Banana Fritters are an incredible Jamaican sweet treat that is great for desserts and snacks. It’s easy to make and only uses pantry staples!
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When I impress my mom, who grew up making the most amazing dishes, then I know I’ve really got a winner. These Jamaican banana fritters did just that!
I grew up with this treat being made often in my house and it was finally time for me to give it a go – of course with my own twist. The result was a level-up version of my childhood that I was so excited to share with my own kids.
You can swatch the video below for my own mom’s reaction to her child making this family staple.
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Why You’ll Love this Dish:
- Easy – This batter for this recipe is made in one bowl, which is always a win
- Big Flavor with Simple Ingredients – A few simple and easy to find ingredients make this dish come together.
- Meal Prep Snack – We love a good meal prep dish, but we don’t often talk about doing it with snacks and this one definitely works to last throughout the week!
Ingredients for banana fritters:
Gather your ingredients!
Bananas
You want very ripe bananas! You know the ones with the brown spots all over them. The ripeness aids in the sweetness levels.
Substitute: While it would no longer be banana fritters – you can also make this with mashed sweet potatoes or pumpkin puree as well.
All Purpose Flour
This is helping our ingredients stay together and form that mix between a doughy bread and cake-like texture
Substitute: Gluten Free 1:1 flour or spelt flour would work for this recipe. Same amounts.
Shredded Coconut
This is a completely optional ingredient, but I love the taste and texture that it gives, helping boost up that island flavor.
Jamaican Rum
Another optional ingredient, but it goes so well with the sauce. It does get slightly cooked out during the process.
Spices
We’re using a combination of fresh aromatics (lime), maple syrup for sweetness, and dried spices and extracts in order to bring flavor to all aspects of this dish and layer the flavors.
Other Jamaican Dishes to Try:
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Banana Fritters Recipe
Ingredients
For the banana fritters
- 4 medium bananas, very ripe (about 3 cups mashed)
- 1 to 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, sifted
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup shredded coconut
- 2 teaspoons Jamaican white rum (optional)
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon coconut extract (optional)
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 lime, zested
- neutral oil
For the Jamaican Rum Caramel
- ½ cup coconut sugar
- 2 tablespoons coconut milk
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon Jamaican rum (optional)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
For the Lime Sugar Topping
- 2 tablespoons cane sugar
- 1 lime, zested
- ⅛ teaspoon allspice
Instructions
For the banana fritters
- In a large bowl, mash the 4 ripe bananas until no chunks remain.
- Then, add in 1 cup sifted flour, ¼ cup each maple syrup and shredded coconut, 2 teaspoon each Jamaican white rum and cornstarch, 1 teaspoon each vanilla and ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon each coconut extract and nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon salt, and lime zest from 1 lime.
- With a spatula, combine mixture until no dry mix remains, careful not to overmix. The goal is a batter that is slightly thicker than a pancake batter – depending on where you are after mixing – add 2 tablespoon flour at a time up to the extra ½ cup, stirring after each addition.
- Add enough oil to cover the bottom of a skillet. Heat over medium high heat. Add ¼ cup of batter into the hot oil and cook for 1 minute, flip carefully and cook for another 1-2 minutes or until golden and dark at the edges. Repeat with remaining batter.
- Place cooked fritters on baking sheet with a rack to allow to cool completely.
For the Jamaican Rum Caramel
- In a small pan, add ½ cup coconut sugar, 2 tablespoon coconut milk, and 1 tablespoon coconut oil. Turn heat on low and simmer for 2-3 minutes, whisking often. Turn heat off and whisk in 1 tablespoon Jamaican rum, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, and ⅛ teaspoon salt.
For the Lime Sugar Topping
- In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoon cane sugar, zest of 1 lime, and ⅛ teaspoon allspice.
For Eating
- Serve warm or room temperature. You can drizzle the caramel sauce and/or lime sugar topping and enjoy!
Notes
Video
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
You can sub the all purpose flour with gluten free 1:1 blend. The coconut shreds are optional and can just be omitted. Replace the coconut extract with more vanilla extract.
This can be stored once cooled in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Yes, you can freeze the fritters and the sauce (separately) up to 3 months once cooled.
Awesome recipes!
Thanks so much Michelle!
The ingredient list has different amounts than the instructions so it is confusing. Ex….ingredients says 1 1/2 cup flour but instructions say 1/2 cup. Same for maple syrup. Ingredients has 1/4 cup, instructions say 3 T. I would love to make there but don’t know which directions to follow!!
So sorry, that’s fixed
I’m a bit confused; the instructions under the recipe list are the same as what’s in the video, so do I ignore that and use what’s in the recipe list? 1 1/2 c of flour, not 1/2 c? etc etc? The instructions for the recipe should reflect what’s in the list, is that right?
Also, what’s coconut sugar, and where can I find it? Also, what’s cane sugar?
Can I just use regular old sugar? Or, brown sugar?
I’d love to make this – my grandson loves bananas and he loves pancakes (I’ve made banana pancakes and they’re his favourite).
Coconut sugar is granulated sugar made from coconut. Cane sugar is a more organic sugar. Yes you can use regular sugar.
Sorry about the amounts being off, that’s been fixed
Simple as can be. We’ve never made fitters before until we saw this.
That’s awesome! So glad our recipe could be your first experience making them!