Banana Donut Holes Recipe perfection is within reach! This simple recipe offers a delightful, bite-sized treat bursting with sweet banana flavor, making it a perfect snack or dessert for any occasion.
Key Ingredients for Banana Donut Holes Recipe
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 medium bananas)
- ½ cup milk
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Vegetable oil, for frying (about 2-3 inches in a pot)
For the Glaze (Optional):
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2-3 tablespoons milk or half-and-half
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
How to Make Banana Donut Holes Recipe
Whipping up these Banana Donut Holes Recipe delights is incredibly easy, promising a burst of warm, comforting flavor in every bite. In under 30 minutes, you’ll have a batch of these tender, cake-like spheres ready to be enjoyed. The simplicity of the ingredients and the quick cooking time make this recipe a winner for busy weeknights or spontaneous dessert cravings.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Prepare the Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and salt. Ensure all the dry ingredients are thoroughly combined to distribute the leavening agents and spices evenly.
Prepare the Wet Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, mash the ripe bananas until smooth. Add the milk, large egg, melted unsalted butter, and vanilla extract to the mashed bananas. Whisk everything together until well combined and the mixture is uniform in color.
Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Using a spatula or wooden spoon, gently mix until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the batter, as this can result in tough donut holes. A few small lumps are perfectly fine.
Heat the Oil: Pour vegetable oil into a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven to a depth of about 2-3 inches. Heat the oil over medium heat to approximately 350°F (175°C). It’s crucial to maintain this temperature for proper frying; too cool, and the donuts will be greasy, too hot, and they’ll burn before cooking through. You can test the oil temperature by dropping a tiny bit of batter into it; it should sizzle and float to the surface immediately.
Form and Fry the Donut Holes: Using two spoons, carefully drop rounded tablespoons of batter into the hot oil. Don’t overcrowd the pot; fry in batches, typically about 4-6 donut holes at a time, to ensure they cook evenly and don’t stick together.
Cook the Donut Holes: Fry the donut holes for about 2-3 minutes per side, or until they are golden brown all around. Use a slotted spoon or a spider strainer to carefully turn them as they cook.
Drain the Donut Holes: Once cooked, immediately remove the donut holes from the hot oil with the slotted spoon and place them on a wire rack set over a baking sheet. This allows excess oil to drain off, keeping them from becoming greasy.
Prepare the Glaze (Optional): While the donut holes are still warm (but not piping hot), whisk together the powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons of milk or half-and-half, and vanilla extract in a small bowl until smooth. If the glaze is too thick, add a little more milk, one teaspoon at a time, until you reach your desired drizzling consistency.
Glaze the Donut Holes (Optional): Once the donut holes have cooled slightly, you can either dust them with powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar, or dip them into the prepared glaze. For a dipped glaze, place a few donut holes at a time into the glaze, coat them evenly, and then place them back on the wire rack to let the excess drip off.
Why You’ll Love This Banana Donut Holes Recipe
You’ll absolutely adore this Banana Donut Holes Recipe for its incredibly tender, cake-like texture and the irresistible, comforting aroma of ripe bananas and warm spices. Unlike some baked donuts that can be dry, these fried gems are wonderfully moist and flavorful, making them a truly satisfying treat. Furthermore, the modest cost of ingredients means you can whip up a delightful batch without breaking the bank, perfect for a budget-friendly indulgence.
This recipe is a fantastic alternative to your average donuts, offering a burst of natural sweetness from the bananas that requires less added sugar. Imagine the joy of popping these warm, sweet morsels into your mouth, each one a little bite of sunshine! So go ahead and treat yourself – this Banana Donut Holes Recipe is waiting to become your new favorite snack!
Storing and Reheating Tips
Store leftover Banana Donut Holes Recipe in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. If you’ve glazed your donut holes, they might become a little sticky when stored, which is normal. For longer storage, you can refrigerate them for up to 4 days, though this may slightly alter their texture.
To reheat, you can gently warm them in a toaster oven at a low temperature for a few minutes, or microwave them for about 10-15 seconds until just warmed through. Be mindful not to overheat them, as they can become tough. You can also freeze uncooked donut hole batter by dropping spoonfuls onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and freezing until solid, then transferring them to a freezer-safe bag for up to 1 month. Fry from frozen, adding a minute or two to the cooking time.
Final Thoughts
This Banana Donut Holes Recipe is a delightful way to enjoy a beloved treat with a simple, rewarding process. Gather your ingredients and get ready to create these sweet, flavorful bites that are sure to be a hit with everyone. Happy baking (and frying)!
Banana Donut Holes Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and salt. Ensure all the dry ingredients are thoroughly combined to distribute the leavening agents and spices evenly.1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, ¾ cup granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons baking powder, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon salt
- In a separate medium bowl, mash the ripe bananas until smooth. Add the milk, large egg, melted unsalted butter, and vanilla extract to the mashed bananas. Whisk everything together until well combined and the mixture is uniform in color.1 cup mashed ripe bananas, ½ cup milk, 1 large egg, 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Using a spatula or wooden spoon, gently mix until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the batter, as this can result in tough donut holes. A few small lumps are perfectly fine.
- Pour vegetable oil into a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven to a depth of about 2-3 inches. Heat the oil over medium heat to approximately 350°F (175°C). It’s crucial to maintain this temperature for proper frying; too cool, and the donuts will be greasy, too hot, and they’ll burn before cooking through. You can test the oil temperature by dropping a tiny bit of batter into it; it should sizzle and float to the surface immediately.2-3 inches vegetable oil, for frying
- Using two spoons, carefully drop rounded tablespoons of batter into the hot oil. Don’t overcrowd the pot; fry in batches, typically about 4-6 donut holes at a time, to ensure they cook evenly and don’t stick together.
- Fry the donut holes for about 2-3 minutes per side, or until they are golden brown all around. Use a slotted spoon or a spider strainer to carefully turn them as they cook.
- Once cooked, immediately remove the donut holes from the hot oil with the slotted spoon and place them on a wire rack set over a baking sheet. This allows excess oil to drain off, keeping them from becoming greasy.
- While the donut holes are still warm (but not piping hot), whisk together the powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons of milk or half-and-half, and vanilla extract in a small bowl until smooth. If the glaze is too thick, add a little more milk, one teaspoon at a time, until you reach your desired drizzling consistency.1 cup powdered sugar, 2-3 tablespoons milk or half-and-half, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Once the donut holes have cooled slightly, you can either dust them with powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar, or dip them into the prepared glaze. For a dipped glaze, place a few donut holes at a time into the glaze, coat them evenly, and then place them back on the wire rack to let the excess drip off.