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These Vegan Lemon Poppyseed Donuts are a delicious dessert loaded with lemony flavour, and baked to perfection. They’re topped with a sweet lemon poppy seed glaze for a healthy and gluten-free donut!
What better way to kick off a new week than with donuts? And not just any donuts…gluten-free and vegan lemon poppy seed donuts.
Yup. Pretty much the best possible way to kick off a Monday, right?
It’s no secret that I’m a total sucker for lemon poppyseed. We’ve got Lemon Poppyseed Bliss Balls, Healthy Lemon Poppyseed Muffins, and Lemon Poppyseed Spelt Pancakes already hiding on the blog, so naturally, donuts are the next logical step!
I’m getting SO excited for creating recipes for this time of year, because June means all sorts of LOCAL fresh produce! From berries to citrus fruits, so many fresh things are coming to the blog!
One of my favourite spring flavour combinations is lemon and poppy seeds. Lemon is so vibrant and fresh – to me, it’s just one of those ingredients that feels like spring.
A few notes on these vegan lemon poppy seed donuts
These vegan lemon poppy seed donuts are filled with vibrant lemon flavour and of course, plenty of poppy seeds!
For a donut, they’re also reasonably healthy. These donuts are low in fat, baked in a donut pan instead of deep-fried, gluten-free, and dairy-free.
Like any good donut, they still have sugar in them (you’re welcome), but they’re also naturally sweetened with coconut oil in the donut recipe. The glaze is filled with powdered sugar and lemon juice, so you don’t lose the deliciously tangy lemon flavour!
If you’re looking to really reduce your sugar intake, you can replace the cane sugar in the recipe with stevia or xylitol. You can also substitute regular flour for the gluten-free flour blend if you prefer.
These donuts are also delicious without the icing, which will make them even healthier. (Though for myself, icing is one of the best parts of eating a donut!)
I use this donut pan, but if you don’t have/don’t want to buy a donut pan, you can fill these into little muffins tins instead.
These donuts store well in an air tight container for a couple of days, though they’re best enjoyed right away so they don’t dry out!
More donut recipes to try
If you tried these Vegan Lemon Poppyseed Donuts or any other recipe on the blog let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment/rating below! Be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook for even more deliciousness!
Vegan Lemon Poppyseed Donuts
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 12 donuts
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Description
Say hello to your new favourite treat! These baked donuts are loaded with lemon and poppy seed flavour and baked to perfection!
Recipe adapted from it doesn’t taste like chicken
Ingredients
Donuts
- 2 cups all-purpose gluten-free flour blend
- 1/2 cup organic cane sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- zest of 2 lemons
- 2 tbsp poppy seeds
- 1 1/3 cup almond milk
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Icing
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1–2 tbsp almond milk
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 2 tsp poppy seeds
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- In a bowl, mix together the flour, cane sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, lemon zest and poppy seeds.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the almond milk, lemon juice, coconut oil and vanilla extract.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix together just until combined. Do not overmix.
- Spoon the batter into a piping bag, or a large ziplock bag and cut a hole in the corner.
- Spray your donut pan with some cooking spray, and then pipe the batter into the pan.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- To make the icing, mix the powdered sugar, almond milk, lemon juice, vanilla, lemon zest and poppy seeds together until combined.
- Once the donuts are cooled, dip them into the icing. Let sit for 30 minutes for the icing to set.
Notes
I use this donut pan to make this recipe
Some gluten-free flours don’t have xantham gum already added to them, which will help the donuts rise. If your blend doesn’t have it, add 1/4 tsp xantham gum to the recipe.
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These are AMAZING! We aren’t gluten free so I used regular all purpose flour and added 3/4 tsp of apple cider vinegar. They turned out light and fluffy and the entire family enjoyed them even without the icing (because we don’t have patience when it comes to doughnuts)!
Good to know that the ACV substitution works! I’m so glad you loved them! Happy baking 🙂
do you melt the coconut oil before combining with the other wet ingredients?
Hi Lora, yes!
Coil I substitute regular flour. They look amazing but I don’t need gluten free.
Hi Linda, yes absolutely!
Can another oil instead of coconut be used?
Hi Melissa, you can use any neutral tasting oil in place of coconut oil. (sunflower oil, canola oil…etc.)
I LOVE this recipe! I did GF flour and instead of adding the gum I just added 1/4 teaspoon of baking powder. And i added 1 more teaspoon of juice and zest. I did mini ones and cooked them for 5 minutes. Love them they are so good.
Thanks for the review Sophia! So happy you enjoyed 🙂
Will these donuts will work with bobs mill 1to 1 gf baking flour? They look very tempting. Will be making them soon. Thanks much for creating these recipes!!
Hi Puneet, yes that flour should work just fine! 🙂
Thank you so much!!
Theese are my absolute favourite dear! Lemon and poppy seed amd donuts, thats just the best combo ever ?
Thank you so much for the review Mathilda! So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe. xo
The BEST donuts EVER
Better than the diary free gluten free ones you can buy at the stores – these are our favourite. Soft, not dry and really refreshing – the kids love them too
Thank you so much Julie! So happy to hear you love the recipe as much as I do! xo
The BEST donuts EVER! I’ve eaten gluten free, dairy free donuts from the ‘major donut places’ but these are by far the best. I make them probably too often but they are seriously amazing. Soft, moist, refreshing ?
Thank you so much for your review Julie! Happy you loved them 🙂
Amazing, delicious and easy recipe! Who wouldn’t like a healthy donut recipe?!??? The lemon and poppy seeds go so well together and it was a hit with everyone I shared it with!
Thanks Vanessa! So happy you loved this recipe:)
Hello:)
This looks amazing!
Thanks for sharing!
May I ask if I can also use coconut sugar instead of the cane one?
Thanks a lot in advance:)
Hi Tsovi, thank you! and YES! coconut sugar will work just fine 🙂