Ultimate Grilled Banana S’mores: The Easiest BBQ Dessert You’ll Ever Make
Get ready to transform your barbecue experience with a dessert so simple, so delicious, and so much fun to prepare: banana s’mores on the grill! This ingenious twist on a classic campfire treat requires just a few ingredients – ripe bananas, gooey marshmallows, and rich chocolate chips – and delivers an unforgettable taste. Whether you’re firing up the grill or opting for the oven, this recipe offers a surprisingly low-carb way to indulge in your favorite sweet craving. Prepare to gather compliments and make this unique BBQ dessert a staple at all your gatherings.
Are you ready for a game-changer? This grilled banana dessert will completely redefine how you view barbecue desserts. Forget the predictable, and get ready for endless praise when you introduce this unique treat at your next get-together. It’s not just a summertime favorite; these easy grilled bananas are perfect for any occasion, offering a warm, sweet, and comforting finish to any meal.
When baking with bananas, you might typically reach for very ripe, almost brown fruit, especially for recipes like cake mix banana bread. However, for banana s’mores, we’re looking for something a little different. The ideal banana for grilling should be mostly yellow with perhaps just a hint of brown speckles on the edges. This ensures the banana holds its shape better during cooking and provides a more pleasant texture, rather than becoming too mushy.
While the grill offers an unparalleled smoky flavor, you can also enjoy delicious s’mores in the oven. Simply bake them at 375°F (190°C) until the marshmallows are golden brown and the banana peel softens. But let’s be honest, when the weather is warm and inviting, who wants to heat up the house? That’s when the grill becomes your best friend, making these banana s’mores an effortless outdoor culinary adventure.
Choosing the Best Ingredients for Perfect Banana S’mores
The success of your grilled banana s’mores hinges on selecting the right ingredients. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need and why:
Bananas: The Star of Your S’mores
As the primary ingredient, the banana’s ripeness is crucial. Aim for bananas that are fully yellow but still firm, with just a touch of brown on the skin. Avoid green bananas, which are too starchy and won’t soften beautifully, and overly brown, mushy bananas, which can become watery and messy on the grill. The ideal ripeness ensures a sweet, creamy texture once heated, while retaining its structural integrity within the peel.
Marshmallows: The Gooey Center
We highly recommend using mini marshmallows for this recipe. Their smaller size allows them to nestle perfectly into the sliced banana, making them less likely to fall out and create a sticky situation on your grill. Mini marshmallows also melt more evenly and quickly, ensuring a perfectly gooey center without overcooking the banana. You can use classic white marshmallows or add a pop of color with multicolored rainbow varieties for an extra touch of fun.
Chocolate Chips: The Melty Indulgence
Semi-sweet chocolate chips are our top choice for a rich, balanced flavor that complements the sweetness of the banana and marshmallows without being overly sweet. However, feel free to experiment with your favorites! Dark chocolate chips offer a more intense cocoa flavor, while milk chocolate chips provide a sweeter, creamier profile. For an adventurous twist, consider peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips, or even butterscotch chips. The key is to use a type of chocolate that melts well and holds its texture.
Optional Toppings: Elevate Your S’mores
While delicious on their own, banana s’mores are also fantastic with a sprinkle of extra toppings. A dash of crushed graham cracker crumbs on top can add that classic s’mores crunch. Other fantastic additions include a drizzle of caramel sauce, a sprinkle of chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts, or almonds), or even a touch of shredded coconut for a tropical twist.
Mastering the Grill: Tips for Perfect Banana S’mores
These grilled bananas are incredibly easy to make, requiring minimal prep work, are budget-friendly, and undeniably delicious. Achieving perfectly melted marshmallows and warm, tender bananas involves a few simple techniques:
Temperature Control is Key
If you’re not grilling anything else beforehand, set your grill to medium heat. The goal is to cook these low and slow, just like traditional s’mores, to gently soften the banana and melt the fillings without burning the marshmallows or the banana peel. High heat can lead to charred marshmallows and an undercooked banana, so patience is a virtue here. For oven baking, a consistent 400°F (200°C) works well.
Preventing Spills and Ensuring Stability
To keep your banana s’mores upright and prevent the delicious fillings from spilling onto the grill grates, consider these methods:
- Aluminum Foil Boats: Create a small “boat” or pouch out of aluminum foil for each banana. This cradles the banana perfectly, holds the melted ingredients, and makes for easy cleanup.
- Foil Wrapping (with a caveat): You can completely wrap the banana in foil, which is great for ensuring even cooking and containing all the gooey goodness. However, this method won’t allow the marshmallows to achieve that beautiful golden-brown, toasted crust, so keep that in mind if the toasted marshmallow look is important to you.
- Small Baking Pan: For grilling multiple bananas, a small 8×8-inch metal baking pan placed directly on the grill grates works wonderfully. It keeps all the bananas stable and makes transferring them on and off the grill a breeze. This is also ideal for oven baking.
These methods are perfect for any grilled banana dessert, whether you’re making a simple banana boat s’mores variation or just grilled bananas for dessert.
