Description
These baked banana donuts offer a moist, soft, and naturally sweet treat combining ripe bananas with a light, airy donut texture. Baked to golden perfection instead of fried, this simple and healthier recipe is perfect for breakfast, snacks, or dessert that the whole family will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2–3 ripe bananas (the riper, the better)
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup sugar
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup milk or buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons melted butter or oil
- Pinch of salt
Optional Variations
- ¼ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (for a nutty twist)
- ¼ cup mini chocolate chips (for chocolate lovers)
- Gluten-free flour blend plus ½ teaspoon xanthan gum (for gluten-free version)
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg or ground ginger (to deepen spice profile)
- Flax egg and plant-based milk plus coconut oil (for vegan adaptation)
Instructions
- Prepare Your Bananas: Begin by mashing the ripe bananas with a fork or potato masher until mostly smooth, leaving a few small lumps to ensure maximum banana flavor and moisture in the donuts.
- Mix the Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk or buttermilk, melted butter or oil, and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined. Stir in the mashed bananas until evenly incorporated.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Sifting helps ensure an even mix and lighter texture for the donuts.
- Gently Fold Wet and Dry Mixtures: Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, folding gently with a spatula until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the batter tender and airy.
- Fill Donut Pan and Bake: Lightly grease the donut pan, then spoon the batter into each cavity, filling about three-quarters full. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 12-15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into a donut comes out clean.
- Cool and Enjoy: Let the donuts cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy plain or decorated with powdered sugar, glaze, or your favorite toppings.
Notes
- Use overripe bananas spotted and soft for maximum sweetness and flavor.
- Do not overmix the batter; mix until ingredients are just combined for tender, fluffy donuts.
- Properly grease the donut pan with non-stick spray or butter and dust with flour to prevent sticking.
- Use an oven thermometer to ensure your oven temperature is accurate for even baking.
- Allow the donuts to cool completely before glazing or decorating to avoid sogginess.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 donut
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 110mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 40mg