These paleo glazed banana bread donut holes have a few healthy additions to make them the perfect breakfast, snack, or dessert! Simple ingredients make the tastiest baked donut holes, topped with a perfectly sweet, honey vanilla glaze.
Anyone else channel their inner Homer Simpson when they see a donut? I don’t even consider myself a HUGE donut fan, I’m much rather pound a container of chocolate chip cookies or coconut macaroons. But I’m pretty sure donuts have some chemically enhanced ingredient that hypnotizes people to eat ‘em. Even just a teeny, tiny bite. I’m sure it’s not FDA approved, but honestly do we even care? No.
The glaze could be filled with rat turds and cigarette ashes and people would still eat them. Like, whatever – it’s just extra protein and a rich smoky flavor. Donuts are just that food that you gotta splurge on every once in awhile.
It’s been years since I bought a donut. In fact, I remember my last experience so vividly, I think it scarred me.
Set the scene – four years ago, hubby’s birthday, living in Washington, DC. I know my man, and my man loves donuts. Like the grocery store ones in that plexiglass case. So naturally, being the amazing wife I am, I thought, “I’m going to cab it to the hottest new donut shop in the city, buy two of their BEST, most CREATIVE flavors, and surprise him tomorrow morning!” I mean, WAY better than 3-day-old grocery store donuts, right?! So as soon as noon hit that day, I was off. Flagging a cab, fighting traffic, standing in line, trying not to melt in the DC humidity. Naturally not having a second to eat lunch because…duty donut calls. Yaaaaaas to the maple donut with bacon infused glaze and crumbled bacon to top, and a peanut butter and jelly thing of beauty (because again, I know may man. Donuts are his first live, PB&J’s are his second). Damn I know that man better than he knows himself! I’m sooooo good.
Oh and don’t even get me started on the debacle of making sure I didn’t jostle that beautiful box of $10 donuts in a very packed metro heading home after work…
Ok now it’s birthday morning. Donuts set up on the table, card meticulously placed, me hiding behind my coffee cup, so eager for that first reaction, that first bite!!! Oh the anticipation!!!
“Awe thanks babe…” as he takes one little bite. Like a mouse-sized bite. “Gotta get to work, I’m late.”
One bite. ONE FLIPPIN’ BITE?! Long story short, after a very ‘spirited’ discussion about my effort to surprise him with the best birthday breakfast of his life, he admits he really isn’t in to fancy, imaginative flavors. He just kinda likes the standard grocery store donut with chocolate glaze. Gotta love newlywed arguments over donuts. So classic!!
Ok so maybe I’m being a little overdramatic about buying donuts again. But why buy them when you can make them? Besides, the donut HOLES are always the best part anyway. I may not know my man like I think at times, but I know myself. And this girl always goes for the holes.
Plus, why go out for donuts that have rat turds and cigarette ashes in them (KIDDING) when you can make these paleo glazed banana bread donut holes at home? Such a better, healthier alternative that are naturally sweetened, packed with some sneaky power foods, and easier than standing in line at your city’s popular donut hangout.
These paleo glazed banana bread donut holes have a few extra ingredients to make them pretty much extra amazing, extra healthy, and super guilt-free. The batter comes together in a flash, with ripe bananas, eggs, coconut flour, flax and chia seeds. THAT’S IT! Bake ’em, cool ’em, then get ready to drizzle all the honey vanilla glaze goodness over every sweet little ball. It’s pure magic I tell ya.
And be sure to check out a few other paleo snacks and balls for the best dang healthy snacking options ever! Paleo almond cocoa mocha energy balls, paleo carrot cake energy balls, and of course these paleo key lime pie energy balls!
PrintPaleo Glazed Banana Bread Donut Holes
- Yield: 12 1x
Ingredients
- 3 ripe bananas
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 2 teaspoons flaxseeds
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons coconut flour
Honey Vanilla Glaze
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon raw honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 teaspoons arrowroot powder combined with 1 teaspoon water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees
- In a medium bowl, combine the ripe bananas, chia seeds, flaxseeds, and vanilla extract. Then add the egg. Stir well to combine
- Add the baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and coconut flour. Mix until a thick batter has formed
- Using wet hands, mold the batter into 12-14 small balls/donut holes. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet
- Bake for 20-22 minutes, until balls have set
- Remove from the oven, let coo slightly, and place the balls on a wire cooling rack with the baking sheet underneath
- Once the balls are fully cooled, start on the glaze
- In a small pot, bring the coconut oil, honey, and vanilla extract to a gentle simmer
- Remove from heat and pour in the arrowroot/water mixture, whisking vigorously for 1-2 minutes to ensure no clumps form
- Let the mixture cool slightly, then pour over the top and sides of the donut holes using a large spoon
- Immediately place the wire rack of balls with baking sheet underneath into the freezer and let chill roughly 10 minutes, enough for the glaze to set
- If desired, remove the baking sheet from the freezer with any excess glaze that has dripped off, spoon the hardened glaze into a small bowl and microwave just until liquid again. Let cool slightly and pour over the chilled donut holes for another layer of glaze. Chill again in the freezer for the glaze to set
- Remove the balls from the freezer and let sit at room temperature for a few minutes before serving. If eating later, store in the refrigerator and when ready to serve, set at room temperature for a few minutes
These look amazing!! I have all ingredients on hand except coconut flour. Do you think almond flour will produce the same results?? (please say yes!)
