All you'll need to make these Gluten Free Donuts are a few simple ingredients, a bowl, and a spoon! They're naturally grain free, paleo, gluten free, dairy free, and bursting with pumpkin spice flavor!
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A truly good recipe for gluten free donuts can be elusive, but here you'll find a tried-and-true recipe that is so easy, even the kids can make it!
While you can make baked donuts in just about any flavor, we chose pumpkin because it's one of our favorites! This recipe also happens to be healthy, although no one would guess!
These donuts are naturally sweetened and packed with healthy fats, pumpkin, and almond flour, so you don't have to feel guilty making them for breakfast or an after school snack.
Whether you reserve pumpkin-flavored treats for the final few months of the year or you're a Pumpkin-All-Year-Round kind of person, we think you'll love this easy and healthy recipe for gluten free and paleo donuts.
We love making baked donuts because there is little clean up, and they are healthier. The first thing you'll need to make baked donuts is a donut pan like this one.
If this is your first time making baked donuts, you can purchase a simple donut pan at a local store (try Walmart) or online. We like the one shown and linked to above because it is sturdy and inexpensive.
This recipe makes 6 donuts which will fit in just one pan, but we like to double the recipe so it's nice to have 2 pans and bake them all at the same time.
The kids beg us to make these gluten free Donuts All.The.Time and we don't mind obliging because they are quick and easy to make, and secretly healthy!
How to Make Gluten Free Donuts
Making baked donuts is soooo easy, you're gonna love it!
First step, gather your ingredients. These donuts will come together super quick, and only require a few simple ingredients.
This recipe is literally dump and stir. You'll whisk together your wet ingredients, stir in the dry ingredients, fill the donut pan, then bake.
The best way to transfer batter to the donut pan is to use a pastry bag (you can use a sturdy quart size ziploc if you don't have a pastry bag), snip off the tip, and squeeze in the circle to form your donut.
Once the donuts are baked, let them cool in the pan for a few minutes, then loosen the edges with a spatula and transfer to cooling racks.
Tips for Making the BEST Baked Donuts:
Making baked donuts is super easy and fairly fail-proof, but here are a few simple hacks to help you be successful:
- When measuring flour, always stir, scoop into your measuring cup, and level off. Be careful not to pack the flour into the measuring cup. If you're using almond flour to make paleo donuts like this recipe, use a spoon or fork to gently break up any lumps of almond flour.
- Whisk the wet ingredients thoroughly until everything is well combined. You don't want any egg-y bites of donut! When you stir in the dry ingredients, mix just until combined and don't overdo it.
- Dress it up a little! It's easy to customize these gluten free donuts to fit your family's taste preferences. Top with glaze, roll in powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar, or add a handful of chocolate chips before baking. Get creative!
Ways to Serve Gluten Free Donuts:
These Pumpkin Spice Donuts have enough flavor to stand on their own without any kind of topping, but feel free to dress them up a bit! Use any of the following ideas:
- Use the paleo glaze recipe included in the printable below
- Stir a handful of your choice of chocolate chips into the batter. We like Enjoy Life Foods mini chocolate chips which are free from the top 8 allergens. If you're looking for a paleo option, we've linked to Lily's paleo chocolate chips in the recipe card below.
- Top with a Chocolate Tahini Drizzle!
- Melt ½ cup chocolate chips with 3 T tahini. Drizzle over donuts and lick your fingers 🙂
- When donuts are cool, roll them in either powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar (they will no longer be paleo)
More Amazing Gluten Free Breakfast Recipes:
If you're looking for more paleo/low carb recipes, check out one of our favorite blogs Four Score Living!
MAKING THESE GLUTEN FREE DONUTS??? We love to hear about it!
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Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Donuts
These gluten free donuts are bursting with pumpkin spice flavor & are a kid favorite! Easy to make, these baked donuts naturally grain free, paleo, gluten free, & dairy free.
Ingredients
- 1 large egg
- ⅓ cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie mix)
- 2 T oil (we used avocado)
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 ½ cups almond flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon allspice optional
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Lightly grease your donut pan(s) -
- In a large bowl, whisk together egg, pumpkin, oil, and honey.
- Add remaining ingredients and whisk just until smooth.
- Scrape batter into a pastry bag or quart size Ziploc and snip off the corner. Squeeze the batter into the pan (each donut cavity should be about ⅔ full)
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Cool for a few minutes in the pan, then use a spatula to loosen the edges of each donut and turn out onto a cooling rack. Allow to cool completely before topping (see notes for topping ideas!)
