Air Fryer Banana Donut Bites

Equipment

• 4-quart or larger air fryer
• 1-tablespoon cookie scoop or mini ice cream scoop
• Parchment paper liners (perforated for air fryers) or avocado oil cooking spray
• Two shallow bowls for dipping and coating
• Pastry brush (optional)

Ingredients

Donut Dough

• 1 large overripe banana (about 1/2 cup / 120 g mashed; peel heavily speckled with brown spots)
• 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour (or 1:1 gluten-free baking flour with xanthan gum)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup (60 g) plain non-fat Greek yogurt (adds moisture and structural protein without extra oil)
• 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup or honey
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Cinnamon Sugar Coating

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter , melted (or coconut oil for dairy-free)
• 1/4 cup (50 g) granulated sugar (or granulated monk fruit/erythritol)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground Ceylon or Cassia cinnamon
• Pinch of ground nutmeg (optional, adds bakery-style warmth)

Instructions

Step 1: Prep the Air Fryer & Coating Station

1. Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C) for 3–5 minutes. Preheating ensures the hot circulating air immediately seals the exterior of each bite, preventing the dough from sagging through the basket grates.
2. In a small, shallow bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar , cinnamon , and nutmeg .
3. In a separate small bowl, melt the butter and set it aside with a pastry brush or dipping fork.

Step 2: Form the Banana Batter-Dough

1. Place the peeled banana in a medium mixing bowl. Mash thoroughly with a fork or potato masher until smooth, leaving minimal visible chunks.
2. Stir in the Greek yogurt , maple syrup , and vanilla extract until completely incorporated into the banana purée.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour , baking powder , cinnamon , and salt .
4. Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture using a silicone spatula. Stir just until no dry flour pockets remain. Note on Texture: The dough will be thick, slightly sticky, and denser than pancake batter, yet softer than standard rolled yeast dough. Avoid over-mixing, which over-activates the gluten and yields tough, dense bites.

Step 3: Portion the Bites

1. Lightly mist the perforated air fryer basket with avocado oil spray (avoid aerosol non-stick sprays with propellants that degrade basket coatings).
2. Using a 1-tablespoon scoop , drop rounded mounds of dough directly onto a lightly floured surface or parchment sheet. With lightly floured or oiled hands, roll each scoop gently into a smooth sphere about 1 to 1.25 inches in diameter.

Step 4: Air Fry to Golden Perfection

1. Place 10 bites into the preheated basket, leaving at least 1 inch of clearance around each bite to allow unobstructed convection airflow. Cook in two batches to avoid crowding.
2. Air fry at 350°F (175°C) for 7 to 8 minutes .
3. At the 5-minute mark , shake the basket gently or turn each bite using silicone-tipped tongs to promote even browning across all sides.
4. The donut bites are finished when the exteriors turn deep golden-brown, spring back lightly to the touch, and an internal toothpick comes out clean.

Step 5: Coat and Serve

1. Transfer hot donut bites from the air fryer basket onto a wire cooling rack. Allow them to cool for 60 to 90 seconds so they can be handled safely without losing their internal steam.
2. Working with one bite at a time, lightly brush all sides with melted butter (or quickly roll the warm bite in the butter bowl).
3. Immediately drop the buttered bite into the cinnamon-sugar mixture, tossing until thoroughly coated.
4. Serve warm.

Nutrition

Calories: 185 kcal · Protein: 3.8 g · Fat: 5.2 g · Carbohydrates: 32.5 g – Dietary · Saturated Fat: 3.0 g – Trans · Fiber: 1.8 g – · Sugar: butter coating) Nutrient Amount Per · Sodium: 165 mg