Get ready for these decadent gluten free banana donuts!! Kids love these donuts, especially when we turn them into Chunky Monkey donuts by adding chocolate, nuts, and coconut. If you are looking for the perfect gluten free donut recipe, this is a great recipe. Make them in just minutes.
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Do these donuts sound like Ben & Jerry’s ice cream? Well, they have that same delicious flavor!! These gluten-free banana donuts are full of sweet, ripe bananas and are so good. This easy banana recipe is quick to put together, so you can enjoy these donuts quickly!
While you are here on the blog, check out the BEST Gluten Free Donut Recipes. If a sweet banana flavor is your thing, too, you MUST try my most popular banana recipe, Gluten Free Banana Bars!!
Why I love these gluten free banana donuts:
- Banana donuts have a distinct flavor that sets them apart from traditional donut flavors like chocolate or vanilla. I love the sweetness of the ripe banana combined with the chocolate, coconut, and fudge topping.
- The moisture in the mashed bananas gives the donut a soft and moist texture. Your donuts will turn out perfectly.
- I use unrefined sugar to keep these donuts a little less guilt. I also include almond flour so that there is some protein to balance out the sugar. If you are nut-free, see the recipe FAQ for a nut-free option.
- You can make these donuts in three different ways: bake them in a donut pan, use a donut maker, or make them as mini muffins.
This is one of my all time favorite recipes! I started making the donuts but now I often just pour the batter into a loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for an hour or use my mini loaf pan baking it for 25 minutes. I put unsweetened coconut and diced walnuts on top before baking.”
Lee ann, blog comment
Allergen Information:
These homemade banana donuts are gluten-free, soy-free, and oat-free. See the Frequently Asked Questions section below for nut-free and dairy-free options.
How To Ripen Bananas
If your bananas are not ripe yet, don’t worry. Bananas are so easy to ripen. Check out these tips to ripen your bananas quickly:
- Our favorite way to ripen bananas is to bake them at 250º F for 10-15 minutes!
- Toss them (skin on) on the grill for a few minutes.
- If you have time, put them in a paper bag and seal them shut for a day or two.
Flour Blends Tested:
- King Arthur Measure for Measure—This blend works really well in this donut recipe. I don’t have to let the flour blend rest in the batter.
- Almond Flour – I used Anthony’s Almond Flour. I prefer this brand because they test to ensure their products are gluten free.
Ingredient Notes:
For the full list of ingredients and amounts, please go to the recipe card below.
- Gluten Free Flour Blend – I tested this recipe with the blend listed above. Other blends will work, but you may need to adjust the ratio of the wet and dry ingredients.
- Almond Flour – Ensure that you use almond flour and not almond meal.
- Coconut Sugar – You can use coconut sugar or brown sugar.
- Baking Powder – Use aluminum-free.
- Eggs – Size large.
- Butter – Use unsalted butter.
- Milk – I used almond milk, but you can use regular or non-dairy milk.
- Toppings – Chocolate, unsweetened coconut, and nuts.
You will be surprised when you see that these donuts are pretty healthy! Skip the chocolate fudge on top, and you can eat these healthy banana donuts for breakfast!
Tips for making great gluten free donuts:
- Do not overmix your donut batter. It will make your donuts turn out denser.
- I can’t recommend using a donut maker enough…it makes your donuts so much better.
- Do not use a stand mixer to mix your donut batter. Hand mixing will ensure your donuts turn out fluffy.
Step-By-Step Photos and Directions:
Step 1: Add the dry ingredients to a large
Step 2: In a bowl, soften the butter and add the rest of the wet ingredients. Whisk to blend.
Step 3: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until the two are just barely mixed.
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Step 4: This is what the batter looks like. See how it is a little thick? That is okay. These donuts will still be nice and light.
📢 Sandi says: Every gluten-free flour blend has a different starch-to-grain ratio. The brand of gluten-free flour you use will affect the moisture of the batter. If your cake batter is too runny, add more flour, and if it is too thick, add more liquids.
Read Why Gluten-Free Flour Blends Vary to learn more about this.
Step 5: You can use a donut maker or a donut pan for this banana donut recipe! I always use my donut maker, and many readers have asked me to share a recipe I make in a donut pan so they can see the step-by-step photos.
