A sweet, tropical fruit spread made with bananas, pineapple, coconut, and lemon. Delicious on toast, pancakes, waffles, biscuits, or stirred into yogurt.
Recipe Information
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Yield: About 3 cups
Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
Cuisine: Tropical-inspired
Category: Fruit Spread
Ingredients
- 4 ripe bananas, mashed
- 1 can (20 oz / 567 g) crushed pineapple, undrained
- 1½ cups (300 g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (45 g) shredded sweetened coconut
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon, optional
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Prepare the fruit: Mash the bananas until mostly smooth, leaving a few small pieces for texture.
- Combine ingredients: Place the bananas, crushed pineapple and juice, sugar, coconut, lemon juice, cinnamon, and salt in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan.
- Cook: Bring the mixture to a gentle boil over medium heat, stirring frequently.
- Simmer: Reduce the heat to low and cook for 25–35 minutes, stirring often, until the mixture is thick and glossy.
- Add vanilla: Stir in the vanilla during the final 2–3 minutes of cooking.
- Cool: Remove from the heat and allow the spread to cool. It will thicken further as it cools.
- Store: Transfer to clean airtight containers and refrigerate.
Estimated Nutrition
Per 2-tablespoon serving, based on approximately 24 servings:
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | ~120 kcal |
| Total Fat | ~2 g |
| Saturated Fat | ~1.5 g |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg |
| Sodium | ~5 mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | ~27 g |
| Dietary Fiber | ~1 g |
| Total Sugars | ~24 g |
| Protein | ~1 g |
Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary depending on the brands and exact quantities of ingredients used.
Serving Ideas
Enjoy Monkey Butter on:
- Toast or English muffins
- Pancakes and waffles
- Biscuits and scones
- French toast
- Pound cake or cheesecake
- Ice cream
- Greek yogurt
- Oatmeal
Storage
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1–2 weeks. For longer storage, freeze in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months.
Note: This recipe is not formulated or tested as a shelf-stable canning recipe. Keep it refrigerated or frozen rather than storing it at room temperature.
Recipe Tip
For an even more tropical flavor, add ½ teaspoon of fresh lime zest or sprinkle toasted coconut over each serving.
Easy variation: Stir a spoonful into warm oatmeal or yogurt for a quick tropical breakfast.
