Looking for a gluten free donut recipe? You can enjoy these gluten free donuts from the comfort of your own kitchen, and they’re baked, not fried!
If you’ve spent much time on the internet, you may have run into one or two or ten people who you’ve never met, but feel like you’ve known them for ages. We’ve been lucky to find several relationships like these, one of which being Ashley from Edible Perspective. We first connected through our mutual passions for gardening, photography, and vegetarian recipes, and more recently home remodeling. And now, she’s come out with a cookbook, Baked Doughnuts for Everyone! This gluten free donut recipe is a preview from the book, and man, is it detastlicious! Keep reading for the recipe and a bit more about the book.
Making this gluten free donut recipe
Even though sweets aren’t usually our forte, we were happy to find that the gluten free donut recipes from Baked Doughnuts for Everyone are easy to make and full of wholesome flours like oat flour and almond meal. There’s truly something for everyone in the book: from healthy to savory, to decadent.
These pistachio honey doughnuts are from the “Healthed Up” chapter and use a healthier spin on the base recipe. They were a fun project and turned out delicious with a sweet, spongy cake and a honey glaze. For this gluten free donut recipe and all of the recipes in the book, you’ll need a doughnut pan. Since the donuts are baked and not fried, you’ll pour the dough into the pan.
Gluten free donuts ingredients
You’ll need a few special flours for this gluten free donut recipe: oat flour, pistachio meal, almond meal, flax meal, and rice flour. The first four can actually be made at home by grinding them in a food processor and/or spice grinder. The rice flour has to be purchased, but these days it’s fairly easy to find online.
Aside from these items, the other ingredients in these gluten free donuts are pretty standard: oil, milk, egg, honey, applesauce; what you’d expect in standard baked goods!
How to make gluten free donuts
This gluten free donut recipe couldn’t be simpler to make! Just whisk together the dry ingredients in one bowl and the wet in another, then combine the two. Pop the dough into the doughnut pan and bake for about 20 minutes.
Then you’ll top these gluten free donuts with honey and chopped pistachios. And the flavor? Fluffy, sweet, and so good you won’t want to stop eating them.
About the book: Baked Doughnuts for Everyone
We thought we’d sit down with Ashley and ask her a few questions to provide some more info on the book, Baked Doughnuts for Everyone. We’ve provided a summary of the chat below (though we originally recorded it live, the quality was such that we weren’t able to share it with you–darn!). Thanks to Ashley for her time — and it was so nice to finally talk “in person”.
How did this cookbook come about? Prompted by the increased popularity of baked doughnut recipes, a publisher contacted Ashley with the idea of creating a cookbook. She saw Ashley already had several variations of gluten free donut recipes on her blog. To give the publisher an idea of her recipes, Ashley even shipped doughnuts overnight to the publisher while they were trying to decide whether it was a good fit (guess it won them over!). Once she got the job, she developed and photographed all recipes in just 3 months in her own kitchen.
How about the base recipe? Ashley usually doesn’t work with all-purpose gluten-free flours, but instead likes to use wholesome flours like oat flour and almond meal. She tried to come up with a base recipe for doughnuts that uses flours that are relatively easy to find (for example, you can make your own oat flour in your food processor).
Wow, 100 doughnut flavors! How did you come up with them? Ashley told us she made a huge list and emailed her entire family and friends to ask their favorite doughnuts and flavor combinations. She also looked to Jeni’s Ice Cream (the famous Ohio ice cream parlor) for interesting flavor combinations like chocolate cayenne and blackberry basil.
Ashley’s favorite recipes? Apple Fritter, Carrot Cake, Chocolate Cinnamon Roll, Red Velvet (colored naturally with beet puree), and Tiramisu are some of Ashley’s favorites, along with most of the options in the Savory chapter (like Garlic Spinach, Jalapeno Cheddar, and Stuffed Greek with Feta Cream Cheese Spread).
Looking for healthy desserts?
While we go to desserts for a splurge, we love finding healthy desserts that are big on flavor. Outside of this gluten free donut recipe, here are a few of our favorite healthy desserts:
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Bliss Bites (a favorite!)
- Dark Chocolate Cherry Quinoa Bark
- Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp
- Berries and Yogurt Whipped Cream
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse
- Mocha Almond Fudge Vegan Ice Cream
- Amazing Gluten Free Chocolate Cake
- Easy Bananas Foster Recipe
- Chai Spice Almond Snowball Cookies
This gluten free donut recipe is…
Vegetarian and gluten free.
