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Home » Recipes » Donut Recipes

Gluten Free Chocolate Donuts Recipe

Published: Mar 5, 2020 · Modified: Feb 16, 2021 by Sandi Gaertner · 24 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links

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Gluten free chocolate donuts topped with an edible cookie dough frosting make this the best gluten free chocolate donut recipe I have ever made!

I hope you're ready for a special treat because these gluten free chocolate donuts are hard to resist. I bet these mini chocolate donuts are a decadent dessert your whole family will love.

a chocolate donut with cookie dough frosting with a bite taken out
Jump To:
  • Why these donuts are great:
  • Ingredient notes:
  • Fun swaps:
  • Recipe step by step instructions:
  • What cocoa powders are gluten free?
  • Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ:
  • More gluten free donuts to make:
  • Recipe
  • Comments

Today is special for two reasons.

It is National Donut Day, and even more importantly, my son's birthday! I have no idea where the years have gone...but all of a sudden, I have a 5'8 growing teenage boy. My son loves gluten free baked chocolate donuts and I am hoping that he will love this new chocolate donut recipe.

With two very important occasions today, I wanted to celebrate his birthday with a treat he will remember for years. He loves chocolate.

He is also VERY guilty of trying to steal cookie dough anytime I am baking. I am not kidding....he never gives up. (He gets this from Mr. Fearless Dining...it must be genetic!)

Today, I am combining both of his favorite sweet things into one special dessert! Here is the Gluten Free Edible Cookie Dough Frosting recipe.

This easy cookie dough frosting recipe is quick and easy, and is delicious on any baked item...or just eat it by the spoonful!

Why these donuts are great:

Rich deep chocolate flavor in a moist baked donut...topped with a cookie dough frosting. Who can say no? These donuts are quick and easy to make in about 15 minutes!

If you love chocolate, this is a great recipe to make next. You can make these in a donut maker or a donut pan.

Don't forget to check out my most popular gluten free donut recipes...they are all hard to resist!

Ingredient notes:

chocolate donut ingredients
  • Gluten free flour blend - 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.
  • If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain xanthan gum or guar gum, please add 1 teaspoon.
  • Butter -
  • To make this recipe dairy-free, substitute the butter for vegan butter.
  • Almond flour - I highly suggest using almond flour and not almond meal. Almond meal is more coarse and will make your donuts grainy.

Fun swaps:

(Feel free to add some fun mix-ins to these donuts!!)

  • Mini chocolate chips
  • Walnuts or other nuts
  • White chocolate chips
  • Caramel chips

Recipe step by step instructions:

dry ingredients in a bowl

Step 1: Add the dry ingredients to a bowl and whisk to blend. If your gluten free flour blend doesn't contain Xanthan Gum, make sure to add 1 teaspoon to your dry ingredients.

Step 2: In a smaller bowl, add the wet ingredients and whisk to blend.

dry and wet ingredients in a bowl ready to blend

Step 3: Mix the wet ingredients and whisk to blend. Pour the wet ingredients into a bowl and mix well.

chocolate batter in a bowl

This is 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. Also, do not overmix your batter...your donuts will be fluffier if you just barely mix the batter.

donut batter in a donut maker

Step 4: Add the batter to your donut maker. Note this is an older model Babycakes Donut Maker, the new donut maker has a more square body shape. 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!

Step 5: Allow cooling then frost with the cookie dough frosting. (Recipe above) You can also top with this edible gluten free chocolate cookie dough. You would just need to add 2 tablespoons of additional butter to the cookie dough recipe to make it spreadable.

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. Baked donuts are a lot healthier than fried donuts!!

chocolate donuts on a  rack

Frosting or Glaze?

This cookie dough frosting works so well with this doughnut recipe. Of course, this gluten free edible cookie dough is also good enough to frost a cake like this Simple 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 onto 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.
  • Rodelle is special order on their website.
  • 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.

Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ:

Can you make these gluten free donuts dairy-free?

You can easily make this recipe dairy-free by substituting the butter for either coconut oil or vegan butter.

