Vegan Banana Recipes
We all love bananas, raw or baked in desserts and breads. That’s why this handy guide on buying bananas, storing bananas, freezing bananas, along with many easy vegan banana recipes, comes in so handy. You’ll love everything from Vegan Banana Bread to Banana Chia Pudding and everything in between!
Looking to make some of your favorite banana recipes vegan? This post will show you how.
Banana Nutrition
There are a lot of health benefits when it comes to bananas. Here are a few of the highlights:
- They’re a great source of potassium, with over 9% of the recommended daily requirements
- You’ll find even more vitamins in bananas, such as B6 and C
- Bananas contain many minerals, such as magnesium and copper
- Each banana contains around 3 grams of fiber
- The most controversial part of bananas is their high carb content, upwards of 20 grams per banana.
Banana Fun Facts
I love these fun facts about bananas!
- Bananas actually grow pointing up
- The banana fruit develops from the flower of the plant, which is referred to as the Banana Heart. Ahh, that’s so sweet!
- You’re in good company if you love them, because bananas are one of the world’s most popular fruits.
- There are numerous varieties of bananas cultivated across the planet, but we see mostly just one, the Cavendish. Believe it or not, the Cavendish is not the most flavorful banana, but it is easy to transport, so that’s why it is so readily available at our local grocery store.
Cooking with Bananas
In addition to the health benefits, bananas are a great friend to vegan cooks. Here’s why:
- Bananas can be mashed and used as an egg replacer (more on that below)
- Their creamy texture makes them perfect for use in everything from Green Smoothies to Banana Shakes to Banana Ice Cream
- If you’re looking to make baked goods without refined sugar, bananas offer sweetness that can make baked goods naturally sweet and delicious.
Ingredient Spotlight
What Bananas are Best?
I recommend buying a mixture of bananas, some that are yellow or even those with some brown spots, to use immediately. You can also buy some that are slightly green. Avoid overly green bananas, as they may not ripen adequately. Choose fruit that is plump and not overly bruised. Some bruising may occur, but the fruit can still be used for baking.
How to Store Bananas
What do you do with all those beautiful bananas once you get them home? Here are some great tips:
- Slow Down Ripening — If you have some bananas you want to last for a while, store them away from other fruit. You can also store bananas in the fridge to slow down their ripening. Be forewarned, the banana skins will turn black, but the fruit inside will taste fine.
- Speed Up Ripening — If you want to make a banana cake and you need ripe bananas, that’s the time when you can only find green ones in the store. There are some ways to make bananas ripen more quickly. You can store them in a paper bag for a day or two. If you need them ripe and fast, consider baking them!
- Freezing Bananas — This is our favorite tip for preserving the present state of banana flavor. However, it will change the texture of the fruit. I prefer to slice the bananas into equally-sized pieces and place those pieces on a sheet of waxed paper on a cookie sheet. Then freeze them for 30 minutes or so and transfer them to a freezer bag.
Dealing With Overly Ripe Bananas
Ripe bananas are ones that have a few or many dark brown spots. When the bananas start to get more brown spots than yellow, your bunch is headed toward the “overly ripe” category. If you find yourself with a bunch of bananas on the verge of going bad, you do have options. Here are my favorites:
- Freeze overly ripe bananas for use in Green Smoothies or my favorite Vegan Chocolate Shake
- Add bananas to baked goods like Whole Wheat Banana Bread. Then you can choose to eat that bread right away or freeze it for later.
- Make dried banana chips that you can add to Peanut Butter Granola or serve as a snack. Dried banana chips are a great way of preserving some of the flavor of ripe bananas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some popular questions often asked about bananas.
What to do with lots of ripe bananas?
You can make some delicious baked goods with ripe bananas, such as Vegan Banana Bread, Banana Muffins, and more. Once you’ve found the best recipes for ripe bananas and used them to make a tasty dessert, you can eat the dessert right away or freeze it to eat later.
Where is the best place to store bananas?
