A banana and pineapple cake cut into slices

Why we love bananas

Bananas add a natural moistness and sweetness to bakes, including classic banana bread, breakfast muffins and cakes. You can also use bananas to make healthy versions of snacks as they are high in natural sugars. Take a look below at our banana smoothies, three-ingredient banana pancakes and vegan banana bread. You can even use this tropical fruit to create your own ice cream, or even add to curries – yes, that's right!

Health benefits of bananas

Bananas are a great source of fibre, which means they're good for your gut and may help to lower cholesterol. They're also packed with important nutrients, including potassium, which contributes to a healthy heart.

What to do with overripe bananas

As bananas ripen, their starch converts to sugar, resulting in a sweeter, more intense banana flavour and a softer texture. This makes them ideal for baking and other culinary applications where moisture and natural sweetness are desired.

Recipes for overripe bananas

Classic banana bread

This classic banana loaf requires just six ingredients and is perfect for an easy teatime treat or breakfast snack. It's a great way to use up overripe bananas.

Banoffee pie

We know you love this classic recipe – it's been one of our most popular recipes for years! Banoffee pie is a family-favourite. This delicious dish is packed with bananas, cream and an oaty biscuit base, then decorated with a drizzle of dark chocolate.

Banana bread cheesecake

Indulge in this glorious mash-up of two favourite sweet treats – a banana bread base topped with creamy vanilla cheesecake, sliced bananas and salted caramel.

Browse all our utterly irresistible cheesecake recipes.

Banana bread pancakes

Brown bananas never looked so good: mix them with dried fruit and nuts to make these sweet, moreish pancakes. Perfect for a lazy brunch with the family.

A stack of pancakes with raisins, walnuts and banana

Banoffee cheesecake

Bananas are the star of the show in this dinner party dessert, offering comforting flavours of an old-school pudding.

Cheesecake drizzled in caramel and topped with sliced banana on a grey stone background with two slices cut out

Spiced pineapple and banana cake

With its tropical notes and subtle harissa heat, this banana cake serves up a big slice of holiday flavour, topped with a creamy icing. Don’t be scared of the harissa – the flavour mellows in the cooking. Check out our best harissa recipes.

Roasted banana caramel swirl ice cream

Check out this impressive ice cream recipe with roasted bananas and homemade caramel sauce. Black bananas are best for this recipe as they're at their most ripe and sweet.

Banoffee fridge cake

Everyone knows banoffee pie tastes even better the day after making it, when all the flavours have had a chance to meld. This easy, no-bake fridge cake with banana and shop-bought caramel takes advantage of being left overnight before serving.

Find more fabulous fridge cakes.

Hummingbird cake

Pineapple and banana meet heady spices and soft cheese buttercream in this glorious American cake recipe.

Banana muffins

This recipe for banana and oat breakfast muffins is so delicious that they feel like a treat, but they're each under 200 calories. Make a batch now and you'll have a healthy breakfast all week.

Find more healthy breakfast ideas.

Banana muffins wrapped in baking parchment on a cooling wrack and plate

Banoffee cake

We've taken a popular banana cake and given it a banoffee pie makeover. Our cake is packed with bananas, covered in creamy caramel buttercream and topped with caramelised bananas.

These are our most impressive layer cakes.

Banana malt loaf

Use up leftover bananas in our moist loaf with tea-infused dried fruit and malt extract. Malt adds an extra-nutty caramel flavour to this moreish teatime treat.

Banana daiquiri

A classic daiquiri gets a banana twist in this tropical cocktail recipe, a perfect refresher to enjoy outdoors.

We're always down for a fruity cocktail.

Banana fritters

Make a batch of battered, deep-fried bananas and serve with a dusting of icing sugar – look for yellow-skinned bananas (not green), as you'll want them to be ripe.

For a lighter end to your meal, see our healthy dessert recipes.

Plate of banana fritters on a white background with a blue napkin and mini sieve of icing sugar

Healthy banana bread

Maple syrup is the key to this wonderfully moist vegan banana bread, flavoured with coconut oil and desiccated coconut.

