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Grain-Free Chocolate Donuts with Espresso Glaze

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Rate Recipe
Posted:4/6/18
Updated:7/22/20

Grain-Free Chocolate Donuts are the perfect paleo-friendly treat. Made with coconut flour and sweetened with maple syrup plus topped with an espresso glaze for the mocha lovers. 

bite of grain free chocolate donut on ivory plate

GRAIN-FREE CHOCOLATE DONUTS.

Goodness gracious these were a long time coming.

One – I haven’t shared a new donut recipe in WAY too long.

Two – I had to go through two batches of these paleo chocolate donuts before I converted to a silicone donut mold.

LIFE. CHANGING.

Okay that is a little dramatic but you get it, right?

I don’t know what it is about grain-free flour but greasing the pan beforehand didn’t really help in getting the donuts to come out in one piece. Typically I don’t have problem with traditional flour using my standard metal donut pan.  When I shared my struggles on Instagram some people suggested both greasing with butter and dusting with cocoa powder but at that point I had already ordered my donut mold. It’s just safer this way. Plus I found a turquoise donut mold and knew it was meant to be. Obviously…

grain free chocolate donuts on round cooling rack with coffee

But seriously the donut mold worked wonders and I now I can’t wait to make more fun flavas. But not too soon… I feel like the blog is due for a savory recipe any day now. I don’t know why but I’ve been in a major dinner rut… Perhaps stress aka new puppy parenting.

I’ve noticed there seems to be this blog-life pattern that happens. Meaning when I don’t feel inspired to make real meals for Drew and I, real meals aren’t making it to the blog very often either. Which is so silly because whenever I make a savory recipe for the blog not only do I get pumped but you guys do too. Because who doesn’t love a good new dinner idea? Spring is here and weather is a-changing (sooner or later) and with that I am feeling some new inspo coming on.

But today we’re here for DONUTS.

Grain-Free Chocolate Donuts with Espresso Glaze

Bite of grain free chocolate donuts on plate with coffee

So excited to be sharing these with you because it legit took me FOUR TIMES. Grain-free baking is rough, guys…

But I was determined to make this recipe work and with a few tweaks here and there I’ve finally achieved a cake-like, paleo-friendly, grain-free chocolate donut!

what you need for grain-free Donuts

  • unsweetened cocoa powder
  • coconut flour
  • tapioca flour
  • baking soda
  • baking powder
  • salt
  • eggs
  • maple syrup
  • oil
  • nut or seed butter 
freshly baked grain-free chocolate donuts on cooling rack

for the glaze

  • espresso powder (or cold brew)
  • coffee creamer
  • powdered sugar
espresso glazed grain-free chocolate donuts on cooling rack

The process is fairly simple and you can mix the batter by hand or use a electric mixer. The batter comes together really easily – you just have to make sure the ingredients are incorporated well before moving onto the next step.

Some Notes about the Flour

Coconut Flour – I only tested this grain-free chocolate donut recipe with coconut flour so I am not sure of other subs. Unless you’re a grain-free baking pro, I wouldn’t recommend subbing other flours here.

Tapioca Flour – You may notice tapioca flour in a lot of paleo/grain-free recipes because it helps act as a stabilizer. I tried the recipe without the tapioca flour and used another egg but I didn’t like the texture so tapioca flour helps bind the ingredients without giving the donuts a weird texture.

Nut or Seed Butter – I used cashew butter but feel free to sub something like almond, sunflower seed, or even tahini. Just make sure it’s creamy and well mixed. I wouldn’t recommend coconut butter.

Espresso Glaze – I used good ole organic powdered sugar. If you’re looking for a paleo-friendly version for the powdered sugar glaze you could make your own powdered coconut sugar. Or even melted coconut butter would work here.

grain-free chocolate donut with bite taken out placed on small plate.

That’s pretty much it, friends! I hope you enjoy these grain-free chocolate donuts!

tray of grain-free chocolate donuts with espresso glaze and chocolate drizzle

Let me know if you make them by leaving a comment and review here on the blog! I always love hearing from you! Xx Ashley

★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

How to Make…

Grain Free Chocolate Donuts with Espresso Glaze

Grain-Free Chocolate Donuts are the perfect paleo-friendly treat. Made with coconut flour and sweetened with maple syrup plus topped with an espresso glaze for the mocha lovers. 

