Healthy Vanilla Donuts are just minutes away with these gluten-free baked donuts that are made with oat flour and Greek yogurt, for a breakfast that makes healthier eating fun!
When was the last time you ate a donut?
Unless I make them myself, it’s like… um… never.
It’s extremely rare to find a donut shop that makes gluten-free donuts.
So maybe, like me, you’re looking for a solid gluten-free donut recipe that you can make at home instead?
But you don’t wanna break out a ton of oil and turn your kitchen into a frying machine? I feel ya.
Check these out, my friends. Instead of those delicious fried balls of dough, these Healthy Vanilla Donuts are baked, and extra moist and springy thanks to oat flour and Greek yogurt.
Not like a traditional donut, but just as delicious, these healthified donuts are filled with vanilla flavor, and topped with a thick glaze and sprinkles.
If you want a fun extra special breakfast to add to your weekends, and still wanna fill up on some healthy carbs, then these donuts are for you!
Have some questions about these donuts?
First, let’s talk about the texture of these donuts.
I’ve already said these won’t be like a traditional fried donut, because they aren’t fried. So, what about a cake donut?
Unlike a cake donut, which I think can often be too thick and dry, these donuts are fluffy and moist. If you’ve ever had a cake donut and wished it was more moist, I think that’s what these donuts are most similar to texture-wise.
After all, cake donuts remind me of a dense piece of cake. But, if that cake was fluffy and moist? Then, that’s these donuts. 🙂
So what about oat flour?
Oat flour is part of the reason that these donuts are such a great texture and are made healthier. Oat flour gives you extra fiber and has a great texture, compared to some gluten-free flours that can come across a little gummy.
My favorite flour to bake with and eat is gluten-free oat flour because of it’s texture and added health benefits.
And Greek yogurt in a donut?
Such a great way to get the perfect springy texture into your donut and also get some added protein along the way!
I recommend using a vanilla Greek yogurt for this recipe, to get as much vanilla flavor as possible infused into these donuts. It can be tricky to get just the right amount of vanilla flavor into baked goods. If you prefer plain Greek yogurt then you can use that instead, but add more vanilla to your donut batter then (about 1 1/2 tsp total should do the trick).
Lastly, let’s talk glaze.
The glaze on these donuts is tricky. Well, it’s really easy to make. But, it’s tricky because oat flour can soak up the glaze incredibly easy. So, make sure your donut glaze is nice and thick or it’ll basically melt into the donut itself. Delicious, but not as pretty.
I’d also recommend not adding the glaze to the donuts until you eat them. Unless you don’t really care how pretty these donuts are, and if your glaze sinks into your donuts! I will say, it makes them extra melt-in-your-mouth that way, so I’m not complaining. 😉
Top them with whatever sprinkles you like. I do think classic rainbow jimmies are best though!
Easy, healthy, and so fun with sprinkles, I can’t get enough of these donuts! They would make any weekend day feel extra special, or they’re a fun treat for a birthday party, or even a baby shower!
Let me know, are you a fan of baked donuts or do you just miss good ole deep fried donuts?
More healthy breakfast ideas to check out? I’d recommend my Banana Bread Breakfast Cookies, Chocolate Steel Cut Oats, and Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oat Muffins.
And, hey, donut forget a donut pan! 😉
- 1 cup oat flour (certified gluten-free)
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp butter or coconut oil, melted
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 egg
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 4-5 tsp milk
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
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To begin, preheat your oven to 350 and spray a donut pan with non-stick spray.
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To a mixing bowl, add your oat flour, baking soda and salt and whisk them together till well combined. Be sure to break up any large oat flour clumps, if necessary.
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In another mixing bowl, add your butter, maple syrup, Greek yogurt, and milk. Whisk thoroughly till well combined and there are no Greek yogurt clumps. Add your vanilla and egg and whisk again till well combined.
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Pour your dry ingredients into your wet ingredients and whisk them together, to form your donut batter.
