Jamaican Banana Fritters
This simple and delicious Jamaican banana fritters recipe was passed down to me from my mother who I’m almost sure got it from her mother, my grandma Ma Pum. In my own home, it is a favourite, and now I get the chance to share this special family recipe with you.
Go Bananas!
Ripe bananas are sweet, energy-boosting fruit commonly eaten as a quick snack in homes across the world.
No matter how much we enjoy bananas, sometimes a few bananas get over-ripe, and become too soft, super-sweet and not particularly pleasant to eat on it’s own. That’s the perfect time to use this delicious banana fritters recipe. Over-ripe bananas are the ideal ingredient for Jamaican Banana fritters and that’s how my recipe comes in handy.
Go ‘Bananas’ and quickly use up those over-ripe bananas to whip up a sweet yummy snack you’ll crave over and over again!
Sweet Treat
Banana fritters are tasty addictive snacks that’s a favourite among many Jamaicans. It’s a recipe that’s kid-friendly, family-friendly, budget-friendly and absolutely satisfying. For me, snacks like banana fritters are nostalgic. It brings back wonderful memories of growing up in Jamaica enjoying the best homemade meals. As a child, my mother made banana fritters for the family for breakfast, lunch, dinner or supper. Looking back, banana fritters has always been my favourite comfort food. It was a sweet treat my mother would make that would lift my spirit and ‘full up’ my belly. My mother’s banana fritters were sweet and simple and I always tasted the love inside.
How to Cook Perfect Banana Fritters
Today I’ll share with you all my secret tips to teach you how to cook perfect banana fritters, every time. My recipe will help you to avoid the common problem of the batter absorbing too much oil.
Here are tips on how to make perfect Banana Fritters that are light, fluffy and tasty.
- Be careful of how much sugar you use – adjust the quantity of sugar you use based on the ripeness of your bananas. This recipe uses bananas that are ‘just ripe’. If using over-ripe bananas, use less sugar.
- Use All-Purpose flour and ensure there’s enough flour in your batter – Too little flour and too much bananas will make your fritters either; stick to your pan, absorb lots of oil, or fall apart.
- Manage the quantity of oil used – Banana fritters are best fried in shallow oil.
- Make sure your cooking oil is hot – If the oil is not hot enough for frying your fritters, your batter will soak up the oil.
- Pay attention to your fritters as they cook to prevent burning.
Now go ahead, check to ensure you have all the ingredients on hand and go give this recipe a try.
Jamaican Banana Fritters Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 - 3 large ripe bananas
- 3 tbsp vanilla
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp cinnamon optional
- 3 - 4 tbsp brown sugar Use less sugar if bananas are over-ripe
- 1 ½ cups flour all-purpose
- 1 cup water cool
- ½ cup cooking oil for frying
Instructions
- Peel ripe bananas and place them in a medium-sized mixing bowl, then add sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and salt.
- Use a metal fork to mash bananas into pebble-sized pieces, simultaneously combining all the ingredients together.
- Add the flour and fold ingredients completely before adding water.
- Stir the mixture thoroughly until ingredients are combined and your batter is smooth but still slightly lumpy.
- Heat a large frying pan then add oil.
- Heat oil on medium-high temperature for approximately 1 - 2 minutes before adding the batter. (To test if your oil is ready, sprinkle a bit of flour in the oil after 1 minute. If bubbles form around your flour, it is ready).
- Once the oil is hot, carefully spoon small dollops of batter into the pan, leaving space between each fritter.
- Maintain medium-high heat and monitor fritters closely.
- When the edges of your fritters begin to brown, flip over. Cook each side for about 2 – 3 minutes or keep flipping your fritters until golden brown on both sides.
- Remove fritters from pan unto a large plate lined with thick paper towel.
- Allow banana fritters to cool slightly to have it warm and scrumptious!
- Bless up & enjoy it.
