My Grandmother’s 3-Ingredient Dessert Is Genius

At 89, my grandmother has a better memory for recipes than I do. When I called her to confirm the oddly satisfying little dessert I always catch her snacking on, she picked up on the first ring. “It’s just sliced banana, a splash of milk, and a sprinkle of cinnamon,” she said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Well, Helen, I had to be sure.

Her version isn’t the most photogenic treat—a banana in milk doesn’t exactly pop. If she were inventing it today, maybe it would have more color contrast. But when she was a kid, bananas were considered a special-occasion fruit—rare and prized, back before global refrigeration.

Still, there’s something quietly brilliant about the dessert; It’s sweet, soft, and warm. It reminds me of fruit milk, which is milk turned pink or purple by berries or mango, a treat that’s somewhere between dessert and breakfast. Variations appear across cultures, ranging from Korea to Latin America. The Scandinavian version is made with heavy cream and sugar.

Why You Should Make My Grandmother’s Dessert

It’s fast, cheap, and unexpectedly comforting. Slice up a banana, add a little milk, and finish with cinnamon, and you’ve got a dessert that’s more than the sum of its parts. It’s the kind of snack that doesn’t ask much of you, but delivers on flavor, nostalgia, and good vibes. It’s light, naturally sweet, and endlessly customizable.

A Few Ways To Customize This Treat

This three-ingredient wonder holds its own, but if you want to riff on it, here’s how to adapt it for whatever you’ve got in your pantry—or whatever mood you’re in.

Swap the milk: Cow’s, oat, almond, soy, or hemp all work here. Oat milk adds richness and a creamy texture, or almond milk keeps it light. Just go unsweetened, especially if you’re adding toppings.
Add sweetness: If your banana isn’t quite ripe, a drizzle of honey or maple syrup brings out more depth and sweetness. Or, go for crunch with a sprinkle of demerara or turbinado sugar.
Crank up the texture: This is where it gets fun. A handful of cereal (Puffins, Grape-Nuts, and cornflakes are all winners), granola, or chopped nuts adds crunch and contrast. Hemp hearts or sunflower seeds can provide an extra nutrient boost while giving it crunch.
Pro tip: If your banana’s a little firm, microwave it for 10 to 15 seconds to soften and sweeten it before slicing.