These easy donuts are soft and fluffy and the donut dough is just 2 ingredients. The donuts taste like banana bread in donut form. The donuts don’t require any yeast, eggs, butter or milk. The dough is ready in about five minutes.
I love homemade donuts but I don’t usually have the time to make traditional donuts with a yeast dough. Which is why I am excited to share this easy shortcut dough. It only takes a few minutes to prepare and then you can start frying your donuts.
Ingredients
- Pureed Bananas
- Self-Rising Flour (you can also make your own with flour, baking powder and salt)
Pureed Bananas: You want to use very ripe bananas because they are easier to puree, have more liquid and have more sweetness. The easiest way to puree the bananas is using a food processor or blender. You can do it by hand but it will take more effort. If you are doing it by hand, I recommend mashing with a fork and then using a whisk to remove any remaining lumps.
Self-Rising Flour: Self-rising flour is used here because self-rising flour contains baking powder and salt. Instead of yeast, this recipe uses the baking powder from the self-rising flour as the leavening agent. If you don’t have self-rising flour, you can make your own easily with all-purpose flour, baking powder and salt. I share the exact measurements in the notes section in the recipe card at the end of the post.
Donut Dough
The donut dough will be quite sticky. The best way to cook the donuts is by using a cookie scoop to scoop the dough and then use the release mechanism to gently release the dough directly into the oil. If you try to hold the dough, it will stick to your hands and make your donut holes less round. If you do not own a cookie scooper, you can measure out the dough using a measuring spoon and use a spatula to help you release the dough. Your donut holes won’t be as round but they will still taste fine.
Donut Toppings
I rolled my donuts in granulated sugar. The sugar also adds sweetness to the donuts since the donuts don’t have any added sugar in the donut dough.
Other ideas:
- Roll them in powdered sugar
- Roll them in cinnamon and granulated sugar
- Dip them in a vanilla glaze
- Dip them in a chocolate ganache
More Donut Recipes
2 Ingredient Banana Bread Donuts
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup (88 g) pureed ripe bananas about 1 large banana
- 1/2 cup + 1 tbsp (71.5 g) self-rising flour see note regarding amount of flour needed
- vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
- Add 1 inch of oil to your frying pot (I used a medium saucepan). Bring to medium heat (about 350°F). While the oil is heating up, make your donut dough.
- Add pureed bananas and flour into a large mixing bowl. Mix with a spatula until flour is just incorporated into the bananas. Do not overmix as it will make your dough too wet. Your dough should be a little sticky.
- Use a 2 tsp cookie scoop to scoop dough ball. Gently release the dough ball directly into the heated oil. Repeat with remaining dough balls. You can do this in two batches if your saucepan is not big enough. The donuts need to come to the surface so only put in as many donuts as can fit on the surface. Fry the donuts until the bottoms are golden brown, then flip them with tongs and fry a few more minutes until the other side is also golden brown. Remove donuts from oil and place onto a plate lined with paper towel (to soak up excess oil) to cool.
- After donuts are cool enough to touch, add donut topping of your choice. I added granulated sugar to a ziploc bag and placed the donut holes inside, sealed the bag, and shook the bag until the donuts were covered in sugar. Donuts are best enjoyed within a few hours after they are fried.
Notes
- Donuts are best enjoyed right away so this recipe only makes a small batch (10 donut holes). You can double or triple the recipe if needed.
- Self-rising flour amount needed: There are 2 main kinds of self-rising flour sold in the US. One that is a lower protein (2 grams per 1/4 cup serving) flour and one that has a regular amount of protein (3 grams per 1/4 cup). Brands like King Arthur Flour and White Lily make the low protein flour. Brands like Gold Medal and Amazon Fresh contain a regular protein amount. The amount of protein affects how much liquid is absorbed. For this recipe, I tested it with White Lily self-rising flour (lower amount of protein).
- If you are using a self-rising flour with a regular amount of protein you will need less flour or more bananas. I recommend starting with 1/3 cup of flour and then adding 1 tbsp more at a time as needed until you have a sticky dough.
- To make your own self-rising flour, add 1 cup all purpose flour, 1 1/2 tsp baking powder and 1/4 tsp salt to a bowl. Whisk to combine. Do not use full amount. Start with 1/3 cup and add 1 tbsp more at a time as needed. Make sure your all purpose flour has a regular amount of protein (3 grams per 1/4 cup).
- If you do not have a 2 tsp cookie scoop, you can use a larger or smaller one, just know your donuts will be bigger or smaller. A 2 tsp cookie scoop will yield donuts that are about the size of regular donut holes. Make sure your cookie scoop has a release mechanism because the dough is sticky and it is the easiest way to release the dough balls into the hot oil.