Find more like this in our coconut recipes collection.

Banana milkshake

Fancy recreating a diner-style classic? Check out our thick, creamy banana milkshake, finished with a swirl of whipped cream and sprinkles.

Or how about sipping on our strawberry milkshake?

Two milkshakes topped with whipped cream and sprinkles on a grey stone background with a plate of bananas alongside

Classic banana split

Serve bananas with hazelnuts, vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce and cocktail cherries to make this old-school dessert.

Take things to the next level with our sticky toffee sundae.

A blue enamel tray holding two blue plates of banana split, drizzled in chocolate sauce

Banana smoothie

This vegan almond milk smoothie combines banana, cinnamon, porridge oats and nutmeg to make a hearty, high-protein and gently spiced shake.

Go green with a kale smoothie.

Almond Milk and Banana Smoothie in a Glass

Sticky toffee banana pudding

We’ve combined two classic desserts to create a mouthwatering pud that sings of autumn.

A roasting dish filled with a golden sponge pudding, topped with two sliced bananas

Vegan banana ice cream

Our healthy banana ice cream is dairy-free, no-churn and no-effort. Once you’re confident with the process, try experimenting with different flavours.

Try this vegan cheesecake, too.

Healthy banana pancakes

These healthy pancakes are dairy-free and gluten-free, as well as being low in calories. Using just three ingredients, they are super-quick to whip up, and the peanut butter makes them sturdy so they’re easy to flip.

For another fruity favourite, try our blueberry pancakes.

Plate of pancakes with syrup and bananas

Banana split lollies

Use bananas, dark chocolate and non-dairy yogurt to make this cooling treat.

Our summer dessert recipes are best enjoyed al fresco in the sun.

Three ice lollies drizzled in dark chocolate and sprinkled with chopped peanuts

Spiced banana tarte tatin

This spiced banana tarte tatin recipe comes from Cinnamon Club. It's easy to make with bananas and banana chips, but looks impressive.

Peanut butter banana bread

We've levelled up the classic banana bread with peanut butter to make a nutty twist on everyone's favourite. Serve with your freshly brewed morning coffee and you're good to go.

If you like peanuts, you'll love our peanut butter recipes.

Banana and chocolate cake with maple cream and crispy bacon

Chef Chris Gillard of London restaurant EartH Kitchen has created an impressive banana and chocolate cake. The addition of maple cream and crispy bacon transforms it into a delicious dessert.

Banana and Chocolate Cake Recipe with Maple Cream

Strawberry and banana smoothie

Check out our quick and easy smoothie with fresh strawberries, bananas and tofu – ready in 5 minutes. Using silken tofu may sound strange for a sweet recipe, but will give a creamy texture to the smoothie.

Make the most of strawberry season with our sweet, juicy recipes.

Two Glasses of Strawberry and Banana Smoothie with Ice

Banana breakfast loaf

Make a loaf this weekend for an easy breakfast during the week. Made with pecans and mashed bananas, it’s a great way to use up overripe bananas.

Banana split s'mores

This fun dessert makes a feature of cooked bananas, ideal when paired with salty biscuits and dark chocolate.

These easy s’mores chocolate pots are an absolute must-try.

blackened banana split s'mores in foil parcels with a yellow background

Whisky caramel and banana self-saucing pudding

Ready in under an hour, this comforting pud features a splash of booze to magically create its own sauce. We suggest serving warm with a dollop of ice cream.

Caramel Self-Saucing Pudding Recipe with Bananas and Whisky

Banana and cauliflower curry

Banana, the surprise ingredient in this vegan curry, adds sweetness and thickens the sauce. It's a bit of a secret weapon, as it makes for a creamy, comforting dish.

Find more like this in our vegetarian curry recipes.

Two bowls of cauliflower curry with rice, placed next to each other with a set of cutlery to the right

Chocolate chip banana bread

Take banana bread to the next level by topping with a luxurious chocolate sauce and caramelised bananas. Serve slices with a morning brew and you’re good to go.

