Banana Bread and Beyond: 17 Ways to Bake with Your Favorite Fruit

In the life of a banana, the time between "perfectly ripe" and "overripe" can be but a fleeting moment. That's why banana bread was invented! And that's just the beginning: Transform your past-prime fruit into first-rate muffins, cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and more.

Banana-Chocolate Bread

Chocolate chunks add a touch of luxury to the workaday loaf. We like the variety of sizes we get from chopping: Tiny bits of chocolate flavor the bread beautifully, while larger ones provide big hits of deliciousness.

Like a tarte tatin but with bananas! The fruit is thinly sliced and amped up with rum caramel sauce for a showstopping topping.

These golden-edged banana cookies stuffed with cream-cheese frosting unite two favorites -- whoopie pie and moist banana cake -- in an immensely satisfying revival.

Banana shares the spotlight with carrots, raisins, and oats in these hearty, low-fat muffins.

Flaxseed and walnuts add plenty of healthy fat to this sweet and satisfying bread.

For a handheld treat that takes the cake, try these cute confections -- they combine the flavor of classic banana bread with a creamy spiced frosting.

Two alternative flours -- brown rice and tapioca -- plus finely ground walnuts, potato starch, and xanthan gum give these banana muffins just the right texture.

Everyone needs a great banana bread recipe in their recipe box to make good use of ripe fruit. This loaf uses three cups of mashed banana as well as crunchy toasted walnuts.