Gluten-free birthday cake doughnuts topped with a white or dark chocolate glaze and naturally dyed sprinkles for a fun and festive treat to enjoy anytime!
We have a Krispy Kreme just down the street from our house which we pass often. It’s usually not a big deal and I rarely even give it a second glance…unless the “hot and ready” sign is on. That sign means fresh, melt-in-your-mouth doughnuts are coming off the conveyer belt at that very moment. It also means a free doughnut to anyone who comes inside (perks at our particular KK store)!
I usually don’t stop. The hot and ready sign is like a bug zapper…and I will not be that stupid bug who gets sucked in and zapped with sugar and calories. But, if my kids are in the car with me it’s pretty much over. My stoic facade usually vanishes with a little begging and pleading from those precious faces. Since I feel weird about walking into a store, taking a freebie, and leaving (I’m sure these doughnut people are banking on that), I usually will buy them 1 extra doughnut each.
Can you guess which doughnuts kids usually go for? Surprise, surprise—the colorful, sprinkle coated one.
Well, now that we have a donut pan
, I decided to recreate a healthier, baked version for the kids to enjoy. These buttery vanilla cake doughnuts are topped with a dark (or white) chocolate glaze and naturally colored sprinkles
! The cake doughnuts themselves are gluten and refined sugar free and the ganache is made with chocolate and coconut cream instead of tons of powdered sugar.
While these are healthier, they’re still a sweet treat and should be enjoyed in moderation.
The combo of butter cake, chocolate frosting, and sprinkles reminds me a lot of the flavor of classic birthday cake, which was perfect since my sister’s birthday was just a few days ago! She lives alllll the way in Alaska, so it was a way for us to celebrate her birthday from a distance. 🙂
Gluten-Free Birthday Cake Doughnuts
- Total Time: 12 mins
- Yield: 1 dozen 1x
Description
Vanilla cake doughnuts that are free of gluten and refined sugar, topped with a delicious chocolate glaze and sprinkles for a festive and fun treat to enjoy anytime!
Ingredients
Vanilla Cake Doughnuts:
- 1 1/3 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour (I used Bobs Red Mill Gluten-Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour
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- 2 tablespoons Coconut Flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup buttermilk (can also use non-dairy milk soured with 1/2 tablespoon vinegar)
- 1/3 cup melted butter (can use dairy free butter) or coconut oil, plus extra for greasing pan
- 1/3 cup Honey
or Maple Syrup
(I used half of each)
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- chocolate glaze
- sprinkles (The ones I used: naturally colored sprinkles
, white pearl
, chocolate vermicelli
)
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or 
(I used half of each)
, 
)Chocolate Glaze:
- 1 cup quality chocolate, chopped or chips (dark, semi-sweet, milk, or white chocolate work. Use dairy-free
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- 4–6 tablespoons full-fat canned coconut milk (heavy whipping cream can be used if you eat dairy)
one !important; margin:0px !important;” /> chocolate if needed.)Instructions
Vanilla Cake Doughnuts:
- Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease doughnut pan and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, blend flours, baking soda, and salt. Stir in buttermilk, melted butter, honey/maple syrup, eggs, and vanilla extract.
- Scoop dough into a large pastry bag or gallon size plastic baggie and snip 1/2-inch off the corner.
- Pipe batter into each doughnut mold. Should make about 12 doughnuts.
- Place pan onto the center rack of preheated oven. Bake for 12-14 minutes or until doughnuts are golden brown and firm to the touch. Don’t overbake.
- Remove and let cool slightly before inverting doughnuts onto a rack to cool completely.
Chocolate Glaze:
- Mix chocolate and coconut milk together in a heat-safe bowl and place over a pot of simmering water. Start with less milk and add more, as needed, until the chocolate is a glaze-like consistency and doughnuts can be dipped in easily.
- Dip each fully cooled doughnut into the glaze and top with sprinkles. Store leftovers in an airtight container in a cool place for up to a few days, but best when eaten fresh.
- Cook Time: 12 mins
- Category: Dessert, Gluten Free
You may also enjoy these similar recipes:
Chocolate Cake Doughnuts with Matcha Glaze
White Chocolate Summer Berry Cake
Vegan Chocolate Cake with Whipped Ganache
Hi Jocelyn! These doughnuts look wonderful Is it possible to make them with only all-purpose flour?
Hi Rumeysa, thank you! I haven’t tried these with regular all-purpose flour, so I can’t say for sure if they’ll work with a 1-1 substitute. It might be better to find a doughnut recipe which uses all-purpose flour just to be safe! If you want the flavor of birthday cake, this simple snack cake uses regular ap flour and is one of my faves! Recipe here: https://www.wifemamafoodie.com/easy-vanilla-cake-with-vanilla-buttercream/
Hi! These look delicious and I am planning on making for my son’s birthday party. Have you ever replaced the eggs with flax eggs? Do you think that would be ok? Thanks!
Hi Samantha! I haven’t tried it, but I think it should work! Many of the regular vanilla cakes I have here on the blog are egg free and they turn out just fine. The texture may be a little more dense without eggs, but the flavor will still be the same. Let me know how it goes! 🙂
Hi!
These look delicious and I’d love to make them for a party I’m hosting 🙂 I’m wondering if you can share the recipe for the glaze of the lighter donuts – not just chocolate!
Thanks 🙂
Hi Rya! It’s the same recipe, just with white chocolate instead 🙂 Sometimes when I’m in a pinch for time, I use a quick powdered sugar glaze, which is just 1-2 cups powdered cane sugar, 1-2 tablespoons almond milk (or other milk), and a small dash of vanilla extract mixed together until creamy. If it’s too runny add more sugar, too thick, more milk. Almost fool-proof!
Nothing better than anything that tastes like birthday cake or smells like fresh donuts! These look splendid!
ooh those look SO yummy! I’m a sucker for doughnuts, I’ll take them in just about any way I can get them but gluten free is a definite bonus.
La Belle Sirene
This is a great idea. Looks so beautiful and delicious. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks girlie! I hope you’re having a great week!
Gimme gimme gimme! I need these in my life! I have started to dive into gluten-free baking and I will now need to try these out!
Thank you, Amanda. I love that they’re gluten-free. Please let me know if you get a chance to make this recipe.
ahh these look so delicious! feel like grabbing few from the screen!
Aw thank you friend (as I’m handing you more through the screen). I hope you’re have a wonderful week 🙂
What a great gluten free option! I must make this for my cousin on her birthday as she is gluten intolerant 🙂
Thank you, Tine. Please let me know if you get a chance to try this recipe. Happy birthday to your cousin 🙂
It’s awesome that gluten free options are avilabelf for desserts! Thanks so much for sharing!
Thank you, Kiara!
Wow Joscelyn, these are sooo beautiful! I definitely want to have a stack of these doughnuts for my next birthday. Such a great idea! I can’t wait to make these 🙂 yum!!! Happy birthday to your sister!
Thank you, Harriet! These were so fun to make! I hope you’re having a wonderful week!