Skip to content

Top Navigation

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Food and Recipes
  • Culture and Lifestyle
  • Style
  • Holidays & Occasions
  • Home
  • Gardening Ideas
  • News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Southern Living

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Explore

    Explore

    • The Best New Haircuts to Try in 2022

      The Best New Haircuts to Try in 2022

      Here are the haircuts you'll be seeing everywhere this year. Read More
    • How to Season a Cast-Iron Skillet

      How to Season a Cast-Iron Skillet

      Learn how to season this Southern kitchen staple in five easy steps. Read More
    • 50 Thoughtful Messages for a Meaningful Thank You Note

      50 Thoughtful Messages for a Meaningful Thank You Note

      Not sure what to write in a thank you card? Here's how to show your gratitude with a handwritten note. Read More
  • Food and Recipes

    Food and Recipes

    See All Food and Recipes
    4 Easy Ways to Tell if an Egg Has Gone Bad

    4 Easy Ways to Tell if an Egg Has Gone Bad

    It’s not all in the senses, but they sure can help.
    • Recipes
    • Quick and Easy Dinner
    • Kitchen Assistant
    • Casserole
    • Holiday and Occasion Food
    • Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Desserts
    • Healthy and Light
    • Side Dishes
    • Party Food and Drink
    • Appetizers
    • Meat
    • Breakfast
    • BBQ
    • Drinks
    • What's Cooking
  • Culture and Lifestyle

    Culture and Lifestyle

    See All Culture and Lifestyle
    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

    Let your besties know how much they mean to you with one of these unique nicknames.
    • Quotes and Sayings
    • Biscuits and Jam Podcast
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Healthy Living
    • Coastal Living
  • Style

    Style

    See All Style
    The Coziest Winter Nail Colors for January 2022

    The Coziest Winter Nail Colors for January 2022

    The beginning of a new year often has us all feeling like starting off fresh by taking on better habits, getting rid of old ones, and—most commonly—changing up our look. While others are hitting the squats and going into the salon for a pixie cut, why not start slow and steady with a cozy winter manicure in a color that feels new to you? It takes only a little courage to step outside your usual OPI Lincoln Park After Dark or Essie Bordeaux, which is all you need to kick 2022 off on a fanciful foot.  From new wintry takes on classic dark nail colors to unique pops of color that'll have you feeling the opposite of boring, these are the best nail colors to try this January and tick off all the way into spring. 
    • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Fashion
    • Short Hairstyles
    • Nails
    • Medium Hairstyles
    • Skincare
    • Long Hairstyles
  • Holidays & Occasions

    Holidays & Occasions

    See All Holidays & Occasions
    • Thanksgiving
    • Gifts
    • Christmas
    • Mother's Day
    • Hanukkah
    • New Year's
    • Easter
    • Mardi Gras
    • 4th of July
    • Weddings
  • Home

    Home

    See All Home
    16 Kitchen Design Trends Southern Designers Predict Will Be Everywhere in 2022

    16 Kitchen Design Trends Southern Designers Predict Will Be Everywhere in 2022

    There's no denying how the pandemic fundamentally changed the world—including how we live (and work) inside our homes. An overall trend toward celebrating the history and originality of our homes is displacing ultramodern aesthetics and sharp lines as we all look to create cozier, colorful, more personalized spaces that better suit our lifestyles. We're turning away from big-box stores and toward vintage items—first, out of necessity due to supply-chain issues, and now, for design reasons—to add charm and character to every room in the house, including the kitchen. Here, interior designers from around the South share their predictions for what's trending in kitchen design for 2022 and beyond.
    • Home Decor Ideas
    • Idea Houses
    • Kitchen Design
    • Before & After Photos
    • Bathroom Design
    • Curb Appeal
    • Bedroom Design
    • DIY Home Decor
    • Color Palettes & Paint
    • House Plans & Builders
    • Inspired Communities
  • Gardening Ideas

    Gardening Ideas

    See All Gardening Ideas
    If You Keep Finding Ladybugs in Your House, Here's What You Need to Know

    If You Keep Finding Ladybugs in Your House, Here's What You Need to Know

    Plus a few strategies for keeping them out-of-doors
    • Container Gardening
    • Gardening Flowers
    • Fruit, Vegetable & Herb Gardens
    • Garden Pests
    • Plant Guides A-Z
    • Indoor Plants
    • Fall Plants
    • Landscaping Ideas
    • The Grumpy Gardener
  • News

    News

    See All News
    • Celebrities
    • Local News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Southern Living
  2. Food and Recipes
  3. Fruits
  4. Banana
  5. 25 Best-Ever Banana Recipes You Need To Bookmark Immediately

25 Best-Ever Banana Recipes You Need To Bookmark Immediately

Kaitlyn Yarborough, Assistant Editor and Writer for Southern Living
By Kaitlyn Yarborough
Skip gallery slides
FB
Dessert Recipes: Caramelized Banana Pudding
Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick, Prop Styling: Annette Joseph, Food Styling: William Smith

We're very aware that bananas are just fine and tasty to eat alone as they come, similar to other divisive ingredients like Brussels sprouts and buttermilk. Just peel it back and reap the potassium-packed health rewards, right? But again, similar to raw Brussels sprout slaw versus caramelized bacony Brussels sprouts straight out of the oven, bananas just don't hit the taste buds quite the same out of the peel as they do inside a warm slice of banana nut bread or layered with whipped cream in classic banana pudding. And to that we say, let's get slicing and baking. 