PrintGluten Free Donut Recipe
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 8 1x
Description
Looking for a gluten free donut recipe? You can enjoy these gluten free doughnuts from the comfort of your own kitchen, and they’re baked, not fried!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup oats or oat flour
- 1/4 cup pistachios or pistachio meal
- 1/4 cup almonds or almond meal
- 2 tablespoons flax seeds or ground flax meal
- 1/4 cup sweet rice flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup ground pistachios
- 1/8 teaspoon salt (if pistachios are not salted)
- 1/4 cup honey
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F and grease your doughnut pan.
- If using whole oats, pistachios, almonds, and/or flax seeds, do the following: Grind 1/2 cup oats into a fine flour in a food processor. Then grind 1/4 cup pistachios into a fine meal in a coffee grinder or food processor, and do the same with 1/4 cup almonds and 2 tablespoons flax seeds (separately).
- Combine the oat flour, pistachio meal, almond meal, and flax meal along with 1/4 cup sweet rice flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large bowl, mixing well. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg. Then whisk in 1/2 cup milk, 1/4 cup honey, 1/4 cup applesauce, 1 tablespoon oil, and 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract.
- Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir with a large wooden spoon until just combined, being careful not to overmix (stop when you no longer see dry flour).
- Spoon the batter into the doughnut molds, filling to just below the top of each mold. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes until lightly golden brown around the edges. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Slide a thin spatula around the edges of the doughnuts to help loosen them out. Then place on a cooling rack and allow to cool fully before topping.
- To make the topping, chop 3/4 cup pistachios. In a bowl, mix the pistachios and salt together (if using unsalted nuts). In a microwavable bowl, add 1/4 cup honey, and microwave about 20 seconds until hot. Place parchment paper under the cooling racks, then generously spoon honey over the tops of the doughnuts. Top each doughnut with ground pistachios. Let cool and serve.
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Gluten Free Donut Recipe, Gluten Free Donuts
58 Comments
Noel
November 17, 2013 at 10:54 pmI would love to win this book for my husband. He absolutely loves to bake and this would be perfect to add to his collection of baking books.
Lilly Steirer
November 18, 2013 at 9:43 amMy husband is a doughnut lover and me… not so much! But, that is because I find them too stachy, too sweet and too bleh. I love all of those whole grain based flour mixes that must add an incredible element of texture and 100 different combinations? Yes!
What a beautiful sounding cookbook!
Lydia
November 20, 2013 at 9:17 pmWho doesn’t want another cookbook?!? My husband would be the happiest man alive if I started making doughnuts.
Melissa
November 18, 2013 at 1:45 amI received a donut pan for my birthday, and I need some good ideas so I can put it to use!
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com
November 18, 2013 at 6:19 amLOVE pistachios!! Yummy gf doughnuts :)
Skye
November 18, 2013 at 6:46 amI am still in awe. 100 – as in ONE HUNDRED – gluten free doughnut recipes. Truly amazing. And these look particularly nice – I am going through a pistachio craze myself at the moment, so looking forward to trying them…
Cori
November 18, 2013 at 7:04 amI’ve always loved Ashley’s recipes from her blog, so the book would be great to have in hand!
Shannon
November 18, 2013 at 7:19 amI wouldn’t even know which recipe to start with, the pistachio ones look really good though!
Jen M
November 18, 2013 at 7:25 amThese look delicious! I’d love to try out some recipes from the book.
leah
November 18, 2013 at 8:04 amI’d love to win b/c I love using my donut and minidonut pans!
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
November 18, 2013 at 8:20 amI love how pretty the pistachios look on top – such a gorgeous doughnut!
Abby
November 18, 2013 at 10:20 amThis book has been on my Christmas list for weeks! (So, if I win I’ll get to give my copy to a friend!)
Brittany Morreale
November 18, 2013 at 10:56 amThis book is awesome because who wouldn’t love donuts that are a little bit healthier :)
Sara
November 18, 2013 at 10:58 amI’m transitioning into a gluten-free/low gluten diet because my body has been reacting to sugar and carbohydrates to the point where I actually feel my blood sugar rise. It’s so easy to stick to just boring vegetables and forgo all desserts. I think this book would inspire me to be adventurous with my baking and cooking! I’d be so excited to crack this baby open and experiment in the kitchen. Thanks!!
Belle
November 18, 2013 at 11:07 amAs someone with celiac whose family members are definitely not gluten-free, I love the idea of having yummy doughnuts that we would all get to make and eat together. I have a bunch of pistachios in the pantry right now and I plan on using this recipe for sure.
Candice
November 18, 2013 at 11:13 amI’m a huge fan of doughnuts. Unfortunately, doughnuts aren’t the healthiest! This book would be great since it provides healthier versions for me to indulge.