Can you make these chocolate donuts nut-free?

Yes, you can omit the almond flour and add ½ cup additional gluten free flour blend. Keep an eye on the moisture level, you may need to add more dairy-free milk because of the additional flour.

(Almond flour doesn't absorb as much liquid so make sure the batter looks like a similar consistency as my photo above.)

How long will these donuts keep fresh?

These donuts will keep up to 4 days in an air-tight container, or up to 4 months in the freezer.

spreading cookie dough frosting on mini chocolate donuts

More gluten free donuts to make:

  • 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!
  • Easy Gluten Free Hot Chocolate Donuts
  • Baked Gluten Free Apple Cider Donuts
  • Mouthwatering Gluten Free Peanut Butter Donuts
  • Fluffy Gluten Free Pumpkin Donut Recipe
Reader Shannon L's photo of how her donuts turned out.
Here is a picture of how Shannon L's donuts turned out

Recipe

a chocolate donut with cookie dough frosting with a bite taken out

Gluten Free Chocolate Donuts with Cookie Dough Frosting

Sandi Gaertner
This is a very easy gluten free chocolate donut recipe. You can make them in a donut maker or bake in a donut pan.
4.84 from 6 votes
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Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Total Time 20 mins
Course Gluten Free Dessert Recipes
Cuisine American
Servings 24
Calories 100 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • ¾ cup almond flour * see note
  • 1 cup gluten free flour blend * see note
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup 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

Instructions
 

  • Preheat Babycakes Mini Donut Maker or Preheat your oven to 350º F.
  • Spray coconut oil in the mini donut pan if that is what you will use for this recipe.
  • In a large bowl, add all donut dry ingredients and whisk to blend.
  • In a smaller bowl, add all donut dry ingredients and mix well.
  • Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix.
  • Put dough into each cavity of the donut maker or donut pan.
  • Follow directions on donut maker.
  • If using a pan, bake for 10 minutes, check to see if done.
  • Remove from the donut maker or pan and allow to cool on 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

  1. 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.
  2. If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain xanthan gum or guar gum, please add 1 teaspoon.
  3. To make this recipe dairy-free, substitute the butter for vegan butter.
  4. I highly suggest using almond flour and not almond meal. Almond meal is more coarse and will make your donuts grainy.
  5. To make this recipe nut-free, omit the almond flour and substitute an additional ½ cup gluten free flour blend.
  6. I used almond milk but other dairy-free kinds of milk will work but I do not recommend canned coconut milk.
  7. These donuts will keep up to 4 days in an air-tight container, or up to 4 months in the freezer.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 100kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 2gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 20mgPotassium: 41mgFiber: 1gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 24IUCalcium: 30mgIron: 1mg
Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @FearlessDining or tag #FearlessDining!

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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This post was updated from an older June 2015 post with more details and easier-to-follow directions.

(This post was updated from a July 2016 post with more cooking information)

More Gluten Free Donut Recipes

  • Easy Gluten Free Donut Holes {Oil Fried or Air Fried}
  • The Best Gluten Free Funnel Cake Recipe
  • Easy Fried Gluten Free Donuts
  • Easy Gluten Free Vanilla Donuts
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    Recipe Rating




  1. Sabrina

    June 03, 2021 at 10:57 am

    hello! how long do i have to bake it if i use regular size donut pan? i dont have a mini one, thank you!

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      June 04, 2021 at 9:39 am

      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.

      Reply
  2. Healthy World Cuisine

    March 05, 2020 at 12:14 pm

    That is super creative!Cookie dough covered donuts. The best of both worlds in one delicious little gluten-free bite. Saving to all of our favorite boards.

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      March 06, 2020 at 8:14 pm

      Thank you so much 🙂

      Reply
  3. Julie

    September 22, 2017 at 5:38 am

    5 stars
    Donuts are my kryptonite and I'd love diving into about 6 of those!

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      September 22, 2017 at 10:26 am

      I can send some your way 🙂

      Reply
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