Baked Banana Donuts

Name: Baked Banana Donuts
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 120g mashed banana (about 1/2 cup); 28g avocado oil (2 tablespoons); 60g unsweetened almond milk (1/4 cup); 1 large egg; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 150g all-purpose flour (1 1/4 cup); 55g granulated sugar (4 tablespoons); 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder; 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt; 90g powdered sugar (1 cup); 30g unsweetened cocoa powder (1/4 cup); Small pinch of salt; 2-3 tablespoons boiling water

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These Banana Donuts are baked, not fried, moist, sweet, and topped with a thick chocolate icing. If you're looking for the best way to use up overripe bananas, these baked banana donuts are it. This recipe is naturally dairy free, plus I've included gluten free and vegan options as well!

three baked banana donuts with a chocolate glaze stacked on a plate.

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Why These Baked Banana Donuts Work
Key Ingredients Needed
How To Make Baked Banana Donuts
Allergy Friendly Variations
Storing and Freezing Instructions
Expert Tips For The Best Donuts
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Recipes You Might Like
Did you make this recipe?
Baked Banana Donuts

While I'll never turn down a slice of banana bread, there's just something about these baked banana donuts that makes me extra happy. They're cute, quick, and I love having another recipe to use up overripe bananas.

These donuts are super simple to whip up, can be made in one bowl, and take less than 10 minutes to bake. Plus, they're made with oil, instead of butter, to keep them extra moist and completely dairy free.

Once baked, finish these cake donuts off with a 2 ingredient chocolate glaze, and ta-da!! You've got yourself a perfect treat for either brunch with friends, or to enjoy whenever the sweet tooth hits.

Why These Baked Banana Donuts Work

They're a fun, unique way to use up overripe bananas
The batter is made in one bowl, with just a wooden spoon
Banana bread donuts bake in 10 minutes
They're topped with an incredible, silky chocolate glaze
Donuts are always a hit with both kids and adults
This recipe makes 8 perfectly moist, fluffy donuts

Key Ingredients Needed

*full ingredients list and measurements can be found in the recipe card below*

ingredients to make banana bread donuts labeled with orange and black text boxes.

Bananas: When it comes to bananas, the riper they are the better. You'll get more sweetness, flavor, and plus they're easier to mash.

Oil: I like to use avocado oil, but any neutral oil will work.

Milk: To keep these dairy free, I make mine with almond milk.

Egg: The egg acts as a binder and also help achieve that light, fluffy texture.

Flour: A high quality all-purpose flour is best. I typically use the brand King Arthur.

Sugar: This recipe is made with regular granulated sugar. You don't need a lot though, because the bananas are pretty sweet.

Flavorings: I add a small amount of vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and salt to really enhance the banana flavor.

Powdered sugar and cocoa powder: These are the two ingredients you'll need for the glaze. I use unsweetened cocoa powder, but Dutch process will also work.

Substitutions:

Oil: I like a neutral oil, but melted coconut oil, ghee, or butter will all work.

Milk: Any milk you have on hand is good. Whole milk, oat milk, or a nut milk will all be ok.

Sugar: If you don't have granulated sugar, brown sugar is a good substitution in this recipe.

How To Make Baked Banana Donuts

STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 350° F and lightly spray a silicone donut pan with non-stick spray

STEP TWO: In a large mixing bowl, combine mashed bananas, oil, almond milk, vanilla, and the egg. Mix until well combined.

oil, mashed banana, and egg mixed with a spatula in a white bowl.

STEP THREE: To the wet ingredients, add the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Gently fold until there are no visible traces of flour.

STEP FOUR: Transfer the batter to a piping bag (or a Ziploc bag with the corner cut) and pipe the batter into your prepared donut pan, filling each well ¾ of the way full.

donut batter piped into the wells of a pink silicone donut pan.

STEP FIVE: Bake the banana donuts for 8-10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Carefully pull them out of the oven, and let cool in the donut pan for 5 minutes, before flipping out onto a wire rack

baked banana bread donuts cooling on a black wire rack.

