Original Title: Banana Bliss Bites: Baked Doughnuts with a Brown Sugar Dream

Irresistibly Delicious Baked Banana Donuts

In our home, muffins are a regular treat, and everyone loves them! Our most
popular recipe at the moment is probably
triple chocolate banana muffins, but
pumpkin chocolate chip muffins
are a close second. I almost always have a loaf of
whole wheat banana bread
around for a quick snack.

But a glazed donut? That feels like a special treat, doesn’t it? Donuts seem
more exciting than muffins. Maybe it’s the hole in the center, or perhaps it’s
the delightful “frosting”! (Be sure to also try my
chocolate donuts
with chocolate ganache on top!)

Why You’ll Love These Baked Banana Donuts

A Healthier Choice: Baked donuts are a lighter option compared
to their deep-fried counterparts. These homemade donuts use wholesome,
healthier ingredients from your own kitchen. The mashed bananas naturally add
sweetness, even with a touch of added sugar.

Simple to Make: The baking process is much easier than
deep-frying! The batter is similar to muffin batter, and you bake the donuts
in a donut pan instead of a muffin tin.

Customize Your Treat: Feel free to get creative! Sprinkle
chopped pecans or walnuts on the glaze for an extra touch of flavor and
texture.

Ingredient Highlights

• Ripe Bananas: You’ll need about two medium-sized bananas.
  The riper they are, the sweeter they’ll taste. Don’t worry if they have brown
  speckles or are completely brown; they’re perfect for these donuts! Do you
  have some bananas that are past their prime on your counter? This is the
  perfect recipe to use them!
• Sugar: This recipe uses three types of sugar, but don’t
  worry, it’s not an excessive amount. The donuts themselves use ½ cup of
  granulated white sugar. The glaze includes both dark brown sugar for flavor
  and confectioners’ sugar for the perfect consistency.
• Eggs: You’ll need a couple of large eggs to help bind the
  ingredients.
• Butter: You’ll use butter for both the donuts and the
  glaze, with a total of 5 tablespoons needed.
• Pure Vanilla Extract: Vanilla extract adds a wonderful
  flavor. However, you can use maple or bourbon extract for a fun twist!
• Flour, Baking Powder, Salt: These are standard ingredients
  found in most baked goods and are essential for creating the donut’s
  structure and flavor.
• Cinnamon: Cinnamon adds warmth to the donuts. Feel free to
  add a pinch of nutmeg for an extra layer of flavor.
• Whole Milk: A small amount of whole milk is used for the
  glaze. Other types of milk will also work well.

Step-by-Step: How to Make Baked Banana Donuts

Get Started: The process is very similar to making muffins.
Preheat your oven and gather your mixing bowl and measuring tools.

Combine Wet Ingredients: Begin by mashing a couple of bananas
in a large bowl. I like to use a pastry cutter, but a fork or potato masher
works just as well. Mix in the sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, and melted
butter.

Add Dry Ingredients: Measure the flour by spooning it into a
measuring cup and leveling it with a knife. Add the flour to the bowl, along
with cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Stir the dry ingredients lightly on
top of the banana mixture, then combine everything. Be careful not to overmix
the batter. Stir only until the flour mixture is combined with the wet
ingredients.

Fill the Donut Pan: Lightly spray the donut pan with cooking
spray. There are two ways to fill the pan with batter. You can transfer the
batter to a piping bag (or a plastic bag with a corner cut off) and squeeze it
into the donut molds. This is a bit neater and faster. The second option is to
carefully spoon the batter into each mold. It’s not difficult to do either
method. Don’t worry about perfection; as the donuts bake, they rise and fill
out perfectly.

Bake and Glaze: While the donuts are baking (for just 15
minutes!), prepare the glaze. You’ll need a small saucepan. Combine the brown
sugar and milk in the pan and bring to a boil. Let it boil for one to two
minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and add the butter and vanilla, stirring
quickly until smooth. Then, whisk in the powdered sugar until fully
incorporated.

Pour the glaze into a shallow bowl for easy dipping.

Glaze the Donuts: After the donuts have cooled for about five
minutes, remove them from the donut pan and immediately dip the tops into the
glaze. Let the excess glaze drip off and set the donut on a wire rack to cool
completely.

Important Tip! If you’re adding nuts or sprinkles, remember
that the glaze hardens quickly. After you dip a donut in the glaze, immediately
add the toppings. Otherwise, they won’t stick! Trust me; I know this from
experience.

Serve and Enjoy: Serve these donuts with a tall glass of cold
milk for the kids and maybe an
iced pumpkin spice latte
for yourself. Take some time to savor the donuts and enjoy a good
conversation. Create memories with these brown sugar glazed banana donut
delights!

Tips for Ripe Bananas

How to Ripen Bananas Quickly:
Chiquita
has all the answers (they’re the experts!). To ripen bananas quickly, put them
in a warm spot. It also helps to place them in a paper bag with another very
ripe piece of fruit.

Quick Ripening for Baking: If you only need ripe bananas for
baking, put unpeeled bananas on parchment paper on a baking tray and bake them
in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for 15 to 20 minutes, or until they’re
completely black. Once cooled, you can scoop out the soft banana pulp and use
it in baking.

Can Bananas be Too Old for Baking? Even if the banana peel is
completely black, you can still use it for baking. The riper the banana, the
sweeter the taste! (However, if you see mold or smell a rotten odor, discard
the banana.) If you have an abundance of slightly overripe bananas, freeze
them to use in recipes like these banana donuts, banana bread, banana muffins,
or smoothies.
(how to freeze bananas).

Recipe Variations

• Different Glazes: Try a different glaze! A simple
  powdered sugar glaze works well, and you can add chopped nuts, sprinkles, or
  sugar crystals. Instead of vanilla extract, consider maple or lemon-flavored
  extracts. You can also simply dust the donuts with powdered sugar.
• Flour Alternatives: Replace all-purpose flour with whole
  wheat flour or use a combination of both. For a gluten-free option, use a
  1:1 gluten-free flour blend. (Note: I haven’t tested these alternatives
  myself.)
• Make Muffins: Use the same batter, but fill muffin tins
  instead of a donut pan. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 15 minutes. Depending on
  your muffin cup size, this should yield 8-10 muffins. Drizzle with glaze
  after removing the muffins from the pan, or dip the tops in glaze. The
  muffins can be enjoyed without glaze, too.

Storage Tips

Like most baked goods, these donuts are best enjoyed on the day they’re baked.
If you have leftovers, let them cool completely before storing them in an
airtight container on the counter. They’ll keep for a day or two, but remember
the glaze might soak into the donuts, changing their appearance. If you want
them to last a bit longer, refrigerate them for up to a week.