Banana and Sugar Drop Doughnuts are the kind of treat that makes ordinary days feel special. Soft, sweet, and lightly crisp on the outside, they carry the natural fragrance of ripe bananas with a gentle sugary sparkle that brings an irresistible homemade charm. Unlike classic doughnuts that require shaping, rising, and rolling, these are simple drop doughnuts, spooned directly into hot oil in little golden mounds, making them faster, easier, and wonderfully rustic.
The batter starts with very ripe bananas, the kind with brown-speckled skins and deep sweetness. Mashed until smooth, they act as the heart of the dough, adding moisture, flavor, and a natural richness that eliminates the need for too much added sugar. A touch of vanilla enhances the aroma, while cinnamon or nutmeg can be added for warmth, giving each bite a comforting, bakery-style softness. When flour, eggs, and a hint of baking powder come together with the bananas, the batter becomes thick, plush, and gently sticky, ready to transform into pillowy doughnuts.
As spoonfuls of batter hit the hot oil, magic begins. The dough puffs up instantly, turning lightly crisp on the surface while staying tender inside. The doughnuts become uneven, round, and perfectly imperfect, the kind that look homemade in the best possible way. After a quick fry, they come out glowing with a warm, golden hue that promises sweetness and comfort in every bite.
While still warm, the doughnuts are rolled in sugar, which clings to their textured surface, adding sparkle, light crunch, and a gentle sweetness that complements the banana beautifully. Some like to add a pinch of cinnamon to the sugar for extra soul, others leave it classic, allowing the banana flavor to shine. Either way, the result is a doughnut that tastes like happy nostalgia.
Best enjoyed fresh, Banana and Sugar Drop Doughnuts pair beautifully with coffee, milk, or even a cup of chai latte. Theyāre perfect for spontaneous baking moments, weekend mornings, or anytime ripe bananas need a delicious purpose. Warm, soft, and sugar-kissed, they offer simple joy in the sweetest form.
Ingredients
- 1 large banana ripe and mashed
- 1 cup all-purpose flour sifted
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 egg beaten
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil plus more for frying
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar for coating
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix mashed banana, milk, beaten egg, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract until well combined.
- In another bowl, sift together flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Heat vegetable oil in a deep pan over medium heat.
- Drop spoonfuls of batter into the hot oil, and fry until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes on each side.
- Remove the doughnuts from the oil and drain on paper towels.
- While still warm, roll the doughnuts in granulated sugar to coat.
Nutrition
These doughnuts are the best! I swapped banana for apple puree and they turned out pretty good too! 5 stars!
I made these for my kids. They loved them, but I found them kinda complicated to fry properly.
Awesome recipe! So easy and delicious! Perfect for breakfast or a snack!
The recipe was a bit messy and my batter turned out too runny. Not sure where I went wrong.
Don’t worry! It can be tricky with the measurements. Make sure your banana is really ripe and maybe add a little more flour next time. Good luck!
I was really skeptical about using banana in doughnuts, but wow, they were delicious! Definitely making again!
Fried banana doughnuts? No! Just stick to normal ones! Waste of banana!
I think fried banana doughnuts sound delicious! You should try them before dismissing. Bananas can add a nice flavor!
Yummy! But the amount of sugar was too much for me. Iāll reduce it next time.
These were surprisingly fluffy for something with banana instead of yeast. I used a tiny bit more milk since my banana was smaller, and the sugar coating stuck great. Family asked for seconds!
These are the best doughnuts I’ve ever made! So easy and delicious!
Not gonna lie, I was skeptical about banana doughnuts, but they came out sweet and tender. The vanilla helps a lot. Would make again for sure.
I tried it and mine were more like little fried cakes, not donuts donut shape lol. Still good thoughāsweet and moist. Next time Iāll make sure the oil is hot enough before dropping batter.
Same hereābanana sounded weird, but the crumb was actually really tender. I also added a tiny pinch more vanilla and it tasted like a treat-shop doughnut.
Just so you know, bananas are bad for dogs. Just donāt let them eat it!
Easy to make and they taste fantastic! š©
These doughnuts are amazing! They have just the right amount of sweetness and the banana flavor is perfect. Will definitely make again! š„°
I dunno… sounds too sweet for me. Banana in a doughnut? Really? š¤
So glad you loved them! They are one of my favorites too! š
Pretty tasty, but mine browned too fast on the outside before the centers were done. Next time Iāll lower the heat and fry a bit longer.
I burned them on the first try. š Maybe my oil was too hot? Anyone else had this problem?
Doughnuts? Aren’t those supposed to be round? Mine looked like blobs in the oil. Taste was okay, but visually a disaster. 3/5
I had the same issue! They looked more like pancakes than doughnuts, but I guess the taste is what matters. Maybe I’ll try shaping them better next time.
Meh. The sugar coating stuck but the doughnut texture was just ok. Could be my oil temp though.