- If you don't own any cookie scoop, you can use a measuring spoon and a spatula and carefully push the dough ball into the hot oil, but your dough balls may not be as round.
- I share other donut topping recipes under the "Donut Toppings" section of the post above.
- I used this 2 tsp cookie scoop.*
- *This product link is an affiliate link. This means I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.
- Nutrition estimate does not include oil absorbed during frying. It is only for the donut dough before it is cooked as it is difficult to determine the amount of oil that is absorbed by the donuts.
Nutrition
The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a professional nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.
Can I cook them in a air fryer?
We haven’t tried it, but in order to keep the donut hole shape, you will need a mold that will fit in your air fryer.
Better than the apple fritters I just made. And they’re good
That makes us happy! We’re so glad you enjoyed the donuts.
Amazingly quick and super moist donuts. Subbed sifted spelt flour for AP and aded cinnamon. Turned out great. My two year old loved them!
We’re happy you loved them! Thanks for the suggestions, too.
Can’t wait to try this! Is there a way to make it in a basket style air fryer? Thanks!
We haven’t tried it, but in order to keep the donut hole shape, you will probably need a mold that will fit in your air fryer.
I am going to try these as they look delicious. But for my coeliac friends, can this recipe be adapted to use gluten free flour at all?
Thank you.
Other readers have tried using a cup for cup gluten-free flour with success – let us know if you try it!
Good afternoon,
I have just made these Gluten Free, I fried in Coconut oil, dipped them into Coconut and Cinnamon sugar.
I do not have a scoop so shape wise not round like the foto
However making them GLUTEN FREE has been so much better.
Thank you
I need more Ripe Bananas..None left..
Thanks for sharing your tips! So glad you like them.
Good morning, As I have two very ripe Bananas looking at me , this recipe sounds perfect.
Have not made these yet, as I make and bake everything Gluten free , so am going to play with this recipe to use the correct flours for a G.F batch of donuts, I only use Coconut oil or Ghee to fry with NEVER Vegetable oil as heating corn oil or vegetable oil is not healthy, I shall be dipping mine into Coconut Sugar with Cinnamon (, remember there are two types of Cinnamon) the one from Ceylon is the Best
We hope you enjoy them!
Um…I could literally kiss you right now. Enough said.
Muah?
I hope this means you liked the donuts =)
I tried this recipe for the first time today and absolutely love it! It was so simple and delicious. I tripled the recipe, used the 3 bananas I had left and used 1.5 cups of self riding flower+the 3 additional tablespoons. It made roughly 12 bread balls, and I ended up coating half of them in raw cane sugar mixed with cinnamon. I’d definitely make this again. Thanks so much!!
We’re so glad you loved it!
We are going to try this recipe!!! looks so good. However, instead of frying we will try to bake them in an ebelskiver pan which is a donut pan! we have a cast iron one.
Thank you 🙂
We’re not sure how they’ll be if you bake them – they may be a little more dense. Let us know how it worked for you!
Would this work with almond flour or other wheat alternative?
Sorry, but we haven’t tried the recipe with a flour substitute.
what in the world is a cookie scoop? is that a spoon?
It’s a spring-loaded scoop – we link to one in the recipe card if you want more info. Hope that helps!
The doughnut Holes taste awesome? We love the taste
Thank You
I’m so glad you liked them!
These simple ingredients does work! If you use a spoon or scoop they come out like little donuts holes. My topping was brown sugar and cinnamon. The kids love it!
Thank you
Thanks for sharing! I’m so glad your kids loved it!
Your recipe has created a banana donut ball snack like no other. Where ever I go now I am asked to carry my flour with me!! I have made banana donut balls with me donut squares I made banana donuts squiggles. As long as I’m making the banana doughnut whatever the men are always happy!
So glad you like this recipe!
Just made these for the 1st time. Honestly was skeptical but take came out great I have a small cookie scooper ice cream scooper that I used and was able to make 12. We don’t eat sugar so this recipe is ideal and I made cinnamon sugar using 4 tablespoons of Splenda and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. We will definitely make them again thank you so much for this easy recipe
So glad you enjoyed them!
See this is my problem, I can’t have flour.
You might like to check out our Gluten-Free Recipes.
These are wonderful, I have to be gluten free, I used cup4cup wholesome blend, and added a little cinnamon.
I decided to try cooking them in an air fryer. My scoop is an older ice cream scoop, so they were a little bigger. I put each donut in a silicone muffin cup and sprayed with avocado oil, cooked for 4 min, flipped sprayed and cooked for another 4 min. Fantastic!!
thank you for sharing! I’m happy to hear it worked in the air fryer and with cup4cup.
Can these be baked instead of fried?
The recipe doesn’t work in the oven.
