These paleo chocolate donuts with coconut vanilla bean icing are baked for a healthy and delicious grain and gluten free treat.
So, I got a donut pan. And let me just preface the rest of this post by saying yes, I do realize it is actually “doughnut” and no, I don’t care that I’m spelling it wrong. Yes, you may call me lazy.
It’s kind of funny because I’d seriously been looking for one for over a year, desperate to make donuts in my oven like the rest of the world and then when I find it and actually bake in it, I realize it’s kind of over-hyped. Hate when that happens.
Don’t get me wrong, these are good. But they’re basically cake in donut form. Donuts should be fried, not baked. So when you fill a mold with batter, stick it in your oven and expect anything remotely resembling Dunkin, you might be slightly disappointed. Sorry to burst anyone’s bubble on that, just keeping it real.
However, I happen to like cake. Chocolate cake with coconut butter vanilla bean icing is even better. So if it happens to be in the shape of a donut, I’m not gonna complain.
They might not stop me from the occasional munchkin order, but they’re fun nonetheless.
Paleo Chocolate Donuts with Coconut Vanilla Bean Icing
Ingredients
For the Donuts
- 3/4 cup almond flour
- 1/4 cup unsweetened dark cocoa powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- pinch of salt
- 3 eggs, separated
- 3 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Icing
- 1/4 cup coconut butter, melted to a pourable state
- 1/4 of a vanilla bean, scraped
- 1 1/2 tablespoons water
- 1/2 tablespoon honey
- unsweetened coconut flakes for garnish, optional
Instructions
For the Donuts
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large bowl combine almond flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt.
- Separate eggs and combine yolks with remaining wet ingredients.
- Add wet ingredients to dry and stir until combined.
- Beat egg whites with a hand held mixer until light and fluffy.
- Fold egg whites into batter until just combined.
- Pour batter into donut pan.
- Bake for 12-13 minutes. Remove from pan and transfer to cooling rack.
For the Icing
- Combine melted coconut butter with water and honey and stir until fully incorporated.
- Add vanilla bean and stir again.
- Spoon icing onto fully cooled donuts and top with shredded coconut flakes if desired.
- Transfer to refrigerator for 10 minutes to set.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
These are amazing. I made them w/out the icing. I’m sure that the icing is amazing too, but these are so good w/out it!
My friend who loves sweets and isn’t Paleo also loved them.
I also used NY maple syrup instead of honey. (My brother makes syrup each year so I often use it instead of sugar or honey)
Again, thanks! These are so delicious and so easy to make! I will definitely do this again!
I love chocolate and donuts!. this looks really good!.
ATTENTION, Everyone! I just made almond flour doughnuts in the donut pan and then lightly fried them in coconut oil! Much more legit, end even healthier!!!! Try it!!!!!!!! Soooooo goooooood!
Thanks! I was just wondering if anyone actually tried to fry these.
These were excellent. I used stevia instead of honey in both the glaze and the donuts and added some cocoa powder to the glaze because, well, I really love chocolate. I made these in a little electric donut maker and I am happy as can be!
We made these this morning and they were amazing! A fun (and healthy) treat that I don’t mind making for my kids on a special Saturday morning. I got 6 (slightly over-filled) donuts and have frosting left-over (shucks! late night snack for mommy?) Thank you!
I love eating both donuts and cakes (in any shape as well) and just seeing your creation makes me crave for it now. But I am wondering though, is donut from DD really doughnut? I wouldn’t mind if it is anyway. =)
Yum!! I don’t actually like the taste of donuts (I 2nd your spelling!), but I really like the taste of chocolate cake. So, to me, these are actually the perfect donuts. And the frosting… that sounds de-frickin’-licious. :D