15 Ways to Use a Black Banana

photo: Kathy Patalsky

I tend to get a little ambitious about my banana buying. Everytime I buy a bunch of bananas, Im sure well gnaw our way through them once they hit their four-hour peak of perfectionthat ideal moment in time when they are neither green nor bruised, perfectly and ever-so-barely yellow. Apparently, however, that four-hour window happens in three seconds flat, and Im left with a bin of black bananas before I even remember Id purchased them in the first place. Good luck. There are more than a few incredible recipes that require a good, overripe banana. From twists on the traditional banana quick bread, to decadent banana cakes and other fun desserts, here are 15 recipes that will use up those black bananas in no time at all!

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  Make Banana Flax Bread

  Take traditional banana bread to the next level with this beautiful Banana Flax Bread. The simple addition of flax keeps the final loaf moist while lending extra fiber.
  Get the recipe for Banana Flax Bread
  /family-kitchen/2012/09/07/15-ways-to-use-a-black-banana/make-banana-flax-bread
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  Turn 'Em Into Pie

  Who says black bananas are useless? Try this incredible Frozen Banana Walnut Toffee Pie and turn those overripe bananas into a decadent dessert!
  Get the recipe for Banana Walnut Toffee Pie
  /family-kitchen/2012/09/07/15-ways-to-use-a-black-banana/turn-em-into-pie
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  Pop 'Em In Pancakes

  Carmelized Banana Pancakes turn plain old bananas into a gourmet breakfast, but you don't have to take all day to make this fancy schmancy recipe. It's supremely easy to toss together!
  Get the recipe for Caramelized Banana Pancakes
  /family-kitchen/2012/09/07/15-ways-to-use-a-black-banana/pop-em-in-pancakes
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  Add Them to Avocado

  Add avocado to your banana bread for a moist, healthy take on banana bread. The flavor of the avocado bakes out, so all you have left is a beautiful bread that you'll want to enjoy for breakfast, lunch, and midnight snacking!
  Get the recipe for Avocado Banana Bread
  /family-kitchen/2012/09/07/15-ways-to-use-a-black-banana/add-them-to-avocado
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  Toss Them in With Strawberries

  This beautiful recipe for Strawberry Banana Bread was a top visited recipe when first posted here on The Family Kitchen. Try it and see why it became an instant classic!
  Get the recipe for Strawberry Banana Bread
  /family-kitchen/2012/09/07/15-ways-to-use-a-black-banana/toss-them-in-with-strawberries
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  Turn Them Into French Toast

  Banana Split French Toast isn't just a pretty recipe, it's positively delicious! A great birthday-morning breakfast!
  Get the recipe for Banana Split French Toast
  /family-kitchen/2012/09/07/15-ways-to-use-a-black-banana/turn-them-into-french-toast
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  Blend Them Into a Smoothie

  Mango Banana Smoothie may be the best and simplest way to blend mangos and black bananas into a naturally sweet drink.
  Get the recipe for Mango Banana Smoothie
  /family-kitchen/2012/09/07/15-ways-to-use-a-black-banana/blend-them-into-a-smoothie
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  Whip Them Into Ice Cream

  If you've got black bananas, you need just one more ingredient to toss together a batch of this delicious Two-Ingredient Chocolate Banana Ice Cream!
  Get the recipe for Two-Ingredient Chocolate Banana Ice Cream
  /family-kitchen/2012/09/07/15-ways-to-use-a-black-banana/whip-them-into-ice-cream
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  Toast Them for Breakfast

  Turn those black bananas into banana bread. Then, turn that banana bread into Banana Bread French Toast!
  Get the recipe for Banana Bread French Toast
  /family-kitchen/2012/09/07/15-ways-to-use-a-black-banana/toast-them-for-breakfast
• 
  Celebrate Elvis With Them!

  The king of desserts! Try this Peanut Butter Banana Elvis Cake and get a hunka hunka burning love, right in your own kitchen.
  Get the recipe for Peanut Butter Banana Elvis Cake
  /family-kitchen/2012/09/07/15-ways-to-use-a-black-banana/celebrate-elvis-with-them
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  Use Them to Make a Vegan Dessert

  Peanut Butter Banana No Cook Pudding makes quick work of overripe bananas. Plusit's vegan. How excited are we right now?!
  Get our recipe for Peanut Butter Banana No Cook Pudding
  /family-kitchen/2012/09/07/15-ways-to-use-a-black-banana/use-them-to-make-a-vegan-dessert
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  Stir Them Into Homemade Ice Cream

  Craving some banana cream pie? Try this recipe for Banana Bread Ice Cream and get the best of all worlds. Cooler than pie, full of fantastic flavor. You're destined to love this recipe.
  Get the recipe for Banana Bread Ice Cream
  /family-kitchen/2012/09/07/15-ways-to-use-a-black-banana/stir-them-into-homemade-ice-cream
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  Fry Them Into Dessert

  How deeeelicious are empanandas? I know, right?! Now imagine them made into Baked Banana Empanadas. Yep. That is totally going to happen in your kitchen.
  Get the recipe for Baked Banana Empanadas
  /family-kitchen/2012/09/07/15-ways-to-use-a-black-banana/fry-them-into-dessert
• 
  Make A Fun Drink

  If your kids love chocolate milk, indulge their fancies while bumping up the nutritional value with the added benefit of bananas. This recipe for Chocolate Milk with Bananas shows you how!
  < Get the recipe for Real Food Banana Chocolate Milk
  /family-kitchen/2012/09/07/15-ways-to-use-a-black-banana/make-a-fun-drink
• 
  Bake Them Into Bread

  Turn traditional banana bread into this gorgeous, two-toned Black Bottomed Banana Bread!
  Get the recipe for Black Bottomed Banana Bread
  /family-kitchen/2012/09/07/15-ways-to-use-a-black-banana/bake-them-into-bread

Looking for the best way to freeze your overripe bananas until youre ready to use them? Check out our tips on freezing bananas in plastic bags.

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Back-to-School Basics: Banana Flax Bread

Back to school means a need for new lunch ideas, and rushed breakfasts eaten on the way to work or school after a summer of lounging late in PJs. Banana bread is a staple in our house, quickly mixed and baked on a near-daily basis as bananas become overripe or threaten to take over the freezer. Sliced and frozen, its perfect to grab and go on busy mornings, or to pack in lunch boxes or serve as after school snacks. Banana bread is infinitely versatile it can take any number of additions. This version has ground flaxseed, which delivers a boost of fiber and omega 3 fatty acids, which contribute to proper brain function important when its time to get back to the books.

Banana gets on with other flavors well, so you can stir dried fruit (try chopped apricots, dried cherries or blueberries instead of the usual raisins), chocolate, chopped nuts, or fresh or frozen berries into the batter before baking, if you like.

Bake the batter as a large loaf or a few smaller ones, or make muffins by dividing the batter between paper-lined muffin cups and baking for 20-25 minutes, until golden and springy to the touch.

Banana Flax Bread

2-3 very ripe bananas
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup canola, olive or flax oil
1 large egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour (all purpose, or half whole wheat
1/4 cup ground flaxseed
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
a handful of chopped walnuts, chocolate chips, raisins, coconut, or fresh or frozen blueberries (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350F.

In a large bowl, mash the bananas, sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla with a potato masher dont worry about getting all the lumps out.

Add the flour, flax, baking soda and salt and stir until almost combined; add any additions and stir just until blended. Spread into a greased 8x4 loaf pan (or 2-3 small loaf pans) and bake for 50-60 minutes, until golden and cracked on top and springy to the touch.

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