Recipes to Use Up Overripe Bananas

A collage of recipes using leftover bananas including banana cake, banana nut bread, banana gingerbread loaf and banana chia muffins

If you have ever wondered what to do with your leftover bananas or been tempted to throw them away, these recipes to use up overripe bananas will be right up your street. They are easy, delicious and a great way to sneak extra nutrition into your family’s diets as well as using up leftovers and avoiding food waste.

We are quite fussy about bananas in our house. We don’t like them under-ripe, but we really, really don’t like them over-ripe. This leaves a window of about two and a half hours for optimal banana enjoyment. (Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but it’s not that far off.) It’s a good thing I have lots of great recipes to use up overripe bananas on hand. These are just a few of my favourites.

Updated with new recipes and photographs June 2026.

Recipes That Use Up Overripe Bananas

Banana Muffin Recipes

Go-to muffin recipes perfect for breakfast, packed lunches and snacks.

Banana and Chia Seed Muffins

Banana Streusel Muffins with Flaxseed

Banana Oatmeal Raisin Muffins

Banana Bread Recipes

Elevate your banana bread with these delicious recipes that offer a twist on the traditional.

Old-Fashioned Banana Nut Bread enriched with the goodness of bran, just like my late Mom used to make

Vintage Banana Nut Bread

Three Spiced Banana Nut Loaves. The one in the foreground is sliced.

Spiced Banana Nut Loaf with Ginger Glaze

Recipes to use up leftover bananas - Banana Breakfast Bread

Nigella’s Italian Breakfast Banana Bread

Banana Cake Recipes

From extra-special to everyday easy, these banana cake recipes are wonderful to have on hand for desserts, parties or for a little treat anytime.

Chocolate Banana Bundt Cake

Banana Gingerbread Loaf Cake sitting on a wire rack as glaze is poured over top from a spoon

Banana Gingerbread Loaf Cake with Ginger Glaze

Old Fashioned Banana Cake

Chocolate Banana Snack Cake

Slice of Banana Date Cake with walnuts and dates on a plate in front of a whole cake and a cup of tea

Banana Date Cake with Walnut and Honey Glaze

Banana Rum Raisin Cake

Banana Oa tmeal Cookies

I hope these recipes will become part of your family’s baking traditions too. And just one more thing…

Can I Freeze Overripe Bananas?

Overripe bananas freeze really well for two to three months. Simply peel the bananas and put them in an airtight container in the freezer. Thaw completely before using to make your favourite recipes.

I hope this delicious collection of recipes becomes part of your family’s traditions too. Please let me know if you try them – and please share on social media and tag me too!