Gluten-Free Vegan Baked Chocolate Sprinkle Donuts

Who knew gluten-free vegan baked chocolate donuts could be so easy to make at home? They're baked in the oven, not fried for a quick and easy gluten-free brunch recipes. Dipped in a delicious dairy-free chocolate glaze and topped with rainbow sprinkles for a fun breakfast treat!
An aerial view of chocolate donuts with sprinkles on a marble table.
An aerial view of chocolate donuts with sprinkles on a marble table.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a little bit obsessed with donuts. Baked donuts, fried donuts, cake donuts, donut holes. All the donuts.
However, finding a gluten-free donut out in the world is a rarity. Better yet, finding a gluten-free AND vegan donut is even more scarce. So I tend to make them at home, instead! As soon as I purchased a baked donut pan, I was hooked. The pan itself is rather inexpensive so it was a no brainer to add it to my kitchen.

I just love how quick and easy it is to get my chocolate donut fix with these gluten-free vegan baked chocolate donuts. The donuts are soft, moist, fluffy and lightly sweetened. The glaze sets to create that perfect bite. And well sprinkles make everything better!

These baked chocolate donuts are gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, vegan AND yeast-free! SO MANY FREES! But that doesn’t mean they don’t taste like the real thing. Because they most certainly do! You really wouldn’t even know they were allergy friendly!
These baked chocolate donuts taste JUST like chocolate cake, except you can eat them for breakfast! Don’t you just love when you can disguise dessert as breakfast? I know I do! I will say these baked donuts are slightly healthier than their fried counterparts. Just ever so slightly. But everything in moderation, my friends.
By the way… Is it donuts or doughnuts? I seriously never know. I’m calling them donuts here, but for all you doughnut lovers, I promise I made these for you, too.
An aerial view of gluten-free vegan chocolate donuts with sprinkles in a metal loaf pan

Tips for Making Gluten-Free Vegan Baked Donuts

  • Most recipes will tell you not to fill the donut pan up to the top with the batter. However, these are gluten-free vegan donuts. They don’t rise the same way as a normal baked donut. So I fill all the way to the top. You get a perfectly round, fluffy donut this way. Trust me!
  • The magic is in the apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar reacts with the baking soda here and helps replace eggs in this recipe. So don’t skip out on that. It may seem trivial due to its small amount, but it is powerful!
  • Other types of non-dairy milk are able to be swapped here. I tend to use almond milk in almost all of my baking because it’s what we have on hand in our house. You can try using soy milk or rice milk if you have a nut allergy.
  • Use a ziplock bag to pipe the donut batter into the pan. Seriously, it’s so much easier than spooning it in. Just take a ziplock bag and fit it into a drinking glass, folding the top of the bag over the sides. Use a spatula to fill the bag with the batter. Snip off one of the corners with scissors and you have yourself a DIY pastry bag! Trust me, it’s so easy!
  • Donuts are best eaten the same day, but you can keep them in an airtight container for 2-3 days. For longer storage, you can freeze them. Defrost at room temperature for about an hour before serving. Just keep in mind the glaze will not stay set when you defrost them from the freezer. Still delicious, though!

An aerial view of three gluten-free vegan baked chocolate donuts with chocolate glaze and rainbow sprinkles.

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Gluten-Free Vegan Baked Chocolate Donuts Recipe

You’ll fall in love with how easy these gluten-free vegan baked chocolate donuts are to make. Dipped in a chocolate glaze and rainbow sprinkles, your family will think you grabbed these donuts straight from a bakery! They are fun to make and ready in under 30 minutes. Does it get simpler than that?
An aerial view of chocolate donuts with sprinkles on a marble table.