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Set your batter aside and let it "rest" for about 5 minutes, for the oat flour to soak up your wet ingredients. Your batter should thicken up.
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Pipe or spoon your donut batter around into each donut cavity, filling them about 2/3 way full.
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Bake in the oven for 7-9 minutes, or till the donuts are springy to touch.
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For easy removal, first let your donuts cool in the pan, for 5-10 minutes. Then you can slide a knife around the outside edge of each donut very carefully, to loosen them from the edges of the pan. Finally, place a wire cooling rack on top of your donuts and flip both the rack and pan over so the donuts flip out onto the cooling rack.
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Spray your pan again with non-stick spray and bake the rest of your donuts.
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Let them cool before icing.
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In a small mixing bowl, add your powdered sugar, milk and vanilla and whisk them together thoroughly till you have one smooth, thick glaze. *If you prefer a thinner glaze you can add more milk, but because of the oat flour these donuts will most likely soak the glaze up.
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You can carefully dip the tops of your donuts into the glaze or you can drizzle it on top of your donuts. Immediately add your sprinkles on top after glazing.
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Devour!
These donuts keep best in an airtight container in the fridge for about a week. If you aren’t eating them right away, I recommend waiting and glazing them just prior to eating them.
Made these donuts with my 2 yr old grandson. (Yes, I did take pictures) the only thing we did differently, was add fresh strawberries to the glaze. Milo loves pink donuts with sprinkles. The whole family loved them, and we’ll be making again!
Could I use date syrup instead of maple?
Hi Olivia. I haven’t done that, but I think it would work it’s just the flavor would be a bit different.
Thanks for the recipe!! Can I use a flax egg? I’m vegan.
Yes! That should work.
Just made these. The recipe only made us 6, but they were so good! Will definitely make again. I did add a little cinnamon in the mix too. I like this healthy option when you are craving a donut. Definitely a cake donut and was very yummy.
I made a “donuffin” version using muffin baking cups
because I didn’t have a donut pan and I can’t use cooking spray (I can’t eat anything with salicylic acid). Delicious! I needed to cook them about twice as long for them to spring back. And I sprinkled my homemade vanilla granola on top instead of sprinkles. I definitely will be making other flavors. What a fun treat!
That’s such a fun idea, Susan! I’m so happy to hear they turned out so well.
I did a batch of spice and a batch of lemon. Sugar free. Perfect.
Great to hear, thanks!
Do you have the nutritional info? thank you. Pat
Hi Pat. The only nutritional information I calculate is calories. For 9 donuts, they’re about 133 calories each. I hope this helps!
Love this recipe Chelsea! We’ve made other gf baked donuts with pumpkin for instance but we wanted a vanilla cake type so it could be more of an Easter treat for my son that has so many food challenges.
I added more vanilla, sweetener is honey so tad more oat flour and made a ‘legal” frosting for him with a few sprinkles. Legal frosting is lactose free low fat cream cheese, honey, arrowroot powder and vanilla. Just a small smear to make festive. Going to try making these into lemon and/or ginger too as such a good change from choc and pumpkin.
Thank you for all your recipes to learn from on this gf journey. Your work makes my son’s life happier!
So great to hear, Janice!! I’m so happy I could help your family!
Could I use coconut flour or swerve instead of powdered sugar?
Hi Cara. I would not recommend coconut flour. I also haven’t worked with swerve so I’m sorry to say I can’t recommend that either! If you try it, I hope it works.
Made these today! So good. I love using oat flour. I changed the topping to cinnamon and monk fruit sweetener. Will definitely make these again.
Awesome! Thanks for the comment, Shawn, great to hear!
These were easy to make and tasty. The recipe only made 7 donuts for me. And I’d like to try a blend of flours next time since you taste mostly the oats.. like oatmeal. I added a tablespoon of flaxseed meal to make them even healthier.
Wow! These look AMAZING! My husband is going to be so impressed if I can make these for him!
Thanks Suzanne! I hope you all love them!