Sweet Banana and Cardamom Mandazi Fritters

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-07 · Updated 2026-06-07

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Fluffy, lightly spiced East African fried doughnuts flavored with ripe bananas and fragrant cardamom, perfect for breakfast or a snack. This African-inspired recipe, ready in about 40 minutes, layers all-purpose flour, ripe bananas, sugar into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 180 calories and feeds 8, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 20 min Serves 8 African cuisine 180 cal/serving

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Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 medium, mashed ripe bananas
1/4 cup sugar
2 tsp active dry yeast
3/4 cup (110°F) warm water
1 tsp ground cardamom
1/2 tsp salt
for deep frying vegetable oil
1/4 cup milk

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Instructions

Step 1: In a small bowl, combine 3/4 cup warm water and 2 tsp active dry yeast with 1 tbsp sugar. Stir and let sit for 10 minutes until frothy.
Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 tsp ground cardamom, and 1/2 tsp salt.
Step 3: Add 2 mashed medium ripe bananas, 1/4 cup milk, and the frothy yeast mixture to the dry ingredients. Mix until a soft dough forms.
Step 4: Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead for 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let rise in a warm spot for 1 hour until doubled in size.
Step 5: Punch down the dough and roll out to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut into diamond or triangle shapes.
Step 6: Heat vegetable oil in a deep fryer or heavy pot to 350°F. Fry the dough pieces in batches for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown and puffed.
Step 7: Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Serve warm plain or dusted with powdered sugar.