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Indulge guilt-free with these healthy eggless donuts that are baked to perfection! Try them with our two different topping options, feel free to fry them for a more decadent treat, and make them vegan and gluten free with just a few simple swaps. This quick and easy donut recipe is perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth, and will give you cakey, moist donuts every time!
Old fashioned donuts are some of my favorite breakfast treats (or desserts!) There is just something about that sweet cakey texture that I can't get enough of. Of course, most donuts really are more of a treat than a healthy breakfast option, and donuts are rarely egg free or vegan.
That's why I created this delicious donut recipe without eggs! It's the perfect option for anyone who wants a tasty treat that also happens to be egg free and vegan friendly.
Not only that, these eggless donuts are healthier than regular donuts, but taste just as good! You only need 7 wholesome ingredients for the donuts themselves, and then you can customize their toppings. I created both a cinnamon sugar and chocolate donut recipe in this post, but feel free to make these your own by adding your favorite flavors, sprinkles, or other toppings.
And while I recommend baking these donuts for a healthier version, I have also included instructions on how to fry these donuts at home, if you want a more decadent version!
If you're vegan, all you need to do is replace the butter in these with vegan butter. I wanted this basic doughnut recipe to be versatile for all dietary needs and preferences. Even if you eat eggs, I know you will love the moist texture of these eggless donuts.
Enjoy this soft donut recipe as a quick breakfast, afternoon pick me up, or decadent dessert! Since these are healthier than most donuts, you can feel good about treating yourself to one any time of day!
👩🏽🍳 Why This Recipe Works
- Can be baked or fried
- Easily made vegan or gluten-free
- Kid-friendly recipe
- Moist and soft texture
- Healthier than store-bought donuts
- Easily customize with different toppings
- Best recipe for eggless donuts!
Latest Recipe Video!
🥘 Ingredients
This eggless donuts recipe uses simple ingredients and requires minimal effort. Find the exact measurements on the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- All Purpose Flour: Using all purpose flour will give the best donut texture. For healthy grains, use whole wheat flour. Keep reading for gluten-free suggestions.
- Instant Dried Yeast: Dry yeast is used in these no egg donuts to help them rise and create a fluffy texture.
- Sugar & Salt: You just need a pinch of salt and 3 tbsp sugar for this simple donut recipe. You'll get the perfect level of sweetness when paired with the cinnamon sugar or chocolate glaze.
- Almond Milk: This eggless donut recipe calls for almond milk, but any plant based or dairy milk can be used in this recipe.
- Butter: Use unsalted butter so that you can control the level of saltiness in these eggless yeast donuts.
- Vanilla Extract: Classic donuts have a touch of vanilla, and this egg free doughnut recipe is no different! Look for a pure vanilla extract for the best taste.
- Oil (For Frying): Use whatever oil works best for you, but I recommend using a high heat oil. Sunflower oil or canola oil are popular choices for a deep fry recipe, but to make these donuts even healthier try out avocado oil.
- Cinnamon Sugar Topping: You will need sugar, cinnamon and butter. White sugar is most commonly used for a cinnamon sugar mixture, but feel free to play around with other sugars. You could try coconut sugar or brown sugar. Cinnamon and sugar make for a delicious and comforting donut with those warm earthy notes. The butter will help the cinnamon and sugar stick to the donut. If you are vegan, use a vegan butter instead!
- Chocolate Glaze Topping: You will need powdered sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder and unsweetened almond milk for this no egg doughnut recipe. When these three ingredients are combined, they create a smooth and creamy glaze that is perfect for donuts. If you don't have cocoa powder, you can also use melted chocolate chips.
🔪 How To Make Eggless Donuts
Making eggless donuts at home is not as daunting as it may seem. Follow along with these step by step photos to guide you on your donut making journey! You will find instructions for both a fried and baked eggless donut recipe as well!
Mix Dry Ingredients: In the large bowl of a stand mixer add the flour, dried yeast, sugar and salt. Attach the dough hook to the stand mixer and mix the dry ingredients for 2-3 minutes to combine.