I think so! You may have to play a bit with it to get the batter to hold enough to form a ball, but I bet it would still totally work!
LOL but seriously Drew is the SAME WAY. I try to do anything super fancy and creative and he’s like “Can you just make real chocolate chip cookies now???” *eyeroll*
But these banana bread donut holes look LEGIT.
YUP YUP YUP. Ok so when are we doing a double date vacation getaway?? 😉
Hehe… You are such a good story teller.
And I love how these look so dense and delicious; cake donuts are probably my favorite. 🙂
I ADORE cake donuts too! My husband on the other hand, can’t stand them. #oppositesattract
Haha my husband is the same! He LOVES the regular glazed donuts, no chocolate either! But these little guys look amazing! I’ve never made donuts but you gotta start somewhere right?
TRUTH. And it’s a good place to start (but I may be biased). 😉
I only had 2 ripe bananas so I added some blueberries since I have TONS of them right now. Can I just say….DELICIOUS!! My anti eat anything husband was even up for trying them ?.
★★★★★
WOAH that’s awesome!!! So happy to hear it!
That story is too funny! These look delicious, I am doing Whole 30 right now, but when I finish I will have to give them a try.
What a great treat after your Whole30!
Can you add a scoop of protein powder to these?
You sure could!
My 8 year old son and 10 year old daughter made your donut holes yesterday…of course we had to roll them in powdered sugar as well….they LOVED them!!! My daughter is allergic to milk, egg and nuts, these were the perfect way to introduce her to “donuts”. Been loving your feed since your Whole30 takeover 🙂
Awe this makes me so happy!! I hope they came with powdered sugar mustaches and all 😉 Thanks for your support Sarah!
These look amazing! I have donut pans I make healthy donuts with all the time but the glazed donut holes sound like the real deal. I’ll never have dunkin donut cravings again…I think I’ll give this a try soon but I don’t want to buy arrowroot powder so I’m thinking tapiocca flour will work in its place.
I bet it would too! Keep me posted! And enjoy these healthy little holes 😉
Do you leave the flax seeds whole? Or grind them?
I use them whole but you could certainly grind them if you wanted!
Banana sizes vary so much. Do you have a measurement to utilize (ex: 1 cup mashed)?
Usually three ripe bananas is roughly 1 cup 🙂
Short: These are really good!
Long: I am in the process of cleaning out my kitchen in preparation for our family being out of town for 3 weeks, so figured these would be a great way to use up the brown bananas our entire family just pretends don’t exist until the “banana fairy” (she’s also the “pee on the toilet seat fairy” and the “folding laundry fairy” btw) comes to freeze or dispose of said bananas. They are really good and were the perfect food to go with our movie night of Minions (“minions” is cartoon for “bananas” icydn. I’m not sure “icydn” is an actual abbreviation thing, but if not, I’m starting it and using up more words and time indicating this than if I just wrote out what it’s short for.) I will definitely keep these in the rotation and appreciate being able to eat food that doesn’t require utensils or plates since the “dish fairy” is usually too busy in the bathroom dealing with a toilet seat defamed by 3 small boys and 1 large man. BTW, step #6. Please don’t change “coo” to “cool” because the image of the little balls cooing to me in all their amazing banana-ness just makes this recipe over the top. Love you, your IG account, FB tribe, and arms (#bodygoals).
★★★★★
LOL you are speaking my language Ali!! So glad you liked these and love that you are a part of the tribe girlfriend!
Any substitute for arrowroot powder? Baking soda??
Hmmmm arrowroot is used as a thickening agent. If you aren’t concerned about keeping these paleo, cornstarch is the best sub.
Oh maw gaw!! Just made these and they were so delicious and easy to make! ? I really impressed myself being able to get the glaze to thicken and stick! Another recipe down in the books! Thanks Chrissa!!
Whoo hoo! Nailed it. Glad you liked these Karen!
The texture and color sort of reminded me of turkey meatballs and I couldn’t get over that…but my kiddos like them so we’ll be making them again!
LOL! Well hey, if the kiddos liked them then I call that a win!
Would these still work with out the flax seed?
Yep! They will!
These look delish! I was looking for a healthy sweet treat to make today but my bananas are not brown yet! I will definitely be making them this weekend!
I hope you loved them!
Can you leave out the Chis seed? Allergy.
Yes you can!
so making these now and mine look more like mounds instead of balls!! wonder if my bananas were too big. Or, if some of the baking ingredients were past their “good by” date, would that affect it? I guess I should’ve added more coconut flour. Putting in the oven now!