Homemade Monkey Butter Recipe

This homemade monkey butter is a breeze to make, requiring only five simple ingredients. The result is a sweet, tropical, and perfectly smooth spread, ideal for toast, muffins, or enjoying straight from the spoon. The blend of ripe bananas, pineapple, coconut, and a hint of lemon creates a flavorful spread with a delightful texture somewhere between a jam and a butter. Perfect for beginners, this recipe offers easy steps and minimal ingredients, allowing you to whip up a batch of monkey butter in no time.

Ingredients: What You’ll Need

5 medium-sized ripe bananas (choose ripe bananas with no brown spots)
20 oz can crushed pineapple (undrained)
½ cup shredded, flaked, or ground coconut (for added texture and tropical flavor)
3 ½ cups granulated sugar (for sweetness)
3 tablespoons concentrated lemon juice (balances sweetness and adds a zesty kick)
1 box pectin (optional, helps thicken the mixture faster)

Making Your Monkey Butter: A Step-by-Step Guide

Prepare the Base: In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the undrained crushed pineapple and coconut. These ingredients form the foundation of your monkey butter.
Add the Bananas: Slice the ripe bananas and add them to the saucepan, ensuring even pieces for uniform cooking.
Combine and Heat: Place the saucepan over medium-high heat and bring the mixture to a gentle boil, stirring occasionally. This step ensures the sugar dissolves completely.
Mash and Simmer: As the mixture boils, use a potato masher to break down the bananas and blend them with the other ingredients. Mash to your preferred consistency – smooth or slightly chunky. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 10-12 minutes, or until the mixture thickens to your desired consistency. Stir frequently to prevent sticking.
Prepare for Storage: While the monkey butter simmers, sterilize your jars. Once thickened, carefully spoon the hot mixture into sterilized, hot jars, leaving about ¼ inch headspace.
Seal and Process: Seal the jars with lids and process them in a hot water bath for 15 minutes. This step helps preserve the monkey butter for a longer shelf life.
Cool and Store: Remove the jars from the water bath and let them cool completely before storing.

Yield and Storage

This recipe yields approximately 7 to 8 half-pint jars, perfect for sharing or enjoying as a homemade treat.

Expert Tips for Monkey Butter Perfection

Banana Ripeness: Use ripe bananas without brown spots. Overripe bananas can affect the spread’s texture.
Coconut Texture: For a smoother spread, use ground coconut. For added texture, shredded coconut is ideal.
Pectin Power: Pectin is optional but recommended for a quicker set and firmer consistency. Without it, the butter will still thicken but may take longer.

This sweet, tropical spread is packed with banana, pineapple, and coconut, making it a perfect topping for toast, pancakes, pastries, or even yogurt. It’s an easy homemade gift in decorative jars or a fun treat to enjoy at breakfast and snack time!

Total Time: 45 Minutes

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 7-8 half-pint jars

Ingredients

5 medium-sized ripe bananas (no brown spots)
20 oz can crushed pineapple (do not drain)
½ cup shredded, flaked, or ground coconut
3 ½ cups sugar
3 Tbsp lemon juice concentrate
1 box pectin (optional, for a thicker consistency)

Instructions

Prepare the Mixture

In a large saucepan, combine crushed pineapple, coconut, sugar, and lemon juice.
Slice bananas and add them last.

Cook & Mash

Bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat, stirring frequently.
Use a potato masher to break down the bananas into a smooth, jam-like texture.
Reduce heat and simmer for 10-12 minutes, stirring often, until thickened.

Jar & Store

Spoon hot monkey butter into sterilized jars.
Seal with lids and process in a hot water bath for 15 minutes for long-term storage.
Let jars cool completely before storing or gifting.

Tips & Variations

No pectin? No problem! The natural fruit sugars thicken it as it cools.
Want extra texture? Leave some banana chunks instead of fully mashing.
Serving ideas: Spread on toast, waffles, biscuits, or drizzle over ice cream!
Storage: Keep refrigerated for up to 2 weeks or canned for long-term storage.