30 Must-Try Southern Banana Recipes That Go Way Beyond Pudding

Why fuss with stacking cake layers for a classic hummingbird cake when you can make this easy quick bread with all the same flavor instead? And just like the original recipe, this one helps use up ripe bananas that need to be gone ASAP.

Peanut butter and banana are a classic flavor combo, but the real secret to these tender and moist blondies is mayo. Don’t worry, nobody will know!

With a brown butter-vanilla wafer crust and silky banana cheesecake filling, this recipe might just replace a classic banana pudding in your dessert repertoire permanently.

If there’s one thing that instantly upgrades banana bread, it’s chocolate chips. Here, we use mini chips for the just the right size pockets of melty, chocolate goodness throughout the bread.

A fun alternative to banana bread, this moist layer cake has a delectable cooked caramel icing that while a little tricky to master, is worth the extra effort.

We’ll bet you’ve never had banana pudding like this. Sour cream in the pudding layers helps tame the sweetness of the dessert, for a perfectly balanced custard with just the right amount of tang.

Fresh banana gives these brownies the vibe of warm, aromatic banana bread, while a crumble on top made with vanilla wafers creates a slightly crisp layer to contrast the super creamy, cheesecake-like banana filling. This treat is the best of both banana pudding and brownies in one.

“Very easy to make. Banana flavor is perfect. I like that it’s an 8×8 size, making it perfect for my husband and I,” says one Southern Living reader of this 5-star recipe.

This banana cake is an ode to the classic New Orleans dessert. The best part might be the rum-infused buttercream, and unlike a classic Bananas Foster, there’s no need to dangerously flambé the alcohol.

With both pumpkin puree and mashed banana in the batter, this quick bread is ultra moist and tender. Just like a classic banana bread, you can always add nuts or chocolate chips for more texture and flavor.

These easy to prepare muffins don’t require a stand or hand mixer to make. But in order to keep them moist and fluffy, make sure to not overmix the batter. The key is to stop stirring the moment the dry ingredients are combined with the wet.

Who needs pineapple when you can make this stunning upside-down cake with bananas? The peanut butter in the cake batter and the crunch of roasted peanuts on top add nutty depth to this twist on the retro dessert.

Elvis would definitely approve, and that’s all we need to know. This cool, creamy dessert includes a chocolate-lined graham cracker crust, smooth cream cheese-peanut butter filling, bananas, whipped cream, and more chocolate to top it all off.

If you have a banana bread lover in your life, make them this cake and you’ll receive their unending devotion. Well-spiced and finished with a heavy layer of cream cheese frosting, it’s lighter than a quick bread and a little bit sweeter.

You probably never knew you needed this heavenly hybrid. Banana pudding gets an even creamier, more decadent twist thanks to a rich cheesecake filling. The crust, made from vanilla wafers, chopped pecans, and butter, is the perfect base for the smooth cheesecake filling, which is topped with sliced bananas and homemade whipped cream.

Enjoy banana pudding by the slice with a brown butter-vanilla wafer crust and a thick, creamy custard filling. Substitute vanilla paste if you can’t find a whole vanilla bean.

You already know that peanut butter and banana make a dynamite duo. Add some strawberries, honey, and almond milk and you’ll be ready to start your day.

Lightly spiced with cinnamon, these banana pancakes are guaranteed to take lazy Saturday morning breakfasts up a notch. The naturally sweetened breakfast staple (honey is the only sweetener) is fluffy and tender from buttermilk.

Transform the ultimate ice cream dessert into a cake that’s just as sweet. Start by using your food processor to chop graham crackers to form the base. Then add layers of cream cheese, pineapple, and bananas, topped with whipped cream, hot fudge sauce, and pecans.

Learn how to make this old-school diner dessert with almost as much panache as those waitresses in roller skates. While the total recipe time is long, the active cooking time is only slightly more than 20 minutes. Fresh bananas and a crisp vanilla wafer crust will leave you wanting more.

Are you tired of the same old banana pudding over and over again? Homemade vanilla custard, vanilla bean whipped cream, and a hint of nutmeg liven up this classic. It’s so good it might just rival your Mama’s traditional recipe.

This classic banana bread recipe hits the spot every time. Plus, only 15 minutes of hands-on time makes it quick and easy enough to whip together on the fly.

Brennan’s in New Orleans perfected this warm, caramelized classic treat—and now you can, too. No travel is required. It only takes six ingredients to create this masterpiece, served with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream.

This sweet and salty version of banana pudding almost tops Nana’s famous recipe. (We said almost.) Salted caramel makes banana pudding feel even more special.

You won’t meet a fruit dessert as show-stopping as this warm-weather icebox cake. Strawberries and bananas make a refreshing duo in the beloved graham cracker-layered dessert.

We couldn’t leave this Southern delicacy off the list. Make the classic Hummingbird Cake—or go with this fuss-free Bundt cake version instead. Either way, pineapple-studded, nutty heaven awaits with just a hint of extra moistness from your ripe bananas.

Cream cheese adds extra richness and a slight tang to classic banana bread. Let the bread cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing.

Old-fashioned meringue is the star to this classic banana pudding. This dessert is smooth, creamy, and decadent. Enjoy it warm or cold.

You’ll love the smell of this banana bread baking in your oven. The sweet pecan-streusal topping adds the perfect amount of crunchy texture on top of this delicious loaf. Adding tangy sour cream to the batter enhances this cake’s moisture.

Create this banana bread cobbler with only six ingredients. Self-rising flour mixes with sugar and milk before combining with the melted butter to form the cobbler’s light and sweet texture. Sliced bananas and streusel toppings elevate this quick bread into a dessert.