How to Make Banana Bread Glazed Donuts

These Banana Bread Glazed Donuts are soft and cake-like, made healthier with whole wheat pastry flour, almond flour, unsweetened applesauce and no refined sugar. They make a perfect quick morning treat and come together in about 20 minutes — a delicious way to use up overripe bananas.

We love classic banana bread at home, but turning that flavor into baked donuts is a wonderful, portable alternative. These Banana Bread Glazed Donuts are moist and tender thanks to two mashed ripe bananas and applesauce in place of oil. A blend of whole wheat pastry flour and almond flour keeps them hearty yet light, while maple syrup replaces refined sugar for a more natural sweetness. This batter is versatile — it can be baked as donuts, muffins, mini loaves, or a full loaf of banana bread depending on your needs.

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

• All the flavor of banana bread in a portable donut shape.
• Healthier ingredients: no butter, no added oil, and no refined sugar; baked instead of fried.
• Quick: ready in about 20 minutes from start to finish.
• Flexible: this batter adapts easily to muffins, mini loaves or a full loaf.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Whole wheat pastry flour – keeps the donuts light while providing whole-grain nutrition. Regular whole wheat or all-purpose flour can be used as substitutes if needed.
• Almond flour – adds moisture and a tender crumb. For nut allergies, swap with all-purpose flour or a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour.
• Baking powder and baking soda – leavening agents to help the donuts rise.
• Cinnamon and salt – for balanced flavor.
• Bananas – about 1 cup mashed, roughly two very ripe bananas. They add sweetness and moisture.
• Unsweetened applesauce – replaces oil to cut fat while keeping the texture moist. Melted coconut oil can be substituted if preferred.
• Eggs – two large eggs to bind the batter and add structure.
• Maple syrup – natural sweetener. Honey or another liquid sweetener can be used as an alternative.
• Vanilla extract – a small amount enhances overall flavor.

How to Make Banana Bread Donuts

• Preheat the oven. Set the oven to 350°F (175°C).
• Mix dry ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk together the whole wheat pastry flour, almond flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
• Combine wet ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, mashed bananas, unsweetened applesauce, maple syrup, and vanilla until smooth.
• Fold together. Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Avoid over-mixing to keep the donuts tender and light.
• Fill the pans. Generously spray two 6-count donut pans with nonstick spray. Transfer batter to a pastry bag or a resealable plastic bag with the corner snipped off, then pipe the batter into each donut well. The recipe makes approximately 12 donuts.
• Bake. Bake at 350°F for 11–13 minutes, until the donuts are golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Donuts bake quickly, so start checking at the earlier time to prevent dryness. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
• Optional glaze. Once completely cooled, mix 1/2 cup powdered sweetener (confectioners’ style erythritol or powdered sugar), 1 tablespoon milk, and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla until smooth. Dip donut tops and allow the glaze to set briefly before serving.

Other Baking Methods

• Banana bread loaf – pour the batter into a 9×5-inch loaf pan and bake at 350°F for 50–60 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
• Mini loaves – divide into three mini loaf pans and bake at 350°F for 35–40 minutes.
• Muffins – spoon batter into a regular muffin pan and bake at 350°F for 18–22 minutes.
• Mini muffins – use a mini muffin pan for about 15–17 minutes at 350°F; perfect for snacks and lunchboxes.

Tips, Tricks and Substitutions

• Do not over-mix the batter to avoid dense donuts; stir until ingredients are just combined.
• Whole wheat pastry flour can be swapped for 1:1 gluten-free baking flour, regular whole wheat or all-purpose flour if needed.
• If avoiding nuts, replace almond flour with all-purpose or a gluten-free 1:1 flour blend.
• Try replacing bananas with pumpkin puree, Greek yogurt, or additional applesauce for different flavor profiles.
• Add-ins like chopped nuts, toasted coconut, or mini chocolate chips are delicious variations.

Prepping and Storing

To Store: Keep baked donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer freshness, refrigerate up to 6 days. Warm in the microwave for 10–15 seconds before serving to revive the soft texture.

To Freeze: Freeze donuts in a sealed container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and warm briefly before serving.

More Donut Recipes

• Baked Apple Cider Donuts
• Pumpkin Spice Donuts
• Strawberry Banana Donuts

More Banana Recipes

• Banana Breakfast Muffins
• Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies
• Whole Wheat Banana Waffles
• Grandma’s Best Banana Bread
• Mini Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

Enjoy these baked Banana Bread Donuts! If you try this recipe and love the results, please leave a rating and share your photos on social media — it’s always a joy to see your recreations.

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