Bananas will ripen quickly in warmer temperatures, so be sure to store them in a cool location away from direct sunlight. Once you’re bananas are at the perfect level of ripeness, you can transfer them to the fridge, where they will slow down ripening quite a bit.
Can I freeze bananas?
You can easily freeze bananas for later. To do this, peel the bananas and either freeze them whole or cut them into slices. Frozen bananas can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months and are perfect for use in baked goods, smoothies, and more.
Banana Egg Replacer
A mashed banana makes an excellent egg replacement for many baked goods, particularly those that call for one or two eggs. That’s a handy trick for veganizing your favorite recipes. Bananas will leave a subtle or strong banana flavor to a recipe, so be prepared.
To use bananas as an egg replacer, substitute ¼ cup of mashed banana for each egg. Please note that recipes that call for multiple eggs may be trickier when it comes to substitutions.
Vegan Banana Recipes
Delivering the best recipes for bananas is a goal, which is why I’m excited about what comes next. If you’re curious about how to bake with bananas, these recipes will be a good start!
Healthy Banana Recipes
You’ve got a dilemma. What to do with overripe bananas. Use them to make some healthy sweets! You’ll find everything here from Banana Brownies, Vegan Banana Pudding, and even some Frozen Banana Bites.
Frozen Banana Bites
Indulge in delicious frozen banana bites, with layers of creamy banana, luscious peanut butter, and rich chocolate coating. A tasty treat!
Banana Chocolate Brownies
These fudgy, gooey vegan chocolate banana brownies are extra moist, healthy, and super tasty. Have these for dessert, a snack, or breakfast!
Banana Protein Balls
These banana protein balls are perfect for busy days. Featuring whole food ingredients and no refined sugar, they’re both healthy and tasty!
Blackberry Chia Pudding
Enjoy this creamy, delicious, and gorgeous blackberry chia pudding with a berry sauce on top. It’s a perfect healthy dessert option!
Banana Smoothies & Shakes
Bananas add lots of creaminess to smoothies and shakes. Here are the recipes to prove it!
Watermelon Banana Smoothie
Cool off with a delicious watermelon banana smoothie! This easy smoothie recipe takes minutes to make and is the perfect refreshing treat.
Purple Smoothie Bowl
Add a burst of energy and nutrition to your day with the power of a purple smoothie bowl! Make this delicious, healthy smoothie in minutes.
Strawberry Matcha Smoothie
This nutritious strawberry matcha smoothie is a delicious and healthy way to start your day. You can also enjoy it as a mid-day pick-me-up.
Almond Milk Smoothie
This almond milk smoothie is creamy and delicious! Made with only 6 ingredients (including ice), this smoothie is easy, healthy, and amazing!
Banana Shake
You’ll love this creamy banana shake that’s infused with banana flavor. It’s made with only four ingredients and is ready in minutes!
Vegan Chocolate Milkshake
It takes only minutes to enjoy this thick vegan chocolate Milkshake made with cocoa powder and vegan ice cream. Add your favorite toppings!
Green Smoothie
This vegan green smoothie is packed with healthy greens, but don’t worry, it tastes good, too. Make this smoothie a healthy everyday habit!
Berry Smoothie
This frozen Berry Smoothie is a delicious blend of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and frozen bananas, naturally sweetened and ready in minutes. Enjoy it for breakfast, a snack, or even dessert!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Smoothie
Start your day right with this Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Smoothie. It’s made with bananas, peanut butter, and chocolate protein powder.
Vegan Banana Recipes for Breakfast
Making recipes from bananas for breakfast is a favorite. Here, you’ll find everything from pancakes to muffins, and even smoothies!
Pumpkin Banana Bread Muffins
These Pumpkin Banana Bread Muffins are packed with cozy flavors and topped with a naturally sweet date glaze. Easy steps, irresistible taste—perfect for a sweet fix anytime!
