If you’ve ever looked at a banana that’s turned practically black and thought, “Oh no, waste not, want not!” then you are my kind of cook. Baking with overripe bananas is an absolute joy, and sometimes you just need something quicker and more fun than a full loaf.
That’s exactly why I developed these incredible Banana Bread Donut Holes. Seriously, they come together faster than you can decide which Netflix show to put on, and they are so wonderfully soft and bite-sized. Growing up, when a banana got too squishy, my mom always turned it into banana bread—it was a comforting ritual in our house.
Now, I’ve taken that cozy flavor and transformed it into these fast, kid-friendly donut bites. They are ridiculously easy, use just a handful of pantry staples, and are perfect whether you’re air frying or popping them into the oven for a quick treat.
Why You Will Love These Banana Bread Donut Holes
Honestly, these little bites are everything I look for in a quick dessert. They are just so satisfying, and the prep is almost laughable because it takes almost no time at all! You absolutely need these in your rotation:
- They truly take about 15 minutes to prep, so you get that fresh-baked flavor in under half an hour!
- They are super easy because they rely on simple pantry items and yogurt instead of fussy dairy products.
- These are perfect for satisfying those after-school snack cravings or involving little ones in the kitchen. If you’re looking for more streamlined family meals, check out my roundup of easy family dinner recipes!
Essential Ingredients for Perfect Banana Bread Donut Holes
When you’re aiming for speed, the ingredients really have to pull their weight. For these banana bread donut holes, we rely on a few core components to get that signature soft texture right away. You want your bananas to be seriously ripe—the spottier, the better for natural sweetness!
You’ll notice right away that we’re using self-rising flour, which makes this recipe so incredibly fast. But don’t worry if you don’t have that specific bag in your pantry. Greek yogurt is another non-negotiable here; it really helps keep the interiors moist better than regular milk or sour cream would. If you want to see how it works in other recipes, take a peek at my cream cheese banana bread variations!
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 1/4 cup self-rising flour
- 1 1/2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup mashed ripe banana (this is key!)
- 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp plain or vanilla Greek yogurt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted (for coating)
- 1/2 cup + 2 tsp cinnamon (for the coating mix)
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips of choice, melted (for the tasty drizzle!)
Homemade Self-Rising Flour Substitution
If you discover you’re out of self-rising flour midway through the fun, don’t panic! You can whip up your own version in seconds. This is what Grandma always did when recipes called for specific flours we didn’t stock regularly.
To make the necessary amount for this recipe, just whisk together:
- 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Mix those dry ingredients really well before incorporating them with your wet ones. That’s it! You’ve got the base ready for the mix.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Banana Bread Donut Holes
We are moving fast here, so get your air fryer or oven preheating right away! For the air fryer, set it to 350F. If you prefer the oven, you’ll want it slightly hotter at 375F, and don’t forget to line a baking sheet with parchment paper first. We want zero sticking!
Once preheated, grab your mixing bowl. It’s time to combine the dry stuff with the mashed banana, yogurt, and vanilla. Mix everything until it just comes together. You’ll see in a minute that this dough is super forgiving, which is great news when you’re trying to get a snack ready quickly.
Mixing the Dough and Achieving the Right Consistency
Now, the dough will look pretty sticky—and that’s totally normal! This is where we transform it from a shaggy mess into something rollable. Turn that dough out onto a lightly floured surface. I always sprinkle extra flour right on top of the sticky dough ball.
Knead it maybe three or four times just to bring it together. Keep adding just a tiny bit more flour, maybe a tablespoon at a time, until you can handle it without your fingers getting completely encased. Once it feels pliable and smooth, roll it out evenly to about half an inch thick. Then just use a knife or a little cutter to slice it into 16 little pieces. If you’re looking for other simple, quick recipes, check out my easy banana chocolate chip muffins for another weeknight win!
Cooking Your Banana Bread Donut Holes (Air Fryer vs. Oven)
Brush the tops of your dough pieces lightly with that melted butter—this helps the cinnamon sugar stick later, trust me! If you’re air frying, carefully place 8 holes into the basket lined with parchment, and pop them in for 4 minutes. Flip them gently, and go for another 3 to 4 minutes until they look golden brown.
