Vegan Pumpkin Donuts

These Gluten-Free Vegan Pumpkin Donuts are so moist, fluffy, and healthy! They are the perfect guilt-free treat. They do not contain refined sugar or oil and they are gluten-free. They are baked and not fried.

Baking these Gluten-Free Vegan Pumpkin Donuts is one of the quickest desserts you can make. My recipe makes a batch of 6 donuts with no extra batter.  They bake for 20 minutes while I prepare my velvety glaze.

The cake batter is made using gluten-free oat flour (I made my own) and almond flour. I added the pumpkin puree with vanilla and I used maple syrup to sweeten the donuts and it worked great. The pumpkin puree made these donuts so moist and don’t you just love the donuts’ nice pumpkin color?

While on the subject of pumpkin, you should also make a batch of my Pumpkin Cookies with Maple Frosting this holiday!

Also, check out these amazing gluten-free vegan donuts, Carrot Cake Donuts With Ginger, and Vegan Pineapple Coconut Donuts.

Gluten-Free Vegan Pumpkin Donuts

I have been wanting to make baked donuts for quite a while. We moved here from Ohio and about 60% of our belongings are still in storage. I had packed some other vital kitchen equipment like my blender, food processor, juicer, etc.

We have since moved to our newly renovated home but the process to unpack is taking a long time. I guess we have gotten so used to doing without our things that a lot of them we have forgotten existed anyway.

Three things I really missed were my donut pan, ice cream maker, and my waffle iron.

About a week ago my hubby brought home some boxes and I literally looked at them and said, ‘oh’ and continued about my business.

Then today I decided that I should go through the boxes and to my surprise I found my donut pan. I was so excited, I decided to make these gorgeous Vegan Pumpkin Donuts.

Scroll down to find the recipe’s ingredients list and directions, but before moving forward to the recipe I suggest you don’t skip reading the important information included in the blurb.

Why You’ll Love These Gluten-Free Vegan Donuts?

• They are extremely moist and contain no oil, thus they are low in fat.
• They are rich in nutrients thanks to the pumpkin (scroll down to read more).
• Using maple syrup as a natural sweetener (for the dough and glaze). Although it is still sugar, it is undoubtedly healthier.
• With gluten-free flour, you can make these doughnuts vegan and gluten-free. Whether or not you eat a vegan diet, you will love these donuts.
• These donuts are baked instead of fried, which makes them healthy, easier to make, and less messy.
• Utilizing oat flour makes for a more nutritious base than using white flour. The fact that it is gluten-free is an additional benefit.
• They are mouthwateringly sweet, comforting, and flavorful of the fall. Do you still need an excuse to give these a try?

Ingredients Used

• Almond milk: Use almond milk to add additional depth of flavor you can use any plant-based milk. For the lump-free batter, be sure you use room-temperature milk.
• Ground flaxseeds: Flaxseed adds healthy fat and fiber to the donuts and also acts as an egg substitute to help bind the donuts together.
• Pumpkin puree: A small amount is used to impart a subtle pumpkin flavor. Pumpkins are one of those foods where a small amount goes a long way.
• Maple Syrup: I absolutely love maple syrup’s sweet, caramel-like, warm flavor. If you don’t want to use maple syrup then use sweetened non-dairy milk instead of unsweetened.
• Vanilla: Making tasty cookies and donuts always requires vanilla extract. Be assured to use good quality vanilla.
• Oat Flour: I used oat flour because it’s not only high in fiber, but it’s also gluten-free, making it ideal for gluten-free individuals. Oat flour is widely available in supermarkets. Additionally, you can prepare it at home by grinding oats.
• Almond flour: The texture of almond flour is preferable, although you can use almond meal. I used Bob’s Red Mills Superfine Almond Flour, you can use your favorite brand.
• Baking powder: This serves as the recipe’s leavening ingredient because it emits carbon dioxide when baked, making for soft donuts.
• Cinnamon: Although it’s optional, it adds a subtle flavor and aroma to your donuts.
• Nutmeg: Again optional, but a pinch of nutmeg will also be delicious!
• Salt: Just a little bit to balance the richness and bring out the other tastes. I used sea salt you can use any.

How To Make Gluten-Free Vegan Pumpkin Donuts?

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray the donut pan with cooking spray and set aside.
2. Combine almond milk, ground flaxseeds, maple syrup, and vanilla in a medium bowl, and stir until smooth.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together, oatmeal flour, almond flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
4. Combine both wet and dry ingredients, stirring until fully combined. Stir in pumpkin puree.
5. Using a 1/4 cup measuring cup, scoop the batter and pour it evenly into the donut pan.
6. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
7. Remove from the oven and allow the pan to sit for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes remove the donuts from the donut pan and transfer them onto the cooling rack.
8. Combined glaze ingredients in a high-speed blender and process until smooth and creamy. 
9. Frost donuts when donuts are fully cooled.

How To Enjoy Them?

Enjoy your pumpkin doughnuts with a hot cup of coffee, tea, A glass of cashew milk, oat milk, or a spiced latte. These delectable treats would make a fantastic dessert for Thanksgiving, or any other holiday dish. Or on any day!

