If you love gluten free desserts, these gluten free vanilla donuts will make your mouth water! Full of vanilla flavor, you will be hooked on these baked vanilla pudding donuts.
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I need gluten-free donuts to snack on every now and then. And I am not alone! My family loves helping me out with this problem :-).
These gluten free vanilla pudding donuts are just the bomb. There are a few words to describe how good they are. These gluten free vanilla donuts are that good!! They are moist but crispy around the edges and bursting with yummy vanilla flavors...they are definitely memorable.
Moist and delicious with a bit of crispiness on the outside...you will want to make these donuts again and again!
And if you are also egg-free, try this Gluten Free Egg-Free Vanilla Donuts Recipe. It also has a vegan option. If you are a donut fan like me, check out all of my yummy Gluten Free Donut recipes on the blog.
Why These Donuts Are Great:
- You can make them in under 30 minutes by baking them or under 20 minutes by using a donut maker.
- The vanilla pudding adds the perfect texture and flavor.
- These donuts are perfect for snacking, a bake sale, a party, or in gift bags decorated for a holiday.
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.
- Almond Flour - I include this for some protein, but you can omit this and add an additional ¼ gluten free flour.
- Pudding Mix - I used Jello brand vanilla pudding mix. Check the list to make sure your pudding is gluten free.
- Butter - Use unsalted butter.
- Baking Powder - Use aluminum-free in this recipe.
- Salt - I used sea salt, but you can use kosher or another type of salt.
A note about the pudding I used: I used regular pudding, not instant mix. I don't know if it makes a difference, but I wanted to let you know so you know what to shop for on your next trip to the grocery store.
The secret to this moist, delicious gluten free vanilla donut recipe is in the pudding mix. It adds a whole new level of yumminess to this simple gluten free donut recipe. I also used pudding mix in this gluten free vanilla raspberry bundt cake recipe, which is so good!
You can also make this simple DIY pudding mix. I am recommending this recipe because it is naturally gluten free. I recommend adding a ⅓ cup to this recipe.
Recipe Step By Step Directions:
Step 1: Add the gluten free flour, almond flour, baking powder, pudding mix, and salt to a large bowl and whisk to blend the dry ingredients together.
To measure your gluten free flour, I recommend using either the spoon method or leveling method.
Spoon Method: You can also use a spoon to fill the measuring cup. Use a knife to level along the top to remove the extra flour.
Leveling Method: Put the measuring scoop into the flour and fill. Do not pack the flour. Use a knife to scrape along the top to remove the extra flour.
Step 2: Add your wet ingredients and mix well in a small bowl.
Step 3: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix them together with a large spoon. Try not to overmix the batter, just mix until barely mixed. This will make your donut fluffier.
NOTE: I do not recommend a standing mixer. They tend to overmix your batter, which mixes out the air bubbles you need to make these donuts fluffy.
Step 4: Preheat, your donut maker according to the company's directions.
Use a small scoop to drop some donut batter into each donut section of the preheated donut maker, or see the FAQ below for detailed instructions to bake them in a donut pan.
I know I talk about my donut maker a lot. (I see that Babycakes redesigned their donut maker, so it looks a little different than this.) Both donut maker versions work the same. This is what I use to make donuts. Luckily, these are not fried, so they are much healthier to eat.
TIP: Spray a little coconut oil on the donut maker to make the outside of the donuts a little crispy, just like they were fried.
Step 5: Close the lid and cook the gluten free mini donuts for 4 minutes, or according to the manufacturer's directions. The Babycakes Donut Maker will cook your donuts in just 4-5 minutes!
Step 6: Remove the donuts from the donut maker or donut pan carefully to a wire rack for cooling. Do not add toppings or coatings until the donuts are fully cooled.
If you love fried donuts, my Gluten Free Fried Donuts are amazing, as are my Gluten Free Jelly Donuts.
Topping Ideas:
- Drizzle icing over the donuts, as shown in my photos. Decorate with sprinkles. Always check the gluten free sprinkles list to ensure your sprinkles are gluten free.