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I am a Jamaican who has made banana fritters many times… I grew up on it!! So for me to try out an actual recipe to make something I already knew how to make was kinda weird but I did anyways. I literally went *bananas* after trying this recipe 🤤😍 I was doing all wrong. It’s the best banana fritters i’ve ever had, it’s perfect. I will never go back to my old recipe. Thank you Roxy for sharing this simple but tasty recipe with us. God continue to bless you so you can share your secrets with us.😘
awwww, you’re so sweet Nicole! Your feedback made me laugh lol I’m glad you decided to give this recipe a try and that you loved it. That’s why I started this blog….to help others by sharing my secrets to cooking. Thank you for your review and for giving my banana fritters recipe a 5-star rating. It was my mom’s recipe and quite special to me. Nuff Love and May God bless you abundantly my dear.
Love, love, loved these banana fritters! Thanks Roxy chowdown❤
You’re welcome Gaye! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review 🙂
I am a YouTube subscriber and an IG follower. I first tried this recipe last summer and let me tell you it became a every two day staple. The kids love love it. I am a fan of @RoxyChowDown
💓💓💓 Heyyy Natalee!! Thanks for coming over to leave your review 🙏. Your support on all platforms is deeply appreciated. I’m so glad to hear that your family loves this recipe as much as I do. Some other kids favourites are festival, roti, pineapple ginger drink and crispy shrimp. Please let me know how it goes after you’ve tried them 😀. Bless up! xoxo
Usually when i do banana fritters they always burn. After finding this recipe my fritters came out perfect, not one burn. Absolutely love this recipe.
Hi Rhian, I am so happy my recipe worked well for you. Thank you for the 5 star rating and taking the time to leave this review. Hope you will try more of my recipes and come back to let me know how it goes. Nuff Love & Blessings!
I did an “Armchair Travel to Jamaica” for my assisted living residents and wanted a easy, authentic snack for them to enjoy. This was PERFECT!!! They absolutely loved them and one resident said they were better than the ones she got when she was in Jamaica!
Oh wow Onika! Thank you for this beautiful review and 5-Star rating. I’ve never heard of “Armchair Travel” before but it’s an awesome idea and such a sweet and kind gesture for your assisted living residents. I love it. The concept is so creative and delightful. Thank you for choosing my Jamaican Banana Fritters Recipe for your ‘travellers’ :))) I’m so happy you did a great job at it and they absolutely loved them. My heart is full! You know though that since you’ve pleased your residents you may have to take them on more Jamaican trips and make these banana fritters regularly lol. Keep enjoying the whole experience…now that I’m thinking about it, I’ll work on my Jamaican Saltfish Fritters Recipe so you’ll have another yummy snack to make for your next trip! Please give your residents my love. Lots of love and blessings to you all. p.s. If you have Instagram, please reach out to me, thanks.
Finally a perfect Fritter….Thank you so much for posting this recipe.
Hi Angelia!
You are so welcome 🙂 I’m happy you loved my recipe and glad I could share it with you! Thank you for being nice enough to come back to rate my recipe (5 STARS!!), and to leave this sweet review. I appreciate it a lot.
Lots of love & blessings!
Very authentic and you giving the choice to go sweet or sweeter with sugar is perfect.
Just made these for me and my hubby, I asked him to try it out.. he toook a bit and was like Noo Noo…take it it’s not good I’m like oh no really, I go to grab it with a sad look on my face and he says baby I’m just playing these are delicious can I have one more. Thanks for the yummy recipe!!
I’ve tried so many times to make the banana fritters the way my mother and grandmother made them and I could NEVER get the consistency right. This is a perfect recipe!! Thanks so much for sharing it. I can finally make them to way I remember them from when I was a child. Brings back so many wonderful family memories. Thank you!!
Hi Tracey,
If you ever knew how much this review means to me! Thank you so much for sharing a bit of your childhood and the sweet memories you have of your mother, grandmother and enjoying their Banana Fritters. We have a similar connection with this meal. The love that overflowed from my mother’s recipe is the inspiration behind me sharing it with others and I am blessed to know it is appreciated. I am so happy you have found the banana fritters recipe that gives you joy and I am truly grateful for your 5-star review.
Lots of love and blessings!
I swapped out the water for coconut milk, DELICIOUS!!