Vegan Banana Doughnuts

This lockdown has seen a surge in banana bread recipes, which by the way I have been loving!

This recipe is jumping onto the banana bread bandwagon but switching it up by making banana doughnuts.

I topped my doughnuts with plain icing and sprinkles but you could finish them off with a drizzle of chocolate or even peanut butter icing - YUM.

DOUGHNUT MIXTURE

The recipe for this doughnut mixture is so easy!

Begin by preheating the oven to 200°c / 180°c (fan).

Then sift 100 g plain flour into a large bowl along with 1/8 tsp salt and 1 tsp baking powder - don't worry the salt won't leave you with savoury doughnuts, it just helps enhance the other flavours.

In another bowl peel and mash one small banana. Make sure the banana is ripe, otherwise it will be difficult to mash into a smooth consistency.

Add 70 g golden caster sugar to the flour mixture with 80 ml plant milk (I used oat), 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, 2 1/2 tbsp neutral oil (I used sunflower) and the mashed banana.

Mix until you have a smooth, lump-free batter.

I love the look of 'funfetti' cupcakes and cookies so I thought why not add some sprinkles to the doughnut mixture!

Add 2 1/2 tsp of sprinkles to the batter and mix until well distributed.

Now fill your doughnut tray with the batter.

I transferred the batter to a piping bag and squeezed the mixture into the tray using that, but you can do it with a spoon if you find that easier!

The doughnut tray I used is silicone so I did not grease the tray, but if you're using a metal tray I recommended greasing the tin with a little oil.

Bake the doughnuts in the oven for 15 mins.

They should come out looking golden brown.

Leave the doughnuts to cool - if you try to take them out of the tray while they are hot they will crumble!

TIP - to check if the doughnuts are cooked stick a toothpick or knife into a doughnut and if it comes out clean they are cooked, if there is batter on the toothpick/knife bake the doughnuts for a little longer.

ICING

While the doughnuts are cooling start making the icing.

In a small bowl add 70 g icing sugar and 3 tsp plant milk (I used oat). Mix until smooth.

Once the doughnuts have completely cooled remove them from the tray and one by one dip the top half of the doughnuts into the icing.

Let the icing harden and then dip the top half in icing again. By dipping the doughnuts in two layers of icing you will have a more opaque finish to the icing.

Finally, top the doughnuts with as many or as little sprinkles as you like!

INGREDIENTS:

DOUGHNUT BATTER:

• 100 g plain flour

• 1/8 tsp salt

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 1 small ripe banana

• 70 g golden caster sugar

• 80 ml plant milk (I used oat)

• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

• 2 1/2 tbsp neutral oil (I used sunflower)

• 2 1/2 tsp of sprinkles (plus extra to decorate)

ICING:

• 70 g icing sugar

• 3 tsp plant milk (I used oat)
  

METHOD:

1) Preheat the oven to 200°c / 180°c (fan).

2) Next sift the flour, salt and baking powder into a large bowl.

3) In a small bowl peel and mash the banana until completely smooth.

4) Add the mashed banana to the flour mixture along with the sugar, plant milk, vanilla extract and oil. Mix until a smooth batter is formed.

5) Add the 2 1/2 tsp of sprinkles to the batter and mix until the sprinkles are well distributed in the doughnut mixture.

6) Fill your doughnut tray with the batter. I transferred the batter to an icing bag and squeezed the mixture into the tray using that, but you can do it with a spoon if you find that easier.

7) Bake the doughnuts in the oven for 15 mins, until golden brown. (When cooked poke the doughnuts with a toothpick or knife to check if they are cooked through. If the toothpick/knife comes out clean the doughnuts are cooked).

8) Leave the doughnuts to cool in the tray.

9) Meanwhile, make the icing by mixing the icing sugar and 3 tsp plant milk in a small bowl.

10) Once the doughnuts have completely cooled remove them from the tray and one by one dip the top half of the doughnuts in the icing. Let the icing harden and then repeat by dipping the top half of the doughnuts in the icing again.

11) Finish the doughnuts with some sprinkles. Done!