We've rounded up 25 delicious ways to use up all your bunches of ripe bananas before they go bad, from nutella-swirled banana bread to banana pudding-inspired cheesecake to Elvis-approved peanut butter-banana pie. So you might want to grab an extra bunch or two—because these best-ever banana recipes will have you begging for mercy.

Start Slideshow

1 of 25

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Banana Pudding Poke Cake

Banana Pudding Poke Cake
Credit: Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Banana Pudding Poke Cake

A poke cake topped with banana pudding? That's about as celebration-worthy as it gets—so make sure to enjoy every single banana-laden bite. 

1 of 25

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 25

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Banana Pudding Cheesecake

Banana Pudding Cheesecake
Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Banana Pudding Cheesecake

You might never have known you needed this heavenly hybrid. Banana pudding gets an even creamier, more decadent twist with cheesecake filling. 

2 of 25

3 of 25

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Peanut Butter-Banana Icebox Pie

Peanut Butter-Banana Icebox Pie
Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Peanut Butter-Banana Icebox Pie

Elvis would definitely approve, and that's all we need to know. This cool, creamy chocolate-drizzled dessert is sure to have you coming back for more. 

3 of 25

Advertisement

4 of 25

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Banana Cake

Banana Cake
Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Banana Cake

In our opinion, a best-ever banana cake should be well spiced and frosted with a heavy layer of cream cheese frosting—and that's exactly the calling card of this insanely delicious sheet cake. 

4 of 25

5 of 25

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Mini Bananas Foster Sticky Buns

Mini Bananas Foster Sticky Buns
Credit: Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Mini Bananas Foster Sticky Buns

Your Saturday morning coffee is practically made to be paired with these adorably miniature caramelized sticky buns. The sweetness instantly melts in your mouth, which means you'll be wanting more than one. 

5 of 25

6 of 25

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Banana Bread French Toast Casserole

Banana Bread French Toast Casserole
Credit: Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Banana Bread French Toast Casserole

Tell your usual brunch casserole to watch out—because there's a new heavy-hitter in town. Banana bread meets French toast in this fan-fave breakfast bake. 

6 of 25

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 25

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Salted Caramel Banana Pudding

Salted Caramel Banana Pudding
Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Tami Hardeman

Recipe: Salted Caramel Banana Pudding

If you didn't think homemade banana pudding could get any better, do a double take. This indulgent rendition is layered with slightly spiced Biscoff cookies and a shortcut salted caramel drizzle. 

7 of 25

8 of 25

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Banana Upside-Down Pancake Cake

Banana Upside-Down Pancake Cake image
Credit: Kelsey Hansen; Prop Styling: Kashara Johnson; Food Styling: Pam Lolley

Recipe: Banana Upside-Down Pancake Cake

An old-school treat with a banana-flavored twist. This brunch-to-dessert cake starts with boxed pancake mix, which means your prep time just went way down. 

8 of 25

9 of 25

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Nutella Banana Bread

Nutella Banana Bread
Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Nutella Banana Bread

Now this is an upgrade to classic banana bread we can get behind. You'll be left dreaming about those swirls of Nutella after having a slice.

9 of 25

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 25

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Banana Ice Cream

banana ice cream
Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Stylist: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey

Recipe: Banana Ice Cream

Homemade ice cream is a real treat, no matter the flavor. This recipe is extra creamy and custard-based and packed with the flavor of fresh bananas. None of that fake stuff! Banana split anyone? 

10 of 25

11 of 25

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Banana Pancakes

Banana Pancakes
Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Banana Pancakes

Lightly spiced with cinnamon and just a little salty, these banana pancakes are guaranteed to take lazy Saturday morning breakfasts up a notch. 

11 of 25

12 of 25

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Banana Nut Cake

Banana Nut Cake
Credit: Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Emily Hall; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Recipe: Banana Nut Cake

An even fluffier, slightly sweeter version of banana bread, this cake recipe has all the things you love about the classic dish—but puts it decidedly more into the dessert category. 

12 of 25

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 25

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Banana Cream Pie

Banana Cream Pie
Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Banana Cream Pie

Learn how to make this old-school diner dessert with almost as much panache as those waitresses in roller skates. 

13 of 25

14 of 25

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Strawberry-Banana-Peanut Butter Smoothie

Strawberry-Banana-Peanut Butter Smoothie
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Strawberry-Banana-Peanut Butter Smoothie

This might be the only healthy breakfast smoothie we actually want to make again and again. Peanut butter and banana make a dynamite duo. 

14 of 25

15 of 25

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Amy Grant's Banana Nut Bread

Amy Grant's Banana Nut Bread
Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Amy Grant's Banana Nut Bread

This classic banana bread recipe hits the spot every time. Plus, only 20 minutes of hands-on time makes it quick and easy enough to whip together on the fly. 