Did try this recipe and my siblings love it! And cooked this like churroz for a change. Thank you so much for this simple yet easy to make recipe. ??
So glad you enjoyed it!
First of all thank you for the recipe , I wanted to ask if I can use oat flour instead of regular flour?
Thank you un advanced
This recipe hasn’t been tested with oat flour.
I made these in the air fryer at 380 for 6 minutes on parchment paper. Then I dipped them in butter and cinnamon and sugar. Very tasty, easy treat. With the air fryer, clean up is easy!
Thanks for sharing this – glad you enjoyed them!
Awesome recipe. After the first batch, I learned why it’s important to not over mix. It will make them way too dense. Also, keep the temp at 350° by adjusting the heat and keeping your eye on the thermometer. I times the perfect fry at 4 minutes at 350°.
thanks for sharing!
So quick and easy to make, surely delicious.
Glad to hear you like them!
These are so quick and easy to make, so delicious too.
Thx u for sharing
Easy and affordable and healthy ???
Glad you like the recipe!
What a great way to use some over ripe bananas! I’m very happy. ??
Yes, it’s great for that!
Have you tried this in an air fryer?
We haven’t tested them in the air fryer but other readers have, please check the other comments!
2 *teaspoon* scoop?? Or do you mean tablespoon…?
Help!!
Each scoop of dough should be two teaspoons total. You can use a scoop that is this size or a measuring spoon to scoop the dough.
Sounds too delicious ?must give it a try. Thank you!!
Enjoy!
I thought for sure this recipe was going to be too good to be true but it wasn’t!
Although all my oil was all sucked up it was delicious.
I didn’t have any issues with my oil being sucked up, but I’m glad they were delicious!
These were so easy and so good. Will be making these when my bananas get really soft.
I’m so glad you liked them!
Love this recipe! What’s the best way to store the donuts after you make them? Let me know, thanks! 🙂
They’re best enjoyed not long after making them. You can keep them in an airtight container at room temperature, but they won’t be as good as when they are freshly made.
Can you use Bisquick instead of self rising flour? If so, how much?
Sorry, but we haven’t tried the recipe with Bisquick.
Air fryer work?
We haven’t tested the recipe in the air fryer but other commenters have so be sure to check those comments.
Simple/easy to make
We’re happy you like the recipe!
Can these be baked in donut pans instead? Would I need to alter anything?
We don’t recommend baking them.
These sound delish! Could you make these in an air fryer to keep the fat content lower?
Please check the other comments – other readers have tried the air fryer with success.
Yum ?! Haven’t yet experienced but sure to be a winner for anyone who is a fan of ?’s. Thanks for sharing an original idea.
I like the two ingredient banna bread. I’m going to try it.
We hope you enjoy it!
I do not know how I found you but I am so glad I did. I am 81 years old and I enjoy all of the quick and easy recipes that you are sending. What even makes it better most of the time I have the ingredients I don’t have to purchase anything just look in my pantry and in my freezer and I got it Thank you so much and I look forward to your emails. I have not tried all of them but I sure have added a lot to my recipe box and my family loves every single one and cannot wait to taste the next one. My house smells so good now better than any room spray that’s for sure thanks again
Thanks so much for your nice comment – it makes our day!
Can these be cooked in an air fryer?
We haven’t tested them in the air fryer but other readers have, please check the other comments!
Can they be oven baked ?
They don’t work in the oven.
Loved the recipe..I shall make it for my kids InshaAllah.
Thanks
Like recipes
Thanks!
Can you make these in an air fryer by chance?
We haven’t tested it, but other readers have so be sure to check the other comments.
Cold you cook these in an air fryer?
We haven’t tried it but other readers have. Check the comments for more info!
Thank you for that, I had no idea how those were made.
I just made these banana doughnuts … Delicious! … and so easy to make! I sprinkled brown sugar and cinnamon on top. I will be making these again soon! Thanks for the recipe!
I’m so glad you liked them!
Hi, these sound great. Can I bake them instead of frying?
The recipe doesn’t work in the oven.
I’ll surely make them for my grand children. Sounds like something 5hry and Grandpa would surely enjoy.
We hope they love them!
I wonder if I could use my
Air fryer???
Other readers have tried this – please check the other comments for details!
Is it possible to bake these in the oven instead of frying?
they do not work baked.
Thank you, I was just wondering that.
Kirbie
Can I bake it air fry I don’t use oil recipe sounds great!!
I have not tried in an air fryer
Hi, would this recipe work well in an air fryer?
I have not tried in an air fryer
How do you print this recipe?
Near the top of the recipe, there are green boxes, one says “print” – click that and it will open a new tab with an option to print the recipe. Hope that helps!