5 ways to use a ripe banana, that doesn’t include banana bread
Bananas are often given a bad rap, but they are jam-packed with nutrients! One medium banana provides you with 105 calories, 27 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of dietary fiber, 1.3 grams of protein, and contains 75% water, according to the USDA. One banana also contains essential vitamins and minerals. It provides 12% daily value for potassium, an important electrolyte our body needs and loses in sweat, and 22% daily value for vitamin B6, which helps mood regulation and helps in macronutrient metabolism.
Bananas are low in fat and protein, making them a great option to enjoy before or after a run. You can pair a banana with a scoop of peanut butter for a healthy blood sugar balancing snack, add slices of banana on top of toast or to a bowl of oats, or whip them into a healthy dessert.
If you have a few ripe bananas on hand and are tired of only making banana bread with them when they start to ripen, check out these 5 ways you can use your ripe bananas that doesn’t include banana bread!
1. Frozen chocolate covered banana bites
Chocolate dessert lovers this recipe is for you!
Frozen chocolate covered banana bites
Equipment
- 1 baking pan
Ingredients
- 2 bananas
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
Instructions
- Slice your bananas up
- Spread out on a cooking sheet/baking tray
- Freeze for at least 1 hour + Melt your dark chocolate and coconut oil if using
- Drizzle the dark chocolate over the bananas, or you can dip them into the chocolate
- Freeze again for at least 1 hour until frozen
- Keeps in the freezer for at least 1 month
Nutrition
2. Caramelized Banana Toast
Caramelized Banana Toast
Equipment
- 1 cutting board
- 1 toaster oven or oven
Ingredients
- 1 banana
- 1 slice seduction bread
- 2 tbsp almond butter
- 1 tsp chia seeds
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Toast up your favorite slice of bread- I'm using seduction seeded bread from whole foods
- Add almond butter or peanut butter
- Top with banana slices
- Optional step: toast the bread and bananas together. Baked bananas caramelize and give off a different intense sweet flavor.
- Add coconut flakes, hemp seeds, or chia seeds and cinnamon or cardamom enjoy!
3. Air-fryer Banana Split
Air-Fryer Banana Split
Equipment
- 1 Air-fryer or oven
Ingredients
- 1 banana ripe
- 1 tsp cinammon
- 1 tbsp almond butter
- 1 tbsp greek yogurt plain or vanilla
- 1 tbsp chocolate chips dark
Instructions
- Preheat your air-fryer to 350 degrees F or oven
- Place whole banana with peel into air-frier and cook for 5 minutes
- Slice the banana right down the middle
- Fill with desired toppings: chocolate chips, greek yogurt, ice cream, cinnamon, almond butter and enjoy!
Nutrition
4. Freeze your bananas to add to smoothies, milkshakes or make nice cream!
One thing I do with ripe bananas is simply throw them into a freezer bag and add to smoothies, milkshakes or make nice cream with it! Frozen bananas are great for adding to any frozen drink as they thicken up the smoothie you don’t even need to add ice!
5. Whipped Banana Oats
Melted banana trick- add banana slices or mashed banana to your bowl of oats and whip them into the oats. You’re picky eaters won’t even notice a serving of fruit is in their oats and it’s a great way to sweetened up the oats without needing to use honey or brown sugar.
