The best gluten free banana fritter is an air fried banana fritter! Enjoy these tasty snacks without the skillet of hot oil. Traditional stovetop frying method IS included.
recipe originally published March 21, 2011
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Why you'll love this recipe
These gluten free banana fritters are a delicious way to use up your over ripe bananas. You will love this quick and easy fritter as a dessert or snack, and here's why:
- Flavor: Banana fritters are just sweet enough on their own. Dip them into a rich caramel to take this dessert over the top.
- Texture: Crispy crunchy with a soft chewy interior, these warm fritters are pure comfort food.
- Method: Whether you pan fry or air fry, these take minutes to make.
The air fryer is our preferred method to make these, but when I originally made them in 2011, I didn't have an air fryer. We fried them in a skillet on the stovetop, so I have those instructions for you as well.
Read on to see our tips for the best fritter experience.
Tips for the best banana fritters
- Sweetener: Use very ripe bananas, the ones with black peels. Ripe bananas are sweeter, and this is the only sweetener you should need for this recipe, aside from the powdered sugar you finish with. If you test the first batch and they are not sweet enough, either make sure you have a sweet dipping sauce or add a small amount of maple syrup to the remaining batter.
- Size: I use a regular spoon to make the fritters, and as I am dropping the fritter onto the parchment for air frying or into the skillet, I sort of drag to flatten them a bit, so the insides cook evenly and thoroughly. They are odd shapes, but about 2 inches by half an inch thick.
- Frying: If frying in a skillet, wait until the oil is very hot before dropping the fritter batter into the skillet. This ensures the oil serves to crisp the fritter rather than be absorbed by it.
A savory banana fritter
For a savory version, you can adapt this recipe. Remove any sweetener, and replace the vanilla, cardamom, and cinnamon with savory spices like minced garlic, onion or shallot. You can also use garlic and onion powder, or lightly dust the fritters once cooked.
For a heartier fritter, try these tasty black bean plantain fritters.
How long do fritters last?
Banana fritters don't last long in our house, ha!
My rule for maximum flavor and freshness is to enjoy these banana fritters within three days.
To store, let fritters cool completely. Refrigerate in a glass container with a tightly fitting lid.
Reheating methods
- Oven: Arrange fritters on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake at 375° F until warmed through, turning after 5-7 minutes.
- Stovetop: Reheat on the stovetop in a skillet over medium heat.
- Air Fryer: Air fry fritters at 350 °F and check after 5 minutes. Carefully flip fritters and continue heating for another couple minutes as needed.
Did you make these gluten free banana fritters?
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Gluten Free Banana Fritters
A delicious way to use up your over ripe bananas. You will love this quick and easy fritter as a dessert or snack.
Ingredients
- 3 very ripe bananas, peeled
- ½ cup fine almond flour
- ¼ cup gluten free all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon cardamom
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- sesame seeds, as garnish
- powdered sugar, to coat
Instructions
- Line air fryer basket with parchment round. (See notes for instructions on skillet frying.)
- In a large mixing bowl, mash bananas.
- Add flours, vanilla, and spices to mashed bananas and combine, leaving small chunks of banana.
- Place spoonfuls of fritter batter on parchment lined air fryer basket.
- Air fry at 390 °F for 5 minutes. Remove and carefully turn with tongs or a spatula. Return basket to air fryer for another 3-5 minutes* at 390 °F.
- *All air fryers are different; test fritters for doneness, they should be light brown at edges and cooked through.
- Sprinkle with sesame seeds and powdered sugar and serve immediately.
Notes
Stovetop / skillet frying method
- Add just enough oil to coat the surface of a large skillet. Heat oil over medium high heat.
- Wait until oil is hot before adding spoonfuls of fritter batter with at least an inch of space between.
- Carefully flip fritters when they are golden crisp, and cook the other side.
- When finished cooking, place on paper towel to remove excess oil.
Tips for the best banana fritters
- Sweetener: Use very ripe bananas, the ones with black peels. Ripe bananas are sweeter, and this is the only sweetener you should need for this recipe, aside from the powdered sugar you finish with. If you test the first batch and they are not sweet enough, either make sure you have a sweet dipping sauce or add a small amount of maple syrup to the remaining batter.
- Size: I use a regular spoon to make the fritters, and as I am dropping the fritter onto the parchment for air frying or into the skillet, I sort of drag to flatten them a bit, so the insides cook evenly and thoroughly. They are odd shapes, but about 2 inches by half an inch thick.
- Frying: If frying in a skillet, wait until the oil is very hot before dropping the fritter batter into the skillet. This ensures the oil crisps the fritter rather than absorb it.
