Baked Strawberry Donuts

Name: Baked Strawberry Donuts
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: Vegan
Ingredients: 1/4 cup aquafaba (liquid in a can of chickpeas); 1/2 cup unsweetened plain vanilla almond milk, warmed; 1/4 cup melted coconut oil; 1/3 cup coconut sugar; 1/4 cup maple syrup; 1 tsp pure vanilla extract; 1/4 tsp sea salt; 1/3 cup unsweetened apple sauce; 2 tsp baking powder; 1/2 tsp baking soda; 1/2 cup crushed, dried strawberries; 1 1/2 cups almond flour; 1 cup + 2 tbsp gluten-free flour blend; 1/2 cup freeze-dried strawberries, crushed into a powder; 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar; 2 tbsp unsweetened almond milk; 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

January 19, 2022

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Are healthier donuts even possible? Yes! These baked strawberry donuts are vegan, gluten-free and are made with nutrient-rich, whole food ingredients. If you love strawberries, you will love this fun healthier treat!

Stack of baked strawberry donuts on a plate with a strawberry glaze

Can You Eat Treats on a Healthy Diet?

Valentine’s Day is coming up and you’ll be hearing a lot about “self-love”. Practicing self-love is not always about “eating your greens”. Self-love also means embracing a little sweetness. I like to create treats for my family but make them with nutrient-rich plant-based ingredients, whole foods, fiber and the occasional superfood. Eating beautifully is about balance and enjoying life. Sweet treats can absolutely be part of a healthy diet and can be another opportunity to deliver nutrients to your body. While these baked strawberry donuts are still considered a treat, they are made with whole food ingredients and should be enjoyed without guilt!

Seven baked strawberry donuts arranged with a bit taken out of one of the donuts.

How Do You Make Donuts?

It is incredibly easy to make donuts at home! You do not need any special appliances – simply a donut pan and an oven. You also do not need any yeast. The batter can come together in about 15 minutes.

The secret ingredient in these strawberry baked donuts is aquafaba! Aquafaba is the liquid from a can of chickpeas. Using a stand/hand mixer (or vigorously using a whisk), the aquafaba whips up and mimics egg whites to act as a binder.

The batter is also comprised of wholesome ingredients such as almond flour, gluten-free flour, coconut sugar, and applesauce. The donuts are then infused with a a delicious strawberry flavor from freeze-dried strawberries (look for freeze-dried strawberries with only one ingredient – strawberries!).

Whipped aquafaba for strawberry baked donuts

Batter for strawberry baked donuts in a donut pan.

Six Strawberry Baked Donuts on a Cooling Rack

Tips to Make Baked Strawberry Donuts

Grease your donut pan to prevent sticking. I use coconut oil that I grease with a paper towel.
Don’t over-mix the batter which can lead to dense donuts. Fold the wet and dry ingredients until just incorporated.
Let the donuts cool completely before icing the donuts.
Do not substitute freeze-dried strawberries with fresh strawberries and fresh strawberries have water so will change how they bake.

Let’s get baking!

Additional Healthy Treats You May Like

Baked Strawberry Donuts

Print Recipe

These vegan, baked, gluten-free strawberry donuts are easy to make and made with whole food ingredients. A strawberry-packed healthier treat!

Author: Jeannine
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Yield: 12 donuts 1x
Category: Sweets
Cuisine: Vegan

Ingredients

Scale

1/4 cup aquafaba (liquid in a can of chickpeas)
1/2 cup unsweetened plain vanilla almond milk, warmed
1/4 cup melted coconut oil
1/3 cup coconut sugar
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/3 cup unsweetened apple sauce
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup crushed, dried strawberries
1 1/2 cups almond flour
1 cup + 2 tbsp gluten-free flour blend

Glaze

1/2 cup freeze-dried strawberries, crushed into a powder
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 tbsp unsweetened almond milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

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Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and lightly grease donut pan
In a mixing bowl, add aquafaba and use a mixer or which to blend until soft peaks form (about 1-2 minutes). Set aside (get them as fluffy as possible).
Warm almond milk on stove or in microwave.
In a large mixing bowl, add the melted coconut oil, coconut sugar, maple syrup, vanilla extract and sea salt and whisk to combine. Then add applesauce and warmed almond milk and whisk more.
In a separate bowl, add the dry ingredients – baking powder, baking soda, almond flour and gluten-free flour and dried strawberries and combine. Add the dry ingredients to wet ingredients and blend together gently.
Fold in the whipped aquafaba and stir. The batter should not be thin – it should be more scoop able. If its too thin, add 1 tbsp of the gluten-free flour.
Divide batter evenly, filling up donut pan to the top.
Bake for 18 minutes.
In the meantime, make the glaze. In a small food processor, grind the dried strawberries into a powder. In small bowl, add strawberries, powdered sugar and mix. Add the almond milk and vanilla and combine. You should have a thick glaze.
Remove donuts from oven and let cool for 2 minutes. Then remove from pans and let cool on cooling rack for 5 minutes. Dip in glaze and top with additional crushed strawberries.