- Dip the mini donuts in melted chocolate. The flavor will be a copycat of Hostess Donettes mini donuts.
- Coat the donuts in powdered sugar, which is another copycat flavor for Hostess Donettes.
- Frost the donuts with this delicious Gluten Free Frosting recipe.
Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ:
The short answer is it depends. Some pudding is gluten free, and other brands may not be gluten free. You need to read the labels to ensure there are no gluten ingredients in the brand you want to buy.
As I mention above, Jello Brand Pudding is gluten free. Jello brand pudding mix is gluten free. You can also use Simply Delish or Vivian's brand, which is also dairy-free.
You can definitely use a donut pan to make this gluten free vanilla donut recipe. I highly recommend spraying it with coconut oil for a little crispiness to the outside of the donuts. Bake the donuts for 20 minutes at 350 degrees F. Note that the actual bake time will vary depending on the size and depth of the donut pan.
These gluten free vanilla donuts will keep fresh for up to 3 days in an airtight container...but note they will soften and lose their slightly crisp outsides.
Yes, you can easily freeze these donuts. I toss them into a freezer ziplock bag and freeze them. Note they will lose their crispy outsides when freezing.
To thaw the donuts, just take them out of the freezer and let them warm to room temperature...though my kids will eat them frozen too!
This post was updated from an older December 2020 post with easier-to-follow directions.
While you are here, check out The BEST Gluten Free Donuts Recipes on my blog!
More Gluten Free Donuts To Try:
- Don't tell the kids these gluten free donuts are healthy! Healthy Gluten Free Breakfast Donuts is that good!
- Gluten Free Peanut Butter Donuts are made for peanut butter lovers!
- If you love pumpkin and spice, these Gluten Free Pumpkin Donuts are so good. Eat them all year long!
- Gluten Free Banana (aka Chunky Monkey) Donuts are full of ripe bananas, chocolate, and nuts!
📖 Recipe
Gluten Free Vanilla Donuts
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup gluten free flour blend * see note
- 1 box vanilla pudding * see note
- ½ cup almond flour * see note
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup sugar
- ½ cup butter 1 stick
- dash salt
- Icing sprinkles, etc. (I used Wilton brand)
Instructions
- Preheat the Babycakes donut maker.
- In a mixer, add wet ingredients and mix on low speed.
- Gradually add in flour, pudding, sugar, and salt.
- Continue to mix on low speed until blended.
- Spoon batter into each donut cup in the donut maker.
- Cook 3-4 minutes until done.
- Remove from the donut maker onto a cooling rack.
- When cool, drizzle with icing.
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 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 highly suggest using almond flour and not almond meal. Almond meal is more coarse and will make your donuts grainy.
- These donuts will keep up to 4 days in an air-tight container, or up to 4 months in the freezer.
- You can bake them in a donut pan. Just add the batter to a greased donut pan and bake at 350º F for 20 minutes until done.
- You can easily freeze these donuts. I toss them into a freezer ziplock bag and freeze them. Note they will lose their crispy outsides when freezing. To thaw the donuts, just take them out of the freezer and let them warm to room temperature...though my kids will eat them frozen too!
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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(* This post was updated from an older May 2018 post with more details on making this recipe.)
Beth
Hi there!
Super excited to try this recipe! We have a donut fryer and are looking for a gluten free donut recipe that will work with it. Do you think this recipe would be ok for a fryer?
Thank you so much!
Sandi Gaertner
When you say fryer, do you mean hot oil and not a donut maker? This batter isn't thick enough to hold a donut shape for frying. I haven't tried this but you could experiment and add extra flour. You could also use my fried gf jelly donut recipe but cut the donuts as circle donut shapes instead of round filled.
Ms Ali
Hi, I live in a country where the pudding mix isn’t available, any substitutes you can advice on.
Thankyou!
Sandi Gaertner
I did a quick search and found this recipe so you can make your own. I can't put links in comments so I will add it to the pudding section of the post for you.