Whether you crave a Chunky Monkey with chocolate and crushed vanilla wafers, a tropical breeze cocktail, or a frozen banana daiquiri, the pureed banana is an essential ingredient. You can make your own from fresh bananas or buy a ready-made one to speed things up. Check out the best-premade banana puree for drinks, then learn how to make it at home.
Premade Banana Purees
Premade banana puree can be a lifesaver when you want to create delicious cocktails for guests but have forgotten to prepare the fruity puree. There are dozens of options out there, including purees in the baby food aisle. If you want to skip the trial and error, you can’t go wrong with any of these premade versions.
Smartfruit Sunny Banana
Exquisitely flavorful, the Smartfruit Sunny Banana is the best puree for cocktails on the market. It is made from 100% real fruit.
This contains no GMOs and no additives. It is vegan, halal, and kosher, while the oat fibers give it a smooth texture.
You can use it to prepare fresh summer beverages to ward off the summer heat, smoothies, shakes, and cocktails.
Each bottle contains seven mashed bananas, and the flavors are enhanced with pineapple, pear, or apple concentrate.
Details:
- Volume: 48 fl. oz.
- Banana-based fruit juice product
- Enriched with oat fiber
- Ideal for cocktails and soft drinks
- Non-GMO, no additives
- Vegan-friendly
Torani Puree Blend
Rich in vitamin C and made from real bananas, the Torani Puree Blend is another excellent choice for your drinks.
With a creamy texture, soft color, and the right amount of sweetness, it is perfect for daiquiris, chunky monkeys, and other tropical-inspired cocktails that need a banana flavor.
You can use it for soft drinks, too, as well as smoothies, coffees, and snow cones – or simply to spruce up some sparkling water.
Made in sunny California, this product is also ideal for those who want a low-fat option.
Details:
- Volume: 33.8 fl. oz.
- Banana-based fruit juice blend
- Low in fats
- Made in the USA
Finest Call Premium Banana Puree Drink Mix
If you need banana puree with a long shelf life, the Finest Call Premium Banana Drink Mix might be just perfect. While it contains some preservatives, it is delicious in taste.
Its soft hue can also add brightness to your spring and summer cocktails and a splash of color to fall or winter drinks.
The best part? This puree comes in a bartender-designed bottle with a dispenser for precise and high-speed pour applications.
Just keep in mind that it is richer in sugar than other purees, so you might want to reduce the dosage.
Details:
- Volume: 33.8 fl. oz.
- Made with banana juice
- Bartender-designed dispenser closure
- Long shelf life
BANANA REÀL, Banana Puree Infused Syrup
More of an infused syrup, the BANANA REAL banana puree is another great choice for your drinks. It comes in a squeeze bottle, a factor that makes it easy to add the right quantity.
The bottle is smaller compared to the other options on this list, but the drip-free packaging and long shelf life are worth it.
Like the Finest Call, this puree contains some preservatives, but it has a delicious flavor and is ideal for bartending needs.
Details:
- Volume: 16.9 fl. oz.
- Made from Costa Rican Cavendish variety bananas
- Minimal product separation could occur
- Excellent for drinks and culinary applications
Banana Puree Recipes
Banana puree is one of the easiest ingredients to prepare for your drinks. Unlike syrups, fruit puree doesn’t have to be cooked. All you need is a potato masher or a blender if you want the puree to be extra smooth.
The process is similar to making pureed bananas for babies. Peel a fresh banana or two and mash it. Mix it with a bit of water or banana juice (other fruit juices work, too, including apple juice, pear juice, and pineapple juice). A few drops of lemon juice can add a much-needed tart touch to the mix. You can also add other tropical flavors to your drink.
You can use the homemade puree for cocktails and other alcoholic drinks, but also for cakes, soft drinks, smoothies, or even as baby food.
Store the puree in the refrigerator in an airtight container to prevent oxidation, and consume it within a few days. Alternatively, pour it into ice cube trays or freezer-safe bags and store it in the freezer for up to six months. If frozen in ice cube trays, you can use it instead of classic rocks to cool down and flavor up your cocktails.
If you don’t want to freeze the puree but would like to store it for more than a few days, replace the liquid component (water or juice) with rum or vodka. Label the container and make sure to keep it away from the reach of children.
Liquor banana puree is ideal for drinks such as a tropical breeze rum cocktail, banana rum, and banana vodka or to spruce up lemon-lime soda. These puree recipes are also ideal for making banana liqueur.
You can also use the traditional puree recipe as a base for homemade banana syrup. Use freshly peeled bananas (tree-ripened bananas are the best if you can find them) and a few drops of limeade concentrate or lime juice to balance the sweet factor.
FAQs
What is aseptic banana puree?
Aseptic banana puree is a natural banana puree made from bright yellow bananas that have ripened to optimum maturity. The puree is pasteurized and packed in sterile pouches or bottles. The pasteurization process kills all germs and microorganisms, increasing the puree’s shelf life without altering its smooth and refreshing taste.
How do you puree bananas without a blender?
You can use a potato masher or a fork to mash the bananas. Then, switch to a whisk to mix them with the liquid component (water, juice, or alcohol). Despite not having a blender, rest assured you’ll get a delicious banana flavor.
Is banana puree a real banana?
Yes, the banana puree is made from real bananas. For the best flavor and longest shelf life, choose yellow, ripened bananas that have no blemishes on the skin. Greener bananas are harder to turn into puree without a blender and may require added sugar. Too ripe or blemished bananas typically oxidize faster than yellow ones.
Key Takeaways
- Quality banana puree for cocktails is typically made of ripe bananas and a few other ingredients – added sugars are not usually necessary.
- The best ready-made puree is the Smartfruit Sunny Banana.
- BANANA REÀL is a good choice if you want a product with a long shelf life. It is also suitable for cakes, smoothies, and soft drinks.
- The Finest Call Premium Banana Puree Mix is perfect for hard-core cocktail-making.
- If you’ve run out of ready-made goodness, you can make your own puree at home from ripe bananas and a pinch of water, fruit juice, or spirit.
- You can enhance your banana cocktail’s flavor with coconut shavings, Maraschino cherries, or cream.
