Easy and delicious baked (not fried!) doughnuts which tastes like a classic cinnamon bun but in doughnut form AND specifically designed for breakfast! Made with NO butter, oil, flour (grains, if you go the paleo option!) or sugar, these baked doughnuts are naturally gluten free, vegan, dairy free, sugar free and come with a tested paleo option!
Oh, the things you uncover after a solid clean.
Before I went to America, my mum and sister told me they would be giving my childhood room a Spring clean….or rather, a ‘good riddance clean’.
A few of the things which were sent to storage include-
High school photo albums (goodbye mushroom hair, blonde tips and chubby cheeks)
High school textbooks (laziness prevailed, instead of throwing them out)
University textbooks (most still in their plastic wraps)
CLOTHES (SO MANY CLOTHES)
Random bits and pieces….including a random doughnut pan.
It was like a blessing in disguise- I had intentions to get a doughnut pan as soon as I arrived, as I had some fun ideas and this saved me time AND money.
Just don’t ask me how I acquired this doughnut pan.
I have NO idea.
Anyway, can we talk about the association with doughnuts and breakfast? This was a totally new concept for me when I first came to America.
My two roommates in New York would always grab breakfast en route to their office jobs in Manhattan. 4 days out of 5, they would swing by Dunkin Donuts and grab a coffee with a doughnut. I was so oblivious to this concept- I’d always associate donuts (doughnuts) with an afternoon snack with coffee or a dessert…never first thing in the morning.
Saying that, I think the concept of doughnuts for breakfast PACKED with nutrients to keep you energised and satisfied CAN happen. In fact, with an upcoming brunch with friends happening, I wanted to make this concept happen in my home country- Healthy Breakfast Doughnuts.
Besides, you can have your other traditional doughnuts for dessert.
Double D’s.
Doughnuts AND desserts, you dirty birdies!
These healthy baked doughnuts are easy, delicious and a fun breakfast which are like a cinnamon bun too- Also full of protein, no sugar and high in fiber! Unlike traditional doughnuts, these aren’t only baked, they are also made with no butter, oil, margarine, butter or sugar, but they taste JUST as good! The doughnuts themselves (if you go the original route!) are fluffy and slightly dense (thanks to the gluten free oat flour) or if you go grain free, are firm and tender (thanks to the combination of coconut flour and almond butter). Because of the two tested options offered, regardless of which you pick ,they will be naturally gluten free, dairy free, sugar free, vegan, paleo and grain free!
Long term readers know I usually recommend my three standard protein powders- A casein protein powder, a paleo protein powder and a vegan brown rice protein powder. This time, while those three are perfectly fine, this is one recipe in which a whey based protein powder would be suitable for. Most whey protein powders I’ve used tend to be incredibly sticky, but as this recipe calls for it as a strict ‘glaze’ or topping, this texture works perfectly for it. I would recommend this whey protein powder (pictured) or this whey protein powder (my other standby).
HACK! Don’t have a doughnut pan? These totally work as muffins or even a loaf pan- You’ll just need to keep an eye on the cooking time for the latter, it will be a little bit longer but still just as delicious.
Make these healthy flourless (baked!) cinnamon bun breakfast doughnuts and let’s REALLY embrace doughnuts for breakfast.
Post sugar crash = not welcome.
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Healthy Flourless Cinnamon Bun Breakfast Doughnuts
Ingredients
For the original option
- 2 cups gluten free oat flour gluten free oats ground into a flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sweetener of choice I used a stevia blend, monk fruit sweetener
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 tablespoon Saigon cinnamon
- pinch sea salt
- 1 cup milk of choice I used unsweetened coconut milk
- 1 flax egg can sub for 1 large egg if not vegan
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6 tablespoon drippy almond butter can sub for any nut butter
For the paleo option
- 3/4 cup coconut flour sifted
- 1 cup almond flour sifted
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 4 large eggs lightly whisked
- 1/2 cup milk of choice I used unsweetened coconut milk
- 3 tablespoon drippy almond butter
- 1/2 cup honey can sub for pure maple syrup
For the protein frosting
- 3 scoops vanilla protein powder see recommendations above
- 1-2 tablespoon granulated sweetener of choice optional
- 1-2 tablespoon nut butter of choice optional
- Milk to thin out batter
For the cinnamon coconut butter frosting
- 4-6 tablespoon coconut butter melted
- 2 tablespoon granulated sweetener of choice
- Dairy free milk to thin out
Instructions
For the original option
- Preheat the oven to 350. Grease a 12 count doughnut pan or muffin pan with oil/butter/cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the dry ingredients and mix well.
- In a small bowl, whisk the milk, vanilla extract and egg/flax egg. Pour into the dry mixture. Add the melted nut butter and mix very well until a batter is formed.
- Transfer the batter to the greased doughnut pan. Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until golden brown on top and a toothpick comes on clean. Remove from oven and let sit in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, frost.
