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.
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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:
- You can make these donut holes fried in oil or make them in your air fryer.
- This recipe uses simple ingredients that you can find at any store.
- The donut holes are so light that they rise beautifully before frying.
- 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 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 be sure to 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 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:
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.
Step 1: Add the gluten-free flour and the remaining sugar to a large
Step 2: Add the remaining wet ingredients to the yeast mixture and whisk it. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
HINT: You can also mix up this dough using a standing mixer with a dough hook or paddle attachment.
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 only cut out donut holes. You can also use a small
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.
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, 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.
Step 6: Use a slotted spoon to drop the donut holes into the hot oil gently. 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 are there to 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.
These fried donut holes are absolutely delicious! Be sure your donuts are fully cooled, or the heat will melt the powdered sugar. My homemade Gluten Free Pumpkin Donuts also taste great in powdered sugar!
Air Fryer Directions:
- Make the gluten free donut hole dough and rise the donut holes using the same directions as above.
- Line the bottom of your air fryer with parchment paper. Poke some holes in the parchment paper so air can circulate around.
- Preheat the air fryer to 375º F.
- Place the donut holes gently in the air fryer.
- Cook for 2 minutes, then carefully turn them over to cook the other side. Cook 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.
- 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 - To make a glaze, add ½ cup powdered sugar and 2-3 tablespoons of milk or non-dairy milk. Mix into a glaze. Dip the donut holes in the glaze, then place them on a wire rack to dry.
- Cinnamon Sugar - Mix ⅓ 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, and then allow the chocolate to harden in the refrigerator.
Tips and Recipe FAQ:
You can bake these donut holes, but they will not have the fried crispy outsides.
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.
You can reheat your donut holes in the toaster oven for 5 minutes at 350º F.
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!
Here are all of my delicious gluten free donut recipes in one spot so you can find them all!
More Gluten Free Donut Recipes:
- Easy Gluten Free Jelly Donuts
- Gluten Free Pumpkin Donuts
- Gluten Free Peanut Butter Donuts
- Paleo Cinnamon Apple Donuts
📖 Recipe
Easy Gluten Free Donut Holes Recipe
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
- 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.
- If your blend doesn't have xanthan gum, add 1 teaspoon.
- Yeast - double check the brand you use is gluten free. Red Star Platinum is NOT gluten free!
- 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.
- 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
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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