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    Home » Donuts, Rolls and Buns

    Banana Donuts with Chocolate Glaze

    Published: Mar 8, 2022 by Ashley This post may contain affiliate links. 2 Comments

    ↓ Jump to Recipe

    If you've never had a banana donut, you're in for treat with this recipe. These banana donuts with chocolate glaze are all the best flavors of banana bread in a baked cake donut, topped with chocolate ganache glaze and chopped, toasted hazelnuts. This is a simple recipe that comes together quickly, making it perfect for an on the go sweet treat any day of the week.

    banana donut on plate with bite taken out

    These donuts retain their moisture for a few days, and I think they taste even better the day after they're baked. The silky chocolate glaze is the perfect pairing and complements the hint of cinnamon in the donuts. Toasted, chopped hazelnuts add some texture and crunch.

    Jump to:
    • Why You Will Love This Recipe
    • Recipe Ingredients
    • Recipe Instructions
    • Baking Tips
    • Storage and Freezing
    • FAQs
    • More Banana Recipes To Try
    • Recipe
    • Comments

    Why You Will Love This Recipe

    • These donuts are made all in one bowl for easy clean up.
    • Tender and soft with a moist, dense texture, similar to a cake donut.
    • These donuts are a great way to utilize over ripe bananas.
    • They are quick and easy to make, with fully glazed and ready to eat donuts in under 30 minutes.
    • Easy to follow recipe with step by step photo instructions.
    frosted donuts lined up on cooling rack

    Recipe Ingredients

    Unsalted butter - melted and cooled

    Brown sugar - adds depth, moisture and caramel-ly flavor

    Bananas - very ripe, mashed

    Egg - room temperature

    Vanilla extract

    All purpose flour

    Cinnamon - for just a hint of spice

    Baking soda - contributes to a tender texture and helps the donuts rise

    Baking powder - contributes to a fluffy texture and helps the donuts rise

    Fine sea salt - for flavor

    Bittersweet, or semi sweet chocolate - chopped or chips

    Heavy cream

    Toasted hazelnuts - for crunch and flavor

    step by step photos of brown sugar and melted butter, banana and eggs whisked in, followed by flour and spices and finished donut batter

    Recipe Instructions

    Before beginning the recipe, preheat your oven to 350F. Liberally butter (or baking spray) two - standard size (6 wells) donut pans.

    1. Stir the brown sugar into the melted butter until combined.
    2. Stir in the mashed banana, egg and vanilla extract.
    3. Add the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
    4. Stir the dry ingredients into the batter until just combined. Don't over mix.
    5. Pipe or spoon the batter into the donut wells (8-9), filling them about ⅔ full.
    6. Bake until golden and a toothpick comes out clean, about 10 minutes. Cool completely before glazing the donuts.
    7. Combine the chocolate, butter, cream and salt in a medium bowl and microwave in 30 second increments, stirring after each until smooth and melted.
    8. Dip the donuts into the glaze and top with toasted, chopped hazelnuts. You can serve these immediately, or let the glaze firm up for 10-15 minutes first.
    step by step photos of batter piped into donut pan, baked donuts, chocolate glaze, glazed donuts with chopped nuts

    Baking Tips

    • Use bananas that are very ripe that are mostly brown/black. These bananas are softer, sweeter and more flavorful.
    • Don't over mix the donut batter. This mixing method, similar to making muffins, requires a light hand. Mix in the dry ingredients until just incorporated. Over mixing can result in tough donuts.
    • Be sure to butter or spray your donut pans even if they're non stick. Butter or baking spray will work as well as an oil based spray. Using an oil based cooking will result in donuts with slightly crispier edges.
    • This recipe can be easily doubled.

    Storage and Freezing

    Chocolate glazed donuts can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 days. They can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

    Unglazed donuts can be stored in an airtight container and frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before glazing.

    close up of a banana donut with chocolate glaze and chopped, toasted nuts

    FAQs

    Can I make any substitutes or variations?

    Switch out the hazelnuts for chopped peanuts, almonds or pecans.

    You can omit the nuts and use sprinkles, drizzle with peanut butter or caramel.

    These donuts are also delicious plain with a sprinkling of confectioners' sugar, or brushed with melted butter and dipped in cinnamon sugar.

    Vanilla glaze, brown butter glaze and peanut butter glaze would also be delicious with these donuts.

