Subscribe and get my free list of easy fruit dessert recipes

Parsley and Icing

banana

Avocado Banana Kiwi Smoothie

by

A fresh glass of a thick, creamy kiwi banana avocado smoothie.

This easy Avocado Banana Kiwi smoothie is everything I love in one recipe! It’s healthy, simple, delicious and beautiful! Perfect for breakfast or an afternoon snack, this smoothie can be whipped up in minutes. The best part is that you probably already have all the ingredients to make this sweet, ultra creamy, and slightly tangy treat!

Banana chunks, kiwi slices and an avocado in a blender.

I was so excited to share my two-ingredient Easy Healthy Banana Smoothie a little while back. With just two ingredients (banana and milk), care to take a guess what makes it SO good? Well there’s the natural sweetness in both the milk and banana. The best part of the smoothie though is how creamy and frothy the banana makes it when it gets blended together!

Is there anything creamier than a banana in a smoothie?! Oh…actually…yes there is…avocado! Plain avocado and milk is another one of my favorite smoothies, but here I up the creaminess factor and add a little natural sweetness with banana. Kiwi livens the flavors up and adds a bit of zest and tanginess!

A thick, creamy green kiwi banana smoothie in a glass.

Get ready to enjoy both the beauty and health benefits of this Avocado Banana Kiwi Smoothie ! Avid smoothie lovers and non smoothie lovers will love it. I know that because my husband instinctively raised both his eyebrows and nodded his head after trying it!

Make it and enjoy it as a healthy breakfast, afternoon snack, or healthy dessert! For more awesome smoothie recipes, make my

Print
clock clock icon cutlery cutlery icon flag flag icon folder folder icon instagram instagram icon pinterest pinterest icon print print icon squares squares icon
a glass of avocado banana kiwi smoothie with a kiwi next to it and a blender behind it

Avocado Banana Kiwi Smoothie

  • Author: Natalie
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 2 smoothies 1x
  • Category: Drinks
  • Method: Blender
  • Cuisine: American
Print

Description

Make this creamy, tasty Avocado Banana Kiwi Smoothie recipe for an easy, healthy breakfast or snack! Ready in minutes and so good for you!

Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 avocado, peeled and pitted
  • 1 banana, fresh or frozen and lightly chopped
  • 1 kiwi, peeled and halved
  • 1 cup milk
  • sugar to taste (optional)

Instructions

1. Place all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth and enjoy right away!

Notes

  • Feel free to substitute a different type of milk for regular milk.
  • Use 1 1/2 cups milk if you would like to thin if you want a thinner smoothie

Keywords: avocado, smoothie, banana, kiwi, clean, breakfast, snack

Strawberry Banana Pineapple Smoothie

by

Two full glasses of strawberry pineapple banana smoothie topped with banana and pineapple slices.

I crave this easy Strawberry Banana Pineapple Smoothie year round. It’s cold and refreshing anytime of the day during the summer and it brightens up my breakfast in the winter. Use fresh or frozen fruit and make it with milk for a creamy, healthy treat!

EASY SMOOTHIE TO MAKE

When I want a quick, healthy breakfast, I love whipping up a strawberry pineapple smoothie. It has five ingredients and can be made in five minutes.

Another convenient thing about this smoothie is that the ingredients are things that you probably already have on hand in your fridge or freezer. You can use fresh or frozen fruit.

A blender full of fresh strawberry and banana slices and pineapple chunks.

NATURALLY SWEET

Depending on the sweetness of your fruit and depending on your taste buds, you might want to a drizzle of honey or maple syrup.

A blender with strawberry, pineapple, banana smoothie with honey drizzled on top.
Two big glasses of strawberry, banana, pineapple smoothies on a wooden tray.

Blend this strawberry banana pineapple smoothie up for a refreshing splash of sweetness and nutrition any time of the day or year!

FOR MORE SMOOTHIE RECIPES, TRY MY:

Print
clock clock icon cutlery cutlery icon flag flag icon folder folder icon instagram instagram icon pinterest pinterest icon print print icon squares squares icon
two mason jars full of strawberry pineapple banana smoothies with strawberries in the smoothie and a banana and pineapple slice on the rims of the glassses

Strawberry Banana Pineapple Smoothie

  • Author: Natalie
  • Prep Time: 3 minutes
  • Cook Time: 2 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 2 smoothies 1x
  • Category: Smoothie, Breakfast, Drinks
  • Method: Blender, No Cook
  • Cuisine: American, Healthy
Print

Description

This easy, healthy Strawberry Pineapple Banana Smoothie recipe makes the perfect breakfast or snack!Whip up this simple five-ingredient smoothie in less than five minutes!

Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 frozen banana, chopped
  • 1/2 cup frozen strawberries⠀
  • 1/2 cup pineapple, chopped ⠀
  • 3/4 cup milk⠀
  • 1–2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup (optional)

Instructions

Combine all the ingredients in a blender. Blend and enjoy!