Storage Suggestion

Though they can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for two to three days, freshly cooked vegan pumpkin donuts always taste better. Before storing them, make sure they have cooled.

Allow them to cool to room temperature fully before freezing. Then, for up to a month, freeze them in an airtight container that is freezer safe.

It’s best to freeze without the glaze. If desired, glaze them after they have thawed.

Thaw overnight in the fridge or for one to two hours at room temperature.

Tips

• Always use high-quality ingredients for the finest flavor; you’ll notice the difference.
• Don’t beat the batter too much, because doing so will make the donuts hard

Bottom Lines!

These donuts are obsessively addictive so make them at your own risk! But wait, remember they are baked, oil-free, and refined-sugar-free!

I have some leftover pumpkin puree so I’m going to make these again!

Note that the first batch I made had carob flavor maple frosting and in the second batch, I decided to leave the carob powder out. The recipe is amazing with or without the carob powder.

Other Gluten-Free Vegan Pumpkin Recipes To Make:

1. Vegan Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie
2. Puertican Pumpkin Fritters
3. Vegan Pumpkin Caramel Sauce
4. Gluten-Free Vegan Pumpkin Muffins
5. Vegan Pumpkin Cookies
6. Meditteranean Pumpkin Pizza
7. Jamaican Pumpkin Soup

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Pumpkins Healthy?

Yes! Pumpkins are high in fiber, and low in calories. They provide a wide range of nutrients and vitamins, including vitamins A, C, E, & B-6, as well as potassium, folate, and other nutrients. Pumpkin is also a good source of beta carotene, an antioxidant that helps in a variety of health benefits, including:

Improve Heart Health

Pumpkin is good for your heart health. Fibre, potassium, and vitamin C are all abundant in pumpkin, which is good for your heart.

Eye Protection

According to a study, pumpkin is high in lutein and zeaxanthin, two antioxidants that have been used to protect against age-related macular degeneration which is a major cause of blindness in older persons.

Regulating One’s Blood Pressure

A 2017 study including 2,722 people found that receiving adequate potassium is almost as important for controlling high blood pressure as getting enough sodium.

High blood pressure has been linked to heart disease (CVD). To reduce sodium intake, most people choose low- or no-salt for their meals.

Combating Fertility Problems

We frequently associate pumpkin with delectable sweet delights like pumpkin pie, pumpkin doughnuts, and pumpkin spice lattes. Don’t forget about the seeds!

Pumpkin seeds have a reputation for boosting fertility, probably due to their zinc content. Zinc is essential for male fertility and for preventing and treating sperm-related disorders, according to a study.

May Reduce The Risk of Chronic Diseases

Free radicals are chemicals formed throughout the metabolic process of your body. While they are highly unstable, they serve a vital purpose by killing harmful bacteria. Excess free radicals in the body have been related to chronic illnesses like heart disease and cancer.

Antioxidants such as alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, and beta-cryptoxanthin are found in pumpkins. These antioxidants can neutralize free radicals, preventing them from causing damage to your cells.

How to Make Pumpkin Puree from Scratch?

You can soften the pumpkin flesh by roasting or boiling it, and then purée it to make a creamy puree. If you’d like, season it with a little salt.

Why Are My Donuts Sticking To The Donut Pan?

There could be a number of causes. First, the proper consistency of your batter is the second thing you must check. It should be thick, yet spreadable. You won’t be able to remove your donuts from the pan if the batter is too thin.

Second, make sure to thoroughly coat the donut pan with oil. I love using oil spray since it is more convenient than other options.

Thirdly, make sure that the donut pan is heated to the appropriate temperature.

Can I Make Gluten-Free Pumpkin Donuts Without A Donut Pan?

Yes! Baking the batter in a typical muffin pan is an option if you don’t have a donut pan. Divide the batter among the wells after liberally spraying the pan with nonstick cooking spray. Bake for 16 to 20 minutes (baking durations can vary according to how full the wells are) or until the toothpick comes out clean. Take the muffin tin out of the oven and give the “Donut Muffins” a few minutes to cool down. According to the instructions in this recipe for gluten-free pumpkin doughnuts, take them out of the pan and cover them with cashew glaze after completely cooling down.

Why Are My Donuts Not Fluffy?

Underproof doughnuts are stiffer (denser) and do not rise well when fried. Cracked donuts can occur if you utilized a cutter that was not too sharp to cut the dough neatly. The dough is either too cold or not proofed enough.

Is Krispy Kreme Vegan Friendly?

Doughnuts from Krispy Kreme are tasty, made-to-order, and vegan-friendly. These doughnuts are great for those who are trying to stick to a vegan diet but don’t want to cook at home.

Thanks for reading this blog post on Gluten-Free Vegan Pumpkin Donuts. I hope it has inspired you to try out a new pumpkin dish. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to leave a comment below. And if you tried this recipe or any other from our site, please let us know how it turned out in the comments below! Thanks for visiting my Recipes, and I hope to see you again soon.