Homemade banana cream pie recipe is my mom’s specialty. This dreamy dessert has a wonderful banana flavor, looks pretty and cuts easily, too. —Jodi Grable, Springfield, Missouri
This absolutely scrumptious banana Bundt cake needs no icing…just a dusting of confectioners’ sugar. Even though the recipe has been a family secret for years, I’m delighted to share it with my fellow home cooks. —Oma Rollison, El Cajon, California
Don’t toss out your bunch of ripe bananas just yet—these banana desserts will make the most of your uneaten, brown bananas.
One day a friend showed me how to make a traditional icebox cake with just cream and graham crackers. I make it extra special with the fruit. Now everyone at the potluck can have a banana split with no fuss! —Shelly Flye, Albion, Maine
My mom made these oatmeal banana cookies when I was young. Now my children like making them just as much as I did, and we quadruple the ripe banana dessert recipe to serve our large family. You can’t eat just one of these goodies packed with chocolate morsels. —Jaqueline Wilson, Armstrong Creek, Wisconsin
I have been making these treats for many years. I no longer remember where the recipe came from, but one thing is certain – the bars are always a hit at family get-togethers and parties. The secret to tasty banana desserts is the ripeness of the bananas – the riper, the better.
Guests are always impressed when I ignite the rum in this delicious bananas Foster dessert. Use perfectly ripe bananas for best results. —Mary Lou Wayman, Salt Lake City, Utah
Each slice of this cake has a temptingly tropical twist. If you’d like, sprinkle confectioners’ sugar over the top. —June Yeates, Bradley, Illinois
What could be better than bananas, cookies and Kahlua? You can adjust this to suit your taste, depending on whether you like a stronger or weaker Kahlua flavor. —Laurie Handlin, Ocean View, Delaware
Chopped pecans add pleasant crunch to these hearty banana oatmeal muffins with rich flavor. The muffins are low in cholesterol, but you’d never know it. My husband and I love them. —Marjorie Mott, Galatia, Illinois
I make these banana bars with cream cheese frosting whenever I have ripe bananas on hand, then store them in the freezer to share later. With creamy frosting and big banana flavor, this treat is a real crowd-pleaser. —Debbie Knight, Marion, Iowa
Peanut butter is a favorite of ours, and it brings a fun element to these cupcakes. They’re good with or without garnishes. —Holly Jones, Kennesaw, Georgia
Wondering if you have enough bananas to bake with? Read more about how many bananas are in a cup.
You can make almost any dessert more awesome with chocolate. In this cream pie, fresh banana and chocolate make a truly irresistible combo.
—Diane Nemitz, Ludington, Michigan
Here’s a banana cream pie with a little Italian flair. The chocolate and hazelnut
go well with the banana, and the rolled chocolate pie crust makes it extra-special.
If you don’t have time to melt and pipe the chocolate stars, just sprinkle the top
of the pie with grated chocolate or cocoa powder instead.
—Crystal Schlueter, Babbitt, Minnesota
These soft banana cookies have a cakelike texture and lots of flavor that everyone seem to love. It’s one of the best banana cookie recipes I’ve found. —Vicki Raatz, Waterloo, Wisconsin
I found this recipe more than five years ago and have been making it for family gatherings ever since. The coffee-flavored frosting complements the moist banana cake. —Kathy Hoffman, Topton, Pennsylvania
Summer isn’t summer without a banana split or two, and these fun bars bring that same delicious flavor in potluck-perfect form. —Jasey McBurnett, Rock Springs, Wyoming
I didn’t see my son, Lance Corporal Eric Harris, for more than two years after he enlisted in the Marines after high school. And when I saw him arrive at the airport, I just grabbed hold of him and burst out crying. When we got home, the first thing he ate was two bowls of my easy banana pudding recipe. He’s a true southern boy! It’s a dessert, but you can have it for breakfast, lunch or dinner. —Stephanie Harris, Montpelier, Virginia
Out of all of our ripe banana dessert recipes, this impressive hummingbird cake is my dad’s favorite, so I always make it for his birthday. It makes a memorable dessert for any celebration and is lovely with a summer meal. —Nancy Zimmerman, Cape May Court House, New Jersey
We always keep bananas on hand, but with just two of us in the house, they usually ripen faster than we can eat them. That makes them perfect for roasting and baking into this cheesecake with a nutty crust. —Patricia Harmon, Baden, Pennsylvania
I love anything with peanut butter, so when I saw this recipe for soft banana cookies with a yummy peanut butter filling, I had to make them. Use a cookie scoop to keep them nicely rounded and all the same size. —Jessie Sarrazin, Livingston, Montana
How’s this for a dish? All the joy of a banana split without the mess. Everything in this recipe fits into one pan of delectable brownie bars. —Constance Sheckler, Chestertown, Maryland
Made from our farm-fresh dairy products, this pie was a sensational creamy treat any time Mom served it. Her recipe is a real treasure, and I’ve never found one that tastes better! —Bernice Morris, Marshfield, Missouri
This dessert is special enough to make hamburgers and fries a meal to remember! It’s so tall and pretty and just like eating a frozen banana split. Make it ahead to save time. —Joy Collins, Birmingham, Alabama
Creamy and rich, this homemade banana pudding recipe is so easy. Layer it in a trifle bowl for a pretty presentation. —Ruth Kizer, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Everyone needs a fun, friendly way for kids to play with food—like this healthy banana dessert recipe. These rich bites are nutty and yummy. Just coat bananas in chocolate and dip them into peanuts, sprinkles or coconut. —Susan Hein, Burlington, Wisconsin
Everyone loves ice cream, but we all know it doesn’t make a great after-school snack. Until this! With its sweet banana-almond flavor and chunky texture, this appealing banana peanut butter “ice cream” is a crowd-pleaser. People who ask me for this easy banana dessert recipe recipe are amazed at how simple it is to make. —Kristen Bloom, Okinawa, Japan
This lovely and delightful dessert has the classic flavor of a banana split. It’s a cool, creamy treat with no last-minute fuss since you just pull it from the freezer. It always solicits praise from our big family.
-Marye Franzen, Gothenburg, Nebraska
I added something special to the classic banana cream pie by topping it off with a crunchy, peanut-buttery streusel. —Matthew Hass, Ellison Bay, Wisconsin
When I make this ice cream, I mix and match bananas for their ripeness. Very ripe ones add more banana flavor. Less ripe ones have a fluffier texture. —Melissa Hansen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
This luscious pink pudding cake is so easy to put together. Top it with ice cream and fresh fruit, and you have one very happy family. —Nadine Mesch, Mount Healthy, Ohio
This pretty, golden-topped puff is so easy to whip up, but looks like you really fussed. Lightly laced with rum, the moist, tender, banana-rich souffle makes that perfect “little something” to wrap up any holiday dinner. —Crystal Jo Bruns, Iliff, Colorado
This is a springtime variation on my grandma’s banana drop cookies and, with tons of coconut flavor, it’s perfect for Easter. —Elyse Benner, Solon, Ohio
This was one of my first times spreading my wings with a recipe and trying to go a bit fancy. This is a breeze to make and a delight to serve. The recipe may look intimidating but after you try it once, you’ll have it down pat. —Lorraine Caland, Shuniah, Ontario
I love to make cakes, and my family loves banana pudding. One day while brainstorming in the kitchen, I came up with this banana pudding cake recipe to combine the two. My family and friends can’t get enough of it! If you are pressed for time, you may substitute whipped topping for the homemade sweetened whipped cream. —Tiffany Barbee, Rocky Mount, North Carolina
