Baked Powdered Sugar Donut Holes

These Baked Powdered Sugar Donut Holes are easy to make and are baked in the oven instead of fried. These gluten-free donut holes are made from-scratch with a combination of gluten-free flours and contain no dairy, no eggs, and no-yeast! They make a great quick & easy breakfast treat or sweet snack!

I’ve been wanting to make powdered sugar donut holes for a while now, and there’s just something about heading into the snowy months that makes these donut holes “in season”. Powdered sugar donut holes always remind me of me of little snowballs, so I thought as we head into December it would be a great weekend breakfast recipe to add to the Healthy Little Vittles blog.

I found the perfect combination of cassava flour, oat flour, and almond flour to make the most soft little donut holes and I’m so excited to share them with you! 🤍

Donut Hole Ingredients

These donut holes only require 10 ingredients plus powdered sugar. They use a combination of gluten-free flours, which I have tested to create the most soft and pillowy donut holes! So while yes you do have to buy 3 different flours for this recipe, the final result is worth it!

Cassava flour. Cassava flour is a gluten-free, grain-free flour made from the root of a cassava, a starchy vegetable similar to the shape of a sweet potato. It has a pretty neutral flavor and is a great option for gluten-free baking because it has a similar binding quality as wheat flour.

Note: not all cassava flour yields the same results. I suggest using Bob’s Red Mill Cassava Flour (not sponsored) as I did in this recipe. It’s available in grocery stores as well as on their website and Amazon.

Oat flour. Oat flour is made from finely ground up oats. It’s a great gluten-free flour substitute in gluten-free baking recipes. It’s pretty commonly found in supermarkets these days, but you can always buy online or even make your own at home.

Note: make sure you’re using gluten-free oat flour if you have celiac disease or are sensitive to gluten.

Almond flour. Almond flour is a very popular alternative flour for gluten-free baking. It’s also grain-free and is very versatile. You can find almond flour almost anywhere, or you can also make your own. Check out my post on making your own almond flour!

Baking powder & baking soda. Baking powder and baking soda help the donut holes to rise in place of using yeast.

Cinnamon. Ground cinnamon is needed and gives these donut holes the best flavor. I LOVE cinnamon.

Salt. Salt helps to bring out the sweetness in the donut holes.

Plant milk. You can use whatever plant-based milk you’d like, I used unsweetened oat milk. Almond milk, cashew milk, soy milk, or coconut milk would all be great options.

Apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is used to mix with the plant milk to create a vegan buttermilk. It’s also an acid to pair with the baking soda to help the donut holes rise. Don’t worry, you don’t taste it at all!

Maple syrup. I’m using maple syrup in the donut holes as a natural sweetener since these are being rolled in powdered sugar.

Powdered sugar. You will need about 1 cup to roll the donut holes in. This is a good one to use if you’re looking for a powdered sugar that is gluten-free, vegan, non-GMO, and nut-free!

How To Bake Donut Holes In The Oven

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Combine the plant milk and apple cider vinegar in a glass measuring cup or bowl and set aside for about 5 minutes to create a vegan “buttermilk”.

In a large bowl, whisk together the cassava flour, oat flour, almond flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the maple syrup and the “buttermilk” to the bowl with the flour mixture and stir to form a dough. The dough will be soft and airy.

Scoop a heaping tablespoon of dough into your hands and gently roll into balls.

Place the donut holes in a greased donut hole baking pan. If you don’t have one you can bake the donut holes on a parchment lined baking sheet. Repeat until all the dough is gone.

Bake in the oven for 13-14 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow them to cool completely before rolling them in powdered sugar. The tops of the donut holes may crack, but that’s fine because once you roll in powdered sugar you won’t be able to tell.

Rolling Donut Holes In Powdered Sugar

Sift half a cup to one cup of powdered sugar into a bowl. Sifting the powdered sugar gets rid of any clumps. Taking one donut hole at a time, roll in the powdered sugar completely covering it. Move the donut hole to a plate or container and then continue with the rest.

How To Keep The Powdered Sugar From Melting

Make sure the donut holes are completely cool before rolling them in powdered sugar.

If the donut holes are still warm, the powdered sugar will soak right into the donut holes, so make sure they cool for at least an hour or so before rolling. If you’re planning on eating them right away then it doesn’t really matter I suppose 😉 .

Try using snow sugar or non-melting powdered sugar.

Snow sugar is a type of powdered sugar that is specifically made not to melt. It looks almost identical to regular confectioner’s sugar, and even won’t melt if you sprinkle it on (or in this case roll them in) when the baked goods are warm! The downside is that it can be challenging to find, even online, and the ingredients aren’t necessarily the greatest.

Why Baked Instead Of Fried Donut Holes?

Well I think it goes without saying that baked goods tend to be healthier than fried foods. I also can’t bring myself to use that much oil to fry donut holes and then discard the rest. Seems wasteful to me! I think baking the donut holes ensures they cook completely in the middle too. Frying them makes them cook faster and perhaps the centers would still be doughy.

Storing Leftovers

These donut holes are best enjoyed the same day since they are gluten-free, vegan and contain no eggs or preservatives, but you may store leftover donut holes in a covered container on your counter for up to 2 days. The powdered sugar is likely to melt, so if you’re not enjoying right away, you can re-roll them in powdered sugar if desired.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is oat flour gluten-free?

Oats in themselves are naturally gluten-free, however, it’s very easy for oats to be contaminated with gluten if the oat crop is grown near wheat or if oats are harvested, processed or stored with other gluten containing grains, also referred to as agricultural commingling. Therefore, I always make sure I purchase oat flour that specifically says it’s gluten-free, preferably certified gluten-free.

Can I use a different flour mixture?

I specifically paired these gluten-free flours together because they make the best donut holes! But I have also used coconut flour in place of the oat flour and that is a great option as well. If you’d like to try gluten-free all purpose or 1:1 baking flour you may do so, though I have not tried that flour for this recipe so I’m not sure how they will turn out.

Do I need to have a donut hole baking pan to make these baked donut holes?

It is very helpful to have a donut hole baking pan to give them the perfect donut hole round shape, however, you can make them rolled into balls baked on a parchment lined baking sheet if you don’t have one.

Can I make these donut holes in an air fryer?

I have not tried to make these donut holes in an air fryer. It should work, however, I am not sure what setting and how long it would take to air fry them. If you do try this, please let me know in the comments below!

Can I re-roll the donut holes in powdered sugar if the powder sugar melts?

Yes! They will be extra sweet with a double layer of powdered sugar, however, so keep that in mind 😉 .

Can I make donuts instead of donut holes from this recipe?

Yes! I suggest using a donut pan if you’re going to do that. Or if you prefer you can check out my Cinnamon Sugar Donuts or my Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Donuts.

Let me know what you think about these Baked Powdered Sugar Donut Holes down below in the comments section as well as giving it a five rating  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ so that others can discover an easy, healthier alternative donut hole recipe. Be sure to tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest if you make them!

Other Donut Hole Recipe To Try

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