Healthy Banana Recipes To Try

Whether it's breakfast or dessert, try these healthy banana recipes to sweeten your week.

Image Credit: EE-PHOTO/iStock/GettyImages Talk about going bananas: Americans peel back about 90 bananas each year, per the Mayo Clinic. Whether you love pairing the fruit with peanut butter or baking it into a sweet bread, it’s time to level up your repertoire of banana recipes.

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 Bananas are high in carbohydrates, making them a great breakfast food or pre-workout snack for a quick boost of energy, according to the Mayo Clinic. The fruit is also high in potassium, a nutrient that can help regulate blood pressure and promote good nerve and muscle function. However, since bananas are low in protein and unsaturated, healthy fats, you'll want to combine them with complementary foods that provide those macros.

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  These five banana pairings can give you that balanced nutrient profile — and crush your cravings for sweets in a healthy way.

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 Read more: Is Eating a Banana a Day Healthy?

1. Caramelized Banana Dessert Hummus
   
Hummus lovers, rejoice! Finally, a banana-based dessert hummus to quench your sweet tooth.

Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com If you’re a hummus fan, you’ll love adding a boost of banana to this fan-favorite chickpea dip. While you can enjoy this recipe with just a spoon, you can also pair it with some pretzel thins for added crunchiness. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t love pretzels and hummus?

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 While bananas are high in carbs, they aren't particularly high in fiber (only about 3 grams per medium fruit). Luckily, chickpeas pack in protein and fiber, both of which can help promote satiety, according to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. One specific type of fiber in these little legumes is raffinose, which can help reduce inflammation and regulate your digestion.

Get the Caramelized Banana Dessert Hummus recipe and nutrition info here.

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2. Grilled Banana Split Breakfast Bowl
   
Your favorite childhood dessert gets a healthy twist with Greek yogurt.

Image Credit: Denys/Adobe Stock This recipe gives your favorite childhood dessert a healthy twist, topped with grilled bananas for a decadent twist. This banana split breakfast bowl is high in protein, high in unsaturated fats and only takes 20 minutes to prepare.

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 While we all love ice cream, this recipe calls for low-fat Greek yogurt, which is a great probiotic food to incorporate into your morning. Probiotics can help promote gut health and are especially advantageous for those that may experience common digestive issues like diarrhea or constipation, according to Harvard Health Publishing.

Get the Grilled Banana Split Breakfast Bowl recipe and nutrition info here.

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 Read more: Cut Refined Sugar: Here's How to Get Started

3. Gluten-Free Ice Cream Protein Sandwiches
   
The best guilt-free ice cream sandwiches you'll ever try.

Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Banana “nice” cream? Yes, please! These ice cream sandwiches are made with a frozen banana base, making them a great lower sugar alternative for those nights you just can’t skip dessert.

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 This recipe calls for flax seeds and peanut butter, making it high in unsaturated fats, which may help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol, according to the Mayo Clinic. Nuts and seeds are also high in vitamin E, which is linked to halting the development of plaque in the arteries.

Get the Gluten-Free Ice Cream Protein Sandwich recipe and nutrition info here.

4. Baked Banana Bread Oatmeal
   
If you're looking for a banana-heavy meal, you've found it.

Image Credit: Jenna Butler/LIVESTRONG.com The combo of oatmeal and banana is not a new concept. But this oatmeal recipe is baked with mashed bananas and then topped with spiced caramelized banana slices for a delicious twist. This a.m. meal is high in whole grains and low in saturated fat, deeming it a great breakfast food or dessert.

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 Oats are a great source of soluble fiber, which can help promote healthy, regular digestion. Plus, oats are rife with beta-glucans, a starch that helps promote a healthy immune system, and may even help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and blood pressure, according to the Whole Grains Council.

Get the Baked Banana Bread Oatmeal recipe and nutrition info here.

5. Tiramisu Protein Pancakes With Banana-Cream Frosting
   
This tiramisu-inspired banana recipe will be like eating cake for breakfast.

Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com While these pancakes may taste like dessert, this recipe is high in protein and carbs, which means it can give you the jolt you need to breeze through your morning. Add some cold brew coffee into the mix for that signature tiramisu taste. Coffee can increase your alertness and concentration but also provides an array of other health benefits. Coffee is a source of polyphenols, an antioxidant that’s known for its anti-inflammatory effect on the body, according to Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. However, be cautious if you’re caffeine sensitive, as cold brew usually contains high levels of caffeine. Get the Tiramisu Protein Pancakes With Banana-Cream Frosting recipe and nutrition info here. Read more: 10 Easy Pancake Recipes That Your Waistline Will Love

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  references
  
      Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: "Chickpeas (Garbanzo Beans)"
    
      USDA: "Bananas, Raw"
    
      Mayo Clinic: "Go Bananas for Bananas"
    
      Harvard Health Publishing: "Health Benefits of Taking Probiotics"
    
      Mayo Clinic: "Nuts and Your Heart: Eating Nuts for Heart Health"
    
      Whole Grains Council: "Oats — January Grain of the Month"
    
      Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: "Coffee"
       




  references
  
      Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: "Chickpeas (Garbanzo Beans)"
    
      USDA: "Bananas, Raw"
    
      Mayo Clinic: "Go Bananas for Bananas"
    
      Harvard Health Publishing: "Health Benefits of Taking Probiotics"
    
      Mayo Clinic: "Nuts and Your Heart: Eating Nuts for Heart Health"
    
      Whole Grains Council: "Oats — January Grain of the Month"
    
      Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: "Coffee"
    




Whether it's breakfast or dessert, try these healthy banana recipes to sweeten your week.

Image Credit: EE-PHOTO/iStock/GettyImages

Hummus lovers, rejoice! Finally, a banana-based dessert hummus to quench your sweet tooth.

Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com

Your favorite childhood dessert gets a healthy twist with Greek yogurt.

Image Credit: Denys/Adobe Stock

The best guilt-free ice cream sandwiches you'll ever try.

Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com

If you're looking for a banana-heavy meal, you've found it.

Image Credit: Jenna Butler/LIVESTRONG.com

This tiramisu-inspired banana recipe will be like eating cake for breakfast.

Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com

      Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: "Chickpeas (Garbanzo Beans)"
    
      USDA: "Bananas, Raw"
    
      Mayo Clinic: "Go Bananas for Bananas"
    
      Harvard Health Publishing: "Health Benefits of Taking Probiotics"
    
      Mayo Clinic: "Nuts and Your Heart: Eating Nuts for Heart Health"
    
      Whole Grains Council: "Oats — January Grain of the Month"
    
      Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: "Coffee"