A Clean Bake

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Doughnuts with Peanut Butter Frosting (gluten free and paleo)

Gluten Free
Paleo
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Paleo Banana Bread Chocolate Chip Doughnuts

Can you believe the nerve of these doughnuts, showing up with their chocolate chip-stuffed innards, and their come hither sprinkles and their seductive chocolate drizzle? In January no less? Don’t they know that January is a doughnut-free zone, full of vegetables and green smoothies and dietary hail marys?

Don’t they know it’s detox season???

And yet, here they are. Staring us down. A dozen rich, decadent, chocolatey, gooey frosted doughnuts.

Let’s teach them a lesson.

Let’s eat them.

Paleo Banana Bread Chocolate Chip Doughnuts

I’m kidding, of course. Not about how delicious they are, and certainly not about eating them, but about how these are antithetical to health food. They’re not exactly a vegetable, but they’re low carb, low glycemic, paleo and relatively small, so let’s call them a forgivable cheat and get back to our respective detoxes later.

I have a little confession to make. Actually two: first, I couldn’t resist taking one million glamour shots of these stupid doughnuts because they’re so darn cute and I am easily hypnotized by a sprinkling of multicolored sprinkles. So, sorry for the excessive volume of photos in this post. Second, I made these from… a mix. A banana muffin mix, actually, which I added a few extra ingredients to, and then simply baked in a doughnut pan. I’m not even the least bit ashamed, for the record. With all due respect to Betty, this wasn’t a Crocker mix, but actually a wholesome, paleo-friendly mix made of nothing more than almond flour, coconut sugar, arrowroot powder, bananas, sea salt, vanilla and baking soda – all ingredients I use in my kitchen on a regular basis. I didn’t mind using this mix because it basically seemed like the dry ingredients I pull out of my cupboard and throw in a bowl on a regular basis, only these were pre-measured and poured in a bag for me.

Paleo Banana Bread Chocolate Chip Doughnuts

The mix I used is made by a small (but fast-growing) company called Simple Mills, based out of Chicago. It’s founded by a classmate of mine from grad school who was nice enough to sit down with me and tell me about her company and its mission to help people live better by eating better. It sounds like the same message you may have heard from a lot of other food companies, and it is, but Simple Mills puts its money where its mouth is, making their products organic, GMO free, allergen free, and as close to the whole form as possible. For the record, the founder of the company didn’t ask me to say any of this; she didn’t even know I was planning to write about the company. I wasn’t, but I was so impressed with what I learned and how the products tasted (three of which I bought a long time ago, but this one I was given at our meeting since it was the only one I hadn’t yet tried) that I wanted to share. Like I said, it’s actually a banana muffin mix, but with a few extra ingredients, and a soft peanut butter frosting, and you have delicious doughnuts.

Paleo Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Doughnuts
So, in sum, Simple Mills = good; Simple Mills-based banana chocolate chip doughnuts = great.

Paleo Banana Bread Chocolate Chip Doughnuts
 

Paleo Banana Bread Chocolate Chip Doughnuts

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Doughnuts with Peanut Butter Frosting

Yield: 12 doughnuts

Ingredients

For the Doughnuts

  • 1 bag Simple Mills banana muffin mix
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 2/3 cup water
  • 1 Tablespoon coconut oil, melted and slightly cooled
  • ½ cup well mashed very ripe banana
  • 1 Tablespoon coconut flour
  • ½ cup chocolate chips

For Frosting

  • 1/2 cup coconut sugar
  • 1/2 cup creamy natural peanut butter
  • Pinch fine sea salt
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 1/3 cup chocolate chips

For Garnish

  • 1/3 cup chocolate chips
  • Sprinkles

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350F, and lightly grease 2 half-dozen doughnut pans. Set them aside.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the muffin mix, the egg, the water, the coconut oil and the banana until very well combined. Stir in coconut flour. Allow to sit for about 1 minute, which allows the coconut flour to absorb some of the liquid.
  3. Fold in chocolate chips.
  4. Divide the batter into the 12 compartments of the prepared doughnut pans (see note). Each compartment should be about 2/3 full.
  5. Bake for 18-20 minutes until the doughnuts are risen and slightly golden around the edges. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
  6. While the doughnuts are baking, make the frosting: In a small food processor, process the coconut sugar for about a minute, until it resembles a fine powder. You are essentially making less-processed powdered sugar. Add the peanut butter, salt and coconut oil to the blender and process until smooth, making sure to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl periodically to ensure everything is evenly mixed.
  7. When you are ready to assemble the doughnuts, melt the remaining chocolate chips in a heatproof bowl in the microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in between, until smooth. Apply frosting to each cooled doughnut, decorate with sprinkles and them drizzle the melted chocolate on top (see note).