Gluten-Free Vegan Baked Chocolate Sprinkle Donuts

Who knew gluten-free vegan baked chocolate donuts could be so easy to make at home? They're baked in the oven, not fried for a quick and easy gluten-free brunch recipes. Dipped in a delicious dairy-free chocolate glaze and topped with rainbow sprinkles for a fun breakfast treat!
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Drying Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 6 donuts
Calories: 314kcal
Author: Megan

Ingredients

For the Donuts:

  • 1 1/4 cups gluten-free flour blend
  • 1/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk (or other non-dairy milk)
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil

For the Glaze:

  • 3/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 3 tbsp cocoa powder
  • 2-3 tbsp unsweetened almond milk
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup rainbow sprinkles

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375F. In a large bowl, mix together flours, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
  • Add in vanilla extract, apple cider vinegar, almond milk and vegetable oil. Whisk until smooth.
  • Spray a donut pan with nonstick cooking spray (make sure it does not have flour in it if you need to be gluten-free).
  • Spoon or pipe batter into the donut pan. The batter should just about reach the top of the pan.
  • Bake at 375F for 10-14 minutes or until the donuts spring back when you touch them. Cool on a wire rack.
  • To make the frosting, add powdered sugar and cocoa powder to a medium sized bowl. Whisk to combine.
  • Add almond milk one tablespoon at a time until your preferred consistency is reached. You don't want it to be so thin that it drips right off the donut, but too thick and you won't be able to dip the donuts successfully without them crumbling.
  • When the donuts are cooled, dip them into the frosting and shake off any excess. Place back on wire rack and sprinkle with rainbow sprinkles if desired.

Notes

  • As always, check the labels of your products to make sure they are gluten-free! 
  • Most recipes will tell you not to fill the donut pan up to the top with the batter. However, these are gluten-free vegan donuts. They don't rise the same way as a normal baked donut. So I fill all the way to the top. You get a perfectly round, fluffy donut this way. Trust me!
  • The magic is in the apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar reacts with the baking soda here and helps replace eggs in this recipe. So don't skip out on that. It may seem trivial due to its small amount, but it is powerful!
  • Other types of non-dairy milk are able to be swapped here. I tend to use almond milk in almost all of my baking because it's what we have on hand in our house. You can try using soy milk or rice milk if you have a nut allergy.
  • Use a ziplock bag to pipe the donut batter into the pan. Seriously, it's so much easier than spooning it in. Just take a ziplock bag and fit it into a drinking glass, folding the top of the bag over the sides. Use a spatula to fill the bag with the batter. Snip off one of the corners with scissors and you have yourself a DIY pastry bag!
  • Donuts are best eaten the same day, but you can keep them in an airtight container for 2-3 days. For longer storage, you can freeze them. Defrost at room temperature for about an hour before serving. Just keep in mind the glaze will not stay set when you defrost them from the freezer. Still delicious, though!

Nutrition

Calories: 314kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Sodium: 351mg | Potassium: 137mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 32g | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 1.8mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @ADashofMegnut or tag #adashofmegnut!

Aerial view of a plate with donuts and pieces of donuts on a marble table and a small bowl with sprinkles in the upper right hand corner.

about megan

I’m Megan

A gluten-free food blogger from Chicago and lover of all things food, showing you gluten-free can be easy and delicious, too. Let’s make gluten-free stress free together! Read more…

5 from 2 votes

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6 Comments

  1. My husband’s birthday is coming up in a few weeks and I am TOTALLY making these for him! Can’t wait to try!

  2. If I don’t have gluten free flour will this recipe still work? I’m just looking for a good chocolate donut recipe to make. They look amazing and thanks for the recipe!

    1. It should work with a normal all-purpose flour since the gluten-free blend I use is meant to be used as a cup-for-cup replacement, but I can’t say for 100% sure since I haven’t tested it. If you try it, let me know though!

  3. 5 stars
    I don’t have a donut pan, but have one of those plug-in donut makers. Made this recipe this morning and oh my goodness! So yummy! Thank you for a delicious, gluten free/dairy free recipe!

  4. 5 stars
    These are the BEST! Food allergy mom here to say this has been the most yummy treat for my kids to safety eat. Super easy to make! I substituted the vanilla and almond milk with just straight almond milk coffee creamer (vanilla flavor). Ty!

    1. I’m so glad you and your family enjoyed these, Nicole! Thanks for coming back and sharing! I appreciate it!