This homemade Banana Syrup Recipe is sweet and bursting with authentic banana flavor. It’s super easy to make and can work with several different dishes.
I love homemade syrup and this homemade banana simple syrup goes well with so many things. Traditionally, I like to use it with breakfast food. It’s great with pancakes, waffles, AND French toast!
My kids love flavored syrup and I love that this one is easy to make ourselves. For me, I love it as a banana coffee syrup. I add a couple of dashes into my morning cup for a hint of sweetness and banana flavoring. It’s so delicious! It’s also a super easy recipe to customize so don’t be afraid to experiment and add other flavors to complement the banana.
Are looking for some more tasty from scratch syrup recipes? You should try our syrup choices Butter Pecan Syrup, Mustard Maple Syrup, Blueberry Syrup and our Cranberry Syrup next time!
Why You’ll Love This Banana Syrup Recipe
- Only 5 ingredients: This recipe for banana syrup only needs 5 ingredients — all of which are pantry staples.
- Customizable recipe: So many flavors pair so well with bananas that you can tailor this recipe to fit your tastes.
- Ready in under 30 minutes: Making homemade syrup is easier than you think! It takes less than 30 minutes to make!
Ingredients
These 5 ingredients are all you need to make this rich and yummy banana simple syrup!
- Bananas: The riper the bananas are, the sweeter they are, and the more pronounced the banana flavoring is.
- Sugar: I use white granulated sugar for this recipe. It’s what gives the syrup its sweet flavor and thick consistency.
- Water: The basic ingredients for simple syrup are sugar and water.
- Vanilla: A touch of vanilla flavor pairs really well with the bananas.
- Salt: I like to add salt to all sorts of recipes because it helps to balance out the flavors of the other ingredients. Don’t worry, it won’t make the syrup salty.
See the recipe card below for the exact quantities of each ingredient.
Variations
- Spiced Banana: Add cinnamon sticks and nutmeg to this banana-flavored syrup for warmth.
- Strawberry Banana: Bananas and strawberries go so well together. Add strawberry slices when you add the banana and strain them out before cooling.
- Coconut Banana: Coconut extract adds a lovely tropical twist to the banana flavor. You can use shredded coconut, too!
How to Make Banana Simple Syrup
Here are the instructions on how to make this easy homemade syrup recipe.
Step 1: Prepare the bananas. Peel and slice the bananas.
Step 2: Dissolve the sugar. Add the water and sugar to a medium pot over medium heat. Stir until the sugar has completely dissolved.
Step 3: Simmer. Add the salt and bananas. Reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Step 4: Remove from heat and add vanilla. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Allow the syrup to cool slightly.
Step 5: Strain. Use a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to remove any banana pieces.
Step 6: Store. Once cooled to room temperature, transfer it to a jar or bottle and store it.
⭐️ Hint: Be sure the syrup is cooled completely before storing it.
If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy Air Fryer Banana Mug Cake.
Serving Suggestions
- Make this banana syrup for pancakes like Homemade Banana Pancakes or French toast like Peanut Butter and Jelly French Toast.
- Turn this Oreo Frappuccino into a rich and tasty banana drink. It's also great to use in your favorite mocktail recipes!
- Did you know you can use banana syrup for cocktails? Add some to a Mango Mai Tai for a fun twist.
- This is one of my favorite simple syrup recipes for cakes and desserts. Try it with Air Fryer Chocolate Cake or Angel Food Cake Trifle.
- Enjoy it warm as an ice cream topping over your favorite bowl of ice cream!
- Use banana simple syrup as a base for marinades or glazes for meats like chicken or pork. It adds sweetness and depth of flavor, especially when combined with spices like ginger or garlic.
Tips
- Make it sugar-free. Swap the granulated sugar for a substitute like stevia to make it sugar-free.
- Be sure the bananas aren’t too soft. You want ripe bananas that are still firm and not mushy or they will be difficult to strain.
- Warm before use. Feel free to gently heat some of the syrup over low heat and serve warm for the best flavor.
- Storing: Store this homemade simple syrup in a sealed jar for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. I do not recommend storing it in the freezer.
- Using Banana Simple Syrup: Experiment with the concentration of the syrup to find the right balance of sweetness and banana flavor for the dishes you're using it in.
Video
More Delicious Banana Recipes
Do you like bananas? Here are some recipes you may also like to try!
Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.
Homemade Banana Syrup
Equipment
- fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth
- mason jar or syrup container
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 ripe bananas
- ½ cup water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prepare the bananas by peeling bananas and slicing them into small pieces.
- In a small saucepan combine the granulated sugar and water. Place the saucepan over medium heat and stir the mixture continuously until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Once the sugar has dissolved add the salt and sliced bananas. Reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer gently for about 10-15 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and to help the bananas break down.
- After simmering, remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Allow the mixture to cool slightly.
- Once the mixture has cooled a bit, strain it through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a clean container to remove any banana solids.
- Let the syrup cool to room temperature before transferring it to a jar or bottle for storage.
Video
Notes
- Make it sugar-free. Swap the granulated sugar for a substitute like stevia to make it sugar-free.
- Be sure the bananas aren’t too soft. You want ripe bananas that are still firm and not mushy or they will be difficult to strain.
- Warm before use. Feel free to gently heat some of the banana syrup over low heat and serve warm for the best flavor.
- Storing: Store this banana syrup in a sealed jar for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. I do not recommend storing it in the freezer.
- Using Banana Syrup: Experiment with the concentration of the syrup to find the right balance of sweetness and banana flavor for the dishes your using it in.
Ann says
Just made this tonight with the bananas everyone wanted, but weren’t eating. Love that the left over bananas can be used for a topping, banana pudding, or just to plain eat (which my youngest and I did).
My only question is how do you keep the yellow color? Mine came out gray. It’s still delicious, but was just curious. Thank you!
Karin and Ken says
I apologize for the delay in my response I wanted to try a few things. We make this banana syrup regularly because my grandson loves it and I haven’t experienced the dark color. I believe it could be for two reasons. The first is if you’re using carbon steel pans. Carbon ions fuse with the tannins in the banana itself. Stainless or nonstick work best. Second and most likely it’s because your bananas were so ripe the golden/grey color appears. I believe if I would have waited longer for my bananas to darken more my end color would have been even darker. Still tasted great but not as bright as usual. Hope that helps. Take care and enjoy your day. All the best. Karin