream gives it the velvety texture you want.

Start to Finish:

5 hrs 18 mins

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- Love fruity desserts? Get more here!
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#2: Fill Your French Toast

Start your day oh, so right with a scoop of mashed ripe banana in your French toast. Mix it with cream cheese and top the toast with sugared nuts for -- dare we say -- the best breakfast ever.

Start to Finish:

26 mins

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#3: Blend with Berries for Soup

Chilled soup (aka the poshest side dish on the planet) is just begging for smooth ripe bananas. Make this sweet and spicy soup by blending the banana with raspberries and minced jalapenos.

Start to Finish:

1 hr 15 mins

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#4: Add to Cupcake Batter

It's not every day that a banana, sweet potato, and pineapple walk into a kitchen and come out as a cupcake. Our unconventional cupcake batter is totally delicious, thanks to that leftover ripe banana and warm spices like cinnamon and cloves.

Start to Finish:

1 hr 10 mins

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- Get more fabulous cupcake recipes.
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#5: Make Grilled Kabobs

Bananas on the dinner menu? Yes, please. Smoky and sweet grilled fruit kabobs make a smashing side for savory fish.

Start to Finish:

31 mins

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#6: Moisten Cake Batter

If you have five ripe bananas to use up, it might be time to make a giant cake. Despite its sprinkled good looks, the real star of this cake is the fruit-filled batter: Bananas and pineapple make ultra-moist and naturally sweet cake.

Start to Finish:

3 hrs 20 mins

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#7: Sweeten Bread Pudding

Take a sad banana and make it a masterpiece. Pair it with golden raisins and swirly cinnamon bagels for the ultimate brunch treat.

Start to Finish:

1 hr 20 mins

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#8: Power Your Smoothie

If you dream in smoothies, try this creamy creation: Banana, avocado, and Greek yogurt make a healthy, power-packed trio that's a great option for breakfast or lunch.

Start to Finish:

10 mins

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#9: Transform the Banana Split

Rather than shamefully tossing those ripe bananas, celebrate them with a showstopping cake -- it's so much tastier this way. Slather soft banana cake with cream cheese and strawberry filling. Then roll it up and watch it disappear.

Start to Finish:

4 hrs 10 mins

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- Discover our all-time favorite cakes!
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#10: Chop Into Fruit Salsa

Tomato salsa is so last summer. For dressing up fish fillets, we're bananas about refreshing fruit salsa that's chock-full of bananas. A sassy spark of lime makes the fish topper truly divine.

Start to Finish:

49 mins

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Next Slideshow Vegetable Smoothie Recipes
Vegetable Smoothie Recipes

Looking for a healthy snack or easy breakfast? Break out your blender and enjoy a nutrition-packed vegetable smoothie (including plenty of green smoothie options). Each of these smoothie recipes includes a delicious mix of vegetables and fruit to add sweetness, so even the vegetable-averse will have no problem eating their veggies. Spinach smoothies, kale smoothies, smoothies with avocado, they're all here!
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