Microwave Wet Ingredients, Combine With Dry: In a microwave safe container add the almond milk, butter and vanilla extract. Heat for 1 minute or until the butter has just melted and the milk is lukewarm. Stir the melted butter to smooth out any lumps. Pour the lukewarm milk mixture into the yeast mixture.
Knead The Dough: Knead the donut dough for 5 minutes or until the dough is smooth.
Let Dough Rest: Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth and allow to rest in a warm place to double in size, approximately 1-2 hours.
Roll Out Dough: Once the dough has risen, transfer to a lightly floured surface and roll out to approximately ½ inch thickness.
Form Donut Shape: Cut rounds into the rolled dough using a 3 inch cookie cutter. To cut out the center use a smaller cookie cutter or a piping bag nozzle and make a small hole. Repeat with remaining dough.
Let Dough Rise: Place the donuts on a baking tray covered with a sheet of parchment paper, allowing space for the donuts to rise and spread slightly.
Note: If frying, place each donut on a small square of baking paper and then on to a baking tray. Lightly cover and allow to rise at room temperature for 1 hour.
Make The Cinnamon Sugar Topping
If coating the donuts in cinnamon sugar, prepare the coating by mixing the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl until well combined. Set aside.
Make The Chocolate Glaze
If glazing the donuts, prepare the glaze when the donuts are completely cooled by sifting the powdered sugar and cocoa powder into a mixing bowl. Slowly stir in the almond milk, small amounts at a time, until desired consistency has been achieved.
You can make this eggless donut recipe baked for a healthier donut, or fried if you want a more decadent treat! Here's how:
How To Oven Bake Eggless Donuts
Preheat & Bake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F / 180 C. Bake the donuts for 13 minutes in the preheated oven. The donuts are cooked when they are golden in color and sound hollow when tapped on the base.
Coat The Donuts (for cinnamon sugar flavor): While hot, lightly brush the eggless donut with melted butter, vegan butter, or warm water and roll in the sugar and cinnamon mix.
Glaze The Donuts (for chocolate glaze flavor): Alternatively wait until the donuts are completely cool before dipping in the glaze.
How To Fry Egg Free Donuts
Lower Donuts Into Oil: Heat a flat based pot or deep pan with oil over a medium flame. Carefully lower 2-4 donuts into the oil, removing the square of baking paper as you release the donut into the hot oil.
Fry The Donuts: Cook on one side for 3-4 minutes, carefully turn the donuts over and continue to cook on the other side for another 3-4 minutes. Donuts will be fluffy and have a nice golden brown color. Repeat until all donuts have been cooked.
Coat The Donuts: If coating with cinnamon sugar, roll the hot donuts in the cinnamon sugar, coating all sides, remove and serve. If glazing, drain the fried donuts on absorbent paper and allow to cool completely before coating in glaze.
Dip & Let Glaze Set: Dip the top of the doughnuts into the glaze and allow to set on a cooling rack before serving and enjoying!
💭 Expert Tips
- Do not overheat wet ingredients. For best results, be sure to not heat the wet ingredients too much. This will kill the yeast and the dough will not rise. The wet ingredients should be lukewarm when added to the dry ingredients.
- Be mindful of the glaze consistency. The glaze should be a little thick so that it coats the donut, however not too thick that it damages the donut when dipped. If you dip the top of the donut into a thick glaze it can tear or break off pieces of the donut.
- You can knead by hand. The donut dough can be made without a stand mixer. You'll just need to knead by hand for 7-8 minutes or until smooth.
- To shape donuts, you can use a cookie cutter or form dough into a donut pan. You can also buy a special donut cutter online.
- To keep in mind when baking these donuts: Eggless baked donuts don't have the same crispy outer edge as the fried donuts do but still taste amazing!
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Tips For Frying Donuts
- If frying, use high quality oil. When following the eggless fried donut recipe be sure to use a high quality oil with a high smoke point and one that has a neutral flavor.
- Keep oil at a constant heat. When frying the oil keep it at a constant medium heat. If it is too hot, the donuts will burn and be undercooked. If it is too low, they will become soggy.
