The whole family is going to love these delicious gluten free donut holes that are crispy on the outside and puffy soft on the inside. This gluten free donut holes recipe creates bite-sized donuts that are fried to sheer perfection. I also include air fryer directions in case you want to make them air-fried.

A bowl of powdered sugar donut holes.

If you love donuts, you will love these donut holes. They taste as if they came from a donut shop! Donut holes are inevitable when you are making donuts because you always have the middle dots of dough after using a donut cutter.

You can coat these powdered sugar donut holes in several flavor options. They are fun to serve for dessert!

If you love donuts as much as I do, I have a ton of delicious gluten free donut recipes to try. Most are baked, but one is a yummy fried jelly donut.

Check out all of my delicious gluten free donut recipes!

Why This Gluten Free Donut Holes Recipe Is Great:

  1. You can make these donut holes fried in oil or make them in your air fryer.
  2. This recipe uses simple ingredients that you can find at any store.
  3. The donut holes are so light that they rise beautifully before frying.
  4. You can enjoy these gluten free donut holes plain or coat them in one of the many fun suggestions below!

You may also love these Gluten Free Fried Yeast Donuts!

Ingredient Notes:

Gluten free yeast donuts ingredients photo.
  • Gluten Free Flour Blend – I recommend using Authentic Food’s Steve’s Bread Blend, Better Batter, or Cup4Cup in this recipe. These flour blends rise really well with yeast, making the donuts great. Many blends list on their bags that they are not for yeast recipes, so read your flour blend packaging.
  • Xanthan Gum – If your blend doesn’t include a binder like xanthan gum, please add one teaspoon.
  • Active Dry Yeast – Always double-check check the brand you use is gluten free. Red Star Platinum is NOT gluten free!
  • Eggs – Use size large.
  • Milk – You can use regular or non-dairy milk.
  • Butter – I recommend using unsalted butter. Melt it so that the butter is softened and easy to blend into the wet ingredients, but be sure it is not too hot, or it can kill the yeast.

Recipe Step By Step Directions:

Bubbling yeast in a measuring cup.

Before making these gluten free donut holes, you must prep your yeast. To do this, add warm water (no hotter than 110º F), yeast, and sugar to a bowl. Let this sit for 5-10 minutes until the yeast is foamy.

Photos of steps one and two mixing up the donut dough.

Step 1: Add the gluten-free flour and the remaining sugar to a large mixing bowl. Use a wire whisk to blend the dry ingredients.

Step 2: Whisk the remaining wet ingredients into the yeast mixture. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.

HINT: Mix up this dough using a standing mixer with a dough hook or paddle attachment.

Donut holes ready to rise.

Step 3: Mix the dough. You will need to shape then rise the donut holes now, as gluten free dough does not get a second rise. On a silicone mat or wax paper, roll the dough to 1 ½ to 2 inches in thickness.

To cut out the donut holes, use a donut cutter to cut out donuts and holes or a small biscuit cutter to cut out donut holes. You can also use a small cookie scoop to scoop out dough balls.

Step 4: Preheat your oven to 200º F. When the oven reaches the temperature, turn it off the oven. Cover the baking sheet with the donut holes loosely with plastic wrap. Let the donut holes rise for 45 minutes.

Donut holes frying in oil in a cast iron skillet.

Step 5: Heat your oil in a Dutch oven or 12-inch cast iron skillet to 350º F. (I use a side burner attached to our grill so I don’t get oil all over the kitchen.)

NOTE: If you have a deep fryer and prefer to use that, go for it!

For best results, using a high smoke point oil when frying foods is important. You can learn more about the right oil in this air fryer oil article.

Step 6: Use a slotted spoon to gently drop the donut holes into the hot oil. Let them cook for 1-2 minutes on each side. Use the slotted spoon or metal tongs to remove the fried donut holes.

Step 7: Move the cooked donut holes to a pan or platter lined with paper towels. The paper towels absorb the excess oil from the fried donuts.

Step 8: Allow the gluten free donut holes to cool, and then roll them in powdered sugar or another topping.

A large bowl filled with powdered sugar. Donut holes are in the sugar.

These fried donut holes are absolutely delicious! Be sure your donuts are thoroughly cooled, or the heat will melt the powdered sugar. My homemade Gluten Free Pumpkin Donuts also taste great in powdered sugar!

Air Fryer Directions:

  1. Make the gluten free donut hole dough and rise the donut holes using the same directions as above.
  2. Line the bottom of your air fryer with parchment paper. Poke some holes in the parchment paper so air can circulate.
  3. Preheat the air fryer to 375º F.
  4. Place the donut holes gently in the air fryer.
  5. Cook for 2 minutes, then carefully turn them over to cook the other side. Cook for an additional 3 minutes. Note that actual cooking time depends on how large your donut holes are. If your donut holes are large, they may need to cook longer.
  6. Remove the donut holes from the air fryer and allow them to cool before coating them.

