Baked Vanilla Donuts (Egg, Dairy, & Nut Free)
These vegan baked vanilla donuts are light and fluffy, and bake up perfectly in just 8-9 minutes in a donut pan. My simple recipe is naturally egg free, dairy free, nut free, and vegan, so just about anyone can enjoy them – no special egg substitutes required. Top these baked donuts with vanilla or chocolate icing, or a simple cinnamon-sugar blend. Please note this recipe was created using a 3 1/4" diameter donut pan – pans vary in size, so if yours are larger, you may want to double the recipe.
Servings: 6 donuts (3 1/4" diameter)
Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup melted butter OR neutral flavored oil (such as vegetable or canola oil)*
- 2 Tbsp unsweetened applesauce, level
- 1/3 cup water
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup all purpose flour, lightly spooned into measuring cup, and leveled across top (to ensure proper measuring, never pack flour or tap cup to settle)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F and lightly grease 6-cavity donut pan (3 1/4" diameter each) with cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl, stir together sugar, butter (or oil), and applesauce. Stir in water and vanilla extract.
- In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, and stir just until combined. You'll want to work fast from here, because the batter will start to thicken quickly.
- Distribute batter evenly between six (3 1/4" diameter) donut molds. Run a butter knife, spatula, or the back of a spoon over the top of each donut to flatten/smooth out the batter.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes. Cool for a few minutes, then gently remove donuts from pan (I invert my pan over the rack) onto wire cooling rack. Allow to cool before icing.
- See notes below for vanilla and chocolate glaze options! We love to top ours with icing and sprinkles.
Notes
*If baking dairy-free, be sure to use DF butter or oil.
For icing, stir all ingredients below together in a small bowl. Gently dip one side of each donut into icing, or spread with a knife/spatula, and allow 10 minutes or so for icing to harden. Each recipe below will frost six donuts.
Classic Vanilla Icing
- 1/2 cup confectioners sugar
- ~2 tsp milk
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt (optional)
- 6 Tbsp confectioners sugar
- 2 Tbsp cocoa powder
- ~3 teaspoons milk
- 1/4 tsp vanilla
- Pinch of salt (optional)