I tried this recipe and they turned out super oily. Maybe reduce the oil for frying?
Neutral. I mean, they taste ok, but not as great as some fancy doughnuts I had once.
YUM!!š©š Can’t believe how good they turned out! Next time I might add chocolate chips.
I don’t know about this. Bananas in doughnuts? Seems weird.
It’s actually really tasty! The banana adds moisture and sweetness, trust me!
Too sweet for my taste. I think Iāll cut down the sugar next time.
I actually love them sweet! But I get it, everyone has their own taste. Maybe try adding some spices instead of cutting sugar?
You sure it’s too sweet? I just made them and they turned out perfect! Maybe your banana was extra sweet?
These turned out so well! I love how easy they are to make. Definitely a keeper!
Made these for my kids and they gobbled them up! Best treat ever!
I followed it pretty closely, but the batter felt thick and a little lumpy even after mixing. Also, 1 cup flour might be off depending on banana sizeāadding a splash more milk helped. Still good though.
These doughnuts are amazing! The banana adds such a nice flavor and they are so fluffy. Will make again for sure!
I totally agree! I never thought of using banana in doughnuts, but it really gives them a unique twist. Yum!
Good idea using banana in doughnuts! Iām not an expert fryer, but they cooked evenly after I adjusted the heat a bit.
Is it really doughnut if it ain’t round? These are just blobs!
I get what you mean! They do look more like blobs than traditional doughnuts. But who says doughnuts have to be round? These might be tasty anyway!
Is 1/2 cup of milk really enough? My batter was too thick. Had to add more.
Yum!! Just made these with my kids, they had so much fun! Will keep this recipe in our family book!
Tried it and my kids didn’t even finish them… I’m not sure if it’s the banana or what. Just not for us.
I think 1/4 cup sugar in the batter is too low for my taste. Next time Iāll bump it up a bit. Also, I added cinnamon and it was *chefās kiss*.
Okay, but why do we need so much sugar???
It’s for the sweet taste! Plus, it’s a treat, so a bit of sugar is okay sometimes.
Too much sugar is bad. You could probably cut it down a bit, like use half or something…
I donāt get how mixing that stuff will turn into doughnuts. Sounds weird.
These doughnuts are amazing! I never thought banana could taste so good in a pastry. Highly recommend!
I can’t believe banana can be used in doughnuts! Sounds weird but I might try it.
The instructions are super clear, and the frying time is close. I had to go a little hotter than medium heat to get golden brown in 2-3 mins per side.
Iām skeptical about baking powder + no other leaveningāmine came out a little dense. Still edible though, just not ādoughnut-yā enough.
Quick and simple! My kids devoured them in minutes! Gonna make this again.
My kids love these! They’re fun to make and eat. They always ask for more.
So easy to make! I added some cinnamon and they were delicious. Will make again for sure!
Too much sugar for me! I cut it down to 1/8 cup and they were fine. People really go overboard with sweetness sometimes.
I totally agree! Sugar can really ruin a good recipe. I always try to cut it down too. Good to know it works with just 1/8 cup!
1/4 cup ain’t that much, though. How much did you cut the sugar before? I like it sweeet! š„³
Pretty good for a quick recipe! I used almond milk instead of regular, and they still tasted great! š
I tried it with oat milk and it was amazing! Love how versatile this recipe is! š
Almond milk? Really? Does it even taste good with that? I doubt it. š¤
Eh, not my favorite. I think I prefer regular doughnuts. These tasted weird to me.
I tried this, but my doughnuts came out flat and oily. Maybe I did something wrong? Not sure if I’ll try again.
These doughnuts are amazing! The banana flavor is strong and delicious. Will definitely make again!
These doughnuts are so easy and delicious! My kids loved them! š„³
These sounded like a shortcut, but wowābanana flavor really comes through. The sugar coating on warm doughnuts is dangerously good. I fried mine a tiny bit longer and they were perfectly golden.
I was skeptical at ābanana doughnutā but this totally makes senseābanana is doing way more than just adding sweetness. Also frying a touch longer is key. Mine came out golden too š
Sounds good but Iām not sure about the doughnut shapeāare these more like fritters? I think I messed up and added extra banana instead of 1 largeā¦ still edible though. Sugar coating helps always.
5 minutes and done?? nah i think 2-3 mins per side is too quick. Mine were raw in the middle till I went way longer. Also too much sugar maybe? Next time less sugar for sure.
They taste good, but I think I put too much sugar. It’s a bit overwhelming for my taste. Maybe reduce it to 1/8 cup next time?
1/8 cup? Isn’t that like way too little? I dunno, that doesn’t seem right for doughnuts…but whatever works for ya!
I totally agree! The sugar can be too much. I usually only use a couple tablespoons. It makes a big difference! š
Bananas belong in smoothies, not doughnuts. This was a big mistake in my kitchen!
Nah, bananas are for smoothies only. This recipe is weird, man.
