This Easy Grilled Banana Dessert Bar Idea is sure to be a hit with family and friends at your next summer BBQ! Learn how to make grilled bananas, plus get plenty of topping ideas.
Grilling is a major part of our summer. We do grill year-round, but the summer is when we kick it up a notch. Dessert isn’t always part of our grilling (much to the disappoint of my kids), but on holidays, like 4th of July and other random times, it’s fun to make a dessert that can be made on the grill.
While s’mores are a favorite dessert to have when we are grilling, this year we finally got around to trying stuffed grilled bananas after hearing about them from friends. They are really easy to make and inexpensive too. Plus, including a lot of topping choices, like we do, is easy because you don’t need much for each banana. Each kids makes their own, which is always a hit in our house. No two bananas are topped the same!
To make grilled bananas, you will want one banana per person. Hold the banana so it curves upward and cut a slit from the stem to the opposite end through the top of the peel and through the banana, but making sure you don’t cut through the peel on the other site.
Open up the banana a bit and start stuffing it with your desired toppings.
I like to set up a a variety of toppings — things like granola, coconut, marshmallows, chocolate chips, chopped pecans, peanut butter chips, and graham cracker pieces. I placed most of my toppings in small 4 oz canning jars.
I even include some honey and cinnamon sugar too, which are delicious additions.
After you have filled your banana, it’s wrapped up in foil and placed on the grill.
After grilling, the skin will get a bit dark (depends on how long you keep it on the grill), but the inside with be full of warm, gooey, and delicious!
Easy Grilled Banana Dessert Bar Idea
PrintEasy Grilled Banana Dessert Bar
Ingredients
- Bananas (1 per person)
- Foil
- pieces Assorted Toppings: chocolate chips (peanut butter chips, granola, coconut, marshmallows, chopped pecans, peanut butter chips, graham cracker , strawberries, crushed pineapple)
Instructions
- Heat grill to medium heat.
- Hold a banana with the curve upwards. With a knife, carefully cut a slit in one side peel, from the stem to the opposite end, similar to how you cut up a baked potato. Take care to make sure you don’t cut through to the other side of the peel. With fingers, gently open up the banana a bit. Add toppings as desired inside of the banana. Wrap banana up in foil (either heavy duty foil or a double layer of thinner foil).
- Place on grill for about 8-10 minutes, or until toppings are melted as desired and banana has softened. Remove from grill, open up foil and serve.
My fellow #SundaySupper food blogging friends are also sharing amazing recipes for summer BBQ’s. Check them out!
Hot Off the Grill:
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On the Side:
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- German Potato Salad by The Foodie Army Wife
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Sweet Tooth:
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In the Cooler:
- Cherry Caipiroska by Vintage Kitchen Notes
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- Prickly Pear Margaritas by Ruffles & Truffles
Miz Helen says
I love this dessert idea! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday, we sure enjoyed your post!
Miz Helen
★★★★★
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says
Oh my – this Looks incredibly delicious! Thanks for sharing at the What’s for Dinner Link party!
Judee@gluten free A-Z Blog says
Looks beautiful and sounds decadent. what a great dessert idea!
★★★★★
Jenny from jennyisbaking.com says
I find funny that people get so excited about banana boats. It is a very common German BBQ treat in summer. Actually, we like to put slices of chocolate in the middle or Nutella, keep it simple. So yummy! Banana and chocolate to the rescue!
Susan says
This is the perfect summer dessert! You could use so many different toppings.
Congrats on being featured in the This Is How We Roll link party at Organized 31! I’m pinning this post now.
Frugal Hausfrau says
I love banana boats and a banana boat bar is a great idea!! Thanks for sharing with us on Throwback Thursday!
Mollie
Tanya @ Mom's Small Victories says
I have never tried grilled bananas but these look fantastic! Thanks for sharing with Small Victories Sunday Linkup last week. Pinning to our linkup board and hope you joined us again this week.