If you’re baking in the oven, space them out well on your sheet. They need about 15 to 18 minutes at 375F. Keep an eye on them because they can brown faster than you think!
The Final Cinnamon Sugar Coating for Your Banana Bread Donut Holes
While your bites are cooking, whip up that coating! Just mix your cinnamon and the remaining sugar in a small, shallow bowl. The coating mixture needs to be ready to go the second the donut holes come out.
As soon as they leave the heat—air fryer or oven—toss them straight into that cinnamon sugar. They need to be hot so that the butter residue grabs onto that sugary coating. Serve them warm, drizzled with your favorite melted chocolate. Honestly, this little drizzle makes them feel so special!
Tips for Perfect Banana Bread Donut Holes Every Time
You might think because this recipe is quick, there aren’t any real secrets, but trust me, a few small steps make these banana bread donut holes absolutely divine. My number one tip, which echoes across all my banana recipes, is about the fruit itself!
Please, please use your ripest bananas. I mean the ones that are mostly brown or even black. Those soft bananas have converted their starch into sugar, which means much more natural sweetness and way more moisture. Your donut holes will taste better and stay softer longer because of it. You can even swap out the sugar slightly if your bananas are extremely ripe!
Also, remember when we kneaded the dough briefly? That’s important. Once you add the flour, you want to mix as little as possible. If you overwork that dough after it gets pliable, you’ll develop the gluten too much, and instead of soft, fluffy bites, you’ll end up with something a little tougher. A few kneads to bring it together, and then stop! For more tips on maximizing banana flavor in baked goods, check out my recipe that uses just two bananas.
Ingredient Substitutions for Banana Bread Donut Holes
I always encourage people to use what they have on hand, although with this specific recipe, there’s one area where we have to be a little strict. Remember how I stressed the Greek yogurt? That’s because it’s crucial for moisture and density in these tiny bites. To keep the ratios right, I really advise sticking to it—no easy substitutes there for the best results!
However, when it comes to that delicious drizzle at the end? You have options! If you aren’t up for melting chocolate chips, try melting some peanut butter for a salty kick. Or, you could fold chopped walnuts or dried cranberries right into the dough before cutting it, which gives you a different fun texture throughout. It’s still just as fast to make these quick snacks!
If you’re looking for more ways to adapt banana recipes, maybe you’d like to try my easy banana chocolate chip muffins next time!
Making Banana Bread Donut Holes a Kid-Friendly Snack
This has to be one of my absolute favorite recipes to make when my little cousins come over after school. Seriously, finding quick, kid-friendly snacks that don’t involve a ton of sugar is sometimes a quest, but these Banana Bread Donut Holes are the answer!
Because the dough only needs minimal kneading, it’s perfect for little hands. My nieces and nephews love helping me mash the bananas—and yes, they always find a way to get some on their faces!
They manage the light dusting of flour and even enjoy helping roll the dough into those little rectangles before we cut them into 16 perfectly portioned bites. It turns snack time into a fun kitchen activity! If you like fast, fun breakfast ideas too, you should check out my tips for mini pancake recipes ideas next time!
These are such a fantastic, balanced treat for lunchboxes or a quick energy boost before evening activities. They feel indulgent, but you know they are packed with wholesome banana goodness!
Storage and Reheating Instructions for Banana Bread Donut Holes
Okay, these are best eaten warm right out of the coating, I won’t lie! But if you happen to have any leftovers—which I doubt because they vanish so fast—you need to store them correctly so they don’t get dense.
Keep your banana bread donut holes in an airtight container at room temperature. They usually stay wonderfully soft for about two days this way. If you need them to last longer, you can freeze them! Don’t put the cinnamon sugar coating on until after they are reheated, though.
When you’re ready to enjoy them again, the air fryer is your best friend! Just three minutes at 325F gives them that freshly baked softness right back. It truly makes them taste like they just came out of the basket!
Frequently Asked Questions About Banana Bread Donut Holes
I always get so many questions whenever I post these quick little treats! It’s funny how quickly these banana bread donut holes disappear, but if you have leftovers, or if you’re trying to adapt the recipe, these are the things people ask me most often.
Can I make these Banana Bread Donut Holes ahead of time?