Jill
November 18, 2013 at 11:24 amI have tried a few gluten-free donut recipes and really liked them. I’d really be interested in trying out the savory varieties, however. I mean, chili and…donuts? Roast chicken and…donuts? Sounds like a match made in heaven.
Jeanne G
November 18, 2013 at 11:56 amMy pregnant daughter-in-law is craving donuts right now so I bought her a donut pan so she would bake her own and try to keep it a little healthier. This cookbook would be a fun surprise for her.
Emily R.
November 18, 2013 at 12:04 pmI’ve been avoiding doughnuts for years because I always think of them as this eternal bad-for-you food. I love the idea that you can not only bake them to cut the fat, but that there are so many creative and interesting options to make them nutritious and yummy for everyone!
danielle
November 18, 2013 at 12:23 pmI would like to win this so I can give it to my gluten-free homegirl as a present :)
Melissa
November 18, 2013 at 12:26 pmI would love to win this book. I don’t do gf very much but am always looking for ways to expand my experience!
Debbie (Accidently Delish)
November 18, 2013 at 12:39 pmi just recently found out i am gluten intolerant. It was seriously one of the worst things for me, because I am a HUGE carb girl. Thankfully I had already been following Ashley, knew she made amazing things, so I knew I wasn’t completely doomed. I seriously think she saved me from a mental break down. With that being said, I would LOVE this cookbook to give me more ideas and to help get through this transition.
Sandra
November 18, 2013 at 1:49 pmOh my goodness! Who doesn’t love a doughnut. And if they can be made little healthier by baking them that’s even better. Can’t wait to make some!
Amy
November 18, 2013 at 3:11 pmThe recipes look delicious and original, and would make a great Chanukah gift.
Julia
November 18, 2013 at 4:45 pmI would love this book to give as a gift to my sister, who is crazy about doughnuts!
mason
November 18, 2013 at 7:13 pmI would love to win this book because I have been coveting Ashley’s donates since she first began posting recipes on her blog!
Liz
November 18, 2013 at 8:23 pmI would love to win this cookbook as I am on a tight budget this holiday season, and think homemade treats would be lovely gifts. Thank you so much for hosting this giveaway.
Haley @Cupcakes and Sunshine
November 18, 2013 at 9:19 pmI am currently in college and I would love for a fun get-together with friends and lots of donuts :)
Renee
November 18, 2013 at 9:36 pmI would love to win this cookbook for my daughter who has Crohn’s and is gluten-free. She loves to bake and has been experimenting with her donut pan!
Allison C
November 18, 2013 at 10:01 pmI have been trying to make more gluten-free baked goods and who doesn’t like doughnuts?!
Becca F
November 18, 2013 at 10:15 pmI’d love to win because I terribly miss doughnuts since being diagnosed with my wheat allergy! All the ones I’ve tried to make have ended in the trash :(
Michaela
November 18, 2013 at 10:35 pmI love baked donuts and need more recipes to use my donut pan :)
Katie
November 18, 2013 at 10:41 pmI love donuts & Ashley is a wonderful baker/blogger!
Debra Lee
November 19, 2013 at 12:26 amI would love to win a copy because I’m gluten-fre and love doughnuts!
Amanda
November 19, 2013 at 12:35 amThis was the first recipe I attempted from Ashley’s book and I was extremely excited to use my locally grown pistachios and honey. They turned out divine! They were light and airy but still had a wonderful texture. Since my mother has celiac disease, she is always looking for new recipes to incorporate foods she’s had to cut from her diet and I think she’d love this book!
Kim C.
November 19, 2013 at 2:23 amI started following Ashley’s blog after I found out that I had a gluten intolerance. I loved her very first doughnut recipe that she posted and I’ve made almost every single doughnut recipe on her blog. They are delicious and I would love to win a copy of her Cookbook so that I am able to make even more of her amazing doughnut recipes!!
Sebastian
November 19, 2013 at 3:15 amLooks very delicious!
sara by the season
November 19, 2013 at 9:33 amWow! Those doughnuts look amazing. We have a tradition at our house for birthdays – we go to a local doughnut shop for birthday doughnuts. They are delicious, and we always look forward to it. But then later in the day, I usually crash from the sugar high. I’d love this cookbook so I could learn some techniques to keep our doughnut tradition with a healthier spin!
Sophia Albright
November 19, 2013 at 10:14 amI have just begun my journey for cooking healthy but delicious at the same time, and I could really use a cookbook like this! A few of my family members eat gluten free, and we go to Ashley’s blog for her awesome recipes all the time. Really, we’ve never tried something of hers that hasn’t tasted just amazing!
Katie @ 24 Carrot Life
November 19, 2013 at 12:37 pmAfter following along with all the blogs that made recipes from Ashley’s book, I have now decided that I MUST have the book. I would love to make some donuts for breakfast for Christmas morning this year with my family. Wouldn’t that be a fun treat!? Thanks for hosting the giveaway. I also posted over on your Facebook page!
Allison (Spontaneous Tomato)
November 19, 2013 at 12:47 pmI have donut baking pans that I’ve barely put to any use, and gluten-free friends to bake for! :)
Nataliya M.
November 19, 2013 at 3:16 pmI want this book because it’ll be proof to my husband that it’s possible to make doughnuts delicious and HEALTHY(er) at the same time. I love baking and Ashley’s (healthified) doughnuts will be my next adventure.
Heidi
November 19, 2013 at 3:48 pmWould LOVE to give this book to my sister-in-law for Christmas. She lives with celiac disease and has become a wonderful cook because of it.
Meryl
November 19, 2013 at 4:35 pmI would love to try these recipes to make treats for all of my gluten free friends!
Rachel VanderWindt
November 19, 2013 at 6:11 pmI would love this book! I love baking and donuts are my specialty, always looking for more recipes! :)
Pia
November 20, 2013 at 1:19 am101 GLUTEN FREE DONUT RECIPES!!! I love donuts so much I continued to eat the glutinous goodies a year after I finally was diagnosed with a gluten allergy. When the pain and danger finally trumped the bliss of those tempting little circles of pure pleasure I put my baking skills to the marble board. Gluten free baking has proved to me that baking and any passion or endeavor of creation is always an evolving, learning experience. Donuts became the fastest confection to reinvent to an even better (healthier!) gluten-free creation! I’d love to explore and indulge in Ashley’s baking wisdom of different flours to use with this awesome cookbook!!
Becki @ Bites 'n Brews
November 20, 2013 at 11:34 amI love spending cold mornings baking and have a family of donut-lovers that I like to spoil. It’d be nice to have a plethora of gluten-free versions for the ones with sensitivities. And I hear there are vegan recipes in the back for my vegan bro and sis-in-law!
Lindsey | The Next Course
November 20, 2013 at 12:25 pmI’ve been following this book around the internet, drooling over all of the pictures of Ashley’s doughnuts as cooked by other bloggers! I would love to win a copy (but if I don’t win, I’ll probably purchase it for myself very soon!)!! I love the second image–such a gorgeous mess!
Rachel Tilly
November 20, 2013 at 3:44 pmWhat a neat book! I would love to win this cookbook so I could continue to experiment with baking with whole grains.
Beth
November 20, 2013 at 4:57 pmI’d love a copy of this book. I admire Ashley’s talent for creating gluten free recipes that use normal wholesome ingredients that are easy to find.
Elizabeth
November 20, 2013 at 6:03 pmI’d love to try more gluten-free baking! I’ve made a couple gf recipes, but can’t seem to get the consistency right!
Jaclyn Reynolds
November 20, 2013 at 8:12 pmWould love to learn some new gluten free recipes for my family!
Amy
November 21, 2013 at 12:28 pmPistachios are becoming all the rage, aren’t they? These would be especially fun to make around the holidays due to their pretty green color.
Linda Wagner
November 23, 2013 at 9:26 pmOh my gosh, my bf walked up as I was reading this and demanded we make them right away!! I’m not much of a baker but I’ll give it a go! These look amazing! Do you think that coconut flour would work as a sub for the oats?
Sonja
November 24, 2013 at 3:29 pmHi Linda! This recipe is fairly easy to follow and put together, so don’t worry about being much of a baker! I’d probably stick to the recipe and use the oats to get the best texture. We haven’t used coconut flour before, so I’m not quite sure how it would turn out. Best of luck!
Mindy Gordy
December 2, 2013 at 3:27 pmOoooh! I would love to try those pistachio donuts. Yum! Trying to cook and bake more gluten free too. I could use this book!
Garnet Lavendar
December 8, 2013 at 12:01 amIs there a substitute for rice flour? I wonder if quinoa flour or more oat flour would work…. Please respond! These donuts look amazing and I would love to be able to make them!
Sonja
December 8, 2013 at 4:13 pmHello! Actually, in Ashley’s book she states that there is not a good substitute for the sweet rice flour – it helps to make a nice texture. You can find it online at http://www.ener-g.com/sweet-rice-flour.html