Bananas are a tricky little fruit in that they are healthy, but super sweet. Bananas can make any recipe taste decadent and creamy. You can use bananas as a substitute in recipes for the fat or just add them to recipes for the added benefits of potassium, folate, magnesium, fiber and vitamin C. Bananas are also naturally fat, sodium and cholesterol free, which is great news for those of you with any special dietary needs.
So grab your ripe bananas and get ready to whip up some deliciously healthy banana recipes.
1. Bourbon Banana Coconut Chocolate Chip Muffins via Enticingly Healthy Eating
I have never tried adding any kind of alcohol to my baked goods (as far as I can remember?) so I definitely need to try cooking this recipe. You actually add all of the ingredients to a blender to combine — so easy! I would whip up a batch of these for breakfast throughout the week.
2. Cinnamon Banana Bread Protein Shake via Fit Mitten Kitchen
Who wouldn’t want their protein shake to taste like cinnamon banana bread? Did you also know that cinnamon has a bunch of health benefits? Bonus!
3. Banana Funfetti Protein Cookies via Diary of a Semi-Health Nut
These cute little cookies are packed with protein and are gluten free. The banana and vanilla protein powder make them super sweet and chewy, almost like muffin tops.
4. Fluffy Chunky Monkey Pancakes via Apple of My Eye
This is one of those banana recipes that kind of pushes the “healthy” label, but I personally think it’s good to get a little chocolate in every day. I would eat this for breakfast because I’m totally cool with dessert-like meals to start the day, but I might categorize this as a semi-healthy dessert.
5. Crockpot Creamy Banana French Toast via Diethood
Excuse me while I wipe the drool off of my keyboard because this recipe is insanely decadent. I would never even think to do French toast in my slow cooker, but I seriously need to try now that I’ve seen this post.
6. Sweet Potato Banana Bites via The Lean Green Bean
This banana recipe, on the other hand, is super healthy. Sweet potatoes, bananas, eggs and nut butter: that’s all there is to this recipe. Lindsay (the recipe author) also points out that the recipe is super forgiving in the measurements department, which always makes baking ten times easier.
7. Frozen Banana Pops Covered in Chocolate via Diary of a Semi-Health Nut
Have you ever tried making frozen banana pops? They are so close in texture to an ice cream bar that you might trick yourself into thinking they aren’t healthy.
8. Vegan Cookie Dough Banana Soft Serve via Fit Foodie Finds
Speaking of frozen bananas… what about banana soft serve? You blend up frozen bananas until they are smooth and creamy and it basically tastes like soft serve ice cream (or frozen yogurt). There are so many options with this base, but this recipe looks over-the-top amazing.
9. Baked Banana Chips via Naturally Ella
I know that those bags of banana chips I buy at the store are, of course, coated in sugar, so I was super excited to see a recipe for homemade banana chips.
10. Banana Cinnamon Crumb Muffins via The Healthy Maven
I am all about anything that has a crumb topping and is semi-healthy. Davida, the author, uses both coconut oil and sugar, if you’re into that sort of thing. The photos are also super pretty, as an added bonus!
11. Banana Bread Cookies with Almond-Butter Cocoa Filling via Pure Wow
You probably wouldn’t believe that these are actually healthy! The ingredient list is outstanding and I want to take a bite out of my screen, so this banana recipe is definitely a win.
12. Grilled S’mores Banana Boats via Diary of a Semi-Health Nut
Why not stuff a bunch of s’mores goodness into a banana and throw it on the grill? The use of foil will make this recipe a super quick clean up. (Who likes doing dishes?)
This round up of semi-healthy banana recipes will definitely make you happier and healthier.
Which recipe will you try first?
Featured photo credit: Enticingly Healthy Eating via enticinghealthyeating.weebly.com