Keywords: strawberry banana pineapple smoothie

Nutella Cookie Cups

by

nutella filled sugar cookie cups with a banana on top on a counter top and brown parchment paper

It was Nutella that caught your attention, right? Wait til you try it with banana in these Nutella Cookie Cups! Homemade sugar cookies are the easy-to-make, soft, chewy cups that get filled with nutella and banana slices!

Here’s why you’ll want to make these dessert cups!

  1. Nutella and banana are heavenly together!
  2. They’re super easy to make!
  3. They’re fun and easy to eat (just pick one up)!
  4. They’re easy to transport and share!
a mixing bowl with dry ingredients and a bowl with wet ingredients and a measuring cup with milk in it on a counter

For the cups, I wanted something simple but homemade. When I say simple, I mean no chilling, no ice cubes, no kneading, no rolling the dough out. I also wanted the cups to be sweet, chewy and soft. This led me to sugar cookie dough!

The sugar cookie dough is straightforward and easy. Once the dough is all mixed, you form it into 1 1/2 inch balls. I used a very rounded tablespoon for each ball and this gave me 24 cookie cups. If you want the cups to be a little bigger, use about 2 tablespoons of dough for each ball. You would then end up with about 18 cookie cups and you might need to bake them for a couple extra minutes.

a muffin tin with cookie cups and banana slices on them with a knife next to it

Resist the urge to flatten the balls! Just leave them as is. They will spread out as they bake. Bake them at 350 for 12-14 minutes. They don’t take on much color on top, but the sides will brown nicely.

Remove the cookie cups from the oven and immediately make an indentation in the center of each cookie. I placed my rounded tablespoon on each cookie and pressed down. You could also a shot glass or anything that you think might work. Place a slice of banana in the bottom of each cup, fill each cup with Nutella and then top with a slice of banana! They’re done!

I love to enjoy them as soon as they’re out of the oven and the Nutella and banana has been added! The cookie cups are still warm and the banana and Nutella even gets melty and slightly warm! Definitely reminds me of Nutella banana crepes that I used to eat too often when I studied in Paris!

If you want to save them for a little later, just hold off on putting the top slice of banana on them since bananas will brown a little if left out too long. I love the simple top slice of banana though because I think it makes it pretty and adds a little banana flavor. It also serves as a hint to the banana slice tucked inside each cup.

Delicious sugar cookie cups filled with nutella and topped with a banana slice.

For an impressive, easy to make, homemade dessert, make these Nutella Cookie Cups! They’re simple enough to whip up when you get a craving for cookies and special enough to put together when having people over!

Print
clock clock icon cutlery cutlery icon flag flag icon folder folder icon instagram instagram icon pinterest pinterest icon print print icon squares squares icon
nutella filled sugar cookie cups with a banana on top on a white plate with a knife and jar of nutella in the background

Nutella Cookie Cups

  • Author: Natalie
  • Prep Time: 20
  • Cook Time: 14
  • Total Time: 34 minutes
  • Yield: 24 cookie cups 1x
  • Category: Cookies, Dessert, Baking
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
Print

Description

This recipe for soft, chewy Nutella Cookie Cups makes an easy yet special homemade dessert! No chilling required and easy to make! 

Scale

Ingredients

FOR THE COOKIES

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 3 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/3 cup milk

FOR THE FILLING

  • 3/4 of a jar Nutella
  • 1 banana, sliced

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Lightly butter or spray two muffin tins with nonstick spray.
  2. Cream the butter and sugar well until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla followed by the eggs one at a time.
  3. Sift the dry ingredients together and add to the sugar mixture alternatively with milk. Beat well after each addition. Roll the dough into balls the size of very rounded tablespoons (balls should be about 1 1/2 inches). Place balls in the muffin tin.
  4. Bake 12-14 minutes. Remove from oven and use a shot glass or bottom of a rounded tablespoon to press the center of the cookie cups down. Place one thin slice of a banana on the bottom of each cookie cup. Fill each cup with about a tablespoon of Nutella and place a banana slice on top.
  5. Leave the desserts in the tray or cool on racks then enjoy!

Keywords: nutella, banana, cookies, dessert, cookie cups

Easy Healthy Banana Smoothie

by

a glass of a creamy, frothy banana smoothie with a banana next to it and a blender beside it and a blender top behind it

Bananas are found is most smoothie recipes, but have you ever had a banana smoothie? If not, you have to make one! Toss a banana and some milk in a blender and you’ll have an incredibly delicious, nutritious treat in less than five minutes! This Easy Healthy Banana Smoothie is simple, frothy, and creamy!