You absolutely can! They are one of those fantastic quick snacks that are great for meal prep. If you plan on storing them for more than a day, I suggest air-frying or baking them, letting them cool completely, and storing them *without* the cinnamon sugar coating in an airtight container. When you reheat them later—even just for 2 minutes in the air fryer—then you toss them in your sugar mix. That keeps the coating from getting soggy!
What is the best way to ensure my Banana Bread Donut Holes are fluffy?
Fluffy is the goal, right? The key to lightness in these dough bites comes from two places: first, making sure you use that full amount of Greek yogurt; it acts as a great binder and adds lift. Second, and this is huge, DO NOT overmix the dough once the flour goes in. Mix until it’s just combined and looks shaggy. Then, when you knead it just a bit on the floured surface until it’s smooth, stop right there! Over-kneading equals tough donut holes, and we want soft, fluffy perfection for our morning breakfast!
Do you still have questions or want to share your results? Head over to my main recipe index if you need more ideas!
Nutritional Snapshot of Banana Bread Donut Holes
Even though these banana bread donut holes feel like such a fun, indulgent treat—especially tossed in that cinnamon sugar—they are actually quite balanced! Since we rely on yogurt, ripe bananas, and less sugar than a traditional fried donut, they keep things wholesome for a quick snack.
Here is a rough estimate for one donut hole:
- Calories: Around 150
- Fat: About 8g
- Carbohydrates: Roughly 18g
- Protein: 3g
- Sugar: 6g
Now, remember these are just estimates! My chocolate drizzle isn’t always perfectly measured, and the sugar content in my bananas changes daily. If you’re tracking macros closely, you might want to check out my tips for healthy recipes for weight loss, but for a yummy, fast fix, these are fantastic!
Share Your Banana Bread Donut Holes Creations
Now that you’ve made these speedy, soft banana bread donut holes, I’d absolutely love to hear what you think! Did your kids love the cinnamon sugar coating? Please come back, leave a rating (five stars if you loved them!), and share any fun twists you tried in the comments below.
It truly means the world to me when you try my recipes. I’m Olivia Bennett, and I love creating balanced food that tastes amazing. If you want to see more of my work and delicious, nourishing recipes from Vermont, you can follow my author page here: Olivia Bennett’s Kitchen.
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Banana Bread Donut Holes
- Total Time: 23 min
- Yield: 16 donut holes 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Make quick, kid-friendly banana bread donut holes using an air fryer or oven. These small, soft bites use simple ingredients and are great for snacks.
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cup self-rising flour
- 1 1/2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp greek yogurt, plain or vanilla
- 1/4 cup mashed ripe banana
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips of choice, melted, for serving
- 1/4 cup butter, melted (for coating)
- 1/2 cup + 2 tsp cinnamon (for coating)
- For Homemade Self-Rising Flour: 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/4 tsp baking soda, 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 350F. If using the oven, preheat to 375F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine the self-rising flour, sugar, greek yogurt, mashed banana, and vanilla extract. Mix until the ingredients are combined. The dough will be sticky.
- Place the dough on a floured surface. Sprinkle more flour on top and knead a few times until the dough is smooth. Add 1 more tablespoon of flour at a time if the dough remains too sticky, kneading until it becomes pliable.
- Roll the dough into a rectangle about 1/2 inch thick.
- Cut the dough into 16 pieces.
- Place parchment paper in the air fryer basket. Working in batches, place 8 dough pieces in the air fryer. If using the oven, place the dough pieces on the prepared baking sheet.
- Brush the tops of the dough pieces with melted butter.
- Air fry at 350F for 4 minutes, flip gently, and air fry for another 3-4 minutes until golden brown. For the oven, bake at 375F for 15-18 minutes until golden brown.
- While the donut bites cook, mix the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl for the coating.
- Remove the donut holes from the air fryer or oven and immediately toss them in the cinnamon sugar mixture.
- Serve warm with melted chocolate.
Notes
- If you do not have self-rising flour, mix 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/4 tsp baking soda, and 1/4 tsp salt to create your own.
- Greek yogurt must be used for the correct measurement ratios.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 8 min
- Category: Snack
- Method: Air Frying or Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 donut hole
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Unsaturated Fat: 4
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 3
- Cholesterol: 15
Keywords: Banana Bread Donut Holes, air fryer donuts, healthy banana recipe, kid-friendly snack, easy baking, cinnamon sugar