A savory banana fritter
For a savory version, you can adapt this recipe. Remove any sweetener, and replace the vanilla, cardamom, and cinnamon with savory spices like minced garlic, onion or shallot. You can also use garlic and onion powder, or lightly dust the fritters once cooked.
For a heartier fritter, try these tasty black bean plantain fritters.
How long do fritters last?
Banana fritters don't last long in our house, ha!
My rule for maximum flavor and freshness is to enjoy these banana fritters within three days.
To store, let fritters cool completely. Refrigerate in a glass container with a tightly fitting lid.Â
Reheating methods
- Oven: Arrange fritters on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake at 375° F until warmed through, turning after 5-7 minutes.
- Stovetop: Reheat on the stovetop in a skillet over medium heat.
- Air Fryer: Air fry fritters at 350 °F and check after 5 minutes. Carefully flip fritters and continue heating for another couple minutes as needed.Â
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
5Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 189Total Fat: 7gUnsaturated Fat: 4gSodium: 108mgCarbohydrates: 25gFiber: 4gSugar: 8gProtein: 5g
nutrition calculations results vary by calculator, are for informational purposes only, and are not intended to replace medical advice or treatment.
about Kristina:
Kristina is spabettie! She found cooking at an early age, and created spabettie in 2010 to share vegan recipes. Kristina turned her culinary training into sharing vibrant vegan food! Read more...
spabettie / Kristina Sloggett is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
Heather @ kissmybroccoli says
Mmm, I love asian cuisine! I'm a total sucker for fried rice. I've tried a few "healthified" recipes in the past but they are always disappointing...I guess sometimes you just have to go with the "gud" stuff! I LOVE going to this huge Asian market in Nashville that has just about everything you can think of...and a few things you can't! Haha! I can get kabocha squash there year round for uber cheap! And that def makes me a happy girl! 🙂
Funny, my dad was just telling me how great banana fritters are the other day, but I've never tried them!
spabettie says
ha - yeah, I love Asian markets - I could spend HOURS there. This was my first banana fritter - SO VERY good... the bananas get really sweet.
Christin@purplebirdblog says
You know I am ALL OVER the Asian market! 🙂
S @ extremebalance.net/blog says
How MAGICAL to get to test! Oh bliss, indeed! What fun---to be like Christopher Columbus, contacting a new recipe with unexpected greatness... (let's ignore the bad side of that story and focus on FRITTERS!)
...I don't really know what a fritter is. Is it doughnut-like?
spabettie says
I am loving it - so fun, and a great experience when the recipes are delicious! I suppose a fritter is kinda like a doughnut? a bit denser, but that's because it full of delectable banana goodness...
Liz (Little Bitty Bakes) says
I am a firm believer that a quick dip in oil will never hurt a food. 😉
spabettie says
I will follow wherever you lead, my friend!!
Amanda says
Banana fritters sound so delicious! I bet they'd be great dipped in chocolate or peanut butter. Yum.
spabettie says
yep - we dipped them in peanut butter.
then we tried Nutella. 😉
Katherine: Unemployed says
the sesame adds another dimension! great topping
spabettie says
I love sesame and their flavor!
Dorry says
These look delicious! Anything with banana, and I'm pretty much sold. Billy made something similar to this when we were dating for dessert with ice cream. Yum!
spabettie says
they were delicious, and VERY easy! they will definitely make repeat appearances here. bananas with ice cream, like bananas foster, reminds me of ski team. we would frequently make or go out for that after races. 🙂
Leanne @ Healthful Pursuit says
My goodness, these look amazing! You weren't kidding. Great job 🙂
I don't have a favorite Asian dish (I don't get out much I guess). But I do love a good miso, does that count?
spabettie says
miso definitely counts - I love miso too - great flavor.
camille says
I love asian food! I think pho might be my favorite, but really, I love a lot of different things. 🙂 I also love to try new recipes and ingredients, and any day I can go to Uwajimaya is a good day. Have you been there? It's in Beaverton, it's a huge asian super market. Very fun. 🙂
spabettie says
I LOVE Uwajimaya!! (and, by the way, I *JUST* realized you live in the Portland area!) 😀 Having a dad from Hawaii, I especially like the Hawaiian Festival they have each year. and because of this recipe testing I have been doing, I've made several trips to Uwajimaya lately! when I worked at the clinic (off Hawthorne) I would eat pho several times a week for lunch... I really need to attempt it myself, I really miss it!
Jessica @ Dairy Free Betty says
I think the better thing to ask is... is there any asian dishes you DON't like.. haha.. I heart Asian food!!
Those look awesome! Can you package some up when you send my package! hehe 🙂
spabettie says
haa! nope, they're LONG gone!! if I knew they'd travel well I would!