This Fried Bananas with Cinnamon Honey Sauce recipe turns humble bananas into a show-stopping dessert in just 10 minutes! The bananas caramelize to golden perfection in a buttery skillet, then get drenched in an irresistible cinnamon-honey-lemon sauce that makes every bite pure magic. Trust me—this is the kind of treat you’ll make on a whim and crave all week long.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fast & Easy: You can be swirling warm Fried Bananas with Cinnamon Honey Sauce onto your ice cream in under ten minutes, start to finish!
- Big Flavors, Few Ingredients: With just six simple ingredients, each bite bursts with buttery, spiced, honeyed goodness.
- Versatile Magic: These bananas instantly elevate pancakes, oatmeal, desserts, or even just your favorite spoon!
- Satisfyingly Indulgent, Naturally: The sweetness comes naturally—from ripe bananas and honey—so you get that luscious flavor, minus the fuss of heavy desserts.
Ingredients You’ll Need
One of my favorite things about Fried Bananas with Cinnamon Honey Sauce is how each ingredient shines—nothing complicated, just a handful of essentials each bringing their own texture, sweetness, and depth of flavor to make this dessert unforgettable!
- Ripe Bananas: Choose bananas that are yellow with a few brown freckles—firm but not green, so they caramelize beautifully without falling apart.
- Butter: This gives the bananas their delicious golden crust and silky gloss. Salted or unsalted both work, but salted adds a hint of extra flavor.
- Honey: The honey brings natural sweetness and adds that luscious sticky glaze to the sauce. Local honey has wonderful complexity if you have some!
- Lemon Juice: A bright zing of lemon lifts the sweetness and keeps the sauce from being cloying—don’t skip it!
- Ground Cinnamon: A pinch of cinnamon transforms this simple dish into something cozy and warm—your kitchen will smell incredible.
- Salt: Just a touch is all you need to make every flavor pop in contrast to the sweetness.
Variations
The beauty of Fried Bananas with Cinnamon Honey Sauce is how easily you can riff on it—make it your own with what you love or have on hand! Don’t hesitate to try a fun twist to fit your mood, diet, or pantry.
- Add Toasted Nuts: Toss in chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds just before serving for a crunchy contrast to the soft bananas.
- Vegan Option: Swap the butter for coconut oil and use agave or maple syrup in place of honey for a delicious plant-based dessert.
- Chocolate Drizzle: For chocolate lovers, finish with a drizzle of melted dark chocolate or chocolate syrup—decadence overload!
- Spice It Up: Add a pinch of cayenne or nutmeg for a little heat or extra warmth.
How to Make Fried Bananas with Cinnamon Honey Sauce
Step 1: Prepare the Bananas
Start by peeling your bananas and slicing them into 1/2-inch rounds. Try to keep them uniform so they cook evenly—if the bananas are extra curvy, just slice on a gentle diagonal. Your goal here is pieces that will hold up to frying but are still bite-sized and lush inside.
Step 2: Make the Sauce Base
Heat a skillet over medium and add the butter. Once melted and foamy, whisk in the honey, lemon juice, cinnamon, and salt. The moment everything melts into an amber sauce and you catch that whiff of warm spice, you’ll know you’re on the right track!
Step 3: Fry the Bananas
Lay the banana slices in the bubbling sauce in a single layer. Let them sizzle for 2–3 minutes per side, flipping gently with tongs or a thin spatula. Watch for that golden caramelized crust—if they’re browning too quickly, lower the heat a tad. Resist the urge to stir constantly; they need a little time to get that perfect sear!
Step 4: Serve Warm
Once the bananas are golden and tender, remove them from the heat and serve right away. Whether you spoon them over vanilla ice cream, pancakes, or fresh-off-the-griddle waffles, don’t forget to drizzle every last bit of the cinnamon honey sauce over the top—this is where all the magic is!
Pro Tips for Making Fried Bananas with Cinnamon Honey Sauce
- Banana Selection Matters: Use bananas that are ripe and yellow with a few brown spots, but still feel firm—extra ripe or soft bananas can turn mushy when cooked.
- Low & Slow Caramelization: If the bananas or sauce begin to brown too quickly, simply lower the heat—gentle caramelization is the secret to that addictive crust without burning.
