Served hot and golden, Banana Fritters are the perfect way to satisfy a sweet tooth! Made with sweet, fruity bananas and aromatic vanilla, then fried to perfection, these fritters are yummy all the way to the last bite!
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Today, I find myself seated on the sofa typing away as my daughter sings along to Frozen for the 100,000th time. Harmony dances around the living room in her pajamas and to be honest, I’m still in mine too. We’re adjusting to a new normal that, for all intensive purposes, is not normal. Some days are harder than others but still, we find ways to laugh, rejoice and tap into that inner Queen Elsa (or Princess Anna, depends on the day).
It is also exciting because I think about the joy I feel as a newer parent, and feel it is so appropriate to congratulate my friend Julianne of Beyond Frosting who is due super soon with her baby boy! Becoming a parent is so exciting, hard, and seriously so crazy but it is the best thing that ever happened to me. Julianne is a seriously wonderful soul that I’ve known for what seems like forever. Her heart is so pure, and I know she is going to be the best mother to her baby. I can’t wait to see her holding her baby, and see her step into this new role. My heart leaps for her! Today my friends and I celebrate her with a Virtual Baby Shower! See all of the glorious posts below!
So, now that you know where I’m at, let me share with you today’s sliver of joy! This time last year Harmony, Fred and I were getting ready for our first Carnival Cruise to the Cayman Islands. With plenty of sunscreen in hand and lots of excitement we sailed the seas, making a few stops along the way. My favorite pitstop? Jamaica. Jamaica’s beautiful beaches and delicious street foods stole my heart!
We ate the most incredible Jerk Chicken, Beef Patties and best of all, Banana Fritters. Made with sweet bananas, aromatic vanilla and a whole lot of love, these fritters are deep-fried heaven.
Today, I’m taking it back to warmer days spent on pristine beaches by frying up my version of a Jamaican classic. Let’s take a vacation y’all!
The Heart and Soul of the Best Banana Fritters
Cuisine Inspiration: Caribbean Comfort
Imagine sunshine, a gentle sea breeze, and the rhythmic beats of calypso music. That’s the spirit these fritters bring to your kitchen, infusing joy and island vibes into each golden, crispy bite!
Primary Cooking Method: Deep Frying
We’re diving deep… into frying, that is! A quick swim in hot oil turns these babies into golden-brown nuggets of happiness.
Dietary Info: Vegetarian, Gluten-Option Available
Get ready for a treat that’s 100% approved for your lifestyle. And for our gluten-sensitive pals, you can easily swap in your favorite gluten-free flour. Let’s make this inclusive!
Key Flavor: Sweet Bananarama!
Bananas take center stage in this symphony of sweetness, supported by a cast of warmth from cinnamon and a whisper of nutmeg.
Skill Level: Easy Peasy
Simple ingredients, straightforward steps, and satisfaction guaranteed!
Sweet Highlights:
Quick and Delish: From craving to savoring in no time!
Way to Upcycle: Got some ripe bananas begging to be used? Give them a new lease on life in the tastiest way possible. Waste not, want lots!
Customize Your Heart Out: They’re your canvas! Add ins like chocolate chips, nuts, or a dusting of powdered sugar. You do you!
Crowd Pleaser: Perfect for brunch, a sweet snack, or dessert, these fritters don’t discriminate. They’re here to win hearts, one bite at a time.
Travel Through Taste: Can’t jet off to the Caribbean? No worries! Close your eyes, take a bite, and let your taste buds do the traveling. Island getaway, here you come!
Ingredients
Although I had my first Banana Fritter experience in Jamaica, this popular Caribbean treat can be found around the world! Whether in West Africa or Indonesia, Vietnam or South America, deliciously unique fried banana variations are a staple recipe.
Ingredients or method of cooking may differ, but the core idea remains the same: they’re sweet, crispy and oh, so good. My preferred variation is inspired by my island adventure and the ingredient list goes a little something like this:
Firm Bananas
Because we’re using bananas in whole pieces, it’s important to make sure they’ve got structural integrity. By using firm bananas we ensure that they will be able to withstand being fried.
TIP: Look for bananas that are a deeper yellow in color but, be sure they aren’t yet spotted or bruised.
Sifted All-Purpose Flour
Taking the time to sift your flour is going to be the difference between a light, fluffy fritter and a dense, oil-ridden fritter. Trust me, it’s worth it.
Vanilla
Vanilla has a sweet, perfumed aroma that starts to release as soon as you start frying. The added woody-smokey flavor creates a beautiful contrast as well.
Frying Oil
It’s important to use an oil that has a high smoke-point as well as little to no flavor. Vegetable, canola, peanut or safflower oil are all great options!
How to Make Banana Fritters
- Sift and Mix:
Sift your dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, salt, sugar), then make a smooth buddy by mixing egg, milk, and melted butter. Combine the two until you’ve got a stiff yet smooth batter. - Prep those Bananas:
Roll bananas in flour to prep ’em, shake off the excess, then give them a full dip in the batter. - Fry ‘Em Up:
Get those coated bananas in hot oil (375 degrees) and fry until they’re golden beauties. - Sweet Finale:
Drain the fritters, then hit them with a pow of powdered sugar while they’re still hot.
