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If you’ve spent any length of time here on Jar Of Lemons, you KNOW my obsession with doughnuts. You’re also likely to know my obsession with fall, and all the tasty fall things. Today we’re meshing the best of all worlds with these Healthy Carrot Cake Mini Doughnuts!
So does making mini doughnuts mean that I can just eat a bunch of them? YES. The answer is yes. Absolutely, friend! Because sometimes you just need a lot of doughnuts in your life. I know you know what I’m talking about.
How to Make Doughnuts Healthy
These mini doughnuts contain no refined sugar instead they are naturally sweetened with stevia, vanilla, applesauce, and carrots. The carrots are jam-packed with fiber, potassium, vitamin K, antioxidants and there’s a healthy dose omega 3 fatty acids and protein from the chia seeds too.
You can make doughnuts healthy by making a few simple changes without compromising any flavor, here are my top tips:
- Bake your doughnuts instead of frying – cuts out all the saturated fat and a ton of calories
- Swap refined sugars for naturally sweet ingredients
- Add in nuts or seeds for an added boost of nutrients and antioxidants
These mini doughnuts are not only healthy and gluten-free, but they’re light, fluffy, fall-tasting and carb-tasting. They’re amazing and will make your home smell like all things fall!
What you Need to Make Baked Mini Doughnuts
Let’s talk doughnut pans. This is the mini doughnut pan that I LOVE! I recommend grabbing a few. I also used (my hands down all-time fave!) this Ninja Blender to make these! As in I literally just threw everything into the blender and proceeded to bake them. No mixing required. If you’re a professional baker, don’t judge me, please! This is the lazy busy girl method, thank you. 😉
No matter how you put these together, these Healthy Carrot Cake Mini Doughnuts are so perfect for healthy fall baking!
Top Tips for Making Healthy Carrot Cake Mini Doughnuts
- be sure to really blend the oats before you mix everything else together. Almost rolled oat flour, but feel free to leave a few bigger pieces for texture (depending on your preference)!
- Once the oats are blended to the desire texture, be sure to really blend the carrots into small, teeeeeeny tiny pieces (or buy them that way).
- For the optional icing, I used this organic frosting. However, feel free to create a healthy cashew icing recipe, like this one by Detoxinista!
- You can store the mini doughnuts (without icing) in the freezer for months or in an air-tight container for up to 1 week. Once iced they will keep in an air-tight container for around 3 days.
More Healthy Doughnut Recipes You Might Like:
Healthy Vegan Carrot Cake Donuts
Ingredients
Vegan Carrot Cake Donuts
- 1/2 cup soy milk
- 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 Tablespoons coconut oil (melted)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 Tablespoons applesauce
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup freshly grated carrot
Icing (Optional)
- 4 ounces plain vegan cream cheese
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 2 Tablespoons plant-based milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Making The Donuts
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Grease a 6-cavity donut pan and set aside.
- Combine the soy milk and vinegar and set aside. This will act as our buttermilk.
- Whisk together all of the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.
- Whisk in the wet ingredients, including the milk mixture, until well-combined.
- Fold in the grated carrot. The batter will be thick.
- Add to the prepared donut pan (I like to use a ziplock bag and cut off the tip to pipe the batter into the pan), and bake for 14-15 minutes.
- Let cool in the pan for about 15 minutes, then flip onto a wire rack.
Making The Icing
- Whisk together all of the ingredients for the icing.
- Once the donuts have cooled, dip them into the icing and place them back on the wire rack.
- Top with chopped walnuts and more grated carrot if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
- The nutrition facts include icing for each donut.
Deb says:
Yum..everyone adored these and I love the healthy ingredients.