Baked Banana Fritters — oven-baked sweet plantain with palm sugar
Baked banana fritters are the home-kitchen, oven-friendly cousin of Indonesia's much-loved pisang goreng (fried banana fritters). Whole ripe plantains are split, brushed with melted butter and palm-sugar syrup, and baked until the sugar caramelises into a sticky lacquer. Less fuss than deep-frying, and the result is just as good with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
i. Origin & history
Pisang goreng — fried banana in batter — is one of the most beloved street snacks across Indonesia and the Malay world. The baked version is largely a modern home-kitchen adaptation, popular in households without a deep-fryer or where lighter cooking is preferred.
ii. Ingredients
Makes 4 servings · scroll the side panel to adjust
- 4 ripe plantains or banana raja
- 30 g unsalted butter, melted
- 60 g palm sugar, grated
- 2 tbsp water
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 pinch salt
- 2 tbsp shredded coconut, toasted
- 1 lime, for the zest
iii. Method
- Heat oven to 200 °C / 400 °F.
- Simmer palm sugar with water, cinnamon and salt over low heat 3 minutes to a glossy syrup.
- Halve the plantains lengthwise. Place skin-side down on a lined baking tray.
- Brush each cut surface generously with butter, then with palm-sugar syrup. Bake 18-20 minutes until the surface is bubbling and deeply caramelised.
- Scatter with toasted coconut and lime zest. Eat warm, plain or with ice cream.
iv. Tips & common mistakes
- Plantains or banana raja. Regular dessert bananas turn to mush. Plantain (ripe, yellow with black spots) holds its shape.
- Brush twice. Half the syrup before baking, half halfway through, for a thicker lacquer.
- Watch the last 5 minutes. Palm sugar goes from caramelised to burnt fast.
v. Variations
Add a drizzle of dark rum after baking; brush with kaya jam for a Singaporean angle. The unbaked tradition — pisang goreng — coats banana in a rice-flour batter and deep-fries until shatteringly crisp.
vi. Common questions
What is baked banana fritters?
Baked Banana Fritters is oven-baked sweet plantain with palm sugar, from indonesian & malaysian cuisine. Whole ripe plantains are split, brushed with melted butter and palm-sugar syrup, and baked until the sugar caramelises into a sticky lacquer
Where is baked banana fritters from?
Baked Banana Fritters is from the indonesian & malaysian dessert tradition; the recipe and history are detailed above.
How long does baked banana fritters keep?
See the storage note in the Quick facts panel: Best fresh.