Ripe plantains have so much flavor, but this recipe brings out every bit of sweetness, like plantain candy! These sweet caramel cinnamon baked plantains are paleo, vegan, and contain no refined sugar.
Let the truth speak for itself – plantains just deliver and we can’t deny that. What I mean is, they give a lot without much effort on our part, and it’s hard to argue with a food that makes life easy, healthy, and delicious.
I whined about needing a cooking break and I meant it – this week I was not feeling passionate at all about creating something new and fancy. So, I just went with the obvious – my plantain stash.
It’s not that I hoard plantains in all stages of ripeness or anything, it’s just that actually I do exactly that. And it works out really well because I can always count on them when I need a quick snack or side dish!
I took things to new territory with this recipe though. You see, plantains are really just awesome without messing with them at all, so really I don’t, ever. I thinly slice the green ones and fry them in coconut oil or bacon fat for chips, just seasoning with a little salt. For the ripe ones I slice them a bit thicker and fry and season them the same way. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. But it’s okay to branch out once in a while, to think outside the frying pan for a minute.
So here we go. I was having a bit of a sweet craving this week after lots of holiday weekend dessert eating. It happens even to the most paleo of us now and then. Yup, these things happen and fighting doesn’t have to be the answer. Instead, I basically turned my ripe plantains into candy and I’m here today to share that love with you. Accept it freely, there’s no need to thank me or send gifts, really, stop it, I don’t need any more Lululemon and I definitely don’t need new running shoes!
Sidetracked, once again, but let me present you now with the easiest of easy recipes.
Sweet Caramel Cinnamon Baked Plantains
Ingredients
- 2 ripe plantains yellow/black
- 2 tbsp coconut oil melted
- 1-2 tbsp unrefined organic coconut sugar (depending on how sweet you'd like_
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp fine grain sea salt
Instructions
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Peel the plantains by cutting off the ends and cutting two lengthwise slits in the peel, then carefully opening up the peel.
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cut the plantains into rounds, about 1/4 inch in thickness.
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Put the plantains in a bowl and toss with the melted coconut oil. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper, and spread the plantains in a single layer onto the parchment.
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In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine the coconut sugar, cinnamon and salt. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the plantains.
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Bake in the preheated oven for about 25 minutes, turning once after about 15 minutes. Check them often to make sure they don't burn.
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Remove from oven, let cool, and serve warm!
What’s your go-to way to cook plantains?
Is there any food you “hoard” (or buy every time you’re at the store) so you never run out?
Happy Friday to everyone!!
I normally have an extra bunch of bananas ready to get ripe on the counter and usually an extra 6 (or 10) unopened jars of peanut butter. Just in case. 🙂
With marathon training I definitely hoarded bananas along with plantains!
I would love to have this recioet, looking for lite snacks as I’m training for the Boston Marathon! 🙂
This is a great one! Good luck with Boston 🙂
I “hoard” nut butters. I just can’t resist! I’ve never cooked with or even tried a plantain. Your recipe convinces me I need to. Yum!
Have an awesome weekend Michele xoxo
Hope you have a great weekend too! Plantains are so good, so easy too! Nut butters seem to be a popular item to hoard 😉
Yummo! These sound delicious! I always bake my plantains and add cinnamon but takes them to a whole other level.
A little bit of coconut sugar here goes a long way!
I do this all the time and pour some coconut milk over them in a bowl and eat as cereal. U can add a few nuts also. My daughter loves it. Have an awesome weekend. Still waiting for spring!
Such a great idea! I’ll definitely be trying that 🙂
I hoard lots of things. Snacks, bars, granola… I like to stockpile things, I guess. You never know when nuclear war is coming, after all.
These look delicious! Definitely need to try!
And if nuclear war is around the corner, protein bars and granola are definitely a good idea 😉
Oh my gosh–must try these! I do love plantains and I can guarantee my kids would love them like this!
Yes, definitely try them!
Confession: I’ve never tried plantains. I keep meaning to, but never get around to doing it. I’ll add them to my grocery list and pick them up on my next trip — promise. And me? I’m a hoarder of bananas. 4 bunches sitting on my counter right now in varying degrees of ripeness, and a huge tub of them in my freezer 😆
Ooh you must try them 🙂 Banana hoarding is probably my second thing, and especially was with marathon training since I’d eat a few a day.
