Plain Gluten Free Donuts are what you’ve been missing since going gluten free! They’re incredibly moist and sweet, and everyone will go crazy for them.
Ingredients for Plain Gluten Free Donuts
Not only are these donuts gluten free, but they’re dairy free also! In place of butter, we’re using palm shortening. Palm shortening has gotten a bad rap for it’s sustainability. Avoid using a brand that is doing more harm than good by searching for one with certain certifications on them.
This palm shortening by Nutiva is a great one to use. Their palm shortening takes care not to contribute to habitat destruction or deforestation.
This recipe also is going to use almond milk instead of dairy milk. You can try other milk alternatives if you like, but almond milk works perfectly and has the right consistency and fat content.
To keep these gluten free, the recipe calls for gluten free all purpose flour. Some brands are definitely better than others!
Pamela’s All Purpose Gluten Free Flour is my favorite. The donut texture and taste is great with this brand! They don’t crumble and fall apart or get hard fast when stored properly. Other brands I’ve tried had a good taste but fell apart very easily, and barely held together when it came time to frost them. No issues with Pamela’s!
To keep this healthier, the recipe calls for coconut sugar in place of white cane sugar. It’s lower on the glycemic index and is less likely to make your blood sugar spike. Thrive Market also has their own brand of coconut sugar which is lower in cost than many other brands!
Trader Joe’s also has an affordable brand. Madhava is a brand that’s easier to find in stores and works great also!
Pairing and Serving Options
The best way to serve these donuts is with frosting of course! Basically all of the frosting you’d find at regular grocery stores contain high amounts of cane sugar, unnatural forms of sugar, soy, and worse.
I particularly like to use the frosting mixes from Whole Foods. They have chocolate and vanilla, which are SO delicious!
Probably the cleanest pre-made frostings are those by Simple Mills. They have chocolate and vanilla as well. The ingredients are very clean, and outside of the powdered sugar, they would be considered paleo.
If you decide to frost them, then sprinkles are a must! Watkins sprinkles are free of artificial dyes which is a huge plus!
In the picture below, the majority of the donuts are plain so they can be frosted. The top three have cinnamon and sugar sprinkled on them!
Donut Pans
To make donuts you need a good donut pan! So many donut pans are a miniature size for some reason. Who wants a mini donut?
I also personally would want to avoid non stick surfaces on my donut pan. The material can end up in your food with heated and be unhealthy for you.
My favorite donut pan is of the silicone variety. They seem to be the least toxic type available, possibly even non-toxic.
This is the pan I have, and I love it! It’s a great size and easy to clean too. It can clean in the dishwasher, or easily by hand. It’s heat proof up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, so no worries of it melting.
Piping Bags
To make these plain gluten free donuts, you’ll need to use something to pipe them into the donut pan. One option is to cut off the tip of a gallon sized zip lock bag.
If possible, use reusable piping bags! They’re better for our environment since they are reusable, and less plastic is always a win. Plus, you’ll have them for many other baking projects, such as cake or cupcake decorating, or even cookie decorating!
You can also use the pan and piping bags for making bagels! Danielle Walker’s book Eat What You Love has an amazing recipe for paleo bagels! They are so tasty and you’ll feel like you have the “real” thing!
More Gluten Free Desserts to Try
Gluten Free Donuts
Ingredients
- 1/2 + 1/3 cups Coconut sugar
- 1/2 cup Palm Shortening
- 2 eggs
- 1.5 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 2 2/3 cups Gluten Free All Purpose Flour
- 1 cup almond milk
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 425F degrees.
- In a medium mixing bowl, beat together the palm shortening and sugar until well mixed.
- Add the eggs to the mix and beat well.
- Mix in the baking powder, nutmeg, baking soda, vanilla, and salt. Mix well.
- Add in the flour alternatively with the milk and mix well until both are fully incorporated.
- Pour the batter into a gallon sized ziplock bag with the tip cut off, or use reusable piping bag. Squeeze the batter evenly into the donut molds, don't overfill them.
- Place the mold in the oven. Bake the doughnuts for 10 minutes or until a toothpick or knife comes out clean when inserted into the donuts.
- Remove from the oven and let cool a bit. Gently remove the donuts from the pan. When cooled enough, frost the donuts and serve!
If you’re interested in more Paleo or Gluten Free sweet treats, check them out here!
Did you make these plain gluten free donuts? If so, let me know down below in the comments! I’d love to hear how they came out, and how you served them!
Feel free to take a picture and post it on Instagram! Tag me @thecleanhappylife so I can see your creations and re-share them!
What other flavors of donuts would you like to see next?
Ohh these look amazing! Will definitely have to give them a go! X
I’m SOLD. Looks amazing.
Thank you!!
These look absolutely delicious! Can’t wait to try them 😍
Thanks for checking them out! Hope you enjoy 😋
These look amazing. I need to make them!
Thanks I hope you enjoy them!
These look absolutely delicious! I can’t wait to try them!!
Hope you enjoy them! Much healthier and still tasty!
I had no idea they made donut pans! Makes sense though. There are pans for everything. I love that this is dairy free! I am allergic to almond milk so I will try to make it with cashew milk. My husband has been asking for homemade donuts. I can’t wait!
So much easier to store a pan vs an entire new kitchen gadget!! Enjoy them!!
Oh my, these look amazing! I’m usually not much of a baker because I hate measuring but I can make an exception for these donuts!
Ooooh yes, so worth it!