- Uniform Slices: Cut your banana pieces evenly so they cook at the same rate and look extra pretty on the plate!
- Don’t Crowd the Pan: Give the bananas room to fry without overlapping, or they’ll steam instead of caramelize—work in batches if needed.
How to Serve Fried Bananas with Cinnamon Honey Sauce
Garnishes
The finishing touch for your Fried Bananas with Cinnamon Honey Sauce? A sprinkle of toasted coconut, a flurry of chopped nuts, or even a dusting of extra cinnamon or powdered sugar over the top. A dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream takes things totally over the top!
Side Dishes
These caramelized bananas make a dreamy topping for thick, fluffy pancakes, sourdough French toast, or a warm bowl of oatmeal. For dessert, pair them with a simple butter cake or a scoop of tangy plain yogurt to balance the sweetness—it’s comfort food in every bite.
Creative Ways to Present
Try letting guests build their own banana sundaes, layering Fried Bananas with Cinnamon Honey Sauce in parfait glasses with ice cream, cake cubes, or meringue for a “banana foster”-style trifle. For brunch, line the bananas in neat rows over pancakes, or fan them artfully on a platter for a shareable, crowd-pleasing centerpiece.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you happen to have leftovers (it’s rare!), store cooled Fried Bananas with Cinnamon Honey Sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days. The bananas will soften, but the flavors intensify and the sauce stays dreamy and rich.
Freezing
I don’t recommend freezing fried bananas, as the texture changes dramatically—frozen bananas tend to get mushy once thawed. This treat really is best enjoyed fresh, warm, and gooey!
Reheating
To reheat leftovers, warm gently in a nonstick skillet over low heat, just until hot and glossy. You can also zap them in the microwave for 15–20 seconds, but be careful not to overcook or the bananas will turn super soft.
FAQs
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Can I use thawed frozen bananas for Fried Bananas with Cinnamon Honey Sauce?
Fresh bananas work best for this recipe—frozen and thawed bananas become mushy and won’t hold their shape when fried. Use ripe, but firm, bananas for the best texture and caramelization!
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How do I prevent the bananas from sticking to the pan?
Make sure your skillet is well-heated and coated with butter before adding the banana slices. Use a nonstick pan if possible, and be gentle when flipping—the caramelized sauce is sticky, but the butter helps things glide beautifully.
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Can I make Fried Bananas with Cinnamon Honey Sauce ahead of time?
This dish tastes best fresh and warm, but you can prep the sauce and slice the bananas a couple hours ahead. Store sliced bananas in the fridge, covered, and sauté just before serving for the best texture.
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What can I serve Fried Bananas with Cinnamon Honey Sauce on?
These bananas are delicious over pancakes, waffles, vanilla ice cream, pound cake, oatmeal, or even Greek yogurt. The sweet cinnamon sauce pairs wonderfully with a variety of both breakfast and dessert dishes!
Final Thoughts
I can’t wait for you to try this delightfully simple Fried Bananas with Cinnamon Honey Sauce! The aroma alone is enough to make everyone wander into your kitchen, and each bite is pure comfort. Treat yourself—you deserve dessert this easy, this delicious, and this much fun!
Print
Fried Bananas with Cinnamon Honey Sauce Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Stovetop
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Dessert
Description
Indulge in the deliciousness of these Fried Bananas with Cinnamon Honey Sauce. A perfect blend of sweet and savory flavors that will satisfy your dessert cravings.
Ingredients
Bananas:
- 2 ripe bananas, peeled
Cinnamon Honey Sauce:
- 1 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp salt
Instructions
- Cut the bananas into 1/2″ inch thick slices. In a skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Whisk in the honey, lemon juice, cinnamon, and salt to combine.
- Add the banana slices, and pan fry for 2-3 minutes on each side, until golden and caramelized all over. Lower heat if they brown too quickly.
- Serve warm over ice cream or on top of fluffy pancakes or waffles.
Notes
- Use firm bananas, but not green. They need to be ripe, yet firm, and not mushy.
- I do not recommend using thawed, frozen bananas. They get too mushy for this recipe.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 240
- Sugar: 27g
- Sodium: 105mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
