Healthy Vanilla Donuts

Who doesn’t love donuts? But let’s be honest: traditional donuts, while delicious, don’t always leave us feeling our best. That’s why I’ve created the ultimate healthy vanilla donut recipe that’s light, fluffy, and made with gut-friendly ingredients.

Whether you’re treating yourself to a weekend breakfast or a midweek pick-me-up, these healthy baked vanilla donuts are perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth while supporting your health goals.

I’ve always believed that healthy eating doesn’t have to be boring or restrictive. These gut healthy donuts are proof that you can enjoy your favorite treats in a healthy way. My healthy doughnut recipe is made with whole grain oat flour, a natural sweetener like coconut sugar, and just the right amount of vanilla to give them that classic flavor we all crave. Plus, they’re super easy to make—no deep-frying required!

But the best part? These healthy vanilla donuts are versatile! Top them with your favorite healthy glaze, like my stunning blue marble glaze made with blue spirulina, and you’ve got a dessert that’s not just delicious but also Instagram worthy. Let’s dive into the recipe and learn why these healthy vanilla baked donuts are as good for your gut as they are for your taste buds.

Love baking and want to truly take your healthy baking up a notch? Read my full No Discard Sourdough Starter Guide for Beginners! You can use sourdough starter in everything from cookies to cakes, donuts, breads, and so much more!

INGREDIENTS IN MY HEALTHY VANILLA DONUTS

Here’s what you’ll need to make these delicious healthy vanilla donuts:

Dry Ingredients:

• 1 cup whole grain oat flour: A gluten free flour option that’s rich in fiber and creates soft, fluffy healthy donuts.
• ⅓ cup coconut sugar or date sugar: Natural, unrefined sweeteners that add a rich caramel like sweetness while being easier on your blood sugar.
• 1 teaspoon aluminum free baking powder: Ensures your healthy donuts rise beautifully without any metallic aftertaste.
• ½ teaspoon pink sea salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the overall flavor.

Wet Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons coconut oil (melted and cooled): Provides moisture and richness while being a healthier fat option.
• 1 large egg (or vegan substitute: 1 flaxseed egg): Helps bind the batter and create the perfect texture. Flaxseed eggs also add healthy fats and fiber.
• ½ cup vanilla soy milk (unsweetened): Adds a hint of vanilla flavor while keeping the donuts light and moist.
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract: The star of the show, giving these healthy donuts their classic vanilla flavor.

GUT HEALTHY BENEFITS OF THE INGREDIENTS

These healthy vanilla donuts aren’t just tasty; they’re packed with ingredients that support your gut and overall health:

1. Oat Flour:

Whole grain oat flour is loaded with soluble fiber, particularly beta-glucan, which supports healthy digestion and helps feed good gut bacteria. It’s also gentle on the stomach, making it a great option in my healthy vanilla donuts for those with sensitive digestive systems.

2. Coconut Sugar:

Unlike refined sugars, coconut sugar is minimally processed and contains small amounts of inulin, a type of prebiotic fiber that can promote gut health. It’s also lower on the glycemic index, which means it won’t spike your blood sugar as quickly.

3. Flaxseed (Vegan Option):

Flaxseeds are a great source of both soluble and insoluble fiber, which helps maintain regular digestion. They’re also rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory properties.

4. Coconut Oil:

This healthy fat is easier to digest compared to many other oils and may help your body absorb fat-soluble vitamins more efficiently.

5. Soy Milk:

Fortified soy milk in my healthy vanilla donut recipe provides calcium and vitamin D, which are essential for gut and overall health. It’s also a great dairy-free alternative for those with lactose intolerance.

HEALTHY FROSTING OPTIONS FOR DONUTS

Frosting adds the perfect finishing touch to your donuts, and these three healthy options make your treats both beautiful and nourishing. You can also enjoy these healthy donuts without anything at all they are delicious plain too!

