Decadent Double Chocolate Baked Donuts: The Ultimate Allergy-Friendly & Vegan Treat

Discover the joy of homemade, rich, and incredibly soft baked donuts, generously covered in a gleaming, dark chocolate glaze. These delightful treats are not just for indulgence; they are completely free of gluten, dairy, egg, soy, peanut, and tree nuts, making them suitable for the top-8-allergen-free diet and entirely vegan. Plus, with a secret ingredient like applesauce, you can feel a little less guilty about enjoying these delectable bites! Perfect for a special breakfast, a satisfying dessert, or any occasion that calls for a safe and delicious treat.

For many parents navigating the complexities of food allergies, the simple act of enjoying a treat can become a monumental challenge. My experience, shared by countless allergy-aware mothers, perfectly illustrates this reality. It’s a journey of constant vigilance, label reading, and often, extensive kitchen work to ensure our children can partake in the same joys as their peers without compromising their health.

Just last Friday, my church hosted a wonderful trunk-or-treat event. They were incredibly thoughtful, providing ample notice about serving donuts and hot chocolate, allowing me time to prepare for my son’s specific dietary needs. Furthermore, they went above and beyond by sharing a list of my son’s safe candies and encouraging attendees to bring those specific options. Given their incredible efforts, I felt it was my turn to ensure my son had a truly special, safe donut. Finding a bakery that can reliably cater to such a wide range of allergies is a rare feat in itself, so I decided to take matters into my own hands.

As is often the case in a busy life, planning for this special treat was postponed until the very morning of the event. After all, who wants a stale donut when you can have one fresh from the oven, still warm and inviting?

Confession time: prior to this, I had only attempted making donuts once in my life, and that was years ago using conventional ingredients like wheat flour, eggs, and butter. My trusty donut pan, in fact, needed a good dusting off! This reveals a rather poignant truth: my son, despite his love for sweets, had never once experienced the delight of a fresh donut. As someone who absolutely adores donuts, this realization hit hard. I felt a strong urge to make amends and introduce him to this glorious indulgence, especially knowing how much joy they bring me.

The upcoming trunk-or-treat event provided the perfect motivation to finally tackle allergy-friendly donut baking. My previous donut-making venture was straightforward, so approaching a recipe free of gluten, dairy, eggs, and nuts felt like stepping into uncharted territory. Doubts lingered: would they even turn out? Would they taste good? I also confess to a slight aversion to the process of filling donut pans. Unlike simply plopping batter into a cupcake liner, carefully piping batter into donut molds always felt a bit tedious. And the biggest frustration? Most donut pans yield only six donuts at a time, making batches a necessity. Despite these minor qualms, the sheer deliciousness and success of this particular recipe have completely changed my perspective. I foresee these amazing baked chocolate donuts becoming a much more frequent occurrence in our home!

And turn out they did! The “donut gods” truly smiled upon us that morning. These allergy-friendly, double chocolate baked donuts were an instant hit. So much so that by the time it was actually time for the trunk-or-treat, we only had a handful left! It’s impossible to resist something this beautiful and tempting; you’ll even spot a tell-tale bite mark in one of the photos because sneaking a taste was absolutely necessary. We were so thoroughly satisfied with our donut feast that when I asked my son if he wanted to bring the remaining ones to the event, he cheerfully declined! That’s how you know they were a true success.

That Friday, I was simply another allergy mom, dedicating time in the kitchen to ensure her child felt included and had a matching treat. It’s a narrative familiar to millions, repeated endlessly in homes worldwide. This shared experience fosters a deep sense of empathy among allergy parents; we understand the effort, the worry, and the profound joy when a safe treat is finally created. Allergy moms truly are incredible! My hope is that if you ever find yourself in a similar last-minute quest for safe, delicious donuts, this recipe will become your ultimate lifeline and bring as much happiness to your family as it did to ours.

This versatile double chocolate baked donut recipe is perfect for so many occasions. Imagine starting your day with a truly KILLER breakfast, transforming an ordinary afternoon into a special dessert moment, or embracing the festive spirit of Halloween! Speaking of Halloween, these donuts are ideal for parties. Who remembers the old-school game where you’d hang donuts on a string and try to eat them without using your hands? It’s a classic, fun activity that these sturdy, yet soft, donuts are perfect for. Or am I just showing my age?

Beyond the delicious donut base, the glaze is truly a game-changer. I discovered this seriously perfect chocolate donut glaze from one of my go-to baking goddesses, Something Swanky. What’s even better for those managing allergies is that it was naturally top-8-allergen-free, requiring no tweaks or substitutions! This thick, rich glaze offers just the right amount of drizzle and sets with a beautiful, gleaming finish. It’s simply gorgeous! The secret to achieving that luscious, thick coating is a double dip. Dip each cooled donut once, allow the first layer to set slightly, then dip them a second time. This technique truly amps up their beautiful-ness and ensures every bite is enveloped in decadent chocolate.

These aren’t just any allergy-friendly donuts; they are a testament to how delicious and satisfying “free-from” baking can be. The addition of applesauce in the batter not only contributes to their incredible softness and moisture but also acts as a fantastic binder and egg substitute, making them perfectly vegan without compromising texture or flavor. Enjoying a treat that is both safe and scrumptious brings immense peace of mind and pure delight, especially when it’s a double chocolate baked donut that tastes this good. Whether you’re dealing with multiple food allergies or simply looking for a healthier, baked alternative to fried donuts, this recipe is a must-try. It’s proof that you don’t have to sacrifice flavor or texture to accommodate dietary restrictions.

When preparing these, remember the importance of checking all your ingredients. While this recipe is designed to be top-8-allergen-free and vegan, ingredient formulations can change, and different brands may have varying allergen statements. Always read labels carefully, especially for flour blends, chocolate, and sprinkles, to ensure they meet your specific dietary requirements. For detailed information on specific brands and further allergy safety guidelines, please refer to the comprehensive notes section within the recipe card below. Prioritizing safety through diligent label reading and kitchen practices is paramount for anyone with food allergies. This recipe not only delivers on taste but also on the promise of a safe and inclusive treat for everyone at your table.

Happy baking, everyone! May your day be filled with safe and delicious moments. Enjoy these incredible double chocolate baked donuts!

Gluten-free & Vegan Double Chocolate Baked Donuts (Gluten, dairy, egg, soy, peanut & tree nut free; top 8 free)

Yield:
10-12 donuts

Prep Time:
15 minutes

Cook Time:
12 minutes

Total Time:
27 minutes

A homemade, rich, soft donut that is covered is a gleaming, dark glaze. Perfect for a decadent breakfast, or a dessert. Free of gluten, dairy, egg, soy, peanut and tree nuts. This is also free of the top-8-allergens and vegan too! Oh, and did I mention they’re not all bad? There’s some applesauce snuck in there too!

Ingredients

• DONUT:
• 1 cup gluten-free flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1 and 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 3/4 cup rice milk
• 1/2 tsp. apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 Tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
• 1/4 cup measured, then melted coconut oil
• CHOCOLATE GLAZE:
• 1 and 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 Tablespoon light corn syrup
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 – 3 Tablespoons water
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• Optional: Sprinkles (see note)

Instructions

1. For the donuts:
2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 C). In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, thoroughly stir all of the dry ingredients until the cocoa powder is fully incorporated and there are no lumps. Next, add all of the wet ingredients to the bowl and mix until everything is well combined into a smooth batter.
3. Generously grease your donut pan. Carefully spoon the mixture into each donut well, filling just below the top. Alternatively, for easier and cleaner filling, you can transfer the batter to a piping bag (or a large Ziploc bag with a corner snipped off) and squeeze it into the donut molds.
4. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Once baked, immediately turn them out onto a wire rack to cool completely. While the donuts are cooling, prepare the rich chocolate glaze.
5. In a separate bowl, combine all the chocolate glaze ingredients and whisk until smooth and well combined. Start with only 1 Tablespoon of water and gradually add more, up to 3 Tablespoons, to achieve your desired consistency. I found 3 Tablespoons provided the perfect balance, but you may prefer a thicker glaze with less water.
6. Once the baked donuts have fully cooled, gently dip each one into the prepared chocolate glaze. Carefully lift them out and place them back on the wire rack. Ensure there’s a tray or parchment paper underneath the rack to catch any drips. For that beautiful, thick, gleaming glaze, allow the first coat to set slightly, then dip the donuts a second time. These donuts are delicious plain, but if you wish to add sprinkles, apply them while the second glaze coat is still wet to ensure they adhere well.
7. Store the glazed donuts in an airtight container at room temperature to keep them fresh and soft.

Notes

*For sprinkles, I use the Great Value Rainbow sprinkles. Their ingredients are: “SUGAR, CORNSTARCH, PALM OIL, PALM KERNEL OIL, COCOA, COCOA PROCESSED WITH ALKALI, SOY LECITHIN, CONFECTIONER’S GLAZE (SHELLAC), YELLOW 5 LAKE, RED 40 LAKE, YELLOW 6 LAKE, BLUE 1 LAKE, RED 3, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, CARNAUBA WAX, BLUE 1.” Most people with a soy allergy can handle soy lecithin. Please talk to your own allergist to determine if this is correct for you. If it is not, and you need it to be strictly top 8 free, omit the sprinkles, or use sanding sugar.

**If you’re looking for some gluten and dairy free dinners, check out my cookbook: An Allergy Mom’s Lifesaving Instant Pot Cookbook.

***Our allergies, while severe and that get re-tested frequently, are such that we can go strictly by what’s on the label. I do not call companies to see what things are derived from, or call manufacturers to see about potential cross contact. If your allergies require you to do so, please do your own homework. I cannot assure you of any ingredient’s safety, only you can do that. I simply share what works for our family.

****If you are going to feed this to someone with food allergies, and you yourself do not have food allergies, I HIGHLY recommend having them check every single brand and ingredient you are using, to ensure they’re OK with each part of the recipe. And, to make sure you’ve talked to them about how to avoid cross contamination in your kitchen.

This incredible baked donut recipe was expertly adapted from The Pretty Bee, with the perfectly gleaming chocolate glaze proudly sourced from Something Swanky. A heartfelt thank you to both for these amazing inspirations!