Banana Butter

Here's another DIY Gift idea, a food recipe this time!

If you like apple butter you definitely need to give banana butter a try! Roasted Banana Butter is a delicious spread that can be used on toast, dollop on oatmeal, sandwich between cookies, or us it as a surprise bottom to your parfait. We are using dates as a natural sweetener instead of processed sugar,  but you can substitute 2 cups water + 1 cup sugar if you want to skip the date syrup. Dates have health and skin benefits that you just can't find in sugar, so stick with the date method  if you want to keep this recipe on the healthier side.

(roasted) Banana Butter Recipe:
Yield: 1 cup.
1 full cup of dates
2 cups water
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4 bananas
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1tsp. lemon juice
(cinnamon if desired)
pinch of salt

Date Syrup:
Pour 2 cups boiling water over 1 cup of dates and cover with a plate to seal in heat.
Allow to soak for 1-2 hours.
Mash dates with fork to release sugars and strain (through cheesecloth or clean cloth to remove all solids if possible).
*To make a true date syrup, you would return this to the heat and boil until it reduces into a thick maple syrup consistency. For this recipe, however, we will complete this step with the bananas, so do not reduce the syrup.

Banana Butter:
Roast bananas in oven at 350 for 30 minutes - 1 hour, or until a lot of the natural liquid has cooked out and the bananas feel mushy to the touch. This step cooks out much of the natural banana liquid and develops that concentrated, roasted flavor. You can skip this step, but it will increase cooking time on the stove top.
Cool slightly and remove bananas from skins.
Place the 4 roasted bananas in sauce pot with 2 cups of date syrup and mash together.
Add 1 tsp lemon juice,  a tiny pinch of salt, and cinnamon or other spices if desired.
Cook until thick, 20-30 minutes, stirring often to prevent scorching.
Puree with hand blender (or in blender if needed).
Return to low heat and continue cooking 1-2 hours until banana butter is dark brown and near scorching on the bottom. Stir often to prevent burning. This butter is high in sugar which can easily scorch on the bottom of the pot, so make sure to keep heat low. You want to cook out as much liquid as possible to get a thick spread.
Cool and refrigerate in an airtight container for 1-2 weeks.


Date Syrup Recipe
Pour 2 cups boiling water over 1 cup of dates and cover with a plate to seal in heat.
Allow to soak for 1-2 hours.
Mash dates with fork to release sugars and strain (through cheesecloth or clean cloth to remove all solids if possible).
*To make a true date syrup, you would return this to the heat and boil until it reduces into a thick maple syrup consistency. For this recipe, however, we will complete this step with the bananas, so do not reduce the syrup.

Enjoy on EVERYTHING! :)