- Store leftovers in the fridge, or freeze individually on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer bag.
Notes
- This recipe can be doubled to make a total of 12 donuts.
- If you want, you can add a handful of chocolate chips with the dry ingredients.
- These pumpkin spice donuts are great as-is, but you can top with any of the following!
PALEO GLAZE
In a small bowl, whisk together ¼ cup arrowroot starch, 2 T maple syrup, and ¼ cup coconut cream (refrigerate a can of coconut cream and use the solids on top)
CHOCOLATE TAHINI DRIZZLE
In a small saucepan, melt ½ cup chocolate chips (we love Enjoy Life Foods) and 3 T tahini.
SUGAR-COATED
Once the donuts are cool, roll in either powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar. NOTE: these will no longer be paleo 🙂
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Kirkland Signature Almond Flour Blanched California Superfine, 3 Pounds -
Enjoy Life Semi-sweet Chocolate Mini Chips Pck of 2 (Packaging may vary) -
Premium Dark Chocolate Baking Chips by Lily's Sweets |Stevia Sweetened, No Added Sugar, Low-Carb, Keto Friendly | 55% Cacao | Fair Trade, Vegan, Gluten-Free & Non-GMO | 9 oz, 3 Pack
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 318Total Fat: 22gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 37mgSodium: 224mgCarbohydrates: 27gFiber: 5gSugar: 17gProtein: 8g
Gillie says
OH! These look so good! For some reason I've really been wanting donuts lately, and have gotten rather sad that their isn't any gluten free donut stores. thank you! As soon as I pick up a can of pumpkin these will be in the oven.
thereislifeafterwheat@gmail.com says
I always want donuts, haha! Maybe you can start a gluten free donut shop - I'll be your first customer 🙂 Hope you enjoy these! -Celeste
Tessa Simpson says
paleo pumpkin goodness! Everything abut this recipe looks awesome! Thanks Celeste!
thereislifeafterwheat@gmail.com says
Thank you, enjoy!
Raia Todd says
Aaahhh! I have everything I need to make these! It must be a sign...
Nicole Dawson says
I'm all about the donut and these look delish. Love your paleo version on it!
Jules Shepard says
This just screams fall! Just grab a cup of cider....
Erica D. says
Chocolate. Tahini. BRING IT GIRL. PS I have those same pans, super effective and all I've ever used for donuts.
jenna urben says
OMG yum! I've been wanting to make pumpkin spice donuts but I don't have a donut pan yet haha. I'm sure I could replace the egg with bob's egg replacer or flax egg. Gotta try this ASAP! So tasty looking and festive 🙂
thereislifeafterwheat@gmail.com says
The donut pan is one of the best purchases I've made, haha! I would love to hear how they turned out with the egg replacements, please let me know! -Celeste
Alisa Fleming says
Yep, it's pumpkin AND donut season. Can't wait to try this recipe. I miss having a breakfast pastry once in a while, and this is such a healthy alternative.
thereislifeafterwheat@gmail.com says
Hope you enjoy them Alisa! -Celeste
Kathy Hester says
I am enjoying pumpkin season so far and these pumpkin donuts with the glaze look delicious. I can't wait to make some of my own.
thereislifeafterwheat@gmail.com says
Hope you enjoy them Kathy! -Celeste
Sarah says
I'm all about donuts and these look so scrumptious!! Hoping I can make some this weekend.
Callie says
I made these this morning. I didn't have almond flour so I used my g.f. all purpose flour. They were pretty dense but still delicious. I'll probably add more liquid next time. I used the glaze from the blueberry biscuit recipe, except for the almond flavor, and that was really delicious. Thanks for the recipe!
Casidy @ Cassidys Craveable Creations says
I love paleo pumpkin everything! These are a must-make for me!!! My kids are alwasy begging for me to make donuts 🙂
Noelle says
I love this recipe even when it is not pumpkin season! Still making them and they are great 🙂
Laura Graber says
I am going to make this, but have to substitute a levening agent for cream of tartar and a bit of soda I think. What is your input please? My teenage daughter is screaming for a doughnut she and I can eat without anything that rises.
thereislifeafterwheat@gmail.com says
This recipe doesn't use cream of tartar, just baking soda. Without a rising agent like baking soda, the donuts will be flat.
Robin says
So I tried this recipe twice but both times sticking to donut pan even though I sprayed . Tastes delicious but
Couldn’t get donuts out. What is the secret ??