Banana bread and donuts are combined to make vegan gluten-free banana bread donuts. Soft and fluffy, these are baked to perfection and then coated in a cinnamon cream cheese icing. This easy recipe is a fun and easy treat that’s perfect for breakfast, brunch or dessert!
There’s no need to run out to the bakery, if you’ve got a donut craving. Try these Baked Banana Donuts! They taste just like banana bread and are irresistibly tender, sweet with a moist crumb, and pure perfection topped with a rich cinnamon cream cheese icing.
Banana Bread Donut Ingredients Needed
These banana donuts are made with simple, basic baking ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen. Plus, I love that they’re a great way to make use of overripe bananas, on your counter, begging to be eaten! Here's everything you'll need:
- Bananas: For the perfect sweetness in these banana bread donuts, make sure that the bananas are ripe with brown spots.
- Butter: If you'd like to keep these banana bread donuts vegan, you'll need to use a plant-based butter, if not, any butter will work.
- Sugar: Regular granulated sugar will add delicious sweetness without overwhelming the banana bread flavor to the donuts.
- Baking Staples: All delicious banana bread recipes have cinnamon, vanilla extract, baking soda and baking powder.
- Flax Eggs: A great substitute for regular eggs to keep this recipe vegan.
- Milk: To make vegan banana bread donuts, use a dairy free milk like almond milk or oat milk.
- Flour: For incredible tenderness and to keep this recipe gluten free, we're using a mix of coconut flour and oat flour. Do not substitute with other flours in this vegan banana bread donut recipe.
- Icing: For the optional cream cheese icing, you’ll only need 4 ingredients: powdered sugar, vegan cream cheese, vegan butter and cinnamon.
click image below for my silicone donut molds
How To Make Banana Bread Donuts
These baked banana bread donuts are super easy to make! The process is much like making muffins. Get out your donut pan and mix all ingredients in one bowl! Here's the simple process:
- Prep: Preheat oven to 350 and prepare flax eggs.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, mix together the mashed ripe bananas, melted butter, sugar, vanilla, baking soda, baking powder, almond or oat milk, and flax eggs.
- Add Flour & Milk: Then, add and stir the flours and milk until batter forms. Pour the batter into about 18 greased donut molds.
- Bake The Vegan Donuts: Place pan in the oven and bake for 25 minutes or until donuts have risen and are lightly golden.
- Make the Icing: While the donuts are baking, mix together the powdered sugar, softened butter, vegan cream cheese, and cinnamon to make the frosting. Allow the donuts to cool for a few minutes before frosting.
Baked Banana Bread Donuts Expert Tips
These baked banana donuts are simple to make, but here are a few tips to make sure they are perfect every time!
- Measure the Flour Correctly: Too much flour can cause baked goods to be dry and crumbly. Whisk the flour first, then spoon it into a dry measuring cup and level off the top (without shaking the measuring cup).
- Mashing Bananas: All you have to do is place the peeled bananas in a mixing bowl or shallow bowl and mash with a fork. You could also use a potato masher.
- Do Not Over-Bake: They are done baking when you insert a toothpick into the center and it comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.
Frequently Asked Questions
If your bananas aren’t quite ripe enough, you can ripen them quickly by wrapping them in foil and popping them in a 350°F oven for 10-15 mins.
To make two flax eggs for this recipe, you will need 2 tablespoons of flaxseed meal and 5 tablespoons of water. Add flaxseed meal and water to a dish and stir. Let rest for 5 minutes to thicken.
Baked donuts are best the day of making them. However, you can store the leftovers at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 1 day or for 1 week in the fridge. Microwave them for about 20-30 seconds, if you'd like to enjoy them warm.
