Sweet, moist, utterly delicious vegan donut holes with a cinnamon sugar glaze! These melt-in-your-mouth bites are absolutely heavenly!
Whether it’s a birthday party or any other occasion, this scrumptious treat is a must-try.
Like my pumpkin donuts, they’re moist, sweet, gluten-free, made using simple ingredients, and completely delicious. The perfect way to satisfy your sweet tooth.
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Ingredients + Substitutions
Here’s what you’ll need to make these yummy and addictive vegan donut holes.
- Oat flour: Oat flour keeps these donut holes gluten-free and wholesome, compared to refined/white all-purpose flour, without sacrificing taste or texture.
- Coconut sugar: Using unrefined coconut sugar keeps these refined sugar-free, but still perfectly sweet. While I didn’t specifically test, I suspect brown sugar would also work well.
- Applesauce: Use unsweetened applesauce if you’re avoiding refined sugar. If you don’t have applesauce on hand, you may use mashed banana instead, with a slightly different flavour.
- Milk: You may use any non-dairy milk. I like soy milk, almond milk, oat milk, or cashew milk.
- Cinnamon: For added flavour, and highly recommended.
- Baking powder: Make sure your baking powder is fresh and active. Baking powder that has been left open in the pantry for 6+ months may start to lose its effectiveness.
Instructions
(This is a summary with step by step photos, full recipe measurements and instructions are in the recipe card below.)
Add all the dry ingredients to a medium bowl and whisk together. (photo 1)
Then add the applesauce and milk and mix until a batter is formed. (photo 2)
Spoon the dough with a cookie scoop into a mini muffin pan. (photo 3)
Bake until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. (photo 4)
NOTE: If you do not have a nonstick muffin pan, you may need to grease or line your tins.
Once cooled, you may glaze them.
Dip the donut into the milk first, and drip off any excess. (photo 5)
Then swirl it around in the cinnamon sugar mixture. (photo 6)
Serve your vegan donut holes for breakfast, snack, or dessert.
Variations
- Vanilla: Add two teaspoons of pure vanilla extract to the cake batter.
- Chocolate: Use raw cocoa powder to replace the cinnamon in the batter. Then skip the cinnamon in the glaze and use one tablespoon of cocoa powder and stir with the sugar.
Or check out these delicious pumpkin donuts.
Equipment
No special donut pan is needed for these mini vegan donut holes. You may use a mini muffin pan instead.
If your pan is NOT nonstick, you may need to grease it with coconut oil or melted vegan butter OR use parchment paper liners.
Storage
Leftovers keep at room temperature in a sealed container for 2-3 days. However, if you’re in a warmer environment, it’s best to refrigerate as the glaze will melt.
You may also freeze a batch of these vegan donut holes in a freezer-safe airtight container for up to 3 months. I recommend glazing before serving so freeze the donuts without the glaze ONCE COOLED.
Expert Tips
- Weigh your flour for the most accurate results. If you do not have a kitchen scale, spoon the flour into your measuring cup and scrape off the excess with the back of a knife. Never pack flour into your measuring cups or scoop from the bag.
- Use active baking powder. Once open and sitting in the pantry for 6+ months, baking powder may start to use its effectiveness.
- Wait for the donuts to cool before glazing them in the cinnamon sugar. If the donuts are too warm, the glaze will melt.
- Do not stack the donuts when freshly glazed to prevent the glaze from melting. Arranging them in a single layer is best.
More delicious vegan desserts
If you tried this recipe, please let me know about it in the comments below. I always love hearing from you! Don’t forget to Subscribe to This Healthy Kitchen to be among the first to get my new recipes! You can also FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter to see more delicious food and get all the latest updates.
Buon appetito
Rosa
📖 Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 150 grams oat flour approx. 1.5 cups
- ¼ cup unrefined coconut sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Wet Ingredients
- ⅓ cup soy milk or non-dairy milk of choice
- ⅓ cup unsweetened applesauce
For the Cinnamon Sugar Glaze
- ¼ cup soy milk or non-dairy milk of choice
- ¼ cup unrefined coconut sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉/176℃ and grease your mini muffin tray if needed. (Enough to make 20 donut holes.)
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. Then add the applesauce and plant-based milk to the same bowl. Mix until combined.
- Use a small cookie scoop to divide the mixture among 20 muffin tins. Do not fill to the top, remember we're making donut holes, not muffins, so you don't want them to overflow.
- Bake for 7-8 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean. Do not overbake them, or they will be dry. (They bake quickly because they're small.) Remove from the oven and let cool for 5-10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
For the glaze
- Meanwhile, add the milk to a small bowl, and then combine the sugar and cinnamon in a wide and shallow dish.
- When the donuts are cool enough to handle, swirl them one at a time into the milk, shake off the excess, and then swirl them around into the cinnamon sugar mixture until coated on all sides. Repeat with the remaining donuts and enjoy!
Notes
- Weigh your flour for the most accurate results. If you do not have a kitchen scale, spoon the flour into your measuring cup and scrape off the excess with the back of a knife. Never pack flour into your measuring cups or scoop from the bag.
- Use active baking powder. Once open and sitting in the pantry for 6+ months, baking powder may start to use its effectiveness.
- Wait for the donuts to cool before glazing them in the cinnamon sugar. If the donuts are too warm, the glaze will melt.
- Do not stack the donuts when freshly glazed to prevent the glaze from melting. Arranging them in a single layer is best.
Christina
These are incredible! After being diagnosed with high cholesterol and triglycerides, I’ve really been missing doughnuts, so I was thrilled to find a version I could eat! These were so easy to make and turned out great! My husband doesn’t have any health restrictions and couldn’t tell they were “healthy” and enjoyed them as well!
Rosa
Thanks so much for the review, Christina. I’m so thrilled you both enjoyed these. 🙂
Sue
I know I’m going to love these!!!!! Thanks Rosa.
Rosa
You’re welcome Sue 🙂