I have never tried plantains either. I know the kids would really like them, especially made like this! I know it’s supposed to be a dessert thing but I think they’d love it for breakfast.
Breakfast is good too! I had mine as a snack and with breakfast, can’t go wrong 🙂
I have actually never had plantains, but this recipe looks so good I’m going to go get some! 🙂
They’re good and easy, you’ll love them 🙂
I always bake my plantains with sea salt and cinnamon. And then try not to devour the entire tray of them 😉
Yes I completely relate, they are crazy delicious 🙂
If they’re green, I go with smoked paprika, if they’re nice and yellow, I go with cinnamon, or if I want to get fancy, I coat them in unsweetened shredded coconut (DO IT!) or I’ve even coated them in peanut flour!
I’ll try the coconut next, they’re so versatile and so many ways to make them! I just bought really green ones, I’ll have to try your paprika 🙂
Officially obsessed. I’ve got 4 plantains on my counter right now needing some love. I love them and add some cinnamon, ummm yes!! I never think to bake them though, so that’s gotta change asap
A little bit of cinnamon and sugar goes a long way with this, you’ll love it!
Yumminess I’m totally salivating over here! These would be so nice to have eaten with our breakfast this morning. I cooked up the last of our broccoli and fried eggs and kale with cumin and sweet spices. We needed a carb though but that’s what happens when you’re moving! Eat what food you have left 🙂
I’m A total hoarder of coconut oil and the bags of organic Tuscan kale from trader joes. I have a few in my freezer at all times :)))
I’m crying a little on the inside because I can’t have plantains and these sound like they would be really yummy. Betty, on the other hand, can. So maybe I will just have to be extra generous and make them for her. 🙂
My kids liked them, I say if she’s not too picky about new things try it!
I don’t even know where I would go about finding plantains! Lol. They look great though 🙂
They are good! Latin markets would definitely carry them, sometimes Whole Foods. If you can find some they’re worth it 🙂
oh yum! I would totally make these when i/ come into contact with a plantain- love the addition of coconut sugar!
Yes, it makes the recipe!
I’ve never cooked plantains before but this makes me want to try. I wonder if I can do the same thing with a banana. Hmmm, wheels turning.
I love this idea. Fabulous recipe.
You should try plantains at some point, they don’t disappoint 🙂 A less ripe banana might be good too! Worth an experiment.
YUM! I always have bananas on hand but haven’t tried plantains – you’ve inspired me to branch out 🙂
They are GREAT once you get used to them! Very easy to prepare 🙂
OH. EM. GEE. “It’s not that I hoard plantains in all stages of ripeness, or anything….”!!!! You are my sister from another mother!!!!! So me. And now one more yummy thing to do with them! Thank you.
Haha! It’s just impossible to pass them up 🙂
In my country, we deep-fry our plantains after coating the peeled plantains slices in a batter of flour, a little baking powder, some water and some salt.
The ethnic Chinese who live here, like myself like their plantains ripe and sweet. But ripe plantains can be a little soft and ethnic Malays like them firm, so they fry plantains that are slightly raw and not quite as sweet.
I bought 2 very ripe plantains at the grocery store today by mistake because I thought they were very Ripe bananas. lol I originally planned to make banana bread but when I realized they were plantains, I scrapped the banana bread and Googled Plantain recipes. I saw your recipe and thought; “Wow! this recipe looks Wonderful! I need to try this!” Here I go! I’ll let you know how mine turned out.
Wondering about making a lot and storing them? Any suggestions?
Thank you for this recipe! I stumbled upon it when I was searching for baked plantains to use in a mexican dish as “nacho chips.” I had never used plantains before so after making a savory chip, I decided to try this one. So good! I made one batch as you had written except I had to sub in brown sugar for the coconut sugar as I didn’t have any on hand. Then I decided to try another batch with maple syrup. I melted coconut oil and maple syrup together, and tossed the plantains in those. After laying them out on the baking sheet I sprinkled cinnamon and a tiny bit of salt. Those turned out pretty fantastic as well. Love your blog and the all the recipes you post!