EASY TO MAKE

Here are a few reasons that make this the easiest smoothie you’ll probably ever make:

  • It only has two ingredients.
  • No need to pick anything up at the store. Its two ingredients are things most people always have on hand.
  • It’s simple, so no need to read through a long recipe.
  • All you have to do is peel a banana and bananas are the easiest fruit to peel.
  • It takes less than five minutes.
an overhead picture of a blender with milk and a banana in it
a blender full of thick, frothy, creamy banana smoothie

DELICIOUS AND NUTRITIOUS

Since the banana is the only ingredient other than milk, it definitely has a tasty banana taste. Once blended, this Easy Healthy Banana Smoothie becomes both frothy and creamy! I call it a smoothie, but because of how delicious it is, it could also a healthy banana milkshake!

The fact that the smoothie is naturally sweet without the addition of sugar makes this drink healthy as well! This smoothie is full of protein, potassium and fiber.

I use milk for my banana smoothie, but feel free to swap out the milk for almond milk or another milk of your choice.

a blender pouring thick, frothy, creamy banana smoothie into a glass

BREAKFAST, A SNACK, OR A HEALTHY DESSERT

I first had this simple smoothie in Morocco where people sometimes have it as part of a breakfast or a snack. People make it at home and in cafes and juice bars. I used to love to order it with fresh miloui which are like crepes.

Now here miles away in Ottawa I make it as part of a healthy breakfast, snack, or even dessert. I love making it for others and seeing their reaction when I tell them that this treat is made from bananas and milk only and that there’s no sugar added!

a blender pouring thick, frothy, creamy banana smoothie into a glass

GIVE IT A TRY!

Given that you most likely have the two ingredients on hand and that it takes less than five minutes to make, there’s no reason not to try this smoothie! If you’re like me, you’ll be making and enjoying it for years!

Smoothie lover? Try my:

Orange Mango Peach Smoothie

Blueberry Banana Smoothie

Print
clock clock icon cutlery cutlery icon flag flag icon folder folder icon instagram instagram icon pinterest pinterest icon print print icon squares squares icon
a glass full of a frothy, creamy banana smoothie with a blender lid behind it and a banana next to it

Easy Banana Smoothie Recipe

★★★★★ 5 from 1 reviews
  • Author: Natalie
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 2 smoothies 1x
  • Category: Smoothie, drinks
  • Method: Blender
  • Cuisine: American, Moroccan
Print

Description

This two ingredient Easy Healthy Banana Smoothie recipe is healthy, frothy and delicious. Enjoy it as a a nutritious snack or breakfast.

Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 banana, fresh or frozen

Instructions

1. Combine the milk and banana in a blender. Blend til smooth. Enjoy!

Notes

Makes two 3/4 cup smoothies. If you want larger sizes or to make some for more people, just double the recipe! 

Keywords: banana, smoothie, milk, breakfast, healthy, Moroccan

Blueberry Banana Smoothie

by

a frosty glass of a blueberry banana smoothie with a teaspoon of cinnamon, blueberries, and a banana next to it

This delicious Blueberry Banana Smoothie is so sweet and creamy that it could pass for a dessert and so nutritious that it easily qualifies as a healthy breakfast!

I like to share nutritional tips every now and then to my mom and brother. One of the tips that stuck with them is the phrase “eat the rainbow.” I’m sure the color will be the first thing they will notice about this beauty. You can see by the purplish-blue hue that this drink is full of antioxidants from the blueberries. The nutrition doesn’t stop there. It’s also rich in potassium (thank you, banana) and the yogurt and orange juice add protein and vitamin C.

a measuring cup full of frozen blueberries

I made a blueberry tart once with blueberries, a lemon cream and cinnamon. That blueberry-cinnamon combo left a tasty impression on me and I try to bring those flavors together when I can. Even though it’s only lightly spiced with a half a teaspoon of cinnamon, the warmth and flavor of the cinnamon is evident.

a mixing bowl with a blueberry smoothie inside with traces of cinnamon
Traces of glittery cinnamon

I could go on and on, but will leave you to it. Here’s the recipe for this creamy, naturally sweet treat!

For another delicious, healthy and beautiful smoothie, try my Orange Mango Peach Smoothie!

Print
clock clock icon cutlery cutlery icon flag flag icon folder folder icon instagram instagram icon pinterest pinterest icon print print icon squares squares icon
a frosty glass of a blueberry banana smoothie with a teaspoon of cinnamon, blueberries, and a banana next to it

Blueberry Banana Smoothie

  • Author: Natalie
  • Prep Time: 4 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 minute
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 2 smoothies 1x
  • Category: Drinks
Print

Description

A refreshing, naturally sweetened smoothie made with blueberries, banana, cinnamon, yogurt, and orange juice. It’s creamy and delicious and is one of my favorite smoothies!

Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 cup frozen blueberries
  • 1 frozen, ripe banana, cut in chunks
  • 1/2 cup plain yogurt
  • 1/2 cup orange juice
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

In a blender, combine the blueberries, banana, yogurt, orange juice and cinnamon. Blend and enjoy!

Notes

The recipe as is makes about 1 3/4 cups which makes two 7 oz servings. Double the recipe if you want larger smoothies or to make them for more than two people.

Keywords: Smoothie, blueberry, banana, cinnamon, healthy, yogurt

The Best Banana Bread

by

a sliced loaf of banana bread on a white baking sheet with parchment paper and crumbs on it and a tin in the background

This Moist Banana Bread makes the best banana bread I’ve ever had. With the perfect amount of sweetness, banana flavor and a delicate crust, it gives you that heart-warming experience that only homemade banana bread can provide! This easy recipe is my all-time favorite version of this all-American classic treat!

The recipe for this banana bread comes from my great-grandmother, Eva, who was an amazing cook and baker! It one of the first recipes I started making it even before I was into cooking. Because of the positive reaction I got from people whenever I made it, it quickly become my favorite recipe in (what was then) my limited recipe collection. I made it so much I learned it by heart! Who can say that about a banana bread recipe!?

As an English as a Second Language teacher, this is my go-to contribution to international potlucks! It’s fun to introduce this bread to international students and friends who may not have heard of it. It’s also fun to introduce my family recipe to American friends who also have lots of love for banana bread!

There are thousands of recipes for banana bread out there. The “secret” to this amazing Moist Fluffy Banana Bread recipe is simply mashing the sugar and bananas together. You first mash the bananas with a little water and the sugar and leave the mixture for 15 minutes. This makes the bread taste like it is sweetened by and not just flavored by bananas!

Below is a picture of the recipe as written out by my great-aunt Helen. I love her handwriting! I also love and appreciate that she and my great-grandmother took the time to write out this and many other recipes for future generations of our family to enjoy.

a handwritten recipe for banana nut bread

My great-grandmother and great-aunts used a lot of lard back then, but I make mine with unsalted butter. You’ll see that the recipe calls for 1/2 cup of nuts. You can definitely add those, but I prefer mine without nuts so that it doesn’t distract me from the banana flavor that I love! Totally personal preference though!

THE CHOCOLATE CHIP VERSION

I tend to not sway too far from making classic banana bread, but make an occasionally exception for chocolate! I mean, why not combine two of my favorite things and make Moist Fluffy Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips?!

To make this chocolate version, swap out 1/2 cup of granulated sugar for 1/2 cup of packed brown sugar. The rest of the ingredients and directions are the same except for the addition of 3/4 cup of regular or mini chocolate chips to your batter right after you’ve combined the wet and dry ingredients. I usually use the regular size, but the mini ones can be fun too! To make sure the chips are visible on the top of the loaf, sprinkle some extra chocolate chips (about a handful) on top right before you put it in the oven!

two fluffy slices of moist banana bread with chocolate chips on a white plate with a jar of chocolate chips behind it and a large white platter with the banana chocolate chip bread loaf on it and crumbs

It truly is fluffy, moist, and delicious and makes your kitchen smell amazing! I’m so thankful my great-aunt and great-grandmother took the time years ago to write down their favorite recipes. Give it a try and this recipe will become a classic for you and your family too!

For another one of my great-grandmother’s recipes, try her buttery, super cinnamony Snickerdoodles!

Print
clock clock icon cutlery cutlery icon flag flag icon folder folder icon instagram instagram icon pinterest pinterest icon print print icon squares squares icon
banana bread, best, moist

The Best Banana Bread

  • Author: Natalie
  • Prep Time: 20 Minutes
  • Cook Time: 50-60 Minutes
  • Total Time: 70-80 Minutes
  • Yield: 1 Loaf 1x
  • Category: Bread
Print

Description

This easy recipe for The Best Banana Bread is my all time favorite! It’s super moist, has that sweet banana flavor, and a delicate, tasty crust! Make it with or without chocolate chips.

Scale

Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 3 mashed bananas
  • 1 tbsp water
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
  • 2 beaten eggs

Instructions

  1. Mash the bananas with the water and sugar. Let stand 15 min.
  2. In a separate, medium-sized bowl, sift then measure the flour. Sift again with the baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  3. In a large bowl, cream the butter then add banana mixture and beat well. Add the dry ingredients and eggs. Beat only until well blended.
  4. Pour in greased bread tin and bake at 350° for 50-60 minutes.

Notes

To Add Chocolate Chips: Substitute 1/2 cup of sugar for 1/2 cup packed brown sugar. Add 3/4 cup chocolate chips (mini or regular) to the batter after the dry and wet ingredients are combined. Sprinkle an additional 1/4 cup chocolate chips over the top of the loaf right before baking. 

Keywords: Moist banana bread

Here’s the recipe for one loaf.