Vegan Gluten-Free Banana Muffins
Make these delicious Vegan Gluten-Free Banana Muffins today. These muffins with streusel topping are a breeze to make and tastes amazing!
Gluten-Free Banana Pancakes
Make these Gluten-Free Banana Pancakes over the weekend and enjoy them the rest of the week. They’re easy to make and dairy free too!
Vegan Banana Pancakes
Fluffy and easy, these tasty vegan banana pancakes need to be on your breakfast menu! Serve with fresh fruit, peanut butter, or maple syrup.
Vegan Banana Muffins
These Vegan Banana Muffins are easy to make with only a few ingredients. Moist, delicious muffins are topped with a streusel, crumb topping!
Banana Spinach Smoothie
Looking for a tasty and nutritious breakfast? This matcha banana spinach smoothie is a delicious and easy way to get your greens in!
Banana Bread Recipes
Baking with bananas makes moist and delicious goodies, such as banana bread. Here are some favorites you’ll want to make over and over again!
Vegan Banana Bread
Enjoy the best vegan banana bread – moist, flavorful, and easy to make! This simple quick bread recipe is go-to favorite and a crowd-pleaser.
Whole Wheat Banana Bread
This whole wheat banana bread creates a moist, lightly sweetened, flavorful quick bread. It’s not only healthy, but it’s also the best ever!
Vegan Strawberry Banana Bread
This Vegan Strawberry Banana Bread is soft, moist, and bursting with fresh strawberries and banana flavor! A simple, eggless recipe for breakfast or a snack.
Sweet Bananas Recipes
If you love to cook with bananas, these dessert recipes will be your favorite! Everyone loves a good banana cream pie, banana cake, or even some vegan banana cookies. Here are some of our favorite desserts infused with bananas!
Banana Snack Cake
This easy banana snacking cake is moist, lightly sweet, and drizzled with maple glaze. Perfect for breakfast, lunchboxes, or snacks.
Indulge in healthy and delicious vegan chunky monkey cookies! This simple recipe is packed with peanut butter, banana, and chocolate goodness.
Vegan Banana Cake
This vegan banana cake is a tender, moist cake with ginger and cinnamon and topped with a dreamy, creamy vegan cream cheese frosting.
Banana Blondies
Moist and fudgy, these Vegan Banana Blondies come with a Creamy Peanut Butter Frosting to tempt your tastebuds. It’s a fabulous dessert!
Vegan Banana Cream Pie
This vegan banana cream pie has layers of deliciousness, including a cookie crust, vanilla filling, bananas, and coconut whipped topping.
Chunky Monkey Cake
This moist chunky monkey cake is made with bananas, peanut butter, and chocolate. This dairy-free cake is easy and uses everyday ingredients.
Imagine serving these moist banana blondies with creamy peanut butter frosting for your next party or brunch. It’s a real crowd favorite!
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Do you have a favorite banana recipe? Please share it in the comments below!
About the Author
Hi! I’m Marly McMillen. I’m the founding editor, author, recipe developer, vegan home chef, and food stylist behind Namely Marly. I’m so grateful to you and every member of my audience for your support and dedication. More about Namely Marly ›
6 Responses to Vegan Banana Recipes
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Hello Marly. Just wanted to thank you for this recipe. I tried this and it came out very nice. Being a Jain – the diet is very similar to a Vegan diet and your recipe surely help me with trying new things. Thanks.
Hi Rakhi. Our local museum had an exhibit on Jains and I found the art and philosophy fascinating. I’m so glad to hear from you about this and glad this recipe worked for your way of life. Sending happy vibes!
Fun round-up! I love banana pudding the very best.
Banana pudding…yum!! I especially like that in a pie shell. Sigh….
I absolutely adore bananas. This is an awesome post, Marly! I’ll bookmark when I’m looking for recipes for nanners. 🙂
I love baking with bananas…and your post is inspiring me! I need to let a bunch ripen on my counter for a few days, and then I’ll be at it with my masher! Thanks for sharing, Marley!