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 12 minutes
  • Total Time: 22 minutes
  • Yield: 6 donuts 1x
  • Scale:
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Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/3 cup coconut flour
  • 3 TBS tapioca flour
  • 3/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup creamy nut or seed butter (I used cashew but sunbutter or tahini would work)
  • 1/3 cup avocado oil (or melted/cooled coconut)
  • 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
  • 3 large eggs

for the glaze:

  • 2 TBS coffee creamer*
  • 1 tsp espresso/coffee powder
  • 2/3 cup powdered sugar* (see notes for alternatives)
  • 2 TBS mini chocolate chips
  • 1/2 tsp coconut oil

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375º F. I recommend a silicone donut pan here. No spray needed if using silicone.
  2. Sift cocoa powder and coconut flour into medium bowl – you can also whisk together but sifting removes most lumps. Whisk in tapioca flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; set aside.
  3. In a small bowl combine milk with apple cider vinegar; set aside.
  4. In large bowl using whisk or electric mixer, combine nut/seed butter with oil and maple syrup. Add in eggs one at a time until combined.
  5. Add bowl of dry ingredients mixing until almost smooth, then gently add in milk-vinegar mixture. Batter should feel kind of like thick, wet cake batter.
  6. Evenly distribute donut batter into 6 donut cavities – in my donut pan I left about 1/4″ room from center top. If you’d like to fill 8-9 cavities your donuts won’t be as thick and less baking time may be required. 
  7. Bake donuts for 10-12 minutes, or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. Allow donuts to cool in pan for a few minutes before gently transferring to cooling rack. Allow donuts to cool completely before glazing.
  8. Make the glaze: in a medium bowl (shallow enough for dipping) combine coffee creamer with espresso powder until dissolved. Add in powdered sugar and stir until no lumps are present. For the chocolate drizzle: melt chocolate chips and coconut oil in 15 second increments, stirring in between until melted.
  9. Dip donuts into espresso coffee glaze and place back on cooling rack. TIP: I dipped the “bottom side” of the donuts because that was the smoother side of the donut. Once glaze has set (about 5-10 minutes) drizzle with melted chocolate if desired.
  10. ENJOY!

Recipes Notes:

*You can also use 2 TBS cold brew coffee.

I did not test other flours here so I can’t recommend any good subs. 

Nutrition Information:

  • Serving Size: 1 donut
  • Calories: 403
  • Sugar: 29
  • Sodium: 490
  • Fat: 24
  • Saturated Fat: 6
  • Unsaturated Fat: 12
  • Trans Fat: 0
  • Carbohydrates: 43
  • Fiber: 6
  • Protein: 8
  • Cholesterol: 97
Category: breakfast Method: oven Cuisine: american
Keywords: Grain Free Chocolate Donuts with Espresso Glaze, grain free desserts
Author: Ashley @ Fit Mitten Kitchen

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  1. Andrea says

    4/6/2018 at 8:15 am

    Scoped out the details of this IMMEDIATELY upon opening my email. Need to make ASAP!! They look amazing.

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      4/6/2018 at 8:53 am

      Thanks so much Andrea! <3

      Reply
  2. Prachi Yadav says

    4/6/2018 at 8:47 am

    Any substitute to eggs

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      4/6/2018 at 8:53 am

      Unfortunately I can’t recommend a good substitute for eggs here just because baking with coconut flour is so different. Not sure how a sub would work with the absorbency of coconut flour. The eggs help provide a lot of structure here.

      Reply
  3. Erin @ Erin's Inside Job says

    4/6/2018 at 1:10 pm

    YES THANK GOD

    Reply
  4. Cassie Thuvan Tran says

    4/6/2018 at 7:29 pm

    Healthy donuts are one of my favorite desserts to have on hand! I really need to actually put MY donut pan to good use and find a yummy vegan donut recipe to bake. Now you got me craving donuts–these beautifully glazed donuts look so delicious!

    Reply
  5. Liz says

    4/8/2018 at 5:39 pm

    First of all, these photos are GORGEOUSSSSS! I am totally obsessed with donuts at the moment, and Chocolate Espresso couldn’t sound more perfect! Pinned 🙂

    Reply
  6. Pilar Onrubia says

    3/4/2019 at 10:57 am

    Hi! What would you recomment to us as a substitute for maple syrup? 🙂

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      3/4/2019 at 11:08 am

      Agave or date syrup would probably be the best substitute but honey should also be fine.

      Reply
  7. Kyann says

    3/28/2020 at 3:06 am

    These look SO good! Unless I misunderstood, I thought in the ingredients list it said to ‘see notes’ for powdered sugar alternatives, but there are none mentioned in the notes. Are there any? Thank you!

    Reply

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