
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick to prepare using kitchen staples like bananas, oil, and sugar
- Golden crisp outside with a soft, sweet center
- Perfect on its own or paired with ice cream, syrup, or honey
- Versatile—great as breakfast, snack, or dessert
- Easily customizable with spices or flavor toppings
ingredients
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
- Ripe but firm bananas (not overly soft)
- Vegetable oil or coconut oil (for frying)
- Granulated sugar (or brown sugar for richer flavor)
- Optional spices: ground cinnamon, nutmeg, or cardamom
- Water or citrus juice (for coating, optional)
- Toppings: honey, maple syrup, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, chopped nuts
directions
- Prepare bananas – Peel and slice bananas diagonally into ¼–½-inch thick pieces.
- Coat lightly – Toss banana slices in a small amount of sugar and optional spices, or brush with lightly sweetened water or citrus juice to help coating stick.
- Heat oil – In a skillet, warm oil over medium heat until it shimmers but is not smoking.
- Fry bananas – In batches, add banana slices and cook ~2–3 minutes per side until deep golden brown and slightly crisp. Adjust heat to prevent burning.
- Drain – Use a slotted spoon to transfer fried bananas to a paper-towel-lined plate to remove excess oil.
- Serve – Arrange on a serving plate and top with honey or maple syrup, a sprinkle of cinnamon, a dollop of whipped cream or ice cream, and optional nuts.
Servings and timing
- Servings: 2–4 (depending on portion size)
- Prep time: 5 minutes
- Cook time: 5–8 minutes
- Total time: 10–15 minutes
Variations
- Coconut-flavored: Fry in coconut oil and sprinkle with toasted coconut flakes
- Spiced sugar: Use a mix of sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg for coating
- Savory twist: Add a pinch of salt or chili powder to balance sweetness
- Tempura-style: Dip bananas in light tempura batter before frying for a puffy coating
- Chocolate drizzle: Serve with melted chocolate or Nutella sauce
storage/reheating
- Best fresh: For best texture and flavor, serve immediately after frying.
- Short-term: Store leftover fried bananas in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 day.
- Reheat: Warm gently in a skillet or oven (300 °F / 150 °C) for 5–8 minutes to crisp up again. Avoid microwaving, as they’ll become soggy.
- Freezing not recommended: They lose texture when thawed after frying.
FAQs
Can I use overripe bananas?
It’s better to use ripe—but still firm—bananas; overripe ones become too mushy when fried.
What’s the best oil to fry with?
Neutral oils like vegetable, canola, or coconut work well; coconut oil adds a hint of tropical flavor.
Can I make them gluten‑free?
Yes, simply skip any batter and use sugar or spice coating only.
How do I prevent bananas from sticking?
Make sure the oil is hot before adding bananas, and don’t overcrowd the pan to maintain temperature.
Can I use brown sugar?
Absolutely—brown sugar gives a richer, caramel-like coating.
Are they vegan?
Yes—if you use plant-based oil and vegan toppings like coconut cream or maple syrup.
Can I make a large batch?
Yes! Use multiple skillets or fry in batches, cleaning pan between batches if sugar builds up.
Can I bake them instead of frying?
You can roast banana slices with a little oil at 375 °F for around 10 minutes, but they won’t be as crispy.
What toppings go well?
Try honey, cinnamon sugar, nuts, ice cream, chocolate sauce, or caramel drizzle.
How should I store leftovers?
Keep them in the refrigerator and reheat in a pan or oven to regain crispiness; eat within a day.
Conclusion
Fried Banana is delightfully simple yet irresistibly tasty, combining crispy edges and soft, caramelized centers. Ready in under 15 minutes with flexible flavor options, it’s a crowd-pleasing snack or dessert that feels special any time of day.
Print
Fried Banana
- Total Time: 13 minutes
- Yield: 2–4 servings
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Fried Banana is a quick and easy treat with crispy golden edges and a soft, caramelized center. It’s perfect as a snack, dessert, or sweet breakfast addition—served solo or with toppings like ice cream, syrup, or whipped cream.
Ingredients
- 2 ripe but firm bananas
- 2–3 tablespoons granulated sugar or brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
- Pinch of ground nutmeg or cardamom (optional)
- 1–2 tablespoons water or citrus juice (optional, for coating)
- 2–3 tablespoons vegetable or coconut oil (for frying)
- Optional toppings: honey, maple syrup, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, chopped nuts
Instructions
Peel bananas and slice them diagonally into 1/4–1/2-inch thick pieces.
- Lightly toss banana slices with sugar and optional spices, or brush with sweetened water or citrus juice for extra flavor and coating adhesion.
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat until it shimmers.
- Fry banana slices in batches, cooking 2–3 minutes per side until golden and lightly crisp. Adjust heat as needed to avoid burning.
- Transfer fried bananas to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
- Serve warm, topped with honey, syrup, cinnamon, whipped cream, ice cream, or chopped nuts as desired.
Notes
- Use bananas that are ripe but still firm for best texture.
- Brown sugar gives a deeper caramel flavor than white sugar.
- Fry in coconut oil for added tropical notes.
- Best served fresh—texture degrades quickly when stored.
- Roasting in the oven is an option, but won’t yield the same crispiness.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Global
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 banana with toppings
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 2mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg