You are going to love these vegan donuts! They have the perfect cinnamon sugar coating and taste just like a deep fried donut, but are a healthier version. They are really easy to make in under 30 minutes and these donuts are also dairy-free and can easily be made gluten-free too.

Table of Contents
Why you will love this recipe:
- These cinnamon sugar donuts taste amazing! They have the perfect cinnamon sugar coating and the inside of the donuts is so light and fluffy. They taste just like a deep fried donut hole!
- They are so simple and easy to make with just a few minutes of hands on time. You don't need to chill the dough which makes them even faster to make.
- Besides being vegan this donut recipe is refined sugar free, yeast free, egg-free, dairy-free and can easily be made gluten-free too.
- These donuts store well and freeze well so they are great for meal prep.
- These homemade donuts are baked in the oven rather than fried in a deep frier so they are healthier than many other donut recipes.
Ingredients and substitutions:
- All purpose flour - the base of these delicious, light and fluffy donuts is all purpose flour. If you are gluten-free, use a certified gluten-free all purpose flour instead.
- Coconut sugar - coconut sugar adds a delicious sweet flavour to these donuts, while keeping them refined sugar free. I have not tested this recipe with any other sweeteners and don't recommend trying to replace this with a different sugar.
- Ground cinnamon - this adds the most delicious flavour to these donuts and is also used to make the sweet cinnamon sugar coating.
- Apple sauce - apple sauce is used to help give natural sweetness to these donuts, and is used instead of an egg to give even more moisture to this recipe.
- Baking soda - this is used to help the donuts rise when they bake. Do not try swapping this with baking powder.
- Apple cider vinegar - when combined with the baking soda, the apple cider vinegar helps these donuts rise and become even more light and fluffy.
- Coconut oil - coconut oil is a great dairy free substitute for butter and helps make these donuts so nice and moist.
- Coconut milk - to help add moisture and natural sweetness to the donuts. I recommend using full fat coconut milk rather than light coconut milk which is too watery.
- Sea salt - this helps contrast the natural sweetness of these dairy free donuts.
- Vanilla extract - to help enhance all the amazing flavours of these sweet donuts.
How to make (step-by-step):
Step one:
First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step two:
Next, whisk the flour, coconut sugar, baking soda, salt and cinnamon together in a large bowl.
Step three:
Pour the coconut milk, applesauce, melted coconut oil, apple cider vinegar and vanilla extract into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Mix well with a large spoon to combine until you have a smooth batter.
Step four:
Spoon the batter into the donut pan, or fill a large ziplock bag with the batter, cut a hole in the corner and pipe into the pan, filling to about 3/4 of the way full. Be careful not to overfill the pan or the donuts will overflow as they bake.
Step five:
Bake the donuts for 14-16 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden brown and the donuts are firm on the outside. Then let the donuts cool completely.
Step six:
To make the cinnamon sugar coating, stir together the coconut sugar and cinnamon in a medium bowl, and melt the coconut oil in a separate bowl. Once the donuts are cooled, dunk the donuts in the melted coconut oil and then dunk each donut into the cinnamon sugar mixture to coat. Then enjoy!
Top tips:
- Do not try using baking powder instead of baking soda.
- I used a silicone donut mold to bake these donuts - if you use another type of donut mold you may have to alter the cooking time.
- I recommend using full fat, not low fat, coconut milk to make these donuts.
- I have not tried using a different sweetener other than coconut sugar to make these donuts and am not sure how they would turn out if you try to use a different type of sugar.
Variations and add ins:
- To make these into gluten-free vegan donuts use a gluten-free all purpose flour.
- Instead of coconut oil you could use a vegan butter to make these donuts.
- Instead of using the cinnamon sugar coating you could use an icing or glaze on these donuts.
- If you can't have coconut milk you can use unsweetened cashew milk to make these donuts.
- If you are serving a lot of people or want extras to freeze for later you can make a double batch of these donuts.
How to store:
Store these donuts in an airtight container for up to 2 days at room temperature or for 5 days in the fridge. They also freeze really well in a freezer safe bag or container for up to 3 months.
Frequently asked questions:
If you like in Canada or the US, Krispy Kreme does not offer vegan donuts, but if you live in the UK they do have vegan donut options.
As long as you use a gluten free all purpose flour to make these donuts they will be gluten free.
Dunkin Donuts does not offer vegan donuts. They do have a few vegan items on their menu including oatmeal, avocado toast, hash browns, bagels and English muffins.
Other vegan recipes you will love:
- Vegan protein cookies
- Vegan blondies
- Vegan blueberry cheesecake
- Vegan peanut butter oatmeal cookies
- Christmas crack
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Recipe
Vegan Donuts
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- pinch sea salt
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- 2 tablespoon apple sauce
- 2 tablespoon melted coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Topping
- 1/3 cup coconut sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 4 tablespoon melted coconut oil
Instructions
Donut Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Whisk the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and cinnamon together in a large bowl.
- Pour the coconut milk, applesauce, apple cider vinegar, melted coconut oil and vanilla into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Mix well with a large spoon to combine. The batter will be similar to cake batter - not too thick but not very runny either.
- Spoon the batter into the donut pan, or fill a large ziplock bag with the batter, cut a hole in the corner and pipe into the pan, filling to about 3/4 of the way full. Be careful not to overfill the pan or the donuts will overflow as they bake.
- Bake for 14-16 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden brown and the donuts are firm on the outside. Then let the donuts cool completely.
Donut Topping Instructions
- Stir together the sugar and cinnamon for the topping in a medium bowl, and melt the coconut oil in a separate bowl.
- Once the donuts are cooled, dunk the donuts in the melted coconut oil and then dunk each donut into the cinnamon sugar mixture to coat.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- This recipe yields 6 donuts.
- Nutritional values are an estimate and will vary depending on the exact ingredients used.
- Feel free to double or triple this recipe.
- I used a silicone donut mold to bake these donuts - if you use another type of donut mold you may have to alter the cooking time.
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