Katherines Corner says
thank you for sharing this yummy treat at the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop. Watch for your feature tomorrow xo
★★★★★
Kathleen says
What a brilliant idea, that grill look so much fun and flavor. Thank you for bringing this wonderful recipe idea to the #HomeMattersParty
Kathlenn
★★★★★
Cathy says
100% pinned, this looks mouthwatering amazing!!!!
This is a great recipe! I would love for you to share this at my party Making Memories Mondays going on now! Hope to see you there!
Cathy
Sheena says
These would be great for camping!!!
Tania says
Oh! Those look delicious, I’m going to have these at our Father’s Day BBQ this weekend!
Tania
Nicole says
Wow! Those look great!
Sarah R. says
SERIOUS yum factor going on here…I am dangerously close to jumping in my car to go pick up the ingredients right now!! Hurray for awesome posts on Snickerdoodle Sunday- thank you for swinging by this weekend!
Sarah (Sadie Seasongoods)
Tandra Boyer says
Well what is HILARIOUS is I just RePinned it after my comment here…..and I JUST NOW got another email that they deleted it again!!! hahaha
Tandra Boyer says
Im confused..I PINNED this recipe to Pinterest, yet it was deleted because of copyright infringement, yet you have a PIN IT button right underneath it….
Anyway it looks totally delish and I will be trying the recipe!
brandie says
Hi Tandra,
I got the notice too — and I’m just as confused. I’ve filed a notice with Pinterest about it so hopefully the situation will be resolved soon. You definitely didn’t do anything wrong…it even sent the same thing to me and it’s MY image of something I made and photographed. And thank you for your sweet comment!
Yosef - This American Bite says
This is a very cool recipe. I’m not a fan of banana’s but I love this post!
brandie says
Thanks Yosef! I have friends who can’t stand the texture and taste of bananas so I know this definitely would NOT be for them. But if you have anyone who does, this is a fun one.
Alli Miller @ Cupcake Diaries says
Oops! Forgot to mention on my last post that I featured this recipe too!! Thanks again for sharing your fabulous recipes! 🙂
brandie says
Thanks Alli!
Katie says
I love these! We always called them “banana boats” back in the days of Girl Scout camp – we’d throw them in the bonfire to cook. Such gooey delicious treats!
Cindys Recipes and Writings says
Instant banana happiness!
Cathy Pollak ~ Noble Pig says
This brings back so many memories of childhood with our banana boats. Reminds me I need to do this with my boys.
Diana @EatMoveShine says
This is SO MUCH FUN!!! I’ve never seen this before… and am loving it! Pinning now 😉
Soni says
Oh this is such a great idea and I cannot wait to try it for my kids!!I’m sure they’ll love it 🙂
Sarah says
OMG! I remember these from camp! Awesome
Courtney @ Neighborfood says
This is definitely one of my all time favorite summer desserts. We always do this for camping too! Such a fun and easy treat. I never thought to add honey or granola though…I will definitely be trying that next time!
Jess @HungryHarps says
This is such a cute idea! I pinned it to my “Get Together and Chow” board. I never thought of letting my kids make their own grilled bananas – but they will LOVE it!
Family Foodie says
This is so cute! What a neat idea, and the dessert bar is a great idea as well!
Sarah | Curious Cuisiniere says
Woah. Why have I never done this before? I’m headed to the store for bananas right now.
Shannon @VillageGirlBlog says
We make these when we go camping. Love all the new ideas I have for them because of your post. So cool!
Jen @JuanitasCocina says
We used to make these in girl scouts! Memories!
Liz says
I remember these from my girl scout days! Now why haven’t we tried these at home? Yummy party idea, too.
Laura Dembowski says
This is such a cute idea! It is so quick and mess free and everyone can customize their own banana! Love it!
Tara says
My mouth is watering looking at those pictures. Great recipe!!
Conni @FoodieArmyWife says
Oh my goodness! I remember doing these in girl scouts as a kid. What a great memory 🙂
Renee says
Okay now, this dessert is just too much fun!!! Love it, love it, love it!
Jennifer @ Peanut Butter and Peppers says
I love grilled bananas! They are so different, yet so incredible! Love your recipe and the idea of making a dessert bar!