Dessert during the September Challenge? Heck yeah! Especially if it’s a Caramelized Banana and Peanut Butter “Quesadilla!” I’ve been buying bananas because they’re one of the cheapest produce items available to me, but sometimes I get a little tired of them and I’m not a fan of overly browned bananas… well, not by themselves anyway. Pair them with some brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, and peanut butter and I’m on board!
That’s Not a Quesadilla!
Yeah, yeah, I know, the “quesa” in quesadilla means cheese and there is no cheese in this caramelized banana and peanut butter “quesadilla.” Sometimes recipe names are figurative, especially dessert recipe names. Dessert pizza isn’t really pizza, but the world keeps turning.
Use Your Over-Ripe Bananas
If you’re like me and just have one banana that’s past your prime, or not enough to make a batch of banana bread, these caramelized banana quesadillas are a great answer. Just a few minutes and a couple of pantry staples and you’ve got yourself one of the most decadent, ooey-gooey, sweet desserts around! And if you happen to have some vanilla ice cream on hand, make sure to add a scoop on top!
Other Uses For Caramelized Bananas
These sticky sweet caramelized bananas are great for more than just dessert “quesadillas.” You could totally scoop them onto your oatmeal, a bowl of ice cream, add them to some yogurt with granola for a parfait, or scoop them onto some banana pudding.
Caramelized Banana and Peanut Butter Quesadilla
Servings 1Ingredients
- 1 ripe banana ($0.22)
- 1 small flour tortilla ($0.10)
- 1 Tbsp peanut butter ($0.06)
- 1/2 Tbsp butter ($0.07)
- 1/2 Tbsp brown sugar ($0.02)
- 1 dash cinnamon ($0.02)
Instructions
- Slice the banana. Melt the butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Once melted, add the sliced banana and brown sugar. Cook the banana in the butter and brown sugar until the slices turn golden brown and slightly sticky. Remove the skillet from the heat.
- Spread the peanut butter over half of the quesadilla. Scoop the caramelized banana slices onto the peanut butter. Sprinkle a dash of cinnamon on top. Fold the empty half of the tortilla over the filled side.
- Place the quesadilla in a clean dry skillet and cook over medium heat until golden brown and crispy on both sides. Slice the quesadilla into triangles using a large knife or pizza cutter, then serve.
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?Mention @budgetbytes or tag #budgetbytes on Instagram!More Uses for Ripe Bananas:
- Yogurt Banana Bread
- Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal
- Banana Flax Muffins
- No Sugar Added Banana Nut Granola
How to Make Banana Peanut Butter Dessert Quesadillas – Step by Step Photos
Start with one ripe banana. Ripe bananas have a higher sugar content, which is really important for the flavor and caramelizing action.
Slice the banana and spread 1 Tbsp peanut butter over half of one small flour tortilla.
Melt 1/2 Tbsp butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Once melted, add the sliced bananas and sprinkle 1/2 Tbsp brown sugar over top. Cook the bananas in the butter and sugar.
Cook until the bananas get a golden brown coating from the caramelized butter and sugar. They should be sticky and gooey. Remove the skillet from the heat.
Scoop the caramelized bananas onto the peanut butter side of the tortilla. Add a dash of cinnamon (my cinnamon came out REALLY fast. Ooops.)
Fold the tortilla closed, then cook in a clean dry skillet over medium heat until the tortilla is golden brown and crispy on both sides. Yes, I used two skillets because the sugar left over in the caramelized skillet would have made the tortilla stick, but it’s SO worth it.
Slice the quesadilla into triangles. You can use a large knife, but I find that a pizza wheel works the best. If you cut from the “open” side in towards the folded edge, you’ll get less oozing.
Yaassssssss. So warm, sweet, and delicious. This Caramelized Banana and Peanut Butter Quesadilla is the perfect little treat.
THESE ARE AMAZING!!! I loved them as well as my little guy. I think I want to try making the filling to put into my oats!
Thanks!
Lovely! Since I doing the Go Sugar Free program right now, I’m wondering if the bananas will caramelize somewhat by themselves in the butter.
Tina, I think they will. They won’t get golden brown, but they’ll definitely get sweeter. It will still be awesomely delicious, I’m sure! Scroll through the comments, too. Someone else said they like to just microwave the bananas to make them sweet & warm, then they stir in sugar and cinnamon. :)
This was fantastic!
I have to confess to completely hating bananas, but I buy them all the time anyway because a) the kids love them and b) I can tolerate them frozen in smoothies.
I’m going to have to give this a try – I bet the kids would go crazy for it!
As always, I have been really appreciating all your challenge posts – you always have such great ideas and I love how frank you are about the challenges you face. Keep it up!!!!
I need to try this soon!
hi, whats the difference between normal white sugar and brown sugar? thank you.
Brown sugar has molasses incorporated into it. You can actually make your own brown sugar if you use a hand mixer to blend molasses into white sugar.
Jason is spot on with his answer. It has more flavor because of the molasses.
This is beautiful, I’ll wait to make
This is an important challenge both for those who need frugal ideas and those whose grocery spending has gotten out of hand.
I posted a link to your black bean burrito recipe on my blog:
http://www.lifeascindy.com/what-to-do-with-black-beans/
how did you know i have overripe bananas i didn’t know what to do with??
Ack! I’m kicking myself for making sure we used up the last of our tortillas with dinner tonight.
I am usually not a big fan of bananas, but this makes me want to go out and buy a whole bunch. I just might go and do that. This looks like a perfect college late night snack. I cannot wait to try this!
Just looking at your photos is dessert! My husband loves Bananas Foster if we go to someplace fancy. Perhaps I’ll surprise him with this little twist on some vanilla ice cream. You see, Beth – you can teach an old dog new tricks!
To make without butter, you can cook the banana, unpeeled, for 1 and a half minutes in the microwave, high setting. Be sure to do this on a plate, as it will let out some liquid. This will make it mushy and gooey, and then you can add the sugar and cinnamon. At least this is how I cook it to eat on it’s on with sugar and cinnamon. Now I need to try adding the peanut butter spread and tortilla like in this recipe.
Nice trick! Thanks for sharing that. :)
Mmmmmmmm!!! My mouth is watering right now!! This quesadilla would taste absolutely delicious with Nutella spread, or chocolate chips!!!! :-)
You….I like you.
I like to spread a bit of low fat cream cheese on the tortilla also. I’ve also done apple/blue cheese versions with honey.
Sounds good!! I’ll have to try it!!!