A banana and chocolate chip loaf cake on a white serving board, with a slice cut from the end

Banana loaf with passion fruit frosting

Our take on the ever-popular banana loaf. Made with pecans and a tropical passion fruit frosting, this is a teatime treat to share with family and friends.

Toffee banana tart

Banana and toffee is a classic flavour combination. Try it in this impressive-looking, delicious, sticky tart and serve it with a decadent toffee cream for extra indulgence.

Make the ultimate sticky toffee pudding.

Banana nut muffins

These banana and nut muffins are easy to make and under 300 calories each. They include chopped peanuts and almonds as well as almond flakes for the topping. Make a batch for breakfast.

Vegan banana bread

Our moist vegan banana bread is moreish, easy to make and goes perfectly with your morning tea. Everyone will enjoy this at the table, whether they're vegan or not!

Banana and rum fritters

Try this popular French Caribbean sweet snack, enjoyed on Sundays around carnival time. We think they're delicious any time of year.

You could serve these after Caribbean fish curry.

Butterscotch banoffee tart

Check out this creamy chocolate tart recipe with juicy bananas, salted caramel and old-school butterscotch Angel Delight. Impress your friends and family with this super indulgent dessert.

Whether it's for a dinner party or a casual lunch, we've got lots of sweet tart recipes to end your meal.

Caramel banana blondies

These blondies, made with white chocolate and sliced bananas, have a chewy crust and soft centre. You’ll be standing over these waiting for them to cool down enough so you can eat them straight from the tin. Use salted caramel for extra indulgence.

Sugar-free banana bread

We've used silken tofu in place of eggs in this vegan banana berry traybake which uses natural, unrefined sugars – wonderful served with dairy-free yogurt for a sweet breakfast or brunch.

Next up, sugar-free cookies.

A tray filled with chunks of banana and berry cake

Quick banana ice cream

10 mins to prep, and 2 hours to freeze... plus only 4 ingredients required! Add chocolate chips, coconut flakes or chopped nuts if you fancy something a bit different.

Banana sticky toffee pudding

Banana bread meets sticky toffee in this self-saucing pud, and it’s a winner. Serve with ice cream or cream and a shot of spiced rum alongside for an extra hit of warmth.

For another boozy take on a classic, go for rum and raisin bread and butter pudding.

Peanut butter, banana and berry smoothie

A great way to use that jar of peanut butter, this vibrant berry smoothie calls for only the simplest of ingredients. Serve over ice for best results.

Banana and almond butter muffins

These delicious muffins make a healthy on-the-go breakfast.

Gluten-free banana bread

Flavoured with honey, vanilla and mixed spice, this comforting banana bread is studded with walnuts and entirely gluten-free, though you'd never guess it.

For another great free-from bake, try our gluten-free brownies.

A loaf of banana bread with a sliced banana baked into the top, on a white plate

Banana and passion fruit loaf

We've taken the classic banana bread and given it a summery twist. This loaf is a great way to use up overripe bananas, plus it's quick, looks impressive and can be easily frozen.

Enjoy more passion fruit recipes.

Coconut, banana and raspberry muffins

Try our recipe for low-fat coconut, banana and raspberry muffins. This recipe is super quick and easy to make, and it comes in under 160 calories per serving. It's a great mid-morning snack.

Try one of our raspberry recipes for a summery treat.

Banana Muffins Recipe With Coconut And Raspberry

Butterscotch banana crêpes

Check out this indulgent pancake recipe with boozy banana and bourbon sauce. This quick and easy recipe is not only great for a decadent Shrove Tuesday pancake, but it makes a fun sweet treat to serve at gatherings with friends and family.

Candied bacon banana bread

Check out our easy candied bacon banana bread recipe. The combination of crisp, salty bacon with dense banana bread is a winner. Try it toasted with butter and a drizzle of maple syrup for an extra indulgent breakfast. Use overripe black bananas for the best result.