Brûlée Banana Split with Yogurt

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Banana splits for breakfast? Yes, please! This super easy brûlée banana split with yogurt is a childhood dream and uses healthy Greek yogurt instead of ice cream. Caramelizing the bananas adds a special fancy crunch.

Breakfast banana split with yogurt with fresh fruit and nuts.

Who says healthy can't be fun? Ok- the sugared banana brûlée part makes this slightly more indulgent. I hear you, but you could always skip that step. But why would you? Unless you hate sweet, caramelized, crunchy bits of heaven that is.

I'm no stranger to my brûlée torch. I just love torching my breakfasts as I did with this oatmeal or this easy vanilla yogurt brûlée. It just adds that extra special touch to just about anything.

What is brûlée?

The literal definition of brûlée means "burnt" or "burned". When it comes to food, brûlée refers to a hardened crunchy topping made from caramelized sugar. So basically these bananas are "burnt" bananas but in a yummy, good way!

Why you will love this breakfast banana split

It's fun and easy to make
The kids will love it
You can customize it however you want
You can mix up the flavors and toppings
It's healthy and indulgent all at once
You can adapt it to any diet- vegan, gluten free etc.

Ingredients

The best thing about this recipe is that measuring out the ingredients is optional. Think of the bananas as a blank canvas and you are Picasso!

Overhead breakfast banana split with yogurt with fresh fruit and nuts.

Bananas: The star of the show. The bananas should be ripe, but not over-ripe. You want them to hold their shape after you caramelize them.
Sugar: You will need white granulated sugar for making the banana brûlée.
Yogurt: I used Greek yogurt, but you can use any kind of yogurt and flavor you like. Non-dairy options will also work.
Sweetener: You can use any sweetener you like. Maple syrup, date syrup, or even a drizzle of your favorite jam.
Toppings: Ok, anything goes here. Think of textures like granola, nuts, coconut flakes, chocolate chips, chia seeds, and fresh or dried fruit. The possibilities are endless!

See recipe card for quantities.

How to caramelize (brûlée) the bananas

Caramelizing the bananas is pretty easy. Start with semi-ripe bananas. You don't want them overripe like you would for banana bread. You want the bananas to hold their shape.

Sliced banana on a white plate with sugar on it.

Slice the bananas in half length wise. Spoon the sugar over one side of the banana. Have ready a culinary torch.

Sliced banana on a white plate getting caramelized with a culinary torch.

Using your culinary torch, sweep the flame over the sugared bananas until it begins to form a golden brown crust.

Allow the bananas to come to room temperature for a few minutes before adding the yogurt and toppings. That's it!

Variations

Here are some great ideas for maximizing your breakfast banana split with yogurt.

Make it a dessert: You can always brûlée the bananas and make yourself a good old-fashioned banana split with ice cream. Add all your favorite ice cream toppings.
Add more than one flavor: Do you remember those Neapolitan ice creams with the 3 different flavors? Try adding 3 different yogurt flavors- chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry would be amazing!
Kid friendly- Want to get the kids involved? Why not have them add their favorite cereal to the top? Fruit Loop banana splits anyone? And no-one says you can't add some sprinkles or a bright red cherry on top!
On-the go: Want to show off at the office? Turn it into a portable parfait! Brûlée the bananas, add to a mason jar or lidded container, and alternate layers of yogurt and the brûléed bananas along with your favorite toppings. Serious jar envy!
Peanut butter: Try making a peanut butter drizzle. Melt some peanut butter in the microwave for a few seconds and pour some over the top.

See this parfait for ideas.

Equipment

You will need a culinary torch (sometimes called a kitchen or butane torch) for this recipe. I love this one on Amazon. Be sure to follow all the manufacturer's directions when using a culinary torch-you don't need any singed eyebrows!

Storage

You will want to assemble these when ready to eat, they do not store well. You could however, brûlée the bananas up to 2-3 hours in advance if you are making them for a crowd, and then add the toppings right before serving.

💡Top tip

Allow the bananas to come to room temperature before placing the yogurt on top. If you skip this step, the heat from the hot sugar will melt the yogurt and become a bit a runny.

FAQ

Is a banana split healthy?

Traditional banana splits made with ice cream, are usually loaded with sugary toppings such as chocolate, sprinkles, and whipped cream. By swapping out ice cream for healthy Greek yogurt, you are getting a protein-packed breakfast with fresh fruit.

Can I broil the bananas instead of using a kitchen torch?

While broiling will usually give similar results to using a kitchen torch in many recipes, I find the broiler just doesn't consistently perform as well as a butane torch here. Broiling heats the bananas too much and the sugar tends to melt, producing more of a runny caramel rather than a hardened crunch.

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Made this recipe? I'd love to hear about it. Please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and comment below the recipe. Snapped a photo? Tag @brunchandbatter on Instagram so I can see your creation!

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