These gluten free peanut butter donuts are filled with bite-sized goodness you have been waiting for. Whether you eat these gluten free donuts for breakfast, snack, or brunch, they are flavorful and a hit. They are baked and dairy free, so they are even a little healthier than traditional donuts.
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The Fearless Dining household is head over heels in love with this amazing gluten free donut recipe. I think that the reason why we are so addicted is because of peanut butter. We are peanut butter fanatics, and because the donuts also have peanut butter icing, it’s double delicious!
It’s nice to be able to have an easy breakfast that everyone can grab and go to! Plus, they are super simple to make, so I don’t have to spend hours in the kitchen. Check out all of my delicious Gluten Free Donuts recipes.
Why These Donuts Are Great:
- Creamy peanut butter icing on top of moist, decadent peanut butter donuts.
- They are so flavorful that it’s impossible to eat just one. Go ahead and indulge a little!
- These donuts are quick and easy to make in about 20 minutes!
If you love donuts as much as we do, don't forget to check out all of my Best Gluten Free Donuts recipes!
Ingredient Notes:
- Gluten free flour blend - I tested this recipe using Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 Gluten Free Flour Blend and King Arthur's Measure for Measure Gluten Free Blend. That doesn't mean others will not work. I just have not tested other flours.
- Xanthan gum - If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain xanthan gum or guar gum, please add one teaspoon.
- Baking Powder - Use aluminum-free baking powder.
- Peanut Powder - There are several brands of peanut powder. I like PB2 and Peanut Butter Company brands because they are gluten-free. Also, be sure to check Is Peanut Butter Gluten Free?
- Non-dairy milk - You can use any, but I do not recommend canned coconut milk. You can also use regular milk. Check to see which dairy-free milk brands are gluten free.
- Coconut oil - Use this or regular butter, depending if you want these donuts to be dairy-free.
- Eggs - Use size large.
Recipe Step By Step Directions:
Step 1: Add the dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl. Whisk to blend.
Step 2: Add the wet ingredients to a medium bowl and whisk. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and mix them into a soft donut batter.
Note you can also use a standing mixer to make the peanut butter donut batter.
Step 3: Preheat your donut maker or prep your donut pan for baking them in the oven. (Note the newer donut maker model is square, not round like my old one.)
Add the donut batter to the Babycakes donut maker. You can also use a donut pan to bake the donuts. Note the thickness of the batter. It should not be runny.
Oven Baking Directions:
If you are baking the donuts, preheat your oven to 350º F. Add the donut batter to a greased donut pan and bake them for 15-18 minutes until done. The actual time may vary depending on the size of the donut pan.
Step 4: This is what your donuts will look like when they are done baking.
Step 5: The best way to coat the donuts in the peanut butter icing is to use your fingers to dip each baked donut into the peanut butter icing.
*TIP: if you are going to use sprinkles, add the sprinkles quickly because once the icing dries, the sprinkles will not stick to the icing. Also, always make sure to use gluten free sprinkles!
Variations:
Everything about these amazing peanut butter donuts is perfect, but if you want to add some extra flavors, feel free. Here are my favorite ideas:
- Chocolate Icing - Drizzle the gluten free peanut butter donuts with chocolate icing because chocolate and peanut butter are a match made in heaven.
- Candy - Sprinkle any candy that you love on top of the peanut butter icing.
- Nuts - Crush some almonds, peanuts, or cashews and sprinkle them on top of the donuts. So yummy!
- Make your own Homemade Peanut Butter!
If you love fried donuts, try my Gluten Free Donuts With Yeast recipe too!
Tips and Recipe FAQ:
On average, these gluten free peanut butter donuts will last 1-2 days. Store them in an airtight container or plastic bag on the counter or in the pantry. If you notice that the donuts have become overly dried out, extra moist, or there is mold, then you should throw them away.
While many varieties of donuts do have dairy, these gluten free baked donuts do not have any dairy. So, if you have any allergies or can’t tolerate dairy or gluten, then these are perfect for you!
Yes, absolutely, you can freeze gluten free donuts. The best way to freeze the donuts is to flash freeze them. To flash freeze, simply lay them on a baking sheet and place them in the freezer for 2-3 hours until they are pretty frozen.
Then you can place them in an airtight container or freezer bag. Then just grab out as many as you need for an easy breakfast or snack.
You can defrost them by placing the peanut butter donuts on the counter until they are thawed. If you want them warm, toss them in the microwave for 20 seconds or so until they are hot.
I used a donut maker, but you can also bake the gluten free donuts in a donut pan. Both will give you delicious gluten free donuts with little effort.
Have you ever wondered about this? It’s believed that the reason why donuts have holes in the center is, so they cook more evenly. Otherwise, when you fry the donuts, the exterior will be crispy while the center is still doughy.
My donuts are baked instead of fried so that you wouldn’t have this issue. Either way, donuts are fantastic comfort food sold worldwide, and the hole in the center is just normal!
This post was updated from an older June 2019 post with more instructions and details.
More Gluten Free Donut Recipes:
- Gluten Free Banana Donuts With Chocolate Coconut Walnuts
- Paleo Apple Cinnamon Donuts With Honey Nectar
- Easy Gluten Free Vanilla Donuts
- Dairy-Free Gluten Free Lemon Donuts
- Egg-Free, Gluten Free, and Dairy-Free Vanilla Donuts
Recipe
Easy Gluten Free Peanut Butter Donuts {Baked Not Fried}
Ingredients
- 2 cups gluten free flour blend * see note
- ⅔ cups sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup powdered peanut butter
- ½ cup milk or non-dairy milk
- ½ cup peanut butter warmed
- ¼ cup coconut oil or butter melted
- 2 eggs
For the Icing
- ⅓ cup peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the donut maker (or oven to 350º F if using a donut pan.)
- Heat the peanut butter and either coconut oil (or butter) so that they are softened (not too hot that it will cook the eggs though.)
- In a large bowl, add the dry ingredients and whisk to blend.
- In a smaller bowl, add the wet ingredients and mix.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix.
- Open the donut maker and spray lightly with coconut oil.
- Add the batter into each donut cavity and close the lid.
- Cook 7-8 minutes (check it after 5 minutes b/c different brands donut makers cook differently)
- Move the donuts to a cooling rack.
- Mix the icing in a small bowl.
- Dip each donut into the icing.
Video
Notes
- You can make these donuts in a donut maker or bake in the oven in a donut pan. Both directions are listed above.
- I have tested this recipe with King Arthur Measure for Measure GF, Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 GF blend, and Authentic Foods Multi Blend. That doesn't mean others will not work, I just have not tested other flours.
- If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain xanthan gum or guar gum, please add 1 teaspoon.
- I used almond milk but other dairy-free kinds of milk will work but I do not recommend canned coconut milk.
- These donuts will keep up to 4 days in an air-tight container, or up to 4 months in the freezer.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
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Tami
These taste like peanut butter cookies’ these are delicious and easy to make.
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you loved these donuts Tami. They are my husband's favorite too!
Kira
Hi! Could I make this recipe using fresh peanut butter and not powdered? Thanks!
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Kira, you can use regular peanut butter, but keep an eye on the moisture level since this is different than a powdered version.
Steve
These donuts are great, but I have a question. I had to add water to the dough and icing because they weren't really workable without it...seems like there should have been additional liquids in the recipe. Any thought? The flavor was great.
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Steve, thank you for your note. I am in the process of changing recipe programs and it looks like the almond milk wasn't listed. I added it back. I suspect I will have to go review every recipe once the switch is final. Thank you again!
Suz
Same here... I added some almond milk and pure maple syrup so it wasn't so dry.