Air Fryer Banana Donut Bites: A Quick 2-Ingredient Treat to Satisfy Cravings

Craving the comforting taste of banana bread but not in the mood to wait an hour for a loaf to bake? These Air Fryer Banana Donut Bites are the shortcut you didn’t know you needed. Soft, warm, lightly sweet, and ready in minutes, they turn simple pantry ingredients into a satisfying snack. Even better, this recipe aligns with the Focus Keyword optimization while keeping the instructions clean, simple, and approachable.

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In my kitchen, banana bread appears often, but I wanted something faster—with the same nostalgic flavor and fewer steps. That’s how these two-ingredient donut bites came to life: minimal preparation, no frying, and a texture that balances tenderness with a lightly crisp exterior. They’re perfect for an afternoon snack, a casual dessert, or a fun alternative to classic baked goods.

Below, you’ll find the detailed recipe, but first, here’s exactly why these donut bites have become a staple.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This recipe is all about convenience without sacrificing enjoyment. Using only mashed banana and self-rising flour, you can create a soft dough that behaves similarly to quick bread batter but forms into small donut-like pieces when air-fried.

Here’s what makes them so appealing:

• Only 2 Basic Ingredients
You only need banana and self-rising flour to make the dough. If you have these on hand, the rest is optional.

• Ready in About 15 Minutes
From mixing the dough to coating the warm donut bites, the process is fast enough for busy mornings or spontaneous cravings.

• Healthier Than Traditional Donuts
Since the air fryer replaces deep-frying, there’s no added oil needed for cooking unless you choose to brush some on for browning.

• Naturally Vegan and Easily Adaptable
With no eggs or dairy required, these bites fit a wide range of dietary needs. You can also swap sugars or coating options to match your preference.

• Soft, Warm, and Perfectly Snack-Sized
Each piece is tender and slightly chewy inside with a lightly crisp outside—ideal for dipping, rolling in cinnamon sugar, or serving warm on their own.

If you enjoy minimalist baking, these donut bites check every box.

Ingredients and Easy Substitutions

The ingredient list is short, but understanding each component helps ensure your donut bites turn out tender and flavorful.

Banana
Use one large, ripe banana—about ½ cup once mashed into a smooth purée. The ripeness gives moisture, sweetness, and the classic banana bread aroma.

Self-Rising Flour
This flour creates rise and structure instantly. If you don’t have it, you can use all-purpose flour mixed with baking powder (details in the recipe notes below).

Optional Coating (Highly Recommended)
Rolling the warm bites in cinnamon sugar and brushing with melted coconut oil gives them their “donut” character. Without it, they’ll taste more like banana bread bites—still delicious, but not as reminiscent of donuts.

• Melted coconut oil (or melted vegan butter)
• Sugar of your choice (refined, unrefined, coconut sugar, or a sugar-free blend)
• Cinnamon

These finishing touches elevate the flavor and texture significantly.

How These Banana Donut Bites Work

This recipe resembles many two-ingredient doughs, but the texture is slightly different because banana provides both moisture and binding. Expect a dough that feels sticky and elastic rather than firm. Instead of adding more flour, you’ll rely on a lightly oiled surface and hands to shape the dough. This ensures a soft interior and prevents the donut bites from becoming dense or bread-like.

The air fryer circulates hot air around each dough ball, quickly puffing them up while forming a light golden crust. When coated in cinnamon sugar, the exterior becomes slightly crisp, complementing the warm banana center.

Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Donut Bites

To get consistent results, here are a few useful tips:

• Oil your hands instead of adding extra flour.
A sticky dough means it will stay soft after cooking. Too much flour leads to dense or heavy bites.

• Leave space between each ball in the air fryer.
The dough expands as it cooks, so spacing helps them brown evenly.

• Use slightly overripe bananas.
The flavor deepens, and the texture becomes smoother for better dough consistency.

• Coat them while warm.
Warm donut bites soak up the cinnamon sugar gently, giving them the classic donut-style finish.

Ways to Enjoy These Donut Bites

While the traditional cinnamon-sugar coating is delicious, you can customize them endlessly:

• Roll in powdered sugar for a softer finish
• Dip in melted chocolate
• Dust with cocoa powder
• Drizzle with maple syrup
• Serve with yogurt or ice cream

They’re also enjoyable plain, especially straight from the air fryer.

Storage and Reheating

These donut bites are best eaten warm, but they store well for short periods.

Room Temperature:
Keep in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

Reheat:
Pop them back into the air fryer for 1–2 minutes to restore warmth and texture.

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