Paleo carrot cake donuts are going to become your new favourite gluten free dessert. They are so rich and moist and really easy to make. Made with healthy ingredients like shredded carrots, shredded apple, almond flour, tapioca flour and honey they are also gluten free and dairy free. Perfect as a treat, a snack or for breakfast.
Why you will love this recipe:
- These gluten free carrot cake donuts taste amazing! They are so rich and moist and the spices blend perfectly to give these donuts the best flavour.
- They have the perfect texture. Slightly firm on the outside and moist on the inside.
- They are easy to make in one bowl and the clean up is simple!
- They are made with healthy ingredients like shredded carrots, shredded apple, almond flour, honey and tapioca flour.
- Besides being paleo these donuts are also gluten free and dairy-free.
- These donuts freeze really well so are great for meal prep.
Ingredients and substitutions:
- Almond flour – one of my favourite grain free and gluten free flours that’s full of healthy fats and protein to help keep you satisfied for hours. Be sure you don’t use almond meal by mistake. You could use cashew flour instead.
- Tapioca flour – to help give these donuts a nice light and fluffy texture. Don’t confuse this with cassava flour! They are not the same.
- Shredded carrots – you can’t make carrot cake without the carrots! Full of vitamins and minerals they help add moisture and natural sweetness to this recipe.
- Shredded apples – this surprise ingredient helps add more moisture, natural sweetness, vitamins and minerals to this donut recipe. Any type of sweet, red apple will work. My personal favourite are Gala, Pink Lady or Honeycrisp apples.
- Honey – one of my favourite natural sweeteners to add the perfect amount of sweet taste to these donuts. You could use maple syrup instead.
- Coconut oil – to add more moisture and help give the donuts the perfect outer crust.
- Eggs – to help keep these donuts from falling apart and to help them rise when they bake.
- Baking soda – to help these donuts rise when they bake.
- Spices: the combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and allspice blend perfectly to give these donuts that perfect fall flavour.
- Paleo Honey Glaze to glaze these donuts.
How to make this recipe:
Step one: first you’ll preheat your oven to 350F.
Step two: while the oven is heating, mix all the ingredients well using your standing mixer (or by hand if you don’t have one).
Step three: transfer the dough to a donut mould and fill each mold until it is approximately 3/4 full.
Step four: then bake the donuts for 20-22 minutes, until a toothpick inserted inside comes out clean.
Step five: let the donuts cool and then add the glaze (I’ve included various glaze options in the recipe card). Then enjoy!
Tips and variations:
- If you don’t tolerate almond flour I would use cashew flour instead.
- Do not substitute the tapioca flour for cassava flour. The donuts will not turn out!
- Do not try any other flour substitutions. They will not work! You will just waste valuable ingredients.
- You can use maple syrup instead of honey as a sweetener.
- Use room temperature eggs for best results.
- Store these donuts in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 7 days.
- To freeze these donuts put them in an air tight container or bag without the icing. When you are ready to eat them, let them thaw on the counter or in the fridge and then add the icing when you are ready to eat them.
Frequently asked questions:
Are these carrots cake donuts gluten free?
Yes! As written this recipe is gluten free and dairy free too.
Are these donuts vegan?
No they are not. This donut recipe contains eggs so they are not vegan. I have not tried making this recipe with any egg replacements, and I am not sure if it would work out or not. If you try it please let me know how it goes.
Are these donuts keto?
This donut recipe is not keto. It has fruit and honey it it making it high in carbohydrates which is not compatible with a keto or low carbohydrate diet.
Can I use cassava flour instead of tapioca flour?
Definitely not! These donuts won’t work out.
Other paleo baked goods you will love:
- Paleo Chocolate Chip Pancakes
- Grain Free Bagels
- Paleo Chocolate Donuts
- The Best Paleo Waffles
- Paleo Carrot Cake Banana Bread
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Paleo Carrot Cake Donuts
Paleo carrot cake donuts are the perfect dessert. The icing on these donuts is also incredible. They are grain free, gluten free and dairy free.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups almond flour
- 1 cup tapioca flour
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp aluminum-free baking soda
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground allspice
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1 pinch sea salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup grated carrots
- 1 cup grated red apple
- 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 tbsp organic vanilla extract
Donut Glaze
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 350F.
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Add all of the ingredients to your standing mixer.
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Mix on low until blended well.
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Spoon the batter into your silicone donut molds and spread until even (you want each donut mold to be about 3/4 full).
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Place in the oven and cook for ~20 minutes (or until a toothpick inserted inside comes out clean).
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Remove from the oven and let cool.
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Add the icing and then enjoy!
Recipe Notes
- This recipe yields 15 donuts.
- Nutritional values are estimates and do not include the icing.Â
- You can use maple syrup instead of honey.Â
- You can use any type of sweet red apple that you like. My favourites are Gala, Pink Lady or Honeycrisp.Â
These sound amazing! Do you think the eggs could be replaced with geletin eggs? And the honey swapped with maple syrup?
You could definitely use maple syrup… as for switching out the eggs I haven’t tried that so can’t guarantee it would work…
Is the dough supposed to be thick or smooth?
Definitely thick due to the grated apple and grated carrot.