More Vegan Breakfast Recipes
Baked Banana Bread Donuts
Ingredients
Banana Bread Donut Batter Ingredients
- 2 mashed ripe bananas
- ½ cup melted vegan butter regular butter will also work
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 2 flax eggs 2 tablespoon flax seed meal + 4 tablespoon warm water mixed together
- ¾ cup unsweetened oat or almond milk regular milk will also work if not vegan
- 1 ½ cup oat flour
- ½ cup coconut flour
Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup powdered sugar
- 4 oz vegan cream cheese regular cream cheese will also work
- 4 tablespoon softened vegan butter regular butter will also work
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
Recipe Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350. Prepare your flax eggs in a small mixing bowl by mixing the flax seed meal and warm water together. Set this aside until a gel forms.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together the mashed ripe bananas, melted butter, sugar, vanilla, baking soda, baking powder, almond or oat milk, and flax eggs.
- Then, add the flours and milk until batter forms. Pour the batter into about 18 greased donut molds. Bake in the oven for 25 minutes or until donuts have risen and are lightly golden
- While the donuts are baking, mix together the powdered sugar, softened butter, vegan cream cheese, and cinnamon to make the frosting. Allow the donuts to cool for a few minutes before frosting.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
The recipes on Peanut Butter and Jilly can easily be adapted to fit a vegan lifestyle, a gluten-free lifestyle, or both depending on the ingredients you use. Please review the ingredients lists carefully and refer to our recommendations in the Notes of the recipe card to make this recipe compatible with your needs. Nutrition information provided is an estimate, and will vary based on specific brands of ingredients used and cooking methods.
Nicole says
Hi! This looks so good! Can I made the batter/glaze the night before, refrigerate over night then bake in the morning?
JillianGlenn says
Not sure how the batter will do but the glaze should turn out just fine!
Gabriella says
If i blend up oats can i use that as the oat flour ??
JillianGlenn says
Yes!
samirose says
this recipe is SOOO delicious!! my only advice would be to let the batter sit out for like 20minutes after it is mixed. i only have one 6 pan for donut molds and i did one batch right after i made the mix and then did another after those ones cooked, and the second batch rose more than the first one!!
JillianGlenn says
Great tip! So glad you like the review, Sammi!
What can I use instead of the fat in the recipe.? And has anyone tried making it fat-free? says
What can I use instead of the fat in the recipe.? And has anyone tried making it fat-free?
JillianGlenn says
I'd recommend flax eggs, extra banana, or applesauce.
Savannah says
Just made these. I free-styled the icing/glaze and I replaced half the butter with applesauce and used only half a cup of light brown sugar and WOW WOW WOW. These are a must make!!! Thanks for the recipe!
JillianGlenn says
Thank you so much for the kind review of my recipe, Savannah!! I'm so happy you like them!
Eunice says
Hi! What can be an alternative to the flax eggs if you’re not vegan?
Jillian Glenn says
I suppose you could use 1 egg in this, although the flax works great!
rena says
What is the substitute for vegetable butter What is your opinion on using healthy vegetable oils
Jillian Glenn says
Any vegetable oil or coconut oil can work in place of the butter
Doina says
These were delicious! We were passing the recipe around at work and I decided to try making them. I love them! My family likes them too and they are not vegan. Thank you for the recipe.
JillianGlenn says
This is so wonderful to hear! Thank you so much for trying and sharing my recipe!
Christine says
Should they be refrigerated?
Jillian Glenn says
I'd recommend freezing if you plan to keep them for longer than 2-3 days. Otherwise counter top is fine!
Dawn Matthews says
Hi Jill!! We LOVE your recipes! My son has severe food allergies and these are fantastic! I used rice milk instead of almond, as almond is one of his allergies. Substituted coconut sugar and halved it. They are in the oven now! Will let you know how they turn out!
Jillian Glenn says
Hi Dawn, thanks so much for trying my recipe! Can't wait to hear how you and your son enjoy the donuts!
Rana says
Hi what flour can I use to substitute the oat flour?
Jillian Glenn says
Hi Rana, you might be able to get away with regular all purpose flour!
Luis says
These turned out great and have become a staple at our home. My toddler loves them so much, we pretty much make them every week as he will remind us it is time for his "snaaack" (code word now for these donuts).
My only change was that we were able to find a mini donut baking pan so we make them just small enough for him to enjoy. Thanks for the recipe!