For the paleo option
- Preheat the oven to 350. Grease a 12 count doughnut pan or muffin pan with oil/butter/cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the dry ingredients and mix well.
- In a small bowl, whisk the milk and eggs together. In a seperate bowl, melt your nut butter with honey and combine both into the dry mixture. Mix until a very thick batter is formed.
- Transfer to greased doughnut pan and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until cooked through. Remove from oven and let sit for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. Once cooled, frost.
To make the frosting
- Combine all the ingredients and using a tablespoon, add milk until a relatively batter is formed. Drizzle over the doughnuts, one at a time. For the cream cheese one, allow to sit at room temperature until it softens. Mix with granulated sweetener and cinnamon. Spread over each doughnut.
Notes
More delicious breakfast choices? Gotcha covered!
Healthy Fresh Strawberry Breakfast Crumble
Healthy Low Carb Double Chocolate Pancakes
Healthy Chocolate Zucchini Breakfast Cake
Have you ever found gems while cleaning? I found my sister’s heinous doll she loved as as a five year old. The rip marks I left as a kid were still there too 😀
DOUGHnut or donut?
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You had me at cinnamon bun but breakfast doughnut doesn’t hurt at all! I can almost taste the coconut butter frosting lol 🙂
🙂 thanks, Michele!
Do you think these would bake in a muffin tin? I have no “donut” pan.
Hi Ginger! Absolutely- They started out as muffins first 🙂 You may need to increase the cooking time just a little bit, but otherwise, no other changes 🙂
Do you have the nutritional information?
Hi Christi! Sure thing, if you add the ingredients to myfitnesspal or another calorie counting website, it will provide it for you! Enjoy!
Oh my God yes. I am such a donut-obsessed human – you reeled me in here. But yes aren’t we Americans weird with our morning donuts lolz After every Sunday church service at my church they have a giant table full of Dunkin Donuts donuts, fo free. It’s pretty amazing #america
Legit, this is why America is the land of dreams (I just wrote Land of Lakes butter…SEE?!)
Wait a cinnamon bun…in doughnut form? You evil, evil man. Are these still ‘healthy’ after I eat the entire batch? By entire batch, I mean entire batch plus half of the next batch… They look amazing!
Thanks so much, man! You can have a bakers dozen, plus an extra 5.
Cinnamon bun and a donut together!? This is why we are friends!!!
We can’t be friends unless you stick your dismounts, sorry. 🙂
Thank you for posting this! I was JUST looking for a good recipe for baked donuts as it was requested for Mother’s Day! I love your site and was sad to not find a recipe yesterday. But you read my mind! Hooray! Making these tomorrow! 😀
🙂 Yay! Hope you guys enjoyed them, Karla!
I always said donut, but I won’t fight anyone on spelling as long as the product is still the same. When I clean I find a lot of random stuff my cats have hidden or socks that I used to wear but lost one of them so I threw out the other. I bet if I cleaned more often this wouldn’t happen hahaha
You and me, both! I need to hire a cleaner!
We Americans do like our dessert-for-breakfast… but hey, so do you – you just do it healthier 😉 And also more efficiently, since this is a mashup of two desserts-for-breakfast. Mind blown.
😉 Amen to that!
Europeans also love having desserts for breakfast. I’m totally on board!
That, I can approve of!
I could not resist coming by when I read the words Cinnabon. These look delicious!
Thanks Megan!
Donuts are actually a good part of the Standard American Diet, TERRIBLE for your health and optimal performance unfortunately. It’s one cause as to why so many people are sick and under-nourished! However, this take is so much better–you can have it and know that you’re putting something healthy into your body! And yes–dessert for breakfast is a WIN!
Dreaming of your kabocha cake right now!
Oh yes, I will take a dozen!! I just bought a silicon doughnut pan and have been looking for recipes.
😀 I can’t believe it took me so long to share a doughnut recipe! I have some fun ones to come…I hope!
Not sure whether to thank you or send you a bill for the doughnut pan I now HAVE to buy…
😀 I LOVE IT.
Arman! I have been looking for a good vegan donut recipe and kablam you have posted one right here. These look seriously good. Healthy donuts for breakfast – seriously amazing. My future nutrition clients will be sent right your way for healthy baked goods – FACT.
Thanks so much, Lauren! I think you’d like this, it’s delicious!
Haha I remember that too from the UK. People raiding the Krispy Kreme Doughnut shelves at Tesco in the morning. I found that pretty odd, too.
When we cleaned out the kitchen in January I found so many things I didn’t know I had like two macaron baking mats (why 2?) and a few sprouting jars (???)!
Also definitely DOUGHnut!
Wait, macaron BAKING mats?! That is so funny because it’s so specific!
So uou think this would still work using the applesauce sub for egg instead of flax? Flax gives my daughter a terrible stomach ache
Hi Kari! I haven’t tried it myself, sorry- Please let me know if it works out 🙂