These mini paleo donuts are quick to prepare and bake in under 15 minutes. Topped with a rich dark chocolate glaze and naturally colored sprinkles, they make a delicious, healthier treat that satisfies any donut craving.
Finally — a homemade paleo donuts recipe
I’m a bit obsessed with donuts and love trying great local spots. Still, eating traditional donuts loaded with gluten and refined sugar isn’t something I can do often. That’s exactly why I developed this mini paleo donut recipe: the flavor and texture feel indulgent, but the ingredients are grain-free and cleaner.
This paleo donut recipe is the perfect treat
After experimenting with many gluten- and grain-free flours, I landed on raw cashews as the best base for a grain-free flour. It’s simple to make at home and, when combined with arrowroot flour, creates a tender, light texture and great flavor.
These are mini because they’re adorable and portion-friendly, but the recipe adapts easily to regular-sized donuts if you don’t have a mini donut pan. I’ve included instructions for both sizes below.
Paleo donuts fit for a queen
Mini donuts let you enjoy a few without overindulging, and they’re perfect for serving at gatherings or packing for a treat. Decorating with naturally colored, junk-free sprinkles makes them extra festive, though that’s optional.
A quick backstory
I recently spent time baking and photographing these with a friend and we had a blast testing variations and styling the shots. There’s an exciting project in the works related to some reader feedback, but in the meantime: make these donuts and enjoy them fresh.
If you’re on the fence, take another look at the photos and gather the ingredients — these come together fast and are worth it.
More like this:
Flourless Chocolate Tahini Brownies
5 Minute Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies
Double Chocolate Vegan Thumbprint Cookies
Mini Paleo Donuts (Chocolate and Vanilla!)
The Movement Menu
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10
12
22
Breakfast, Dessert
American
12
352 kcal
Ingredients
Donuts
- 1 ½ cups raw cashews
- ⅓ cup ghee or coconut oil
- ½ cup arrowroot flour split in two
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 3 large eggs at room temperature
- ½ cup pure maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
Glaze
- ½ cup dark chocolate chips
- 2 teaspoons coconut oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F and position the rack in the middle. Grease a donut pan with coconut oil spray or melted ghee.
- Pulse the raw cashews in a food processor or high-speed blender until they form a coarse flour with no visible chunks. Take care not to over-process into cashew butter.
- Melt the ghee over low heat in a small saucepan and set aside to cool slightly.
- In a large bowl, combine the cashew flour, ¼ cup of arrowroot flour and sea salt. Mix and set aside.
- Separate the eggs: yolks in one bowl, whites in another. In the yolk bowl, whisk together maple syrup, vanilla, lemon juice and melted ghee. Stir this into the dry mixture until combined, then blend briefly in a high-speed blender for a smooth texture.
- Beat the egg whites on high until soft peaks form. Stir the baking soda into the donut batter, then immediately fold in half of the egg whites. Add the remaining ¼ cup arrowroot flour and mix to combine, then gently fold in the rest of the egg whites.
- Transfer about a cup of batter into a piping bag or a Ziploc with a ¼” hole for mini donuts (½” for regular). Pipe into the donut molds, filling each about ⅔ full for a fluffy donut; this yields about 12 mini donuts.
- Tap the pan to release air bubbles. For regular-sized molds, smooth the tops before baking.
- Bake at 325°F for about 18 minutes. Check with a toothpick after 16 minutes — they’re done when a toothpick comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack. Grease the pan and bake the remaining batter if needed.
- For the glaze, melt chocolate chips with coconut oil, dip the cooled donuts, place on parchment and chill in the refrigerator for 10–15 minutes to set. Enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
Calories: 352kcal
Carbohydrates: 27g
Protein: 7g
Fat: 25g
Saturated Fat: 9g
Cholesterol: 69mg
Sodium: 20mg
Potassium: 1mg
Fiber: 2g
Sugar: 14g
paleo chocolate dessert, paleo donuts, quick
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