Published 3/25/2024 • Updated 4/2/2024 My family and I love our baked pumpkin donut recipe, so you bet I was whipping up a batch of these banana bread donuts as soon as we developed them. It’s not only simple to make but a great way to make use of those overripe bananas you have wasting away in your kitchen, which, for us, happens way more often than I’d like to admit! To make these scrumptious donuts, mix the batter and transfer it to a piping bag. Pipe the batter into the donut molds and bake. Once the donuts cool, top them with the velvety glaze before serving. You’ll like these donuts “a whole lot”… get it? Because donuts have holes… 🤣🤣
What’s in Banana Bread Donuts
Butter: We used both salted and unsalted butter for this recipe. The unsalted is for the batter, while the salted is for the sweet and salty brown butter glaze. Vanilla extract: Pure vanilla extract adds a warm and comforting flavor to these donuts that go wonderfully with the bananas and cinnamon. Ripe bananas: Make sure you use very ripe bananas for this recipe. The riper they are, the sweeter and more flavorful your donuts will be. Maple syrup: The perfect natural sweetener for this banana donut recipe. The maple flavor also compliments the warm flavor profile of these donuts. Plain 2% Greek yogurt: Using Greek yogurt in this recipe adds moisture and helps create a beautifully tender crumb. Eggs: Eggs help bind the ingredients together and make for a fluffy donut texture.
Equipment You’ll Need
Nothin’ too fancy here! Just make sure you have a stand mixer for blending the batter so that it comes out perfectly smooth and creamy. You’ll also need a piping bag or a large Ziploc bag for piping the batter into the donut molds. If you don’t have a piping tip, just snip off one of the corners of the Ziploc bag to create a hole. And of course, you’ll need a donut pan for baking the donuts. These are easily found at most kitchen stores or online and are a great investment for making all kinds of delicious homemade donuts.
Easy Variations and Substitutions
Need to swap out some items on the ingredient list? These baked banana donuts are pretty forgiving and can easily be customized to your liking. Blueberry Protein Donuts If you can’t have egg, substitute it with flax eggs (1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons of water for every egg) or applesauce. Don’t have Greek yogurt? Sour cream is a great substitute and will still provide the necessary moisture for these donuts. For more flavor and texture, add some chocolate chips or chopped nuts to the batter. Or sprinkle some cinnamon sugar on top of the wet glaze.
How to Store + Freeze
Store these donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you want them to last longer, you can refrigerate them for up to a week. In steps 4 and 5, be sure not to over-mix the batter. If you over-mix, you may end up with dense donuts. You want them to be light and fluffy. To freeze, simply place the cooled donuts in an airtight container or Ziploc bag and freeze for up to 2 months. When ready to eat, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then warm up in the microwave or oven before serving.
What to Serve with Banana Bread Donuts
Breakfast, lunch, snack time, or dinner, these banana bread donuts are perfect for whenever the craving strikes. This means there are plenty of options for what to serve them with! Here are a few ideas to get you started:
A cup of pour over coffee or tea A scoop of our Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Nice Cream (why not have these donuts as dessert?) Fresh fruit salad, or sliced bananas or berries on the side Bacon or sausage for a savory and sweet breakfast combo
