Bonkers for Bananas: 9 Recipes that Go Beyond the Smoothie

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banana recipes

These banana recipes are gonna make you go bonkers, seriously.

I’ve always been a fan of bananas. I mean, what’s not to love? They’re delicious, you can freeze them and turn them into delicious soft-serve ice cream, and they make smoothies super rich!

But bananas aren’t just delicious, they’re pretty good for us, too. In fact, studies show that bananas:

  • Help lower blood pressure. Bananas are rich in potassium, which helps lower blood pressure. Potassium also balances out the negative effects that salt has on our body.
  • Help treat asthma. A recent study showed that children who ate just one banana a day had a 34% less risk of developing asthma.
  • Offer a great dose of fiber. Diabetics who consume a high fiber diet have shown to have lower blood glucose levels and improved blood sugar levels. Just one medium sized banana provides around 3 grams of fiber.
  • Help with diarrhea. It’s not a nice subject to talk about but bananas can firm stools, and also help replenish lost minerals. Eating foods like bananas can help to replace those nutrients that are lost.
  • Help to preserve memory. Bananas contain an amino acid, tryptophan, that has been known to help preserve memory and also boost your mood.

Ready to peel? Here are nine ways to use your bananas that go beyond the typical smoothie.

1. Chocolate Banana Peanut Butter Chia Pudding

Why not use your bananas to make a delicious chia seed pudding? They’re wonderful for breakfast as you can make them the night before and enjoy them on the go, or simply snack on them mid-afternoon when you fancy a little sweet treat.

Get the recipe here.

banana recipes

2. Homemade Baked Banana Chips

When it comes to snacking bananas are a great choice. They offer a great boost of potassium, and make a great snack both pre and post working out. If you’ve never tried making banana chips before then you need to give these a go. They’re great for snacking on and make a great topping for both ice cream and yogurt.

Get the recipe here.

banana recipes

3. Banana + Peanut Butter Overnight Oats

Overnight oats are another recipe great for breakfast time as, again, they can be made the night before. Leaving your oats overnight allows them to adsorb excess liquid, such as almond milk, and they become so soft and incredibly creamy the following day and taste great cold. You can also go wild with your toppings, but who doesn’t love just a simple dollop of peanut butter?

Get the recipe here.

banana recipes4. Pineapple Upside Down Banana Pancakes

Reinvent your pancakes with a pineapple and banana vibe at breakfast time. These vegan pancakes are so light and fluffy, the hardest part will be deciding how you’re going to top them. I vote a little maple syrup.

Get the recipe here.

banana recipes

5. Banana Bread Granola

I love granola. It’s super easy to make up large batches to power you through a week or two at a time. Use it in the morning with some soy milk or jazz up a yogurt by sprinkling a handful on top. In this recipe, the banana, vanilla and maple syrup add just the right amount of sweetness.

Get the recipe here.

banana recipes

6. Banana + Mango Coconut Bliss Balls

Bliss balls are such a great sweet treat to make at the beginning of the week and keep to snack on. Whenever you feel a snack attack coming on you can reach for one or two of these and they will power you through until your next meal. They also make a great option to take along as a snack post workout.

Get the recipe here.

banana recipes

7. Healthy Banana Bread

We’ve all been there at some stage, when we overload on bananas and find ourselves with a mountain of ripe bananas going bad. Well, don’t throw them out. Use them to make some super yummy banana bread. This recipe from Cookie + Kate can easily be made vegan or gluten-free, and utilises natural sweeteners like honey and maple syrup instead of white sugar.

Get the recipe here.

banana recipes

8. Best Ever Banana Ice Cream

Ice cream is so wonderfully cooling, especially during those hot, sunny days. So why not make your own at home? It’s much healthier and you have full control over what goes into it, meaning you can limit the amount of sugar and other fillers. This recipe has none of that refined rubbish. Bananas and coconut cream make it rich and creamy while vanilla adds a touch of that typical ice cream flavor you’re yearning for.

Get the recipe here.

banana recipes

9. Pistachio Chocolate Banana Sushi

How fancy does this banana sushi look? It’s a really fun way to use your bananas and make a dessert that appears challenging, yet is relatively uncomplicated to make.

Get the recipe here.

banana recipes

Lora O'Brien

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