Step 6: Add the batter to a donut pan to make these donuts in a donut pan. You can spoon the batter into the donut sections or use a piping bag and squeeze the batter into each section.
Step 7: Bake for 15 minutes at 350º F. Note the total bake time will vary depending on the size of your donut pan.
🔑 Sandi says: Donut Makers are a lot easier. Drop the donut batter by the spoonful into each section of the donut maker, and they cook in just 3 minutes.
Step 8: I used a simple chocolate fudge sauce I found at Trader Joe’s, but you can also melt chocolate chips to make your own. This is a fun option if you prefer the flavor of milk chocolate!
Step 9: Sprinkle on the shredded coconut. I use unsweetened shredded coconut, but you can use sweetened if you like sweet things.
Frequently Asked Questions:
You can use any nuts you like in this recipe. My favorites are pecans, almonds, and macadamia nuts.
To make this gluten free banana donut recipe nut-free, omit the almond flour and add 1/2 cup of additional gluten free flour blend. Omit the walnuts on top as well.
To make this recipe dairy-free, use plant-based butter and dairy-free chocolate like Enjoy Life.
Store these banana donuts in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can also freeze these donuts in a zip-style freezer bag.
More Gluten Free Donuts Recipes:
- Gluten Free Fried Donuts – These donuts are crisp on the outside and soft on the inside!
- Gluten Free Apple Cider Donuts – If you love fall flavors, these
- Gluten Free Lemon Donuts – These donuts are full of lemon flavor.
- Gluten free Pumpkin Donuts – These pumpkin donuts are good enough to eat all year long!
Love This Recipe?
If you made and enjoyed this recipe, I would be incredibly grateful if you could leave a comment below. Please include which flour blend you used. This will help others know this recipe is delicious. Thank you!
Gluten Free Banana Chunky Monkey Donuts
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- 2 ripe bananas mashed
- 2 tablespoons unsalted melted butter
- ⅓ cup non-dairy or regular milk
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 cup gluten free flour blend
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder aluminum-free
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- dash salt
- 1 cup coconut sugar
- shredded coconut optional
- chopped walnuts optional
- fudge/melted chocolate optional
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Instructions
- If you are making these in the oven, preheat your oven to 350º F. If you are making these in a BabyCakes Donut maker, plug it in to turn it on.
- Put the peeled bananas in a bowl. Use a fork or pastry blender to mash the ripe bananas.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 cup gluten free flour blend, 1 cup almond flour, 1 cup coconut sugar, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and dash salt. Whisk to blend.
- In a smaller bowl, add 2 large eggs, 2 ripe bananas, 2 tablespoons unsalted melted butter, 1/3 cup non-dairy or regular milk, and 2 tablespoons milk. Whisk to mix.
- Pour wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix gently. Try not to overmix the batter.
- Spray the donut pan with coconut oil or gluten free baking spray and add some of the banana batter to each section.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until done. (A Babycakes donut maker should take 3-4 minutes to cook each batch.)
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Drizzle chocolate on top and sprinkle with coconut and walnuts.
Notes
- I tested this recipe with Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 gluten free flour. Other blends should work. My rule of thumb is if your batter or dough is too runny, add more flour, and if it is too thick, add more liquids.
- If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain a binder like Xanthan Gum, add 3/4 teaspoon.
- To make this recipe dairy-free, use plant-based butter.
- To make this gluten free banana donut recipe nut-free, omit the almond flour and add 1/2 cup of additional gluten free flour blend. Omit the walnuts on top as well.
- Store any leftover donuts in an airtight container. They will keep fresh for up to 3 days. You can freeze the donuts in an airtight container or a freezer-safe zipper bag. Thaw on the counter or microwave oven set to 20-25 seconds.
SPECIAL NOTE
Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn’t test, my rule of thumb is to add more flour if your dough or batter is wet and add more liquid if the dough or batter is too dry!
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
This post was updated from an older August 2018 post with more recipe details.
This is one of my all time favorite recipes! I started making the donuts but now I often just pour the batter into a loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for an hour or use my mini loaf pan baking it for 25 minutes. I put unsweetened coconut and diced walnuts on top before baking.
I love the idea of baking this as a banana loaf cake!
Love, love, love these. I am now a Chunky Monkey Junkie!
Thank you Lee Ann 🙂