Trying to decode the magic formula for the number of bananas to buy has always been a mystery for me. When I bring bananas home from the store, one of two things will happen:

1. The bananas are gobbled up, that very day, and we are out of bananas for the rest of the week
2. The bananas sit, untouched, for a week in which they then turn bad

There is no happy medium for banana eating at our house. It is always either all of nothing. Luckily, someone out there invented lovely desserts to create when the bananas are no longer pretty and as my four year old says “Ewwww – it’s all mushysqushy”. When bananas get “mushysqushy” there are plenty of desserts to turn an old, ripe banana into something delicious. Banana Bars, Banana Bread, Banana Ice Cream (from Kitchen Parade)…or get this brilliant stroke of genius…Banana Bread Ice Cream (by Guilty Kitchen).

A couple of weeks ago I had the “mushysqushy” banana dilemma and some cute little new ramekins from Pier 1 Imports, so I thought… how about a banana crumble? If you have the “mushysqushy” banana issue and are tired of breads, cakes, cookies and muffins, I can highly recommend this delicious Baked Banana Crumble recipe. It tastes like a warm banana pie. And, the next time your kids reach for a fresh from the store banana, you’ll stop them immediately… you’ll want your bananas to get “mushysqushy” so you can make this delicious banana dessert recipe again!

Truth is, you don’t want your bananas for this recipe to be incredibly “mushysqushy”… just a tad bit “mushysqushy”. On the very early side of “mushysqushy”. Got it?

Individual Oven Baked Banana Crumble Dessert

4 ripe, “kind of mushysqushy” bananas, peeled
3/4 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon vanilla paste or 1 Tablespoon vanilla
1 cup flour
1/2 cup quick-cooking oatmeal
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons cold butter, in 6 pieces

Combine orange juice and vanilla; reserve. Slice bananas lengthwise and place cut side up in four buttered baking dishes. Combine flour, oatmeal, brown sugar, nutmeg and salt. Add butter. Using a pastry blender or two knives, blend until mixture resembles small peas. Drizzle bananas with orange juice. Spoon crumble mixture over fruit. Bake at 375 degrees F for 15-20 minutes.
Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

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