The Best Gluten-Free Carrot Cake Donuts

These are the best carrot cake donuts! They have the most incredible flavour and the perfect texture. These gluten-free baked donuts are easy to make and are made with healthy ingredients like almond flour, carrots, apples, and honey. They make the perfect breakfast, snack or dessert.

Table of Contents

• Why you will love this recipe:
• Ingredients and substitutions:
• Recipe variations and add ins: 
• How to make (step-by-step):
• Top Tips:
• How to serve:
• How to store:
• Frequently asked questions: 
• Other recipes you will love:
• Recipe

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 taste like a classic carrot cake and the icing makes them even more delicious. 
• They are quick and easy to make!
• They are made with healthy ingredients like shredded carrots, shredded apple, almond flour, and honey. 
• These healthy donuts are gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar free, and paleo, just like my gluten-free chocolate donuts.
• These donuts can be eaten for breakfast, as a snack or as a healthy dessert or treat.
• These donuts freeze really well so are great option for meal prep. 

If you love carrot cake you will also love my gluten-free carrot cake banana bread.

Ingredients and substitutions:

• Almond flour - Almond flour helps give these spiced cake donuts the most amazing flavour and texture. Be sure you use almond flour and not almond meal as almond meal is too gritty. You could also use cashew flour instead. 
• Tapioca flour - Tapioca flour or tapioca starch is used to help make these donuts nice and fluffy. Don't confuse this with cassava flour! They are not the same. 
• Shredded carrots - you can't make carrot cake without the fresh carrots! The shredded carrots add moisture and natural sweetness to this recipe and a nice serving of hidden veggies. 
• Shredded apples - this surprise ingredient helps add more moisture, and natural sweetness to these donuts. Any type of sweet, red apple will work. My personal favourites 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. 
• Spices - the combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice blend perfectly to give these donuts that perfect spiced flavour. 
• Eggs - a large egg helps add more moisture to these donuts and help give them that light and fluffy texture.
• Coconut oil - to add moisture and help give these donuts the best texture.
• Baking soda - this helps the donuts rise when they bake.
• Vanilla extract - to help enhance all the delicious flavours of these donuts.
• Honey Glaze - to glaze these delicious donuts. If you prefer a cream cheese icing you could make a cream cheese glaze or tangy cream cheese frosting instead.

How to make (step-by-step):

Step one:

First you'll preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step two:

Then add all the ingredients (including both the dry ingredients and wet ingredients) to a large bowl or large mixing bowl. 

Step three:

Using your stand mixer, hand mixer, or a spoon, blend all the ingredients until combined. The donut batter will be chunky because of the shredded carrots and apples. 

Step four:

Then transfer the dough to a donut mould or donut pan and fill each mold until it is approximately 3/4 full.

Step five:

Now bake the donuts for 20-22 minutes, until a toothpick inserted inside comes out clean. 

Step six:

Let the donuts cool and then add the dairy free honey glaze. You can either let the donuts cool in the donut pan or transfer them to a wire rack or baking rack to cool more quickly.

How to serve:

These donuts make a delicious breakfast, snack or dessert and can be served for special occasional like Easter, Mother's Day, or Father's Day. They taste good both warm and cold. You can serve these donuts with the honey glaze as written in the recipe card, or top them with a cream cheese icing or dairy-free cream cheese icing instead. 

How to store:

Store any leftover donuts in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days. 

To freeze these donuts: put the unfrosted donuts in an airtight freezer safe container or bag and freeze for up to 3 months. When you are ready to eat them, let them thaw and then add the icing or glaze when you are ready to eat them. 

Frequently asked questions: 

Other recipes you will love:

• Grain Free Bagels
• The Best Paleo Waffles
• The best gluten free chocolate chip banana bread
• Carrot Cake Banana Bread
• Almond flour chocolate coffee banana bread

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