Light and Fluffy Baked Vegan Donuts

Coffee and vegan donuts is a match made in heaven. Seriously, is there a better breakfast combo, or mid-morning pick-me-up?

Our easy recipe gives you all you need to make 12 soft vegan donuts in around 30 minutes. This recipe is a little healthier than conventional donuts. The donuts are baked not fried, and we use more whole-food ingredients like almond flour and apple sauce.

The result is a cake-like donut that’s moist, fluffy, and deliciously sweet. Put the coffee on, it’s time for breakfast!

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What are Donuts?

Donuts are a global wonder. They have roots in the Middle East, they were introduced to America by the Dutch, then they were made into the iconic breakfast treat they are today in New York City. Now donuts are made around the whole world.

In its simplest form, a donut is a fried dough ball, often served with a glaze or dusting of powdered sugar. Donuts come in all shapes and sizes, not to mention flavors – from jelly and chocolate to our pumpkin spiced donuts, which are perfect for fall.

Are Donuts Vegan?

Traditional donuts are not vegan due to the use of egg in the recipe, while some will also include dairy milk and butter.

Our donuts are vegan, as we use apple sauce instead of egg, and almond milk instead of dairy milk. The result is a plant-based donut that is nothing short of beautiful.

Are These Vegan Donuts Gluten-Free?

They certainly are gluten-free! Instead of standard all-purpose flour, we use both rice flour and almond flour to create a gluten-free donut.

Are Vegan Donuts Easy to Make?

Yes, these vegan donuts are easy to make. Most of your time will be spent mixing the ingredients, then transferring the batter into the molds and baking.

Transferring the batter is the most complex part of this recipe, as the process can be a bit messy. We recommend using a piping bag to distribute the batter, although you can spoon it in too.

What are Vegan Donuts Made Of?

Ready to start making them? Here’s the list of ingredients you’ll need for these donuts:

• Rice flour
• Almond flour
• Coconut sugar
• Baking powder
• Coconut oil
• Apple sauce
• Vanilla extract
• Almond milk

For the glaze you’ll need:

• Powdered sugar
• Almond milk

If you want to make this a sugar-free recipe, use monk fruit instead of coconut sugar and powdered monk fruit instead of powdered sugar.

How to Make Vegan Donuts

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F, then gather your ingredients.

Add your dry ingredients (flours, sugar, and baking powder) to a mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Mix everything together well.

Next, add the coconut oil, apple sauce, vanilla extract, and almond milk. Mix until everything is incorporated.

Transfer the mixture to a piping bag and pipe the dough into each donut mold. Then bake the donuts at 350°F for around 10 to 15 minutes, depending on your oven.

When they are ready, remove the donuts from the oven, and let them cool. Use this cooling time to prepare your glaze, which is done by whisking together the powdered sugar and almond milk.

Once the donuts are cooled, remove them from the donut pan and cover with the glaze.

These donuts are perfect served with a hot cup of coffee and a newspaper first thing in the morning!

Tips for the Best Vegan Donuts

The toughest part of this recipe is getting the sticky batter into the donut molds. The best way to do this is to use a piping bag, which can be purchased online or in any good baking store.

You should also spray the donut pan with a little oil before adding in the batter to ensure the donuts don’t stick to the pan.

Pay attention to the heat and timings. Be careful not to over-bake the donuts or they’ll be too dry. Equally, if you under-bake them, they will turn out gummy. You’ll know if the donuts are ready by lightly touching the top of one – if it springs back, it’s ready!

Finally, after baking, make sure your donuts are properly cooled before adding the glaze, otherwise the glaze won’t stick properly.

FAQ

How to Store Vegan Donuts

If you have some extra donuts you want to eat later, then you can keep them fresh by storing them in an airtight container in the fridge or in a cool, dry place for up to 3 days.

Can You Freeze Vegan Donuts?

They won’t be as good after a spell in the freezer, but you can freeze any leftover donuts for up to 2 months.

To do so, make sure they have first cooled completely. Then individually wrap each donut so they don’t stick together. Store them in an airtight container in the freezer until you are ready to eat them.

When ready, thaw them at room temperature on the kitchen counter, then serve!

Can You Make Vegan Donuts Ahead of Time?

Yes you can, although these donuts are best when served right away! If you need to make them in advance, they will keep for up to 3 days when stored in an airtight container (either on the kitchen counter or in the refrigerator).

How Long Does Vegan Donuts Last?

These vegan donuts will last for up to 3 days when stored in an airtight container.

Why Are Vegan Donuts So Good?

Besides the fact that they are so delicious, we think our vegan donuts are so good because we don’t use dairy products or egg in the recipe. 

Instead, we use healthier ingredients such as almond flour, almond milk, and apple sauce, while you can also replace coconut sugar with monk fruit for a sugar-free donut.

We also bake our donuts. While this doesn’t make them a health food, they are certainly better for you than a regular fried donut!

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag your photos with @healthiir on Instagram!