I disagree! Bananas add a nice flavor and moisture to the doughnuts. You just gotta give them a chance!
The instructions are clear, but the batter consistency is weird. It was like thick pancake batterāstill worked, just messier than I thought.
Really loved the flavor, but mine came out a bit greasy. Maybe I need to lower the oil temp?
I made these gluten-free with almond flour, still yum! š
That sounds great! Almond flour is a good swap. Iāll try that too! š
Banana + sugar? Sounds weird but so good! Can’t stop eating them!
I had a hard time getting the batter to stick together. Maybe the ingredients were off? Not my favorite. š
Bananaz in doughnuts? Wow, never heard of that. But they actually turned out pretty nice, I like them!
Super delicious and perfect for breakfast! Thanks for sharing!
I made these with my grandma. She loved the banana – she always said they need cinnamon too!
Yummy!! But is it really doughnut if there’s no glaze? Just seems like fried banana pancakes lol
Yum! I added chocolate chips to the batter and it was a game changer!
Quick question: is 1 cup flour too much? My dough turned out dry and I had to add more milk. Maybe my banana was smaller or my measurements are off (likely).
Very quick recipe! Took me less than 20 min. Will try with chocolate next time.
Never thought Iād fry doughnuts at home but this was easy. Slightly messy, but worth it. Would definitely make again.
Mine didnāt get golden enoughāfelt pale even after 4 minutes. Iām guessing the oil wasnāt hot. Still edible, but not āwow.ā
They turned out kind of mushy… not sure if I did it right. Maybe I added too much banana?
These turned out way better than I expectedāsuper fluffy inside and the sugar coating is perfect. Iāll definitely make them again.
Not bad! But 1 cup flour for a banana-based batter feels like a lot. I might try reducing flour next time.
Totally fairābanana batter can get dense with that much flour. Iād definitely try reducing it and maybe adding a splash more milk if it feels too thick.
I love recipes that use what you have. Banana + flour + baking powder = yes! The texture is soft, not rubbery. Great snack.
Yummy! I didnāt even have milk so I used almond milk instead, still turned out good.
I was skeptical about using banana, but these were surprisingly good. Just needs a bit more sugar for my taste.
Yummy! I added chocolate chips to the batter and it was a hit!
Chocolate chips sound like a delicious idea! I’ve never thought to add those. I’m definitely trying it next time. Thanks for sharing!
Whatās the deal with the oil? Can I bake them instead? Seems healthier.
You can definitely bake them! Just keep an eye on the time and temperature. Baking is way healthier, plus you won’t have to deal with the mess of frying!
Idkā¦ doughnuts without yeast just feels wrong to me. I tried anyway and they were more like fried banana pancakes. Not bad, just not what I was imagining. Sugar coating saved it.
My doughnuts didnāt rise. Followed it step by step. Do I need more baking powder?
Maybe you didn’t let the dough rise long enough? Sometimes it helps to let it rest for longer before frying.
OMG, these r so good! I added chocolate chips too, major win!
I donāt know about chocolate chips… sounds weird for doughnuts. Isn’t it suppose to be like, simple?
Yesss! Chocolate chips make everything better! I need to try that next time.
These are dangerousā¦ I ate like four before they even cooled. Sweet, simple, and honestly kind of addictive.
I’m skeptical about the banana in doughnuts…but surprisingly, it’s good!
Banana is actually a great ingredient! It adds moisture and sweetness. Glad you liked it! š
Pretty tasty and not too hard. Mine didnāt puff as much as I expected, but they were still soft inside. Maybe my banana was less ripe? Either way, Iāll make again.
I followed it pretty much exactly, but my batter was kinda thick and the donuts spread weird. Still tasty thoughāmore like drop fritters than perfect doughnuts.
My grandma used to make something like this, but with apples. Just saying! š¤·āāļø
The sugar coating is the only part my kids loved (they ate it fast lol). Batter was good too, just kinda plain without extra flavor.
Yes!! The sugar coating is definitely the best part š I agreeāmine were a little plain too, so next time Iāll bump up the vanilla or add cinnamon to the batter. Maybe even a tiny pinch of nutmeg. Kids would probably love that.
Meh… tasted fine but I expected more from them. Just average donuts.
I dunno… seems too simple? Like, is this even a real recipe?
Loved the banana flavor, not too sweet. I did add a tiny splash more milk because my batter was thick, but overall great recipe.
Huh, I thought youāre not supposed to add more milk? I followed the steps exactly and mine were kinda denseāmaybe itās the banana size? Still tasty though.
So glad you liked the banana flavor! š Iāve done the same thing when batterās too thickādoes the extra milk make yours a bit smoother/rounder while frying?
Has anyone tried this with whole wheat flour? Curious if itād work.
I used a slightly smaller banana and the sweetness felt off. Maybe my banana wasnāt as ripeānext time Iāll measure after mashing.