Banana Recipes: 4 Cozy and Comforting Ideas

We’ve taken the humble banana, preferably ripened, to show you four of our favourite banana recipes for some cosy confinement cooking. 

Do you ever have that habit of checking your phone, perhaps because you thought you heard it go off or caught the flash of a notification? Feeling like you’re always online can become intensified as we’re compelled to spend more time indoors with many of us resorting to online movies, shopping and reading to help fill the time. Amidst the constant glow of screens, baking and taking the time to prepare nourishing meals can be a great way of reducing screen time and focusing your creative energy on something more tangible.

By focusing on measurements and instructions, you can direct your focus away from the constant flow of updates and into a structured process. Baking is also a great activity (not exactly mess-free…) for spending time and keeping younger children entertained indoors.

Ready to give it a try? Let’s go!

Banana Bread

The ultimate banana recipe! Warm and moist with the perfect balance of sweetness, you can’t beat a slice of toasted banana bread to make you feel warm inside.

Banana bread recipe

Ingredients

• 3 large ripe bananas
• 75ml of vegetable or sunflower oil
• 100g brown sugar
• 225g plain flour
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 3 teaspoons cinnamon
• 50g dried fruit or nuts

Method

1. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Mash 3 large black peeled bananas with a fork, then mix well with 75g vegetable or sunflower oil and 100g brown sugar.
2. Add 225g plain flour, 3 heaped teaspoons of baking powder and 3 teaspoons of cinnamon and combine well. Add 50g dried fruit or nuts, if using.
3. Bake in an oiled, lined 2lb loaf tin for 20 minutes. Check and cover with foil if the cake is browning.
4. Bake for another 20 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean
5. Allow to cool a little before slicing. It’s delicious freshly baked but develops a lovely gooey quality the day after

Banana Pancakes

The perfect way to welcome the weekend, take your time to enjoy a morning of pancake-flipping with this classic banana recipe – save a few for later and you have the perfect afternoon snack too! Get creative with your toppings we love blueberries but feel free to try maple syrup, nut butter, a squeeze of lemon juice or some seasonal jam.

Don’t forget – the first pancake is always meant to be less than perfect so consider it the “sacrificial” pancake (one to be enjoyed just for you!).

Ingredients

• 2 ripe bananas
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
• 70g of oats 
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Method

1. Mash the bananas in a large bowl until smooth. Mix in eggs and vanilla until well combined, then mix in oats and cinnamon.
2. Heat a frying pan to medium and add in a scoop of the pancake batter. Smooth out to form an even layer. Cook for about 2-3 minutes until you start to see bubbles releasing from the top of the batter. Flip and cook until the other side is golden brown, about 1-2 minutes.
3. Garnish your pancakes with your favorite toppings! We used banana slices, chopped walnuts & maple syrup.

The Ultimate Nut Butter Banana Smoothie Recipe

Fresh and fueled with energy to start your day, smoothies are a simple yet comforting way to get you through the morning. Whether oat, almond, coconut or soya, feel free to substitute for the plant-based milk of your choice! They also make the perfect post-workout snack for those on the move!

Ingredients

• 2 bananas broken into chunks
• 2 cups of plant-based milk
• 1 heaped tablespoon of nut butter (we like almond)
• 2 teaspoons of honey
• Seeds of your choice to serve (chia, pumpkin, sunflower)

Method

1. Place bananas, milk, peanut butter, honey, and ice cubes in a blender; blend until smooth, about 30 seconds.
2. Serve in a glass over ice and garnish with seeds, nuts or goji berries.

If you’re a smoothie addict, you can check out even more healthy superfood smoothie recipes here!

Banana Muffins

Wind down the evening by putting together this simple batch of banana muffins. With 5 simple ingredients, the odds are you’ll be able to make this banana recipe from scratch. Perfect for a sweet treat with a mid-morning cup of coffee.

Ingredients

• 3 eggs
• 150g self-raising flour
• 150 butter (or margarine)
• 150g soft brown sugar (for extra crunch, sprinkle some on top of each muffin case before cooking!)
• 2 ripe bananas 

Method

1. Preheat oven 200’C/Gas mark 6 and line a bun tin with muffin cases
2. Put all the ingredients into the food processor or hand whisk – start with butter and sugar first, then add the rest gradually until all the ingredients are in and smooth and feel light and airy.
3. Put a generous portion of mixture into each muffin case.
4. Pop into oven for between 12-20 mins depending on your oven.
5. Allow to cool before serving.

Mason jars to prepare some of these banana recipes

Check out our selection of mason jars to build the Nut Butter Banana Smoothie Recipe and other recipes.