Tips
From start to finish, I can whip up a batch of these fluffy-fried bites in about 20 minutes! While developing this recipe, I made a couple mistakes and from them, fritter perfection was born. I also apply this information for these Beignets , Apple Fritters and Peach Fritters recipes.
I’m inviting you to learn from my mistakes by listing a few tips that will guarantee the BEST Banana Fritters ever!
- Use an oil thermometer! You want that oil to be as close to 375 degrees as possible. Any higher your risk burning the fritters burning before they’re cooked. Go lower and they’ll soak up too much oil.
- Don’t fry too many at once! Overcrowding the oil will cause the temperature drop. Aim for 4-5 in one batch.
If making a larger batch, preheat the oven to 200 degrees and use a baking sheet with a wire rack fitted on top to keep the fritters warm. Do this AFTER draining on paper towels to avoid sogginess.
And feel free to sprinkle with powdered sugar or you can drizzle this Easy Caramel Sauce or my Classic Real Deal Caramel Sauce over the top for extreme decadence!
Favorite Banana Recipes
- Banana Foster Bread Pudding
- Easy Banana Bread
- Fried Plantains
- Homemade Banana Pudding
- Skinny Banana Milkshakes
And try my other friends amazing recipes celebrating Julianne’s beautiful baby boy!
Mama’s Best Banana Pudding from The Novice Chef
Snowy Mountain Baby Shower Cake from Life, Love and Sugar
Fruity Pebbles Muffins from Crazy for Crust
Mountain Baby Shower Cookies from Glorious Treats
Instant Pot Cheesecake from Dinners, Dishes and Desserts
No Bake Turtle Dream Bars from 365 Days of Baking and More
Churro Cupcakes from Spoonful of Flavor
Classic Lemon Bars with Shortbread Crust from A Classic Twist
Peanut Butter Chocolate Poke Cake from The First Year Blog
Chocolate Raspberry Layer Cake from A Dash of Sanity
Potato Chip and Pecan Sandies from Simple Joy
Banana Fritters
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Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cup sifted all purpose flour divided
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 large egg beaten
- 1/3 cup milk plus 3 tbsp
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsp melted butter
- 2 firm bananas peeled and cut into 4 pieces
- 1 1/2 cup oil for frying
- Powdered sugar for garnish
Instructions
- Sift one cup of flour with baking powder, salt and granulated sugar.
- Combine egg, milk and melted butter until smooth then add to dry ingredients and mix until batter is smooth yet stiff.
- Roll banana pieces in remaining ¼ cup of flour then shake off (the extra flour helps to create an adhesive before dipping into the batter); dip into fritter batter, completely coating pieces with batter.
- Fry in oil at 375 degrees until golden brown, turning fritters to brown evenly on all sides; drain on paper towels; sprinkle when hot with powdered sugar and serve with caramel sauce if you so desire!!
Notes
- Use an oil thermometer! You want that oil to be as close to 375 degrees as possible. Any higher your risk burning the fritters burning before they’re cooked. Go lower and they’ll soak up too much oil.
- Don’t fry too many at once! Overcrowding the oil will cause the temperature drop. Aim for 4-5 in one batch.
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Works with dietary exclusions too! Used gluten-free self-raising flour with 1/4 tsp zanthum gum, dairy free spread and oat milk. Made a Lovely fluffy batter was so easy to use and deliciously light to eat. Only added a large pinch of salt for taste. Definitely be doing this again soon. Even the left over batter makes great mini-donuts. Really appreciated being to print the recipe out so easily. Thank you!
Thank you! I was trying to figure out how to convert this to gluten free. Can’t wait to try this!
Hi,
Can you replace the egg with any vegan alternative? Or remove the egg? These look great but wanted to try a vegan batch.
Please let me know.
Thank you.
Yep just go ahead and replace the egg with a vegan replacement.
Hello, when you say roll the bananas into the flour and dip the bananas into the batter how long should they cook to prevent from tasting doughy? If I cook them in extremely hot oil and they become brown too quickly the fritter is not all the way done on the inside and doughy. I did turn the heat down and cook them a little longer on both sides and they tend to come out better. Also can you just mix the rolled bananas into the batter?. I just want to prepare these perfect the next time I make them.
Thanks
Hi Vonda, so the flour is just really an adhesive. I usually dip the banana in the flour and shake off a ton of it before adding to the dough. The oil should be hot so they puff up and get golden brown but the banana should definitely soften as well.
Good Morning Jocelyn, Ok thank you for this information. By the way LOVE the Carmel Icing to the Carmel cake. It came out perfect and delicious.
what a fun dish to make, and really creative treat too, hadn’t had these before, thank you!
WOW, Jocelyn! These look incredible and will definitely bring me back to when we went to Jamaica on our cruise! Can’t wait to taste the tropics again.
I definitely have the time with staying at home to make these! Plus I just bought bananas!
These are so good. I can eat this for snack with coffee everyday. 🙂
Oh my gosh, girl! These look so mouth watering. I’m sitting here now trying to see if I have everything to make them. If not, I’ll be making them very soon.
One of the loveliest banana fritters I have recently seen!
The most amazing banana fritters I have seen to date. And the texture is absolutely amazing – just the way I like it!