Irresistibly Moist Baked Banana Donuts with Homemade Salted Caramel Glaze
Prepare yourself for a truly delightful treat: a moist, banana bread-like donut lovingly dipped in a gorgeous, buttery dark salted caramel glaze. This isn’t just any donut; it’s a creation where the sweet, fruity notes of ripe banana perfectly complement the rich, complex flavors of a homemade caramel, balanced beautifully with a delicate pinch of sea salt. The glaze sets up so prettily, creating a tempting sheen that’s hard to resist. Every bite offers a perfect harmony of flavors and textures, making these donuts an instant favorite.
These banana donuts are just as decadent as they sound, and the best part is that you likely already have most of the ingredients on hand in your pantry and refrigerator. This recipe is all about transforming simple, everyday items into something truly extraordinary. Forget about those complicated, deep-fried versions – these baked donuts are not only healthier but also incredibly easy to whip up, making them perfect for a weekend breakfast, an afternoon snack, or even a special dessert.
The Joy of Baked Donuts and My Favorite Kitchen Gadget
Like many home bakers, I have a fondness for new kitchen gadgets, appliances, and all sorts of culinary tools. However, before I commit to bringing a new item into my kitchen, I really, truly need to believe it will earn its keep and be frequently used. One item that completely passed this test last year and has brought me immense satisfaction are my donut pans. They’ve been a revelation, transforming my approach to homemade donuts.
Before I acquired these fantastic donut pans, the only kind of donuts I dared to make at home were the traditional, old-school fried biscuit kind – messy, greasy, and time-consuming. These pans, however, have truly opened up a whole new world of donut flavors and possibilities. The convenience and versatility of baked donuts are unparalleled. My kids, for instance, are constantly begging for chocolate zucchini donuts, a recipe that proves just how creative you can get with these simple molds. I admit, I kind of geek out over donuts. In fact, I have an entire Pinterest board devoted to nothing but donuts! It’s genuinely hard not to fall in love with them once you realize you can have a dozen mini donuts, warm and fresh out of the oven, in under 10 minutes!
The beauty of baked donuts lies in their simplicity and speed. There’s no hot oil to deal with, no precise temperatures to maintain, and significantly less cleanup. This means you can enjoy the comforting taste of homemade donuts more often, without the fuss. Plus, baked donuts are generally a lighter option than their fried counterparts, making them a slightly less guilt-inducing indulgence.
Are you a donut lover? These are a few of my other favorite recipes to try:
- Chocolate Zucchini Donuts
- Pumpkin Roll Donuts
- Chocolate Glazed Orange Donuts
Mastering the Salted Caramel Glaze: Tips and Safety
While these banana donuts are incredible on their own, the true showstopper is the luscious salted caramel glaze. Caramel is, without a doubt, a delicious confection, adding a layer of sophisticated sweetness and a hint of salt that perfectly cuts through the richness. However, it’s crucial to exercise caution when preparing and handling it. If you’ve ever made caramel before, you know that it can reach incredibly high, molten temperatures. Accidental contact with hot caramel can cause severe burns, so please use extreme care and attention while glazing your donuts. Consider wearing oven mitts or using long-handled utensils to keep your hands safe.
Another important characteristic of caramel is its tendency to cool and set up rather quickly. This can be a bit challenging if you’re glazing a large batch of donuts. But don’t worry, there’s a simple trick to keep your glaze at the perfect dipping consistency: if your salted caramel glaze starts to thicken or set before you’ve finished, simply pop it in the microwave for a quick 5-10 second burst. This will warm it gently and return it to its smooth, dippable state. Just remember: it gets HOT very quickly, so stir it well and test its temperature before resuming glazing. Patience and careful handling will ensure a beautifully glazed finish for all your delicious donuts.
Storage and Maximizing Freshness
These banana donuts are undeniably at their absolute best when enjoyed on the very same day they are made. The moist texture of the donut and the perfectly set glaze truly shine when fresh. While I haven’t quite mastered a method to store them that completely prevents the bottoms from getting a little soggy over time (if you have, please email me and let me know your secrets!), they do remain wonderfully delicious for a few days afterward.
To keep them as fresh as possible, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. For longer storage, you can refrigerate them, but be aware that this might alter the texture slightly. If you plan to enjoy them later, a quick zap in the microwave for a few seconds can often bring back some of that freshly baked warmth and softness. Regardless of storage, their incredible flavor profile makes them worth every effort!
My Favorite Donut Pan for Bakery-Style Results
I absolutely love this turquoise-colored Wappa pan. It stands out as my favorite donut pan because it consistently makes donuts that are wonderfully nice and big, truly donut-shop sized! This allows for a more satisfying bite and provides ample surface area for that delicious glaze. If you’re serious about making impressive homemade donuts, a quality pan like this is a worthwhile investment.
Some of the above links are affiliate links. Any purchases made through these links help support AHB at no additional cost to you. We appreciate your support.
Now, let’s dive into the detailed recipe so you can create these incredible baked banana donuts with salted caramel glaze in your own kitchen!
Banana Donuts with Salted Caramel Glaze
Print
Rate
SaveSaved!
Ingredients
For the Banana Donuts
- 2 ripe bananas
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 3 Tablespoons sugar
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup white whole wheat flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
For the Salted Caramel Glaze
- 1 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 1 stick unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
-
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
-
In a medium sized mixing bowl, mash the bananas with a fork. Add the brown sugar, sugar, oil, vanilla, sour cream, and egg and mix well.
-
Add the remaining dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Don’t over mix.
-
Spray the donut pans with nonstick baking spray. Pour the donut batter into a large ziplock bag and snip off one corner with scissors so that you can pipe the batter into the donut pan.
-
Bake at 350 degrees for about 8-10 minutes for mini donuts or 14-15 minutes for large donuts. Donuts will be ready when a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean or when you press on it slightly and it springs back.
-
Allow the donuts to cool and remove from the pan.
-
To prepare the glaze, bring the sugar, salt, butter, and milk to boil in a small saucepan over medium heat stirring constantly. Allow to boil one minute, while stirring.
-
Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
-
Continue stirring for 3 minutes until the glaze is cool enough to use.
-
Pour the glaze into a shallow dish. Dip the top of each donut into the glaze and remove to a wire rack to cool and set up. If the glaze begins to set up before you are finished, heat it in the microwave for 5-10 seconds to warm it back up, taking care to make sure it’s not too hot to work with before beginning again.
Notes
Nutrition
We hope you thoroughly enjoy making and sharing these incredible Baked Banana Donuts with Salted Caramel Glaze. They’re a testament to how simple ingredients, a little creativity, and a great recipe can bring immense joy to your kitchen and your taste buds. Happy baking!