These caramelized bananas are pan-fried in butter, brown sugar and cinnamon for an easy, sweet topping that goes great on pancakes, waffles, ice cream and more!

bowl of ice cream with caramelized bananas

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Caramelized Banana Topping

Bananas are naturally sweet as is, but when they are pan-fried in butter, sugar, and cinnamon the crystallized sugary bits coat the outside of each soft sweet banana and make them insanely good!

Add the caramelized banana topping to a bowl of homemade vanilla ice cream or top buttermilk pancakes, Belgian waffles or even French bread French toast! There are so many delicious ways to use these sticky, sweet bananas.

caramelized bananas in skillet

Ingredient Notes

  • Bananas: Two perfectly ripe bananas that are yellow work best for this recipe.
  • Brown sugar: This type of sugar is best for caramelizing and pairs perfectly with the warm bananas.
  • Butter: Adds a rich wonderful flavor.
  • Cinnamon: The perfect amount of warmth!

How to Caramelize Bananas

With a quick coating of caramelized sugar your bananas become sweet, sticky and so incredible tasting in only 10 minutes!

A photo collage of step by step how to caramelize bananas.
  • Slice bananas: On a cutting board slice your bananas into 1/4 inch thickness.
  • Coat in sugar: Roll banana slices into a bowl of sugar.
  • Caramelize bananas: Melt butter in a saucepan on the stove top over medium-low heat. Add banana slices in a single layer and cook for 2 minutes until golden. Flip and cook for another couple of minutes until both sides are nicely caramelized.
  • Serve: Sprinkle with cinnamon if desired and enjoy them on everything!

Recipe Tips

  • Use ripe bananas if you have them. The riper your bananas are, to begin with, the softer and sweeter they’ll be.
  • You can use a cinnamon sugar mixture instead of just sugar or sprinkle a bit of cinnamon over top at the end. Some people also enjoy a bit of nutmeg too.
  • Keep an eye on the bananas as they cook so that they don’t burn. Turn the heat down if needed.
  • To clean the pan afterward, run it under hot water. You may need to boil the water to remove stubborn sugar crystals.
  • For a vegan caramelized bananas recipe swap the butter for coconut oil. You won’t have the same buttery flavor, but it will still caramelize nicely.

Favorite Ways to Use Caramelized Bananas

Here are a few favorite ways to use caramelized banana for breakfast, snack or dessert!

Storage

Fried bananas can be store in the fridge for up to 2 days and reheated as needed. Try them cold, they are delicious!

caramelized bananas in ice cream bowl

More desserts to try include bread pudding, homemade apple pie filling and easy baked peaches.

More Banana Recipes

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caramelized bananas in ice cream bowl

Caramelized Bananas

5 from 4 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 2
These caramelized bananas are pan-fried in butter, brown sugar and cinnamon for an easy, sweet topping that goes great on pancakes, waffles, ice cream and more!
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Ingredients 

  • 2 bananas
  • 2-3 Tablespoons brown sugar , more if needed
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • ground cinnamon

Instructions

  • Slice 2 ripe bananas into 1/4" thick circles.
  • Place 2-3 Tablespoons brown sugar in a shallow bowl or plate. Then roll bananas into the sugar.
  • Heat butter in a skillet over medium low heat until melted. Add sugared bananas in a single layer. Cook for about 2 minutes or until the bottoms are starting to turn golden brown. Then flip and cook an additional 1 to 2 minutes on the other side. Watch carefully so they do not burn. Turn down the heat if needed.
  • Use the bananas to top a bowl of ice cream, on top of pancakes or inside a crepe. Sprinkle the tops of the banana with ground cinnamon if desired.

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

To clean pan: Run hot water into the pan. Bring water to a boil if needed to remove sugar crystals. 

Nutrition

Calories: 251kcal, Carbohydrates: 39g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 30mg, Sodium: 105mg, Potassium: 442mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 26g, Vitamin A: 425IU, Vitamin C: 10mg, Calcium: 19mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.