Bananas contain a variety of nutrients, including vitamin B6, potassium, and vitamin C, as well as a high amount of dietary fiber. They are a highly nutritious fruit and can be made into a variety of desserts, including cookies.

Banana Cake

While some bakeries sell ready-made banana cakes, making your own is definitely better. Many experienced bakers believe that using overripe bananas, with the skin slightly darkened, creates a more flavorful banana cake. Here’s a simple and delicious banana cake recipe that takes only 10 minutes to prepare and doesn’t require an electric mixer.

Ingredients:

• 2-3 ripe bananas (peeled)
• 1/3 cup melted butter (salted or unsalted is fine)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 pinch of salt
• 3/4 cup sugar (use 1/2 cup for less sugar, 1 cup for a sweeter version)
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 175°C/350°F and line a loaf pan with parchment paper or grease with butter to prevent sticking.
• Place bananas in a mixing bowl and mash with a fork. Then, add the melted butter to the bowl and mix well.
• Add the baking soda and salt, mix well, then add the sugar and egg, and finally, add the flour and mix well. Pour the mixed dough into the cake pan and bake in the oven at 175°C for 50 minutes to 1 hour, or until a skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean and sticky.
• If you have an electric blender, you can use the recipe below to make a more flavorful banana cake.

Banana Smoothie

Banana milk is a popular drink, but you can also make a richer banana smoothie, perfect for satisfying a peck. Here’s a nutritious banana smoothie that’s ready in just 5 minutes. Since almond milk is used instead of dairy milk, it’s also suitable for those who can’t drink dairy.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup almond milk
• 1 ripe banana (sliced)
• 1 cup frozen chopped fruit (such as mango, pineapple, papaya, or strawberries)
• 1-2 tablespoons chia seeds
• 1 teaspoon ginger powder (optional) (or 1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger paste)

Instructions:

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend to create a smoothie. It’s recommended to drink it immediately after blending. If you prefer a frozen drink, leave the chopped fruit out of the blender. If you prefer dairy milk, you can substitute dairy milk for almond milk.

Banana Muffins

When making American-style muffins, bananas can be mixed in as they help keep the muffins moist and add a natural sweetness. If you’re gluten-allergic, you can make flourless banana muffins that only require eggs and bananas.

While these muffins may not taste as good as those made with flour, they’re super easy to make. See the recipe on the left below.

Banana Cookies

Banana cookies are also delicious, but when should you add them? See the recipe on the right below. They’re usually added after whipping the cream. If you’re gluten-allergic, try making these cookies with bananas and oats.

Just mash the bananas, mix with the oatmeal, and bake them in the oven. These cookies are gluten-free and don’t require any added sugar.