A Quick Note About Baking In Grams! You'll find that most of my new baking recipes have the ingredients listed in grams. That is because it's the most accurate way to bake and ensure a quality baked good every time. However, I know not everyone has a scale so I've also listed the measurements in cups in the recipe card below.

Making The Chocolate Glaze:

STEP ONE: In a medium sized mixing bowl, whisk together powdered sugar and cocoa powder.

STEP TWO: Slowly add boiling water into the chocolate powdered sugar, and mix until a smooth glaze forms.

STEP THREE: Dip the tops of the fully cooled donuts into the glaze, then set them back onto the wire rack and allow the chocolate glaze to set a bit. Once set, serve and enjoy!

powdered sugar and cocoa powder whisked together in a white bowl.

silky chocolate donut glaze whisked together in a white bowl.

Allergy Friendly Variations

Gluten Free: Substitute the all purpose flour with 150 grams of a 1:1 gluten free all purpose flour. If possible, allow the batter to rest for 30 minutes to hydrate the flour.

Egg free/ vegan: Substitute the egg with a flax egg. Mix 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons of warm water, and let sit for 10 minutes before adding to the other ingredients.

Refined sugar free: Substitute the granulated sugar with an equal amount of coconut sugar.

chocolate banana donuts with rainbow sprinkles on a black wire cooling rack.

Storing and Freezing Instructions

Just like all donuts, these banana bread donuts are best enjoyed the same day that they're made. However, if need be, they can be stored and enjoyed at a later time.

Storing unglazed banana donuts: You can keep unglazed donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for one day, or in the fridge for two.

Storing glazed banana donuts: Place these into a container in a single layer so the glaze doesn't stick. Keep in the fridge for 1-2 days, after that they will begin to dry out.

How to freeze: If you're choosing to freeze baked banana donuts, it's better if they're unglazed. Place them into a bag and freeze for up to 3 months, then thaw at room temperature overnight, glaze, and enjoy!

Expert Tips For The Best Donuts

Overripe bananas are key: As banana ripen, the sweetness and "banana flavor" intensifies. The best bananas to use are ones that are brown and spotty, they'll give the most flavor!
Use a scale: I've listed the ingredients in the recipe card below in grams because it's the most accurate way to bake. You can order a $10 scale from Amazon if needed!
Don't overmix: Unless you're baking with gluten free flour, it's best to only mix the batter just until all of the flour is incorporated. The gluten proteins become tougher the more they're mixed, so instead of light and fluffy, the donuts will be dense if overmixed.
Test with a toothpick: If you think the banana bread donuts are done, insert a toothpick into the center of one, and if it comes out clean, you're good
Let cool completely: Before you glaze, allow the donuts to cool completely to room temperature.
Enjoy fresh: Like any bakery donuts, they're best enjoyed the day they're made.
About the glaze: The glaze is completely optional. Also, the chocolate glaze doesn't harden completely, so only dip the tops of the donuts.

overhead view of two baked banana donuts with a chocolate glaze on a tan plate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do baked donuts taste the same as fried?

Since frying requires an entirely different cooking technique, there is no way that baked donuts would taste the same. However, baking is much healthier and way less scary than frying.
So no, they may not taste the same, but they're still pretty darn good.

Why are my baked donuts so dry?

If they're dry, then they're overbaked. Oven temperatures vary, but these shouldn't bake more than 13 minutes. I usually check mine around 10 and they're good.

What can I use if I don't have a donut pan?

If you don't have a donut pan, you can make mini donut holes by baking them in a mini muffin pan. Bake for 10-13 minutes.

4 ingredient banana bread cut into slices standing on end. — 4 Ingredient Banana Bread

dairy free banana bread slices on parchment paper. — Dairy Free Banana Bread

5 ingredient banana bread muffins on a wooden cutting board. — 5 Ingredient Banana Bread Muffins

Did you make this recipe?

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