Charcoal Grill S’mores: A Smoky Twist
Absolutely, you can make s’mores over a charcoal grill, and it’s a fantastic way to infuse them with a delightful smoky flavor! If you’re using a charcoal grill, the best approach is to wait until your coals have cooled down and are covered in white ash, indicating a lower, more even heat. Place a piece of aluminum foil over the coals, then layer your traditional graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate pieces on top until melted and gooey. However, for a truly unique and even easier method, making our banana s’mores directly in their peels is arguably even better and less messy!
S’mores Without a Campfire? No Problem!
Not every s’mores craving strikes when you have a roaring campfire, and that’s perfectly fine! There are several excellent ways to enjoy this classic treat without an open flame:
- Gas Grill or Cooled Coals: As mentioned, using a gas grill or the dying embers of a charcoal grill (where there’s heat but no direct flame) works beautifully for our banana s’mores. The indirect heat is perfect for melting and warming.
- Oven Baking: As discussed earlier, the oven is a fantastic alternative. Simply prepare your banana s’mores as directed and bake at 375-400°F (190-200°C) until golden and melted.
- Microwave Magic: For a quick fix, the microwave can do the trick! Slice and open your banana, microwave for about 1 minute to soften, then fill with chocolate and marshmallows. Heat for another minute or until the marshmallows puff up and melt. Be careful, as microwaves can make marshmallows very hot quickly!
- S’mores in a Jar: If you’re at home and looking for a fun, individual serving method, try making s’mores in a jar! Layer graham cracker crumbs, chocolate, and marshmallows in a mason jar, then bake or microwave until melty.
Banana S’Mores Recipe
By Justine
Banana s’mores on the grill is an easy BBQ dessert to make after your dinner is done cooking. Grilled bananas in their skins can be served up as is and enjoyed with marshmallows and chocolate.
Prep: 10 mins Cook: 10 mins Servings: 4
Equipment
- 1 grill (or oven)
- 1 knife
- Optional: Aluminum foil or small 8×8 inch pan
Ingredients
- 4 large bananas, yellow with just a touch of brown
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips (semi-sweet recommended)
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
- Optional: Crushed graham crackers, chopped nuts, or caramel drizzle for topping
Instructions
- Carefully slice each banana lengthwise through the peel, from one end to the other, but do not cut all the way through the bottom peel. Gently squeeze the ends of the banana to open up the incision, creating a pocket for the fillings. It’s best to use bananas that are slightly firm but ripe enough to open easily.
- Press the chocolate chips into the bottom of the banana pocket. Then, gently push the mini marshmallows on top of the chocolate chips. If using, add a layer of crushed nuts or other optional fillings in between or on top.
- Once your main course is done, place the filled bananas directly on the grill grates. Ideally, the heat should have died down, with no active flames and the coals turning white (if using charcoal). Cook until the banana softens, the marshmallows are golden brown and toasted, and the chocolate is completely melted and gooey. This usually takes about 5-10 minutes, depending on your grill’s residual heat.
- To prevent the bananas from tipping over and spilling their delicious contents, you can create a “boat” out of aluminum foil for each banana, or place them in a small 8×8 inch metal baking pan on the grill. If you want the tops to brown, avoid wrapping the entire banana in foil.
- Carefully remove the grilled banana s’mores from the grill. Serve them hot, right in their peels, with a fork or spoon for an easy and delightful dessert.
Nutrition
Serving: 1oz, Calories: 258kcal, Carbohydrates: 52g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.05g, Trans Fat: 0.04g, Cholesterol: 3mg, Sodium: 26mg, Potassium: 423mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 36g, Vitamin A: 126IU, Vitamin C: 10mg, Calcium: 32mg, Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Frequently Asked Questions About Banana S’mores
Banana s’mores offer a delightful twist on the classic, replacing graham crackers with a warm, soft, and naturally sweet banana. This makes them a naturally gluten-free and often less-messy option. The banana provides a wonderful creamy texture and a hint of fruitiness that perfectly complements the melted chocolate and gooey marshmallows. It’s a unique and incredibly satisfying dessert that stands out at any gathering.
For grilling, choose bananas that are fully yellow with just a few brown speckles, indicating ripeness without being overly soft or mushy. Bananas that are too green will be starchy and won’t soften well, while overly ripe bananas might become too watery and disintegrate during cooking. The ideal banana will hold its shape and offer a creamy, sweet interior when cooked.
While banana s’mores are best enjoyed immediately after grilling, you can do some prep work in advance. You can slice the bananas and have your chocolate chips and marshmallows portioned out. However, for the freshest taste and texture, we recommend filling and grilling them right before serving. Bananas tend to brown when exposed to air, so cutting them too far in advance isn’t ideal.
Yes, s’mores are indeed a quintessential American treat! Their origins are often traced back to the Girl Scouts, with the first recorded recipe appearing in their 1927 handbook under the name “Some More.” The combination of toasted marshmallow, melted chocolate, and graham crackers quickly became a beloved campfire tradition. From this classic trio, countless variations and innovations, like our delicious grilled banana s’mores, have emerged, continuously enchanting dessert lovers.
Our journey into BBQing has naturally led us to explore an array of desserts for the grill. Once you master these banana s’mores, you’ll open up a whole new world of outdoor dessert possibilities!
And for those times when you have truly overripe bananas, don’t let them go to waste! Give our Bisquick banana bread recipe a try. It’s another fantastic way to utilize very dark, soft bananas, turning them into a moist and flavorful loaf that’s perfect for breakfast or a sweet snack.