- Be very cautious when frying. To fry the donuts place the donut, while still on the baking paper square, onto a cooking spatula and lower into the oil. Remove the baking paper immediately. You can also place it in the oil by hand, but do so very carefully and slowly.
- Remove excess oil. Drain the fried donuts by setting on a few layers of paper towels to remove excess oil. You can also place the no egg doughnuts on a wire rack with a paper towel, but be sure to have a plate underneath to catch any potential oil drips.
📖 Variations
- Make It Vegan: Make glazed vegan donuts with one easy swap - just usevegan butter instead of regular butter to make these donuts vegan friendly!
- Make It Gluten Free: For a gluten free egg free donut, substitute the all-purpose flour for a gluten-free option. You can use oat flour, almond flour, or coconut flour. Be sure to adjust the moisture level depending on which type of flour you use.
- Other Glaze Flavors: Next time, try these egg free donuts with a vanilla flavor glaze, strawberry glaze, or even a combo with a chocolate syrup drizzle.
- Make Donut Holes: Roll the dough from cutting the holes into small balls. They can either be baked or fried just like the donut to prevent wasted dough!
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
- With Different Toppings: Try whipped cream and chocolate shavings, rainbow sprinkles, crushed nuts, or a drizzle of caramel sauce or chocolate sauce.
- With Ice Cream: To make this eggless doughnut recipe even more delicious, try pairing it with this lychee ice cream, chocolate banana ice cream, or caramel nice cream!
- With Fresh Fruit: Serve these doughnuts with a mix of your favorite berries, or try it with this breakfast fruit salad!
- With Hot Chocolate: Hot chocolate and doughnuts are a classic combination! We love these donuts with our protein hot chocolate, healthy hot chocolate, or our oat milk hot chocolate!
- Other Hot Drinks: Not a fan of hot chocolate? No problem! This eggless baked donut recipe also pairs well with coffee or tea. Or, to switch things up, try one of these creative latte recipes: beetroot latte, Biscoff latte, mocha latte, or this golden latte.
❄️ How To Store
- To Store In the Fridge: While these donuts are best consumed within the first 24 hours of cooking, you can store leftover donuts covered with plastic wrap in a cool dry place for up to 3 days.
- To Freeze: Donuts can be frozen at step 10 (prior to cooking) or can be frozen after cooking for up to 2 months. Place them in an airtight container and place in the freezer. Ensure the donuts do not have cinnamon sugar or glaze when freezing.
- To Defrost: To defrost the uncooked donuts, place the frozen donuts on a baking tray lined with baking paper and allow them to come to room temperature before cooking. Glaze the donuts or dip in cinnamon sugar right before serving.
❓Recipe FAQs
Do all donuts have eggs in them?
No, not all donuts have eggs but most do. Unless a donut is marked as vegan or egg-free, you can expect it to contain eggs and milk. Donuts without eggs can be made at home with simple recipes like this one!
What can I use instead of eggs in donuts?
If you are looking for an egg substitute for donuts, you can use a flax egg or applesauce. This easy eggless donut recipe doesn't require any type of egg substitute. You will use almond milk and butter for moisture and binding, and yeast to help the donuts rise.
What role do eggs play in donuts?
Eggs main roles are to help bind ingredients and also act as a leavening agent. Eggs help to create a smooth textured donut with a soft inside. Although it can add some flavor, it is not necessary to use eggs to make delicious donuts like these eggless doughnuts.
Do you need yeast for eggless donuts?
It depends on what type of texture you want your doughnuts to have! Yeast is typically used in traditional donut recipes as a leavening agent - to help the dough rise and create a fluffy texture. But there are many eggless donut recipes that don't require yeast. Instead, they rely on other leavening agents such as baking powder or baking soda. Eggless donuts without yeast will have a more cakey, vs. doughy texture.
Are Krispy Kreme donuts vegan or eggless?
No. Krispy Kreme donuts in the US contain both eggs and milk in them so they unfortunately are not vegan. If you are located in the UK you can enjoy Krispy Kreme vegan donuts including a vegan glazed, vegan strawberry, and vegan fudge brownie donut.