15 of 25

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 25

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Bananas Foster Coffee Cake with Vanilla-Rum Sauce

Bananas Foster Coffee Cake with Vanilla-Rum Sauce
Credit: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Bananas Foster Coffee Cake with Vanilla-Rum Sauce

This is a special-occasion coffee cake if we've ever seen one. It takes a lesson from Brennan's famous bananas foster and tops it off with a sweetened rum glaze.

16 of 25

17 of 25

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Banana Nut Shortcake

Banana Nut Shortcake
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Banana Nut Shortcake

Give strawberry shortcake the day off and instead pile these biscuits with sliced bananas, toasted pecans, whipped cream, and coconut flakes. 

17 of 25

18 of 25

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Caramelized Banana Pudding

Dessert Recipes: Caramelized Banana Pudding
Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick, Prop Styling: Annette Joseph, Food Styling: William Smith

Recipe: Caramelized Banana Pudding

This toasted version of banana pudding almost tops Nana's famous recipe. (We said almost.) Caramelized bananas and meringue makes banana pudding feel even more special .

18 of 25

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 25

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Brennan's Bananas Foster

Brennan’s Bananas Foster
Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Karin Olsen

Recipe: Brennan's Bananas Foster

Brennan's in New Orleans perfected this warm, caramelized classic treat over 60 years ago—and now you can, too. No travel required.

19 of 25

20 of 25

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Gluten-Free Banana Bread

Gluten-Free Banana Bread
Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Gluten-Free Banana Bread

If you're cutting out gluten or flour, you can still enjoy a nice slice of warm banana bread with this recipe that makes gluten taste absolutely irrelevant. 

20 of 25

21 of 25

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Vegan Banana Bread

Vegan Banana Bread
Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Vegan Banana Bread

With both sweet and salty elements, this plant-based banana bread eats clean and super delicious. It gets all the sweetness of banana, brown sugar, and vanilla, along with a special subtle nuttiness from sesame. 

21 of 25

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 25

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Banana Pudding Milk Shake

Salted Caramel-Pecan Milk Shake
Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Banana Pudding Milk Shake

We'll take our banana pudding on the go and extra creamy. This ultra-thick milk shake is pretty much the ultimate warm-weather treat. 

22 of 25

23 of 25

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Strawberry-Banana Pudding Icebox Cake

Strawberry-Banana Pudding Icebox Cake
Credit: Iain Bagwell; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Hadas Smirnoff

Recipe: Strawberry-Banana Pudding Icebox Cake

You won't meet a fruit dessert as show-stopping as this perfect warm-weather icebox cake. Strawberries and bananas make a refreshing duo in the beloved graham cracker-layered dessert.

23 of 25

24 of 25

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Banana Daiquiri

Banana Daiquiri
Credit: Antonis Achilleos

Recipe: Banana Daiquiri

You know what they say: If you like piña coladas...then you'll love these banana daiquiris. Well, maybe that's not what they say. But they will now. We can practically hear the ocean breeze already. 

24 of 25

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 25

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Hummingbird Bundt Cake

Hummingbird Bundt Cake
Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Hummingbird Bundt Cake

We couldn't leave this Southern delicacy off the list. Make the classic Hummingbird Cake—or go with this fuss-free Bundt cake version instead. Either way, pineapple-studded, nutty heaven awaits with just a hint of extra moistness from your ripe bananas. 

25 of 25

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Kaitlyn Yarborough

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 25 Banana Pudding Poke Cake
    2 of 25 Banana Pudding Cheesecake
    3 of 25 Peanut Butter-Banana Icebox Pie
    4 of 25 Banana Cake
    5 of 25 Mini Bananas Foster Sticky Buns
    6 of 25 Banana Bread French Toast Casserole
    7 of 25 Salted Caramel Banana Pudding
    8 of 25 Banana Upside-Down Pancake Cake
    9 of 25 Nutella Banana Bread
    10 of 25 Banana Ice Cream
    11 of 25 Banana Pancakes
    12 of 25 Banana Nut Cake
    13 of 25 Banana Cream Pie
    14 of 25 Strawberry-Banana-Peanut Butter Smoothie
    15 of 25 Amy Grant's Banana Nut Bread
    16 of 25 Bananas Foster Coffee Cake with Vanilla-Rum Sauce
    17 of 25 Banana Nut Shortcake
    18 of 25 Caramelized Banana Pudding
    19 of 25 Brennan's Bananas Foster
    20 of 25 Gluten-Free Banana Bread
    21 of 25 Vegan Banana Bread
    22 of 25 Banana Pudding Milk Shake
    23 of 25 Strawberry-Banana Pudding Icebox Cake
    24 of 25 Banana Daiquiri
    25 of 25 Hummingbird Bundt Cake

    Share & More

    Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print
    Southern Living

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • About Us
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Books from Southern Living
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    MeredithSouthern Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. Southern Living is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporationthis link opens in a new tab All Rights Reserved. Southern Living may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Southern Living. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.southernliving.com

    Sign in

    View image

    25 Best-Ever Banana Recipes You Need To Bookmark Immediately
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.