How to Make Baked Banana Donuts?

Do you love donuts, but would like to find a healthier option? Then these baked banana donuts are exactly what you are looking for. They have all the taste of regular donuts but fewer calories and fat as you will discover a little later in the article.

In this article, we will share with you some great recipes for baked banana donuts. We have also included different ideas for the toppings so you can keep them healthy or make them as decadent as you like. Read on to find out more about these tasty treats and how to make them.

Why you should try making baked banana donuts?

There are many reasons why you should try baking banana donuts at home. The fact that they are healthier than normal donuts, is only one of them. Let’s find out what else makes baked banana donuts so great.

They are quick to make

If you have ever made regular donuts, you know they take a long time. You need to let the dough rest before you can cut it into donut shapes. Then you need to leave them to rest again before you can fry or bake them. Together with the preparation and cooking time, you are looking for at least a couple of hours before you get to eat the donuts.

Which is fine if you have plenty of time on your hands. When you don’t, banana donuts are a better option. With baked banana donuts, there are no resting times and they only take around 30-40 minutes to make. With so little time involved, you can even make them in the morning and serve them warm with your weekend breakfast or brunch.

There is no deep-frying involved

As the name suggests, baked banana donuts are cooked in the oven. If you are not keen on the idea of having hot oil around, then you will prefer these donuts. Baking them in the oven is also safer than deep-frying them, so they are great to make with kids, too. Baking also saves on calories.

They are a great way to use up ripe bananas

Many people don’t enjoy eating bananas that have gotten over-ripe or bruised, yet it doesn’t feel right to throw them away either. Using them to make baked donuts means you are not wasting them.

An alternative for banana bread

You might have used bananas that have already turned to make banana bread before. Whilst banana bread is delicious, banana donuts are a great alternative because they are already in perfect snack-size portions.

You need to use less sugar

Another reason why baked banana donuts are healthier than regular donuts is that you need to use less sugar. Most of the sweetness comes from the bananas. The sugar in bananas is also healthier than the refined kind.

What you need to make baked banana donuts

The first recipe we have chosen to share with you is a recipe from An Affair From the Heart. This recipe makes twelve donuts and only takes 35 minutes to make. You will need about ten minutes to prepare, fifteen minutes to cook them, and another ten minutes to let them cool down. They are served with spiced sugar.

Ingredients for the donuts

• 1¾ cup all-purpose flour
• 1½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon of baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• about three medium-sized mashed bananas
• 2 large eggs
• ½ sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk
• ¼ cup vegetable oil

Ingredients for the spiced sugar topping

• ¼ sugar
• ½ cinnamon
• ¼ nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon cloves

Note: if you prefer a healthier topping, then use less sugar in the topping mix.

Step-by-step instructions to make baked banana donuts

1. Start by preheating the oven to 350°F or 180°C. Grease a twelve-unit donut pan with butter or oil. If you don’t have a donut mold, you can use a muffin pan instead. You’ll have the same great taste, just a different shape.
2. Put all the dry ingredients into a large bowl and mix.
3. In another bowl, whisk together all the wet ingredients, then pour them into the dry ingredients and mix until fully combined.
4. Spoon the donut batter into the prepared pan. Using a spoon can get a little messy, so you might like to try this trick. Put all the batter into a sandwich bag and cut one corner. You can now squeeze the dough into the molds easily and with minimum mess.
5. Bake in the oven for 12-14 minutes.
6. While the donuts are baking, mix the ingredients for the spiced sugar topping.
7. After about 12 minutes, test if the donuts are ready with a toothpick. Push the toothpick into one donut and pull it out. If no dough sticks to the toothpick, the donuts are ready.
8. Allow the donuts to cool on a wire rack before adding the spiced sugar topping. To add the topping, dip the donuts into the spice and sugar mix on both sides. Serve while still warm.

Alternative recipes to try

Everyone knows that bananas and chocolate go together perfectly, which is why this recipe for Baked Banana Donuts with Dark Chocolate Glaze from Sally’s Baking Recipes is a winner.

For people who would prefer a gluten-free option, try this recipe from Just As Tasty. The donuts are also egg-free. For a completely vegan banana donut recipe, we recommend Vegan Richa’s recipe.

Nutrition facts

The nutritional values will vary between recipes and the topping you choose to use. In this comparison, we have used the nutritional information for baked banana donuts from Spark Recipes.

How does it compare with other donuts?

Type of donut	Calories	Carbs	Fat
Baked banana donut	122	26.8g	1g
Deep-fried donuts	200	25g	11g
Baked donut	180	21g	2g
Jam donut	416	67g	14g

Ideas for toppings and mix-ins

Changing the toppings and adding some extra ingredients to the baked banana batter is a great way to change the flavors and textures of your banana donuts. Below we have included a few suggestions, but why not experiment with flavors and create your own favorites?

What other toppings can you try?

You could mix lemon juice with icing sugar to create a delicious lemon drizzle for your donuts or you could dip them in peanut butter. If you have more time, you can make a cream cheese frosting like the one in this video. We would also recommend trying a salted caramel glaze.

What can you mix with the batter?

If you would like to add a bit of crunch to the donuts, you can add chopped nuts into the mix, about ¼ cup. You can use walnut, hazelnuts, almonds, or whatever nuts you prefer. Note that you can use nuts as a topping, too. You could also try adding some dried fruits to the batter. Dried cranberries work especially well.

For a chocolate-flavored donut, add chocolate chips. You can use any type of chocolate or even a mix. However, remember that the banana already adds sweetness to the batter, and adding too much, for example, white chocolate, can make it too sickly. Using dark chocolate adds a hint of bitterness, which goes well with the sweet banana flavor.

You can even use a mix of add-ons. Chocolate and nuts always work well together as do nuts and dried fruits. Why not try different combinations and surprise your friends and family with your twist on the baked banana donut?

Serving suggestion

With so many possibilities, why not serve the donuts with a few different topping alternatives and let everyone choose their own? Have some different topping options in bowls, gather everyone at the table and serve them still warm donuts they can dip in the toppings and you are on to a winner.

Conclusion

Now you know how quick and easy-baked banana donuts are to make. Do you think you will try making these guilt-free donuts at home?

If you have questions about baked banana donuts, you can check out the frequently asked questions. If you cannot find the answer to your question there, write it in the comments section.

Frequently asked questions

I have some leftover banana donuts. Can I store them and how long do they last?

Baked banana donuts will last at room temperature for 1-2 days when kept in a sealed container. If you wish to keep them for longer, you can freeze them for up to two months. It is best to freeze them before adding a topping.

Are there health benefits to eating baked banana donuts?

Bananas contain potassium, vitamin C, manganese, folate, and niacin, so you will get them from eating banana donuts. Remember, the nutritional values vary from one recipe to the next and depend on your choice of topping and mix-ins.

Do baked donuts taste as good as fried ones?

Baked donuts are as tasty as fried donuts. However, the texture of the outside will be different.

Is it possible to make fried banana donuts instead of baking them?

Yes, it is. If you would like to make fried banana donuts, you can try this recipe from Spring Tomorrow.