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  6. 26 Healthy Recipes to Make with a Bunch of Ripe Bananas

26 Healthy Recipes to Make with a Bunch of Ripe Bananas

Updated March 19, 2021
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Do you have some black and mushy bananas sitting on the counter? Thought they were doomed for the dumpster? Think again! Those overripe bananas are perfect for these healthy recipes. From freezing them for smoothies to mixing them into the batter the next time you make pancakes—these are our favorite healthy ways to use up the bunch.

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Pumpkin Banana Bread

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Two favorite quick breads come together in this healthy pumpkin banana bread recipe. Pumpkin puree and mashed banana add sweetness to help cut down the amount of added sugar while ensuring this 100-percent whole-wheat loaf stays moist and tender.

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Blueberry-Banana Overnight Oats

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Blueberries, sweet banana and creamy coconut milk combine to turn everyday oatmeal into into the best vegan overnight oats! Make up to 4 jars at once to keep in the fridge for quick grab-and-go breakfasts throughout the week.

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2-Ingredient Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream

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Whir up frozen bananas into an "ice cream" without the cream! Peanut butter adds a natural swirl of flavor for a sweet and satisfying dessert with no added sugar.

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No-Sugar-Added Oatmeal Cookies

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Classic oatmeal cookies without all the sugar, these better-for-you gluten-free treats get their sweetness from ripe bananas and chopped dates.

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Chocolate-Banana Protein Smoothie

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Red lentils give this smoothie a plant-based protein boost. To make this smoothie vegan, try using unsweetened coconut beverage or almond milk in place of the dairy milk.

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Banana-Chocolate Chip Pancakes

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This healthy whole-grain buttermilk pancake recipe adds mini-chocolate chips and mashed banana to the 100% whole-wheat flour base. If you want to experiment with different types of whole grains, replace up to 1/2 cup of the whole-wheat flour with cornmeal, oats and/or buckwheat flour. Or add extra fiber and healthy omega-3 fats by adding up to 3 tablespoons of ground flaxseed or chia seeds.

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Chocolate-Covered Banana Ice Cream Bars

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Chocolate-covered vanilla ice cream pops get a vegan upgrade with this healthy copycat recipe. Vegan chocolate forms a shell around creamy peanut butter and banana nice cream garnished with your favorite toppings, like chopped peanuts or shredded coconut.

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Spinach-Avocado Smoothie

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This healthy green smoothie gets super creamy from the frozen banana and avocado. Make ahead (up to 1 day) and store it in the fridge until you need a veggie boost.

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Healthy Banana Bread

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Got leftover bananas? Give everyone's favorite baked good recipe a healthy whole-wheat spin with this easy banana bread recipe.

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Banana Bread French Toast

Banana Bread French Toast
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Take banana bread to the next level when you soak it in a classic French toast batter and fry it for an impressive (but oh so easy!) breakfast or brunch. Top with chopped walnuts, sliced bananas and maple syrup for extra decadence.

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Strawberry-Banana FroYo Cup

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Bananas and Greek yogurt make this strawberry topped dessert creamy and delicious.

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Banana Energy Bites

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Perfect for an on-the-go breakfast or snack, these energy bites will keep you fueled.

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Banana Split Sundae

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Homemade banana and peanut butter ice cream topped with chocolate syrup and peanuts make this sundae a dessert favorite.

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No-Sugar-Added Vegan Oatmeal Cookies

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Soft, chewy and no added sugar! Sweeten these classic oatmeal cookies with ripe bananas and raisins or dates. Plus, a touch of nut butter adds lots of flavor and holds the cookies together while keeping them vegan and gluten-free.

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Cinnamon-Banana Cake with Chocolate Ganache

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This moist cake flavored with cinammon and bananas is the answer to your dessert cravings. Drizzled in Chocolate Ganache, this cake is diabetic-friendly and sure to satisfy any sweet tooth.

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Banana-Coconut Bread

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A unique take on banana bread, this recipe introduces the banana-coconut flavor combination. This creative, diabetic-friendly recipe is the perfect solution for using over-ripe bananas and is easy to make.

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Mango-Almond Smoothie Bowl

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For this healthy smoothie bowl recipe, be sure to use frozen fruit (not fresh) to keep the texture thick, creamy and frosty.

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Zucchini Banana Bread

Zucchini Banana Bread
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Shredded zucchini and mashed banana complement each other and ensure that this wholesome loaf stays nice and moist. The banana adds sweetness to this quick-bread mashup for just the right flavor without too much added sugar.

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Banana-Blueberry Muffins

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The slight acidity of buttermilk tenderizes and moistens baked goods while allowing you to cut way back on butter or oils. Here, it also lends a slight tanginess to the winning combination of bananas and blueberries.