    I don't have a donut pan. Can I use a different pan?

    You can also make these donuts in a muffin tin. Fill the muffin cavities ⅔ full. This recipe makes 7-8 muffins.

    My glaze is too thick. How do I make it thinner?

    If your glaze is too thick, add a teaspoon of hot water and gently whisk to combine. Repeat if necessary. The glaze consistency should be pourable but not be runny. You don't want the glaze to drip off the donut.

    I hope that you enjoy these banana donuts with chocolate glaze as much as I do! If you make them, let me know and leave a comment or tag me on Instagram.

    Enjoy!

    Ash xx

    More Banana Recipes To Try

    Banana Scones with Espresso Glaze

    Banana Cake with Salted Caramel and Peanut Butter Buttercream

    Banana Nutella Muffins

    Recipe

    baked and frosted donuts on cooling rack

    Banana Donuts with Chocolate Glaze

    Tender, fluffy baked banana muffins topped with chocolate glaze and toasted hazelnuts
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Servings8 - 9 donuts
    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Cook Time10 minutes mins
    Total Time25 minutes mins

    Equipment

    • 2 Donut Pan

    Ingredients
     

    Banana Donuts

    • ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
    • ½ cup brown sugar
    • 1 cup mashed banana (about 2 medium bananas)
    • 1 large egg
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • 1 cup all purpose flour
    • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt

    Chocolate Glaze

    • ⅓ cup bittersweet or semi sweet chocolate, chopped or chips
    • 1 ½ tablespoons unsalted butter
    • 1 ½ tablespoons heavy cream
    • pinch of salt
    • ¼ cup toasted hazelnuts, finely chopped

    Instructions
     

    Banana Donuts

    • Heat the oven to 350F. Liberally butter (or baking spray) two - standard (6 wells) baking pans. You will be using 8-9 wells total.
    • Pour the melted butter in a large bowl. Whisk in the brown sugar until smooth.
      ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled, ½ cup brown sugar
    • Stir in the mashed bananas, the egg and the vanilla extract.
      1 cup mashed banana (about 2 medium bananas), 1 large egg, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • Sprinkle the surface of the batter evenly with the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt and whisk until the ingredients are fully dispersed in the batter.
      1 cup all purpose flour, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
    • Pipe or spoon the batter into each donut well, filling about ⅔ full.
    • Bake the donuts for 9-11, until golden brown, and a toothpick inserted in a donut comes out clean.
    • Leave to cool on a cooling rack for about 5 minutes before removing them from the pan to cool completely.

    Chocolate Glaze

    • In a medium bowl, combine the chocolate, butter, cream and salt.
      ⅓ cup bittersweet or semi sweet chocolate, chopped or chips, 1 ½ tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 ½ tablespoons heavy cream, pinch of salt
    • Melt in the microwave in 20-30 second increments, until the glaze is smooth, glossy and fully melted.
    • Dip the donuts into the glaze, twisting as you remove the donut, to allow the excess glaze to drip back in the bowl.
    • Topped with toasted hazelnuts.
      ¼ cup toasted hazelnuts, finely chopped
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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    Comments

    1. Lauren Kelly says

      November 06, 2022 at 1:02 pm

      5 stars
      Love these donuts and blog!! I just made these and the pumpkin donuts and omg so good. It does take a little bit of experience to get the icing to the right consistency to look like the pics. One question - is it possible to pan fry these a little to crisp them up before icing? I love how moist and cakey they are, but a slight crisp would be even better. Idk if that would overcook them though.

      Reply
      • Ashley says

        November 07, 2022 at 11:30 am

        You might be able to get away with doing a light fry on the outside. Luckily, I think these won't dry out as fast compared to a vanilla or chocolate because there is so much moisture in them from the banana. You could also use a spray oil to grease the pans which should also help make them a bit crispier, as well as bake them at a higher temperature. I haven't tried any of these methods, but it's definitely worth a shot. If you try it out, let me know, I'd love to hear how it goes.

        Reply
    5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    Ashley Little Vintage Baking

    Hi, I'm Ashley! Welcome to the Little Vintage Baking blog. I am food photographer and recipe developer of mostly sweet, sometimes savory recipes that are always delicious, and elevated, but always approachable. I hope to inspire you with beautiful, tried and true recipes for all skill levels.

    More about me →

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