Moist Banana Bread Donuts with Cinnamon Glaze

These fluffy baked banana bread donuts taste just like a thick slice of homemade banana bread. They make a perfect breakfast or snack that’s easy and satisfying.

The best banana bread donuts

These baked banana bread donuts are moist, tender, and full of banana flavor — essentially your favorite banana bread in donut form. They’re simple to make, adaptable to different dietary preferences, and easy to customize with mix-ins like chopped nuts, shredded coconut, or mini chocolate chips.

Bake them fresh and serve warm to family or guests; they disappear fast. The recipe makes six large donuts, and you can easily double or triple the batch if you’re baking for a crowd.

Banana donut frosting ideas

These soft baked donuts are delicious plain, but they also take a variety of toppings well. For a simple finish, toss warm donuts in cinnamon sugar made from two tablespoons ground cinnamon mixed into half a cup of sugar or a granulated sugar-free substitute.

For a protein-rich breakfast, spread peanut butter or almond butter over each donut. A two-ingredient glaze is another fast option: whisk one cup powdered sugar with two tablespoons milk (or water) and an optional tablespoon melted butter until smooth; add liquid to thin if needed.

Other tasty toppings include browned butter icing, vanilla or chocolate frosting, brown sugar buttercream, or melted coconut butter. In the photos here, a cinnamon cream cheese frosting was used; a recipe for that frosting is included below.

Cinnamon cream cheese icing

To make a creamy cinnamon frosting, bring 8 ounces of cream cheese and 4 ounces of butter to room temperature. You can substitute plant-based cream cheese and butter for a dairy-free version.

Beat together the cream cheese and butter, then add two cups powdered sugar (or an alternative powdered sweetener), an optional teaspoon of vanilla extract, and two teaspoons ground cinnamon for a warm spice note. If the frosting is too thick, add milk or water a teaspoon at a time until it reaches the desired consistency.

Because it contains perishable ingredients, store frosted donuts and any leftover frosting in the refrigerator.

Ingredients for the recipe

Basic ingredients are mashed banana, flour, baking powder, salt, a sweetener, and a little oil or water. Optional additions include a 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, chopped walnuts, or mini chocolate chips.

This recipe works well with all-purpose white flour, whole grain spelt flour, oat flour, or a loosely packed gluten-free all-purpose blend. Coconut and almond flours are not suitable here because they require different ratios and more binding ingredients.

For sweeteners, pure maple syrup, agave, or honey work well. If you prefer granulated sugar or a granulated sugar-free substitute, increase the amount to 1/4 cup and add about 3 tablespoons of milk to account for the lost liquid.

Vegan banana bread donuts

These donuts are easily vegan: use pure maple syrup or agave instead of honey, choose plant-based butter and cream cheese for the frosting, and use coconut oil or vegetable oil for the fat. The recipe is naturally egg-free, with mashed banana providing moisture and binding.

If you prefer no oil, replace the oil with an equal amount of water or additional mashed banana; note that fat-free versions will be slightly denser. Swapping in nut butter for the oil is another option that adds protein and healthy fats.

Recipe video

A step-by-step video accompanies this recipe for those who like to follow visual instructions. Watch the video for tips on batter consistency and doneness if you prefer a guided demonstration.

How to make healthy banana bread donuts

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a donut pan well so the donuts release easily after baking.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together mashed banana, sweetener, and oil or water. Add vanilla if using.

3. Stir in the dry ingredients — flour, baking powder, and salt — until just combined. Fold in any optional mix-ins such as nuts or chocolate chips.

4. Spoon the batter into the prepared donut pan, smoothing the tops. Bake on the center rack for about eight minutes, or until the donuts have risen and are golden. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out mostly clean.

5. Let the pan cool slightly, then run a knife around each donut and pop them out onto a rack to cool. Once cool, frost or glaze as desired, or toss warm donuts in cinnamon sugar.

This basic method yields six large donuts. If you want more, double the recipe and bake in additional pans.

Baked banana donuts without a donut pan

If you don’t have a donut pan, use a mini muffin tin to make donut-hole style bites; the baking time is similar. Alternatively, bake the batter in a muffin tin for small muffins, or try other small-batch baking devices designed for bite-sized treats.

Gram measurements

For accurate baking with a scale, use these metric equivalents: 160 g mashed banana (after peeling), 45 g pure maple syrup or honey, 30 g oil or water, 3 g vanilla (optional), and 120 g flour. Don’t forget to include the salt and baking powder in the dry ingredients.

This donut recipe is adapted from simple, healthy banana bread and muffin recipes. It’s a quick, crowd-pleasing way to turn ripe bananas into a hand-held treat that works for breakfast, brunch, or snacks.

More Banana Recipes

Banana Ice Cream

Almond Flour Banana Bread

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

Healthy Brownies

Banana Oatmeal Cookies