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Banana Fritters are a sweet, crispy Jamaican snack made from ripe bananas and lightly fried to golden perfection. This easy recipe makes a great dessert or quick breakfast bite, whenever you’re craving something delicious.
For more Jamaican banana recipes, try my Green Banana Boiled Dumpling, Boiled Green Banana, and Green Banana Porridge next.
Table of Contents
- Jamaican Banana Fritters
- What is a Fritter?
- Where Do Banana Fritters Originate From?
- Ingredients
- How to Make Banana Fritters
- Recipe Tips
- How to Serve Banana Fritters
- Can I Make this Ahead of Time?
- Storage
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Interested in more Jamaican Recipes? Check These Out!
- Jamaican Banana Fritters Recipe
Jamaican Banana Fritters
When life hands you ripe bananas, why not make banana fritters? This recipe is an easier alternative to banana bread and just as satisfying!
Growing up in a Caribbean household, banana fritters were a staple. We’d enjoy them with breakfast, as a side dish, or just as a quick snack. With pantry staples like flour, spices, and a hint of sugar, this recipe comes together in under 20 minutes.
The crispy outside and soft, banana-flavoured filling make them irresistible, especially when served warm with a dusting of powdered sugar. It’s the perfect way to turn simple ingredients into a delicious treat!
What is a Fritter?
A fritter is a mixture of ingredients covered with batter and then deep-fried. It’s made by combining ingredients to make a loose wet batter and then frying that batter in oil. Banana fritters and apple fritters are common fritter recipes but savory foods like these Jamaican Saltfish Fritters are made similarly.
Where Do Banana Fritters Originate From?
method. Over time, the love for fritters spread, from Southeast Asia to the Caribbean. You’ll find variations in Indian, Filipino, and Chinese cuisines as well, each adding its own unique twist to this delicious snack.
Ingredients
- All Purpose Flour: This holds the fritter together, ensuring that it doesn’t fall apart when it gets in the pan.
- Baking Powder: This gives a little rise to the fritters.
- Ripe Bananas: Mashed.
- Brown Sugar: Added for sweetness.
- Pure Vanilla Extract: Rounds out the other flavours.
- Spices: For that warm Caribbean flavour, I use cinnamon and nutmeg.
- Salt: To balance the sweetness.
- Oil and Butter: For frying.
How to Make Banana Fritters
Mash & Season Ripe Bananas
I start by mashing the ripe bananas in a medium mixing bowl with a fork until they’re nice and soft. Once that’s done, I add in the brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, and salt, stirring everything together with a spoon until it’s well mixed. Finally, I add the flour and mix it in until the batter is smooth and fully incorporated.
Fry Bananas
Next, I heat some butter and oil in a non-stick skillet, then drop generous spoonfuls of the banana batter into the hot oil. I let them fry for about 3-4 minutes on each side, until they’re golden brown and crispy around the edges.
Drain Oil & Serve
Once done, I transfer the fritters to a wire rack to drain any excess oil. Serve them up warm, and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- The riper the bananas, the sweeter the fritters. If they’re not ripe enough, add a bit more sugar to avoid bitterness.
- Let the batter sit for 5-10 minutes for a smoother texture and lighter, crispier fritters.
- Make sure the oil is hot enough (350°F – 375°F). If it’s too cool, the batter will absorb oil, making the fritters greasy instead of crispy.
- Don’t fully submerge the fritters in oil to avoid sogginess. Use just enough to fry one side at a time
- These cook quickly, so keep a close eye on them to prevent burning. Flip the fritters when bubbles form on top and the edges turn golden brown.
How to Serve Banana Fritters
- As is, with a side of ice cream.
- A side to a simple breakfast with sausage, bacon, and eggs.
- Topped with jam, powdered sugar, condensed milk, melted chocolate, or caramel sauce.
- Added to a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
Can I Make this Ahead of Time?
Jamaican banana fritters taste best when served immediately. But you can prepare the batter in advance and refrigerate it for up to 3 days before using.
Storage
Although these are best served fresh, you can store leftover banana fritters in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheat leftover Jamaican banana fritters in a frying pan over low heat or in an oven at 375°F for 5 minutes. Avoid the microwave because the fritters will become soggy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Fritters are fried in oil for a crispy exterior, while pancakes are cooked on a dry griddle for a fluffier texture. In fritters, ingredients like bananas are mixed into the batter, whereas pancakes often have toppings added later.
Traditional Jamaican banana fritters contain ripe bananas, flour, brown sugar, spices, and oil for frying.
The riper, the better! Overripe bananas with brown spots are perfect for fritters because they add natural sweetness and ensure a soft, flavourful filling.
Interested in more Jamaican Recipes? Check These Out!
- Coco Bread
- Jamaican Beef Patty
- Jamaican Curry Chicken
- Gungo Peas Soup
- Ackee and Saltfish
- Brown Stew Fish
- Jamaican Oxtail Recipe
- Jerk Chicken Sandwich
- How to Soak Fruit for Christmas Cake
- Easy Jamaican Pigeon “Gungo” Peas and Rice
- Jamaican Pickled Vegetables (Escovitch Sauce)
- Jamaican Curry Shrimp (Seafood)
- Quick & Easy Jamaican Jerk Chicken
- Jamaican Rasta Pasta
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Jamaican Banana Fritters
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
- Non-stick skillet
Ingredients
- 4 whole Ripe Bananas, mashed
- 1 cup All Purpose Flour
- 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
- 4 tbsp Brown Sugar
- 2 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp Nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- Oil and Butter, for frying
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, add bananas and use a fork to mash them until they are softened. Then, add the brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder and salt to the bananas and mix together using a spoon until well combined. Lastly, add in the flour, and mix until incorporated.
- Heat butter and oil in a non-stick skillet and drop generous spoonfuls of batter into the hot oil. Fry on each side until golden-brown and crisp around the edges (about 3-4 minutes per side).
- Remove from oil and place on a wire rack to drain excess oil, serve warm and enjoy!
Video
Notes
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- The riper the bananas, the sweeter the fritters. If the bananas are not ripe enough, you may need to add more sugar. There is also a chance that the fritters will taste bitter.
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- If time permits, let the batter sit for 5-10 minutes. It will have a smoother texture which results in light, crispy fritters.
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- Do not submerge the fritters in oil. It should not cover the entire fritter or your fritters will come out soggy.
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- Flip the fritters when bubbles appear at the top and the sides are golden brown.
Tasted amazing and so easy to make!
Awesome!! Thanks so much!!
I just made these and they were so good! They were gone in minutes. Great recipe 🙂
I can definitely relate!! They are always gone in minutes!! So glad you all enjoyed!
Do you think this recipe would still work if I subbed pumpkin for bananas?
Hi Tina, I do believe so – it should work the same!