Banana splits for breakfast? Yes, please! This super-easy caramelized 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.
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 to caramelize my breakfast as I did with this oatmeal or this easy vanilla yogurt brûlée. It adds that extra special touch to just about anything.
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Why you'll 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!
- 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 firmer bananas (save the overripe bananas for banana bread). Slightly firmer bananas will hold their shape.
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!
Step 1. Slice the bananas in half length wise. Spoon the sugar over one side of the banana. Have ready a culinary torch.
Step 2. Using your culinary torch, sweep the flame over the sugared bananas until they begin to form a golden brown crust.
*The full list of directions can be found in the recipe card.
👩🍳Expert 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 make it a bit runny.
Variations
Here are some great ideas for maximizing your breakfast banana split:
- 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.
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.
FAQ
Yes! Scoops of cottage cheese work just as well, and give a good amount of protein, perfect for breakfast.
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 softens the bananas too much, and the sugar tends to melt, producing more of a runny caramel rather than a hardened crunch.
Related recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
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!
📖Recipe
Caramelized Banana Split with Yogurt
Equipment
- 1 culinary torch
Ingredients
- 1 banana
- 2 tablespoon granulated sugar
- ¾ cup Greek yogurt any flavor, full or low-fat
- granola, fresh fruit, honey, maple syrup, jam, peanut butter, nuts etc. for topping see post for ideas
Instructions
- Slice the banana in half lengthwise. Sprinkle the sugar on one side of each slice.1 banana, 2 tablespoon granulated sugar
- Using a culinary torch, sweep the flame over the sugar until it starts to bubble and turns a dark golden brown. Let the banana sit for 1-2 minutes to cool.
- Assemble the banana split. Grab a small plate or oval bowl. Place the banana slices down, brûlée side up. Using an ice cream scoop or spoon, add 1 to 3 scoops of yogurt on top of the bananas. Add desired toppings. Serve immediately.¾ cup Greek yogurt, granola, fresh fruit, honey, maple syrup, jam, peanut butter, nuts etc. for topping
Notes
- Firmer bananas will hold their shape when caramelizing.
- If you don't have a kitchen torch, you could broil the bananas, but they will soften more and won't hold their shape. You'll get a better crackled top from a torch.
- 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 make it a bit runny.
Nutrition*
*Nutrition information is an estimate and provided as a courtesy. Actual values may vary based on ingredients, measurements, and substitutions.
Jodi says
so excited to use my jo chef torch for this! Although the kid is voting for ice cream instead 🤣
Jennifer says
You gotta listen to the boss!