Air Fryer Bananas

Equipment

• Air fryer (any size; cook in batches if needed)
• Small bowl for the glaze
• Pastry brush
• Tongs or a spatula

Ingredients

• 4 medium ripe bananas (slightly speckled but still firm — not overripe)
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted (or coconut oil for vegan)
• 1 tablespoon honey (or maple syrup for vegan)
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Pinch of fine sea salt
• Optional toppings: chopped walnuts, shredded coconut, a squeeze of lime, vanilla ice cream or Greek yogurt

Instructions

Step 1 — Prep the bananas (2 minutes)

1. Peel the bananas and slice them in half lengthwise, then in half crosswise, so you have 16 pieces total. Leave the pieces intact — do not mash or slice too thin, or they’ll fall apart. Lightly grease the air fryer basket with a little of the melted butter or a spritz of cooking spray to prevent sticking.

Step 2 — Make the glaze (1 minute)

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, honey, cinnamon, and sea salt until smooth and emulsified.

Step 3 — Coat the bananas (2 minutes)

1. Brush the glaze generously over all sides of the banana pieces, reserving about 1 teaspoon for a final drizzle. Arrange the bananas in a single layer in the air fryer basket, cut sides facing up. Do not overcrowd — leave a little space between pieces so the hot air can circulate. If your air fryer is small, cook in two batches.

Step 4 — Air fry (8–10 minutes)

1. Set the air fryer to 190°C (375°F) and cook for 8–10 minutes , depending on ripeness and thickness. Flip the bananas gently with tongs or a spatula at the 5-minute mark so both sides caramelize evenly. The bananas are done when they are tender, glossy, and golden-brown at the edges, with a lightly caramelized surface. Watch closely during the last 2 minutes — the honey can go from caramelized to burnt quickly.

Step 5 — Finish and serve (1 minute)

1. Remove the bananas from the basket and transfer to plates. Drizzle with the reserved glaze, sprinkle with a little extra cinnamon, and add toppings of choice. Serve warm, immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: ~140 kcal · Protein: 1.3 g · Fat: 3.1 g · Carbohydrates: 29 g · Saturated Fat: 1.9 g · Fiber: 3.1 g · Sugar: 19 g · Sodium: 20 mg