These sweet cinnamon fried bananas are soft, golden, caramelized in butter, with just the right touch of warmth from cinnamon. Made with simple, everyday ingredients, this quick skillet recipe transforms ripe bananas into a naturally sweet dessert in minutes.
If you’re looking for an easy fried bananas recipe that feels comforting and a little indulgent without much effort, this is one to keep on repeat.
Author’s Note
This is one of those recipes that feels very familiar to me. Growing up in Brazil, simple fruit-based desserts like this were part of everyday life, nothing complicated, just good ingredients cooked in a way that brought out their natural flavor.
Bananas were always around, and this was an easy way to turn them into something warm and comforting. It’s a different take from my fried sweet plantains recipe, which uses plantains, both come from that same idea of transforming simple ingredients into something really satisfying.
I hope you’ll enjoy this recipe as much as we do!
-Silvia
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Bananas – use 3-4 not overly ripe bananas
- Butter – butter is what gives these fried bananas their rich flavor and helps them caramelize beautifully in the pan.
- Sugar – you can use brown sugar or white sugar here. Brown sugar gives you deeper caramel-like flavor while white sugar gives a lighter more classic sweetness
- Cinnamon – mixed with the sugar, it adds warmth and that signature flavor that makes this dish so comforting.
- Vanilla extract – a small addition that enhances the overall flavor and rounds everything out.
silvia’s tips
➜ Use bananas that are yellow and firm, without many brown spots. This helps them hold their shape when cooking and prevents them from turning too soft or mushy
➜ Cut bananas into even pieces so they cook at the same rate and caramelize evenly.
➜ Don’t overcrowd the pan, give the bananas space so they can brown properly instead of steaming.
➜ Cook over medium heat, too high and the sugar can burn; too low and you won’t get that golden caramelization.
➜ Add cinnamon sugar at the right time
Let the bananas cook slightly first, then add the sugar mixture so it melts and coats them evenly.
The Latin Version of Apple Pie
I like to think of sweet cinnamon fried bananas as the Latin version of apple pie, not because they are the same dessert, but because they give you that same cozy feeling with a much simpler ingredient list.
You still get the warm fruit, the cinnamon, the buttery caramelized edges, and that soft, comforting texture. And when you serve them warm with a scoop of ice cream, it has that same magic as warm apple pie à la mode: the cold ice cream melts into the cinnamon butter, creating the most delicious sauce.
It’s humble, nostalgic, and incredibly simple dessert.
Serving Suggestions
Serve warm with dulce de leche ice cream for the ultimate Latin flavors or add a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a simple classic.
Banana frita is often served over breakfast, simply spoon over some Greek yogurt and granola for a breakfast-style treat you won’t resist.
Serve over pancakes, waffles, or French toast. Add chopped nuts for crunch. Drizzle with caramel, honey, or maple syrup.
Latin Treats You Must Try Next
Fried Bananas (Banana Frita)
Ingredients
- 4 bananas
- 2 tbsp sugar white or brown
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 6 tbsp butter
Instructions
- Make the cinnamon sugar – in a small bowl, mix the sugar and cinnamon together. Set aside.
- Prepare the bananas – peel the bananas and slice them in half lengthwise or into thick diagonal pieces. Keep the slices fairly even so they cook at the same rate.
- Melt the butter – in a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat.
- Cook the bananas – add the banana slices to the skillet in a single layer. Cook for 3-4 minutes, until the bottoms begin to turn golden.
- Add cinnamon sugar – sprinkle the cinnamon sugar over the bananas along with the vanilla.
- Gently turn the bananas and cook for another 2-3 minutes, until softened, lightly caramelized, and coated in the buttery cinnamon sauce.
- Serve warm – remove from the heat and serve right away, spooning any extra cinnamon butter from the pan over the top.
- Serve with ice cream, greek yogurt, granola or toppings of choice.
Notes
- Refrigerator:
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. - Best enjoyed fresh:
These are at their best right after cooking, when the bananas are warm and caramelized.
- Stovetop (recommended):
Reheat in a skillet over low to medium heat until warmed through. Add a small pat of butter if needed to bring back the sauce. - Microwave:
Heat in short intervals (20–30 seconds) until warm. The texture will be softer but still delicious.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
