This quick and easy gluten free chocolate donut recipe is full of rich chocolate flavors. It is topped with an edible cookie dough frosting that makes this the best chocolate donut recipe! I hope you’re ready for a special treat because these donuts are hard to resist. (I include both nut-free and dairy-free options!)
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This simple chocolate donut recipe is versatile and delicious. It is a beginner level recipe that can be made baked in the oven using a donut pan or in a donut maker. I am partial to using a donut maker, but it is nice to have options!
In this recipe, I am combining two of my favorite sweet things into one special dessert! I use my gluten-free edible cookie dough frosting to top these chocolate donuts. Here is the recipe for the Gluten-Free Edible Cookie Dough Frosting.
Why this gluten-free chocolate donut recipe is a must-make:
- The rich, deep chocolate flavor shines in this baked donut recipe.
- They can be topped with cookie dough frosting. Who can say no?
- With a donut maker, these donuts are quick and easy to make in about 15 minutes.
I baked these in a donut pan and used your advice to spray oil on the pan to get the crispy outside. This was a winner, even without the frosting!”
layla t., pinterest comment
Don’t forget to check out my most popular gluten free donut recipes…they are all hard to resist!
Allergen Information:
This homemade baked chocolate donut recipe is gluten-free, soy-free, and oat-free. You can also make them dairy-free by using dairy-free butter.
To make them nut-free, omit the almond flour and add 1/2 cup of additional gluten-free flour blend. Keep an eye on the moisture level; because of the additional flour, you may need to add more dairy-free milk.
Ingredient Notes:
For the full list of ingredients and amounts, please go to the recipe card below.
- 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.
- Almond Flour – I highly suggest using almond flour and not almond meal. Almond meal is coarser and will make your donuts grainy. I use Anthony’s Almond Flour because they do batch tests to ensure it is gluten free and free of cross-contamination.
- Baking Powder – I recommend using aluminum-free baking powder
- If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain xanthan gum or guar gum, please add 1 teaspoon.
- Butter – Use unsalted butter.
- Milk – I used non-dairy almond milk, but any non-dairy milk type works in this recipe. You can also use regular milk if you are not dairy-free.
Try some of these mix-ins!
(Feel free to add some fun mix-ins to these donuts!!)
- Mini chocolate chips
- Walnuts or other nuts
- White chocolate chips
- Caramel chips
Step-By-Step Photos and Directions:
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Step 1: Add the dry ingredients to a large mixing bowl and whisk to blend. If the cocoa powder is lumpy, you want to sift it to remove the lumps.
Step 2: In a smaller mixing bowl, add the wet ingredients and whisk to blend. I partially melted the butter so it whisks in easily.
Step 3: Mix the wet ingredients and whisk to blend. Pour the wet ingredients into a bowl and mix well.
📢 Sandi says: Every gluten-free flour blend has a different starch-to-grain ratio. The brand of gluten-free flour you use will affect the moisture of the batter. If your cake batter is too runny, add more flour, and if it is too thick, add more liquids.
Read Why Gluten-Free Flour Blends Vary to learn more about this.
The photo above shows what your chocolate donut batter will look like when mixed. Let your batter sit for 10 minutes. This helps especially with the more gritty gluten free flour blends.
Step 4: Add the batter to your donut maker. Cook for 4-5 minutes until done. I love this donut maker because it makes the outside of the donut a little crisp, like a fried donut!
👀 Sandi Says: I have an older, discontinued model of Babycakes Donut Maker. Their new model donut maker has a more square body shape. Both the newer and older models of this donut maker work the same.
Step 5: Move the donuts to a cooling rack. When the donuts are fully cool, then frost with the cookie dough frosting or dip them in chocolate!
Store leftover donuts in an airtight container. They will keep fresh for up to 2-3 days if it isn’t hot in your house. Gluten-free tends to spoil quickly, so I really recommend freezing the extra donuts. I place cooled donuts in a freezer-safe zip bag and squeeze out the extra air. They will last for up to 4 months in the freezer.
Instructions to bake them in a donut pan:
If you don’t have a donut maker, you can easily use a donut pan if you prefer to bake your chocolate donuts in the oven.
- Follow the same directions to mix the chocolate donut batter.
- Preheat the oven to 350º F. Be sure the oven rack is placed in the middle of the oven,
- Spray the donut pan lightly with oil. This helps the outside get that “fried” texture.
- Bake the donuts for 15-20 minutes. The baking time will depend on the size of the donut pan and the depth of each donut section. I also noticed when using silicone donut pans, the donuts may need to bake a few minutes longer than when using metal pans.
- Remove the donuts from the pan to a cooling rack.
Frosting or Glaze?
This cookie dough frosting works so well with this doughnut recipe. Of course, the gluten free edible cookie dough is also good enough to frost a cake like this Gluten Free Layer Cake recipe.
You can also make a glaze for your gluten free donuts with powdered sugar and a little water. (2 cups powdered sugar to 3 tablespoons almond milk.) Just dip your donuts in and then set them on a rack to dry.
And just in case these chocolate donuts with cookie dough frosting aren’t enough, here are a few more of my most popular donut recipes to get you through your day.
What cocoa powders are gluten free?
There are quite a few great gluten free cocoa powders out there. I haven’t tried many new brands that I see online. My favorite cocoa powders for gluten free baking are:
- Anthony’s Organic Cocoa Powder is certified gluten free (and their price is really great on Amazon!)
- Ghirardelli is in most grocery stores.
- Hershey’s (I don’t use this as often, but it is probably the easiest to find in stores.)
- Nativas Fair Trade Cocoa Powder is also on Amazon, but I saw it at Sprout Market as well.
More Gluten Free Donut Recipes:
- This is my sneakiest donut recipe…these are healthy donuts, but nobody can tell! Super Healthy Breakfast Donuts are great, and kids love them!
- If you love lemon, these Gluten Free Lemon Donuts are pretty amazing!
- For those who have some ripe bananas on hand, this delicious Gluten Free Banana Donuts recipe is crazy good!
Love This Recipe?
If you made and enjoyed this recipe, I would be incredibly grateful if you could leave a comment below. Please include which flour blend you used. This will help others know this recipe is delicious. Thank you!
Gluten Free Chocolate Donuts with Cookie Dough Frosting
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¾ cup almond flour * see note for nut-free version
- 1 cup gluten free flour blend * see note
- 1 teaspoon baking powder aluminum-free
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup cane sugar
- 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter melted
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup non-dairy milk * see note
Cookie Dough Frosting:
- ¼ cup unsalted butter softened
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- dash salt
- ¾ cup gluten free flour blend
- mini chocolate chips
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Instructions
- Preheat Babycakes Mini Donut Maker or Preheat your oven to 350º F if using a donut pan.
- Spray gluten-free baking spray in the mini donut pan if that is what you will use for this recipe.
- In a large mixing bowl, add 3/4 cup almond flour, 1 cup gluten free flour blend, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 3/4 cup cane sugar, 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Use a wire whisk to blend.
- In a smaller bowl, combine 1/3 cup unsalted butter(melted), 2 large eggs, and 1/4 cup non-dairy milk . Mix well.
- Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix.
- Put dough into each cavity of the donut maker or donut pan.
- Follow the directions on the donut maker. Babycakes has a very quick bake, about 3-4 minutes.
- Remove from the donut maker or pan and allow to cool on a cooling rack.
Donut Pan Directions
- Follow the directions above to mix the donut batter. Preheat the oven to 350º F.
- Spray the donut pan with light oil. I used coconut oil. Fill each section with donut batter. Fill each section with batter. You can use a spoon or pipe the batter with a piping bag or quart sized baggie. If you use a baggie, fill it with batter, then use scissors to snip the corner. Squeeze the batter in each donut section.
- Bake the donuts for 15-20 minutes, depending on how deep and large the donut sections are. Note different pan materials (silicone and metal) have different baking times as well.
- Remove the donuts from the oven and move them to a cooling rack.
For Cookie Dough Frosting:
- Mix all ingredients and put in the refrigerator for 20 minutes to cool.
- Spread onto cool donuts. Top with sprinkles, more chips, etc.
Notes
- 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 have not tested other flours.
- If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain xanthan gum or guar gum, please add 1 teaspoon.
- To make this recipe dairy-free, substitute the butter for vegan butter.
- I highly suggest using almond flour and not almond meal. Almond meal is more coarse and will make your donuts grainy.
- To make this recipe nut-free, omit the almond flour and substitute an additional 1/2 cup gluten free flour blend.
- I used almond milk, but other dairy-free kinds of milk will work. Regular milk also works.
- These donuts will keep up to 4 days in an airtight container, or up to 4 months in the freezer.
SPECIAL NOTE
Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn’t test, my rule of thumb is to add more flour if your dough or batter is wet and add more liquid if the dough or batter is too dry!
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.
(This post was updated from a July 2016 post with more cooking information)
hello! how long do i have to bake it if i use regular size donut pan? i dont have a mini one, thank you!
Hi Sabrina, what size is your donut pan? Are the donuts going to be mini or normal size? Baking time is based on several factors.
Can I make this recipe in muffins tin. I don’t have a Donuts Maker?
Hi Mila, you can try it. I haven’t tried it. Please come back and let us know how they turn out 🙂
Hello what could I use in place of the almond flour? My husband has a nut allergy so I can’t use almond flour. I hope you can help me and I look forward to hearing from you soon. Thank you ?
Hi Kelly, It is easy to make these without almond flour. I would recommend adding 1/4 cup additional gluten free flour blend. I hope your husband likes them 🙂