Notes

  • The easiest (and least messy) way to fill the doughnut pan and to apply the chocolate garnish to the doughnuts is with a DIY pastry bag: Transfer all of the batter/chocolate into a large zip-top bag, snip off one corner of the bag, twist the excess plastic into a handle, and use the bag to carefully pipe batter in to each compartment or chocolate onto the top of each doughnut.
  • Storage Note: It is best to keep these in the fridge to prevent the frosting from softening too much.
  • If you need the frosting to stand up to room temperature better, add coconut flour, 1 tsp at a time, waiting about a minute between each addition, until the frosting reaches the desired consistency.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 264Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 108mgCarbohydrates: 31gFiber: 3gSugar: 23gProtein: 5g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave me a comment and rating, or tag me on Instagram using @nora_acleanbake or #acleanbake!

© Nora (A Clean Bake)
Cuisine: Dessert / Category: Doughnuts
Thank you to Simple Mills for providing the ingredients that inspired this delicious recipe. This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click through and purchase a product, A Clean Bake receives a small commission, which goes toward continuing to bring you delicious, healthy recipes every week. This does not affect the price you pay. Thanks for supporting A Clean Bake!


This post may contain affiliate links, which means that A Clean Bake receives a small commission from your purchase at no additional cost to you. All proceeds are used to continue to bring you delicious, healthy recipes. Thanks for supporting A Clean Bake!

Comments

  2. Taylor says

    OMG. Seriously?! Do not even apologize for the amount of photos – they are so gorgeous!! I’m pretty sure I could eat that peanut butter frosting by the spoonful and not be ashamed about it. I’ve never heard of Simple Mills but when I checked their website I saw that they carry it at my Whole Foods so I’m totally going to have to go check that out!

    Reply

    • Nora (A Clean Bake) says

      I’m here to tell you that you definitely could eat it by the spoonful. Not that I speak from experience or anything (er…uh…yeah). Yes, I didn’t even realize it but you are in one of the areas of the country where Simple Mills is in stores! So far, I can personally vouch for their chocolate chip cookies, banana bread and sandwich bread/focaccia mix as being fantastic. Let me know if you try one of their products and what you think!

      Reply

  5. Selena @ The Nutritious Kitchen says

    Okay you do not even understand how badly I have been craving donuts! And I honestly have spent most of my life not liking donuts…I know something was really wrong with me…but all of a sudden I have had a MAD craving for them, I even almost bought a $30 donut pillow…the cravings are real lol
    So that’s just some background info on how my feelings are right now and how I seriously think we have a major food blogger connection. I need donuts. You made donuts. Healthy. You honestly just won my heart!!!
    And on a totally different note, THANK YOU for introducing me to this brand! I am currently stalking their site and I have a total soft spot for companies like these and the ingredients they use are phenomenal. Debating getting the chocolate chip cookie mix right now…anyways i’ll stop blabbering and go make your donuts now 🙂

    Reply

    • Nora (A Clean Bake) says

      I totally hear you about the doughnuts. I think you have to have good ones, or else they end up tasting like soggy/stale old bread. I honestly think these doughnuts would win over even the non-believers (but it sounds like they wouldn’t have to work as hard in your case haha!)

      I’m glad you got a chance to check out their site! Their products are legit. They lengths they go to keep everything as real/wholesome as possible is incredibly impressive. They might even carry the mixes in your whole foods! But if not, I know they are on Amazon, if you decide you want to try them 🙂

      Reply

  6. Erika says

    Um hello GORGEOUS. Doughnuts in January? I’ll take ’em! So awesome that your classmate founded Simple Mills! It’s such a great concept–I totally want to try them now! And obviously make and eat all these doughnuts!!! <33

    Reply

  9. Monica says

    Hi there! You have some seriously great looking food here! “A Clean Bake” sounds very smart! And these donuts – love how they look and I’m having trouble taking my eyes off that PB frosting (and of course, the sprinkles, too)! : )

    Reply

  11. Monica says

    MMMM!!! Wow, these look so delicious and super moist. I just want to eat one right now (: It’s really cool that your classmate works for the same company that makes this banana muffin mix!

    Reply

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