Air Fryer Caramelized Fried Bananas Recipe (2 ways)

You are going to love these air fryer bananas! Air frying bananas is a great way to enhance their natural sweetness and take them to the next level. 

Not sure if you want them sliced or split down the middle? No problem. In this post we show you how to make air-fried bananas cut into slices and with the banana split lengthwise down the middle. 

Ingredients

See recipe card for exact amounts. 

Ingredient Notes

Just a handful of ingredients are all you need to make these delicious bananas. 

Bananas – we like to make one banana per person.

Butter – we like unsalted butter, salted butter would be fine because it will add another depth of flavor. You can use plant based butter, melted coconut oil or leave the butter out altogether, if you prefer. 

Brown Sugar – we use light brown sugar. I don’t have any experience using artificial sweeteners in this recipe, if you try one let me know how it turns out.  

Cinnamon – ground cinnamon and bananas are a match made in heaven. 

How to Make Air Fryer Bananas

1. Spray the air fryer basket liberally with nonstick cooking spray. 
2. Slice peeled bananas into coins, about 1/2 – 1 inch thick, OR slice in half lengthwise. 
3. Melt a tablespoon of butter in the microwave. In a small bowl mix a tablespoon of brown sugar with 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon.
4. Brush banana with melted butter on one side and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture, turn over and repeat on the second side. 
5. Put bananas into the air fryer basket and cook at 380° for 4 minutes for sliced bananas and 6 minutes for split bananas. 

Tips

• We do not flip the bananas over during the cooking process, you can if you want but if you are making them sliced that is a lot of little banana slices to turn over 🙃. We also don’t want the banana halves to break apart. We take them out of the air fryer basket carefully to keep them in one piece.
• You can fry as many bananas at a time as will fit in your air fryer basket in a single layer. You do want to leave a little space in between them so they cook up nicely. Sliced or split, we can easily fit two bananas in our air fryer at a time.  
• Cooking time listed is for the first time you make a batch as we don’t preheat the air fryer. Subsequent batches may cook a little faster because the air fryer is already warmed up.
• I use a nylon turner (sometimes called a spatula) to take the bananas out of the air fryer basket. 

How ripe should the bananas be?

We like to use firm bananas that are just-ripe and have very few to no brown spots. Overripe bananas will get too mushy and will be hard to get in and out of the air fryer. 

Are fried bananas healthy?

Fresh bananas are healthful so when compared to other dessert food choices air fried bananas can be a healthy dessert. We do add a little butter and sugar to them.

As long as you keep butter and sugar to a minimum in your diet as a whole you can still enjoy foods like this from time to time. Everything in moderation is the philosophy we try to live by.

The cinnamon sugar mixture won’t stick as well but you can leave the butter out if you want, or replace it with a little coconut oil or even olive oil.

Ways to eat air-fried bananas

Banana slices

A bowl of oatmeal with these bananas, some nuts, and a drizzle of maple syrup is a delightful way to start the day! 

Oatmeal with banana slices, Greek yogurt, and a drizzle of warm peanut butter make the perfect morning meal or healthy snack. 

Add them to the top of pancakes or French toast then add some chocolate chips for a fun breakfast. 

Peanut butter toast topped with these bananas would be a delicious breakfast. 

Split Bananas

A couple of these on a plate with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of chocolate sauce or caramel sauce make the perfect treat.  

Eat them just like they are with a drizzle of Nutella, warm peanut butter, maple syrup, or honey. 

Sprinkle them with some chopped nuts and/or dark chocolate chips for a simple and easy dessert.

Storage

I don’t recommend storing leftover bananas that have been fried. With a total time of under 10 minutes making them fresh every time is the best option. 

More Air Fryer Recipes

PB & J

Canned Biscuits

Sliced Potatoes

Seasoned Potatoes & Onions