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Two-Ingredient Banana Pancakes

<p>These delicious and unbelievably simple pancakes are best enjoyed right after cooking. With just eggs and a banana, you can have healthy grain-free pancakes with no added sugar. Serve with maple syrup and yogurt or ricotta cheese to add in some protein.</p>
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These delicious and unbelievably simple pancakes are best enjoyed right after cooking. With just eggs and a banana, you can have healthy grain-free pancakes with no added sugar. Serve with maple syrup and yogurt or ricotta cheese to add in some protein.

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Chocolate-Peanut Butter Protein Shake

Chocolate-Peanut Butter Protein Shake
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This creamy high-protein shake will keep you satisfied for hours and tastes like a chocolate-peanut butter banana milkshake. You don't even need to add protein powder, thanks to the naturally occurring protein in the soymilk, Greek yogurt and peanut butter.

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Bananas Foster Upside-Down Cake

<p>The tableside flamb&eacute;ing of bananas Foster sure is impressive ... if someone else is making it for you. This cake has all the flavors of the New Orleans classic in easier-to-prepare cake form that's just as stunning as the original for a healthier dessert you'll be proud to serve.</p>
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The tableside flambéing of bananas Foster sure is impressive ... if someone else is making it for you. This cake has all the flavors of the New Orleans classic in easier-to-prepare cake form that's just as stunning as the original for a healthier dessert you'll be proud to serve.

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Pineapple Coconut Banana Bread

<p>This lightened-up banana bread packs plenty of tropical flavor.</p>
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This lightened-up banana bread packs plenty of tropical flavor.

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Strawberry-Blueberry-Banana Smoothie

<p>A smoothie with strawberries, blueberries and banana is delicately sweet and entirely kid-friendly, even with a boost of protein from hemp seeds. Freeze the fruits ahead of time for an extra frosty texture once blended.</p>
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A smoothie with strawberries, blueberries and banana is delicately sweet and entirely kid-friendly, even with a boost of protein from hemp seeds. Freeze the fruits ahead of time for an extra frosty texture once blended.

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Flourless Banana Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins

Flourless Banana Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins
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Pulsing rolled oats with eggs, banana, brown sugar and oil creates the moist dough of these chocolaty muffins without a bit of all-purpose flour. These are two-bite muffins with a dense and gooey texture. They're delicately sweet and rich, too, so baking them as mini muffins makes them a perfect snack or quick morning bite.

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Strawberry-Banana Bread

<p>Give classic banana bread a sweet twist with the addition of juicy strawberries. The combination of the fruits turns this simple quick bread into a bright, sweet breakfast bread, snack or dessert. For an extra-decadent treat, serve each slice with a scoop of sliced strawberries.</p>
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Give classic banana bread a sweet twist with the addition of juicy strawberries. The combination of the fruits turns this simple quick bread into a bright, sweet breakfast bread, snack or dessert. For an extra-decadent treat, serve each slice with a scoop of sliced strawberries.

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    1 of 26 Pumpkin Banana Bread
    2 of 26 Blueberry-Banana Overnight Oats
    3 of 26 2-Ingredient Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream
    4 of 26 No-Sugar-Added Oatmeal Cookies
    5 of 26 Chocolate-Banana Protein Smoothie
    6 of 26 Banana-Chocolate Chip Pancakes
    7 of 26 Chocolate-Covered Banana Ice Cream Bars
    8 of 26 Spinach-Avocado Smoothie
    9 of 26 Healthy Banana Bread
    10 of 26 Banana Bread French Toast
    11 of 26 Strawberry-Banana FroYo Cup
    12 of 26 Banana Energy Bites
    13 of 26 Banana Split Sundae
    14 of 26 No-Sugar-Added Vegan Oatmeal Cookies
    15 of 26 Cinnamon-Banana Cake with Chocolate Ganache
    16 of 26 Banana-Coconut Bread
    17 of 26 Mango-Almond Smoothie Bowl
    18 of 26 Zucchini Banana Bread
    19 of 26 Banana-Blueberry Muffins
    20 of 26 Two-Ingredient Banana Pancakes
    21 of 26 Chocolate-Peanut Butter Protein Shake
    22 of 26 Bananas Foster Upside-Down Cake
    23 of 26 Pineapple Coconut Banana Bread
    24 of 26 Strawberry-Blueberry-Banana Smoothie
    25 of 26 Flourless Banana Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins
    26 of 26 Strawberry-Banana Bread

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    26 Healthy Recipes to Make with a Bunch of Ripe Bananas
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