These Banana Blueberry Fritters, made with overripe bananas, flour, and juicy blueberries, are a simple and sweet alternative to pancakes—perfect for a quick snack, or dessert.
This recipe has been a top 10 favorite on Healthy Little Foodies for years, often earning 5-star ratings. Recently, though, some mixed feedback has come in. After digging into it, I discovered that much of the search traffic is from 'banana blueberry pancakes.'
With no baking powder and lots of mashed banana, these fritters are never going to be light and fluffy like pancakes—they're more like baked bananas: sweet, gooey, and delicious.
If you’re after something lighter and fluffier, be sure to check out my blueberry banana pancakes, which might be more what you’re looking for.
This banana blueberry fritter recipe also differs from more traditional banana fritters, which often include added sugar and are fried in lots of oil. My aim was to create a healthier version, ideal for babies and young kids.
Jump to:
Reasons to Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients - The perfect way to use up overripe bananas.
- Quick and Easy - Just mash, mix, and fry.
- Texture Variety - Introducing different textures early on is important, and these fritters offer a unique, chewy bite with busts of blueberry.
- Naturally Sweetened - Sweetened naturally by the ripe bananas, no added sugar needed.
Ingredient Information (With Alternative Suggestion)
- Bananas - skip the firm bananas - ripe bananas are key for sweetness, texture and the delicious banana flavor.
- Blueberries - add a burst of flavor and texture. Feel free to skip them or swap with small pieces of other berries, or even chocolate chips for older kids/adults.
- Flour - all-purpose flour (plain flour) or a mix of whole wheat and all-purpose. Buckwheat flour works well as a gluten-free option.
- Cinnamon - for flavor, can skip or replace with othere spices such as cardamom or vanilla extract.
- Coconut Oil - for frying, can replace it with your preferred cooking oil.
See the recipe card below for quantities.
Step-by-Step Instructions (With Images)
- Mash the Bananas - Use a fork to mash the bananas, leaving some lumps for added texture. You can also use a potato masher for speed or blend if you prefer a super smooth consistency.
- Banana Mixture - In a medium mixing bowl, mix the mashed bananas with the flour, cinnamon, and blueberries. The batter should be quite thick—thicker than pancake batter. Adjust the amount of flour if needed, depending on the size of your bananas.
- Cook - Heat a medium/large non-stick skillet / frying pan over medium-high heat and add oil. Reduce to medium heat and drop 1 spoonfuls of the batter to the pan. Fry until golden brown on the first side, about 1 to 2 minutes.
- Flip - Flip and fry for a further 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate and repeat with the remaining batter.
Cooking Tips
- Use a Non-Stick Pan: Since this recipe uses minimal oil, a non-stick frying pan is essential. If you prefer not to use non-stick, or if you find the fritters sticking, make sure to add enough oil to cover the bottom of the pan for shallow frying.
- Adjust Ingredients Based on Personal Preference: There's no exact ratio of bananas to flour, nor is there an "ideal" batter consistency. The amount of flour needed depends on the size and ripeness of the bananas (extra ripe bananas are more liquidy and may require more flour). Generally, ¼ to ½ cup of flour works well with 2 medium bananas, but feel free to adjust to your preference.
- Ensure Hot Oil: Make sure the oil is hot before adding the fritters. If the oil isn’t hot enough, the batter will absorb the oil.
- Monitor Cooking Temperature: Keep an eye on your fritters and adjust the temperature as needed to prevent burning.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, these fritters can be served to babies from 6 months onward, provided they are developmentally ready, have transitioned from purees, or are following a baby-led weaning approach. However, keep these considerations in mind:
Allergies: This recipe contains wheat, a common allergen. If wheat hasn't been introduced before, start with small amounts and monitor for any allergic reactions.
Choking Hazards: The blueberries should be soft and squishy after cooking, but to be extra cautious, chop them before adding them to the batter.
Always create a safe eating environment and closely supervise your baby during meals.
This guidance is general and for info purposes only—each baby develops at their own pace. Make informed decisions for your child and consult a healthcare professional for personalized advice.
Yes, this recipe has been tested with buckwheat flour and worked great.
The fritters are best enjoyed immediately while still warm. However, you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a couple of days. Keep in mind that the texture does change—becoming more dense.
More Banana Recipes
Looking for more healthy kid recipes?Sign up for my free recipe newsletter to get new family friendly recipes in your inbox each week! Find me sharing more kid-friendly inspiration on Pinterest and Instagram.
Banana and Blueberry Fritters
Equipment
- 1 Non-stick frying pan / skillet
Ingredients
- 2 medium small ripe bananas
- ¼ cup - ½ cup all-purpose flour (plain flour) *buckwheat flour works as a gluten-free alternative.
- ¼ cup blueberries
- ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon ,optional
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil ,for frying
Instructions
- Mash bananas and then stir in the flour and cinnamon. Half the blueberries and stir through.
- Heat a medium/large non-stick frying pan over medium/high and add the coconut oil.
- Reduce to a medium heat and add tablespoon spoonfuls of the batter into the frying pan and flatten slightly.
- Fry until golden brown on the first side, about 1 to 2 minutes. Flip and fry for a further 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate and repeat with the remaining batter.
Liz
Do these freeze well? I’m trying to find recipes that I can make in bulk and freeze so I don’t have to cook so often. Single mom with a career, but really trying to nail down home cooked meals & snacks for 11 month old. Thanks!
Amy
Hi Liz, I would recommend making these banana blueberry pancakes instead, they freeze better.
Rhian
I’m not one for commenting on recipes but my LO absolutely loved these, as did I. I can’t believe all the negative comments. They are not pancakes people, they are fritters. This recipe reminds me of a healthier Jamaican banana fritter and the “gooey” texture (as some say) is delicious. Will be making again. I did have to use quite a bit of oil to prevent sticking but I don’t do non stick pans.