1. Blue Marble Glaze (with Blue Spirulina)

• Ingredients:
  • ½ cup powdered raw cane sugar or powdered monk fruit sweetener (for a sugar-free option)
  • 1-2 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk (or milk of choice)
  • ¼ teaspoon blue spirulina powder
• Instructions:
  In a bowl, mix the powdered sweetener with milk until smooth and pourable. Separate a small amount of the glaze into another bowl and mix in the blue spirulina powder. Drizzle the blue spirulina glaze over the white glaze, swirling lightly with a toothpick for a marble effect. This frosting not only looks stunning on your healthy vanilla donuts, but also adds antioxidants from the spirulina.

2. Healthy Chocolate Glaze

• Ingredients:
  • ⅓ cup melted dark chocolate (70% cacao or higher)
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• Instructions:
  Combine the melted dark chocolate and coconut oil in a bowl. Dip the tops of the donuts into the glaze and let them set. This rich and creamy chocolate glaze is full of antioxidants from the dark chocolate.

3. Honey-Cinnamon Drizzle

• Ingredients:
  • 2 tablespoons raw honey
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon almond milk
• Instructions:
  Warm the honey slightly and mix with cinnamon and a splash of almond milk until thin enough to drizzle. Drizzle over the donuts for a naturally sweet and warming glaze that’s packed with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory benefits.

HOW TO MAKE MY HEALTHY VANILLA DONUT RECIPE

Making these healthy vanilla donuts is super easy. Here’s how to do it step by step:

Step 1: Preheat Your Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a donut pan with coconut oil to prevent sticking.

Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk together the oat flour, coconut sugar, baking powder, and pink sea salt.

Step 3: Combine the Wet Ingredients

In another bowl, whisk together the melted coconut oil, egg (or flaxseed egg), soy milk, and vanilla extract.

Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

Slowly pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep your healthy vanilla donut recipe light and fluffy.

Step 5: Fill the Donut Pan

Spoon or pipe the batter into the greased donut pan, filling each cavity about ⅔ full.

Step 6: Bake

Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the donuts spring back when touched lightly.

Step 7: Cool and Frost

Allow the donuts to cool completely before adding your favorite healthy glaze or frosting.

STORAGE

To keep your healthy vanilla donuts fresh and delicious:

• Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
• Refrigerate for up to 5 days if you’re not eating them right away.
• Freeze for longer storage (up to 3 months). Thaw at room temperature and warm slightly before serving.

TIPS TO MAKE SUPER EASY BLUE GALAXY DONUTS!

USE VANILLA SOY MILK. I used unsweetened vanilla soy milk not only for a dairy free vegan friendly donut recipe.. but also because it adds even more vanilla flavor to the donut batter!

MAKE YOUR OWN OAT FLOUR! Homemade oat flour is so easy to make! Simply measure whole oats and then blend, food process, or coffee grind into a fine powder and you have easy homemade oat flour!

MIX UNTIL JUST COMBINED. Mix until donut batter ingredients are just combined. Over mixing can cause the dough to become tough.

BAKE UNTIL JUST DRY! Make sure you don’t over bake them! This will dry them out!

More Healthy Baked Dessert Recipes you're going to love!

1. Surprise Carrot Cake
2. Lemon Poppy Seed Donuts
3. Pink Cinnamon Rolls
4. Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls
5. Almond Flour Funfetti Cupcakes
6. Healthy Strawberry Poptarts
7. Healthy Zucchini Cake with Avocado Frosting
8. Twix Bars with Date Caramel
9. Healthy Sweet Potato Brownies
10. Healthy Pumpkin Brownies

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FAQ’s

1. Can I make these healthy vanilla donuts vegan?

Yes! Substitute the egg with a flaxseed egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons water) for a completely vegan baked donut recipe.

2. Can I use another type of flour?

Oat flour works best for this recipe, but you can experiment with almond flour or a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend. Keep in mind that the texture may vary.

3. What makes these donuts gut-friendly?

The oat flour, coconut sugar, and flaxseed (if used) are rich in fiber and nutrients that support a healthy gut microbiome.

4. Can I fry these donuts instead of baking?

This recipe is designed for baking, which makes the donuts lighter and healthier. Frying would require a different batter consistency.

If you try my Healthy Vanilla Donut Recipe, please let me know your thoughts by leaving a rating and comment below! Ready for more? Subscribe to my newsletter or follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube!