Healthy Donut Recipe | A Great Treat for Kids!

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Is it possible to have a healthy donut recipe? You bet your tuchus! With no eggs, lactose, or gluten but full of chocolatey heaven, your kids will love this baked healthy treat.

With school back in full swing (why do elementary aged kids need homework?!), I’ve been getting a little grossed out by the sugar load in my daughter’s lunchbox. But who doesn’t want a sweet treat in their lunch box?! I know I love one.

Enter – – healthy dessert options. This healthy donut recipe uses nutrient rich ingredients like oats, almond flour, and a bit of maple syrup for sweetness! No eggs, gluten or dairy but still delicious? Yes ma’am!

And to boot, these are really quick to make! I’m talking start to finish in about an hour. That includes the frosting and clean up!

What Makes a Donut Recipe Healthy?

Traditional donuts use white flour and sugar. And yes, they’re delicious. But not so good for the waistline, and certainly not so good for tired kids after a long day of school (and who are we kidding, the parents that have to deal with them).

I wanted to make this recipe not just less unhealthy. I wanted to create a treat that actually included nutrients so we could not only get a sweet treat, but actually consume some nutrients, too.

• I start off with oat flour instead of white. You don’t have to buy “oat flour”. Just grind some oats! And voila! Oat flour. I like to use a scale (like this one) in all my baking so I know I’m exact. If you don’t have a scale, you can measure out 1 cup of oats, or 3/4 cup of oat flour. But please, just get a scale. You’ll love it once you give it a chance!

• Almond flour helps with moisture via fat.

• Next up we swapped eggs for flax, not for health (I love eggs) but for allergies. So if you don’t have an issue with eggs, feel free to put the 2 eggs back in.

• Unsweetened cocoa is a must for that rich chocolate flavor without the sugar.

• We use extra virgin olive oil for some fat which aids in texture. I’ve also used avocado oil and melted coconut oil with the same success. However, if you use coconut oil, you’ll have a delicious coconut flavored chocolate donut. My family was split on the coconut flavor. I personally loved it.

• Just a bit of maple syrup and an old banana (a bit of brown) add a touch of sweetness and more moisture. If you prefer, swap the maple syrup out for 1/4 cup of coconut sugar.

• And some lactose free milk (or milk of your choice) gets us to the right texture.

This recipe full of good stuff leads to rich, yet healthy, cake donuts.

Frosting Options for Healthy Donuts

Truly healthy frosting is a bit tough to pull off. But, with a good dark chocolate, it’s possible.

I melt vegan dark chocolate chips with a bit of oil for the chocolate frosted mini donuts. And they are heaven!

As for the white icing, that’s good old fashioned powdered sugar. There is no way around this one. It isn’t healthy, it’s straight sugar. I used a light glaze on just a few to try out. Of course it’s delicious, but certainly not as healthy as some may want. So you can make that decision. It’s still healthier than Dunkin’ no matter which way you go! Personally, I go dark chocolate. You could probably try a smear of peanut or almond butter, as well.

How to Make this Healthy Donut Recipe

Step 1: Start by mixing your ground flax and water. Set aside.

Step 2: Grind your oats for flour. Then add your all your dry ingredients to a bowl and give it a quick whisk.

Step 3: Add in your wet ingredients, and mashed banana, and stir until fully combined.

Step 4: Grease your donut pan and add batter until just below the lip. This recipe makes 12 mini donuts. I spoon the batter into the mold and then use my handy dandy tool, aka my fingers, to smooth down the batter.

Step 5: Bake for 8-12 minutes. If you’re making full size donuts (6 donut pan) you may have to bake for closer to 15 (or more) minutes.

Allow to cool for about 5 minutes in the pan. You can flip the pan over and tap out the donuts or push the donuts out from the bottom. I love a silicone donut mold (like this one) for this reason. Allow the mini donuts to cool completely before frosting.

Step 6: Mix the frosting of your choice and dip the donuts (use a spoon/fork to lift the donuts out of the chocolate), or drizzle the frosting over the donuts. My girls love sprinkles, so I added them, too. But that is up to you!

Let me know if you give these a try! I hope you and your kids love them like we do!

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