Donut Holes Coating Ideas:

There are several different ways to coat your donuts when they are cool. Here are some of my family’s favorite ways to eat these donuts:

  • Powdered Sugar – Add ½ cup of powdered sugar to a large bowl, and toss the donut holes to coat them in the powdered sugar.
  • Glazed – Add ½ cup powdered sugar and 2-3 tablespoons of milk or non-dairy milk to make a glaze. Mix into a glaze. Dip the donut holes in the glaze, then dry them on a wire rack.
  • Cinnamon Sugar – Mix â…“ cup of sugar and one teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Toss the donut holes to coat them in the cinnamon sugar mixture.
  • Chocolate Coated – Melt Ghirardelli chocolate wafer in a microwave-safe bowl. Dip the donut holes in the chocolate. Place them on a rack or wax paper-coated tray, then allow the chocolate to harden in the refrigerator.

Tips and Recipe FAQ:

Can you bake these gluten free donut holes?

You can bake these donut holes, but they will not have the fried crispy outsides.

What is the best oil for deep frying?

I prefer to use avocado oil, mild vegetable oil, or canola oil for deep frying because they are easy, high-smoke point oils to use. You can also use coconut oil, but know that this oil will flavor the donuts with a mild coconut taste.

How do you reheat fried donuts?

You can reheat your donut holes in the toaster oven for 5 minutes at 350º F.

Can you make this donut hole recipe egg-free?

I have not tested this recipe with any egg replacer, like a flax egg or chia egg. If you test these, please leave a comment and let us know how they turned out.

You may also love this easy Gluten Free Caramel Apple Donuts recipe!

A close up of a donut hole with a bite taken out.

Here are all of my delicious gluten free donut recipes in one spot so you can find them all!

More Gluten Free Donut Recipes:

A bowl of powdered sugar donut holes.

Easy Gluten Free Donut Holes Recipe

Sandi Gaertner
A deliciously easy gluten free fried donut hole recipe. You can oil fry or air fry the donut holes!
5 from 4 votes
gluten free allergy icon
nut free allergen icon
soy free allergy icon
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Rise 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Course Gluten Free Dessert Recipes, Gluten Free Donut Recipes
Cuisine American
Servings 36 donut holes
Calories 101 kcal

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

Ingredients
  

  • 2 ¼ cups gluten free flour blend * see note
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • ¼ cup milk or non-dairy milk
  • ¼ cup butter

Yeast and Prep

  • 2 teaspoons active dry yeast (or one packet)
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • ½ cup warm water

Oil For Frying

  • 1 cup high smoke point oil * see notes

Instructions
 

  • Before making these gluten free donut holes, you will need to prep your yeast. To do this, add warm water (no hotter than 110º F), yeast, and sugar to a small bowl. Let this sit for 5-10 minutes until the yeast is foamy.
  • In a large bowl, add the dry ingredients. Use a wire whisk to blend the dry ingredients together.
  • Add the remaining wet ingredients to the yeast mixture and whisk it. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
  • Mix the donut dough. You will need to shape the donuts now as gluten free dough does not get a second rise. On a silicone mat or wax paper, roll the dough to 1 ½ to 2 inches in thickness. Use a donut cutter, biscuit cutter, or cookie cutters to cut out donut holes.
  • Preheat your oven to 200º F. When the oven reaches the temperature, turn off the oven. Cover the baking sheet with the donut holes loosely with plastic wrap. Let the donut holes rise for 45 minutes.
  • Heat your oil in a Dutch oven or 12-inch cast iron skillet to 350º F.
  • Use a slotted spoon to gently drop the donut holes into the hot oil. Let them cook for 1-2 minutes on each side. Use the slotted spoon or metal tongs to remove the fried donut holes.
  • Move the cooked donut holes to a pan or platter lined with paper towels. The paper towels are there to absorb the excess oil from the fried donuts.

Notes

  1. I recommend using Authentic Foods Steve’s GF Bread Blend or Cup4Cup for this recipe. Not all gluten free flour blends rise well with yeast.
  2. If your blend doesn’t have xanthan gum, add 1 teaspoon.
  3. Yeast – double check the brand you use is gluten free. Red Star Platinum is NOT gluten free!
  4. It is important to use a high smoke point oil when frying foods. You can learn more about the right oil to use in this air fryer oil article.
  5. Enjoy the donuts plain, or coat them in powdered sugar.

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, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.

Nutrition

Serving: 1donut holeCalories: 101kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 1gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 31mgPotassium: 8mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 59IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 9mgIron: 1mg
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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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4 Comments

  1. Followed the recipe exactly and it created a liquid that certainly couldn’t be kneaded or shaped, but could easily be poured. I used Doves Farm Freee flour.

    1. Hi Asha, You must be in the U.K. I haven’t tested that flour, but if you notice the dough is too wet, add more gluten free flour or reduce the amount of liquids. The wet batter is indicative that there was a lot of starch in that flour blend.

    2. I have fast rising instant yeast, not active yeast. Can I use that instead or will the dough not come out the way it’s supposed to?