On August 27th, we celebrate the most popular fruit in the world – bananas! Yes, it’s Banana Lovers Day! Almost everyone loves bananas; in fact, the average person eats about 33 pounds of bananas each year. That’s about 100 bananas per person! In the U.S., people eat more bananas than any other fruit.
Bananas, both ripe and unripe, are healthy, providing us with fiber, potassium, magnesium and B vitamins. They have been found to help with many health issues including digestion, depression, diabetes, bone health, muscle cramps, and PMS.
Bananas are also extremely versatile. Sure, they are great as is, sliced over a bowl of cereal or put into a peanut butter sandwich but you can do so much more with them. They can be used in both sweet and savory recipes. Check out these 10 Raw Breakfast Recipes You Can Make With Bananas, You’ll Go Bananas for These Sweet and Savory Recipes Using Bananas, and Go Bananas for These Recipes, You Awesome Banana Lovers! Bananas can also be a vegan substitution for eggs and dairy. Learn How to Use Bananas to Replace Common Dairy Foods.
There can never be enough recipes that use bananas so why not get yourself a banana or two, sit back and check out these 12 vegan recipes that will ap-peel (sorry, we had to!) to the banana lover in you!
1. Frozen Banana Bites
Turn your overripe bananas into these Frozen Banana Bites. Just five healthy ingredients including cacao and peanut butter and you have a no-bake dessert that is simply heaven.
2. Chocolate Covered Banana Pops
These Chocolate Dipped Frozen Bananas are just amazing. They are the perfect healthy treat for summer. Super delicious and refreshing, these bananas will indulge your sweet cravings. Kids will love them and so will their grown-ups!!
3. Sugar-Free, Wholemeal Banana Pancakes
Pancakes are perfect for lazy Sunday mornings, especially these healthy, Sugar-Free Banana Pancakes. These pancakes have no refined sugar, but get their sweetness from the bananas, and extra bursts of flavor from sultanas. Top with homemade chocolate sauce or anything you like!
4. Banana Split
This Banana Split is a recreation of a classic recipe, but much healthier. It contains no dairy or refined sugars, but it is super tasty, decadent, and totally delicious. It can be eaten as a dessert, snack, or even for breakfast on those hot days of summer.
5. Banana Mochi Cake
This Banana Mochi Cake will make you feel like you just hit the jackpot. It has sweet rice flour blended with a wheat based flour for heavenly results. This cake is slightly chewy, super moist, substantial, and just plain delicious.
6. Banana Buckwheat Yogurt
Change up your usual vegan yogurt with this Banana Buckwheat Yogurt. This is smooth, creamy, light and delicious. Simply add some probiotic powder if you wish to make it even healthier!
7. Chili Coated Plantain Crisps With Lime Ketchup
These Chili Coated Plantain Crisps are great for parties, an afternoon snack or when you have a potato chip craving. Bake them until they’re extra crispy and you’ll have something very close to potato chips. Serve with lime ketchup for a tropical touch.
8. Bananas Foster Oatmeal
Banana lovers, let’s celebrate this fantastic fruit that makes our oatmeal creamy and our bodies regular. Let’s make this humble fruit feel special and all dressed up. Let’s caramelize it and make it a little boozy with this amazing Bananas Foster Oatmeal.
9. Banana Cheesecake With Mango Sauce
This tropical Banana Cheesecake is bursting with summer flavors. Once you pour the mango sauce over the banana creaminess and take a bite, you’ll see yourself lying on a beach surrounded by palm trees and sipping a Piña Colada.
10. Chocolate Banana Bread
This Chocolate Banana Bread uses white chocolate for the chocolate chips. The chocolate ganache that gets poured down over the bread is simply irresistible.
11. Banana Rhubarb Peach Muffins
These Banana Rhubarb Peach Muffins are rich, moist and just awesome. Made with gluten-free flours, the combination of banana, rhubarb and peach is a fruity delight.
12. Maple Banana Tiramisu Trifle
This Maple Banana Tiramisu Trifle is a raw-vegan mash-up of two favorite European desserts: English trifle and Italian tiramisu. With a coffee-laced cashew cream and chocolate sauce drizzle, the result is a sophisticated dessert worthy of any fancy tabletop.
These are just a dozen ways to love bananas. The possibilities are endless. No matter what you’re making, bananas make it better so add some to your dishes today!
Lead image source: Bananas Foster Oatmeal
