Say hello to your new guilty pleasure MINUS the guilt! These baked vegan cake donuts taste just as delicious as your favorite store bought version minus all the unnecessary junk! They are light, fluffy, sweet and perfect for dunking. Eat them plain or dipped in vegan chocolate and sprinkles, however you choose, I hope you ENJOY them as much as we do!
This post is sponsored by Kroger and Bolthouse Farms.
I’ve never been a big fan of donuts… GASP I know. I much prefer my carbs with butter and salt. But I happened to marry the worlds largest sweet tooth and over the last ten years I’ve lovingly created cleaned up versions of all his favorite treats. These donuts are at the tip top of his fave CLEAN EATS treats list, which is the highest compliment to me and your reason to make these ASAP. My eight year old has even requested them for her birthday celebrations this year! Did someone say donut cake?
If you know me, you know that baking is NOT my specialty. I would much prefer to create a delicious savory meal for my family and friends. But the more I get requests for sweet treats the more I find myself enjoying whipping up clean creations of my own!
There is something SO satisfying about creating a cleaned up version of your families favorite sweet treat. Knowing they are healthier, packed full of whole ingredients and still able to put a smile on their face is a major mom win. Don’t quote me, but I may be sharing more and more of our CLEAN EATS kitchen baked adventures here soon.
Baked Vegan Donuts vs Fried donuts
Donuts get a bad wrap for their large amounts of sugar and deep fried character. I knew there was a way we could simplify and clean up this recipe while keeping it delicious! Baked is aways a better option, these taste so light and crispy you may even think they were fried.
The secret? Line your tins with a generous smear of coconut oil. While they bake the coconut oil will crisp up the outer layer resembling almost a fried version. Plus I’m certain you won’t miss the extra calories or mess from the deep fryer!
Are baked vegan donuts easy to make
One word YASSSS. Is that a word? This recipe is easy enough for the beginner baker (me) and practically fool proof. Get your kids in the kitchen to help! The only specialty kitchen tool you need is a donut pan or two. I would recommend getting a variety so you can start creating big batches of your own baked vegan donut creations at home. I splurged on a donut hole pan and can’t wait to experiment with it.
Baked Vegan Donut Batter tips
The key to mastering this recipe is in your batter. There are a few helpful tips I learned while testing this recipe that I think will ensure a perfect final result.
- measure your flour on a food scale by grams
- sift your flour for best results
- don’t over mix your batter
- pipe your batter rather than spooning into donut pan
- don’t over fill your donut pan
- be careful not to overcook
Baked Vegan Donut Substitutions
You can easily swap out ingredients here if needed for dietary needs. Although the recipe tested uses these specifics, feel free to experiment at home as needed.
- Coconut oil = any vegetable oil or vegan margarine
- Applesauce = mashed banana
- All purpose flour = whole wheat flour
- Lemon juice = apple cider vinegar
*I haven’t experimented with gluten free flour but I would assume it would also work, it just may yield a more dense result. If you try it let me know in the comments how they turned out.
Plant Based Milk Benefits
I used Bolthouse Farms® vanilla Plant Protein Milk for this recipe and the flavor was incredible! I’m a huge fan of sneaking in extra protein when possible and Bolthouse Farms® Plant Protein Milk packs 10 grams per serving! For comparison almond milk only has 1 gram. This plant based milk is also non GMO, soy free and has 50% more calcium than dairy milk. Bumping this already cleaned up donut recipe up a healthy notch or two! I picked mine up from my local Kroger store in the vegan specialty products section.
Baked Vegan Donut cook times
- regular donut pan (yields 6 donuts) 15-17 minutes
- mini donut pan (yields 16 mini donuts) 12-15 minutes
- donut hole pan (yield 24 donut holes) 12-15 minutes
Baked Vegan Donut Topping Ideas
The options are endless with this simple recipe. I’ve sampled all of the below and I still prefer mine plain with a hot cup of tea, my family opts for chocolate and sprinkles, but anyway you top it you can’t go wrong! I’d love to know what other combinations you come up with in the comments below.
Here are a few of our faves…
- melted vegan chocolate
- vegan glaze
- fresh jam
- any nut butter
- honey
- tahini
- cinnamon & sugar
- sprinkles
I found plenty of vegan sprinkle options out there. Pay close attention to ingredients lists, many brands are vegan without actually labeling their products. Keep an eye out for beeswax, confectioners glaze or shellac, all of which would not be vegan.
DONUT forget to share
Food is my love language… clearly. With as much as I am constantly creating in my kitchen, I always have SO MUCH FOOD leftover to share. I keep a stash of boxes, containers and ribbons in the kitchen so we can deliver goods to our neighbors often. These baked vegan donuts came together so cute and festive, our neighbors loved them!!
Would you make these baked vegan donuts? Let me know if you do in the comments and I’d love if you could please rate them too!
Baked Vegan Cake Donuts
Ingredients
- 1 cup organic all purpose white flour (150g)
- 1/2 cup organic white sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup Bolthouse Farms® Vanilla Plant Protein Milk
- 1/2 tsp lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp applesauce, unsweetened
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
Chocolate topping:
- 1 cup vegan chocolate chips
- 1 tbsp coconut oil, melted
- rainbow sprinkles optional
Vegan Glaze:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp Bolthouse Farms® Vanilla Plant Protein Milk
- 2 tbsp coconut oil, melted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- rainbow sprinkles optional
- vegan food coloring optional
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees
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In a large bowl combine the dry ingredients and whisk to mix well.
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Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until just combined. It should form a soft dough.
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Scoop dough into a piping bag and secure with elastic. Snip 1/2 inch off of bag. Pipe dough into a lightly greased donut pan, filling each hole 3/4 of the way full. Tap pan on counter to level. You could easily use spoon to do this too.
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Bake in oven for around 15-17 minutes. Donuts will be golden on top and a toothpick inserted should come out clean.
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Remove from oven and transfer to a wire cooling rack. Allow to cool before topping.
Chocolate topping:
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While donuts are cooling melt your chocolate and coconut oil over a double broiler.
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Dip the tops of each donut into the melted chocolate and immediately place onto a cookie sheet. Add sprinkles right away. When all donuts have been dipped and sprinkled place the cookie sheet in the fridge to allow the chocolate to set.
Vegan Glaze:
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Combine all ingredients together in a medium bowl and mix well. If glaze is too dry add a tad more milk. If glaze is too wet add a bit more powdered sugar.
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Dip donuts into glaze and immediately place onto a cookie sheet. Add sprinkles right away. When all donuts have been dipped and sprinkled place the cookie sheet in the fridge to allow the glaze to set.
These were fun to make and very tasty!
These were easy to make and so delicious! Do you keep yours in the refrigerator after the chocolate is set or can you leave them on the counter?
Hi kate,
I’m so glad you enjoyed them, I do keep mine in the fridge. I will note. that! Xx
These are so delicious! And such an easy recipe. I used a cake pop silicone mold for donut holes because that’s all I had and they did need a few minutes longer cooking (I also used Olive Oil instead of coconut because that’s what was in the house) but are so delicious and now my son won’t be left out at daycare tomorrow! Thank you!!
I am so happy you enjoyed them Danielle!!