Baby-Friendly Banana-Yogurt Donut Holes (Air Fryer)

Name: Baby-Friendly Banana-Yogurt Donut Holes (Air Fryer)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 18 donut holes
Cuisine: Baby-Friendly
Ingredients: 3 large ripe bananas, mashed; 1/3 cup lightly sweetened baby yogurt (strawberry or plain); 1 cup all-purpose flour; 1/4 cup almond flour; 1/2 tsp baking powder; 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional); Pinch of salt (optional, skip for babies under 1 year); 2 tbsp melted butter (optional, for coating); 2 tbsp granulated sugar (optional, for coating); 1/2 tsp cinnamon (optional, for coating)

AI Kitchen

Nov 23, 2024

Soft, fluffy, and naturally sweet, these Baby-Friendly Banana-Yogurt Donut Holes are air-fried for a healthier treat that’s perfect for little ones and older kids alike. With an optional buttery cinnamon-sugar coating, you can customize them for any taste! A quick, easy, and delicious snack or dessert for the whole family.

Baby-Friendly Banana-Yogurt Donut Holes (Air Fryer)

Jump to recipe

I had borderline deceased bananas and couldn't stand the thought of making banana bread again... I wanted baby friendly banana and yogurt donut holes, baked in air fryer. On to ChatGPT:

I have 3 ripe bananas and I want to make a baby friendly cookie, donut holes or patties. Can be with yogurt, I have baby yogurt that's lightly sweetened, flour, almond flour, etc. but needs to be baby friendly. And palatable for older kids too. In the air fryer

It did:

Here’s a baby-friendly and older-kid-approved recipe using your ripe bananas and baby yogurt. These lightly sweetened banana donut holes are air-fried, soft, and perfect for little ones and picky eaters.

Banana-Yogurt Donut Holes (Air Fryer)

Ingredients:

3 ripe bananas
1/3 cup lightly sweetened baby yogurt (strawberry or plain works well)
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup almond flour
1/4 tsp baking powder (optional, for fluffiness)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional, for flavor)
Pinch of salt (optional, skip for babies under 1 year)

Instructions:

Mash the Bananas
- In a mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas until smooth.
Mix the Wet Ingredients
- Stir in the baby yogurt and vanilla extract (if using) until well combined.
Add the Dry Ingredients
- Gradually add all-purpose flour, almond flour, baking powder, and salt (if using). Stir until the mixture forms a sticky dough.
Shape the Donut Holes
- Using a spoon or small cookie scoop, form small dough balls (about 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter).
Prepare for Air Frying
- Lightly grease the air fryer basket or line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
Air Fry
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C). Arrange the dough balls in a single layer, leaving a little space between each. Air fry for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden brown and set.
Cool and Serve
- Let the donut holes cool completely before serving to babies.

Notes:

These donut holes are soft and naturally sweet from the bananas and yogurt.
For older kids, you can lightly dust them with powdered sugar or serve with a drizzle of maple syrup or fruit puree for dipping.

Would you like any variations or suggestions for storing leftovers?

The bananas were huge, and really ripe, and the dough was runny and in no state to hold shape:

The dough seems really runny. Do I need to add more flour?

It responded:

Yes, if the dough is too runny, you should add more flour. Start by adding an extra 1-2 tablespoons of flour at a time, mixing well after each addition, until the dough is thick enough to hold its shape when scooped. It should still be soft and sticky but not so runny that it spreads out completely.

If you'd like a softer texture, you can use almond flour for the additional flour, or stick to all-purpose for a firmer structure. Let me know how it goes!

I wasn't sure so I asked:

What is the indication that the consistency is right?

It responded:

The consistency is right when the dough:

Holds its shape: When scooped with a spoon or small cookie scoop, the dough should form a soft ball or mound without immediately spreading out.
Is sticky but manageable: It should feel slightly sticky to the touch but firm enough that you can gently shape it with lightly floured hands or a scoop.
Does not drip: If the dough drips or flows like pancake batter, it needs more flour.

Test by forming one small ball and placing it in the air fryer or on parchment paper. If it holds up and doesn't flatten too much, you’re good to go!

I wanted to get the quantities right, so I asked:

The bananas were large. I added about 1 cup of flour and 1/4 almond flour. Should I add more baking powder too?

And it did indicate that I should add more baking powder:

With the extra flour added, a little more baking powder would help maintain fluffiness. Add an additional 1/4 teaspoon of baking powder (making the total 1/2 teaspoon). This will ensure the donut holes rise nicely without becoming dense.

Mix it in gently to avoid overworking the dough, and they should air-fry beautifully! Let me know how they turn out.

So I asked:

Actually, I want to add an optional step for melting butter, and mixing sugar and cinnamon, and dipping the donuts in butter then sugar cinnamon mix after air frying. Please rewrite the recipe with updated quantities.

And behold:

Yield: ~18 donut holes

Calories per Serving: ~40 (plain) or ~60 (with cinnamon-sugar coating)

Total Time: 25 minutes