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gluten free chocolate zucchini iced donut with sprinkles square - gfJules

Gluten Free Chocolate Donut with Zucchini

Chocolate + zucchini is a combination made in heaven. No one would really ever know the zucchini was tucked inside these lovely, light, cakey donuts. Part of the joy in knowing you're eating a bit healthier when you're enjoying a gluten free chocolate donut with zucchini.
5 from 19 votes
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Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: Dessert
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 6 gluten free donuts
Author: Jules Shepard

Ingredients
  

Donuts:

  • 2 cups shredded zucchini about 3 small zucchini or one large zucchini - measure after shredding
  • 1/3 cup milk dairy or non-dairy
  • 1 Tbs. lemon juice
  • 2 cups gfJules Gluten Free All Purpose Flour
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • ½ tsp. baking powder
  • 4 Tbs. unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ½ tsp. sea salt
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp. nutmeg
  • ¼ tsp. cardamom
  • ½ cup mild flavored oil
  • 1 Tbs. pure maple syrup
  • 2 eggs or substitute like aquafaba or applesauce
  • 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • ¾ cups granulated sugar or unrefined coconut palm sugar

Icing:

  • 1 cup confectioner’s sugar sifted
  • 1-2 Tbs. milk dairy or non-dairy
  • food coloring optional
  • gluten free sprinkles

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (static) or 325F (convection). Spray or lightly oil donut pan (here's a link to the one I use), or line mini muffin pans with papers.
  • Grate zucchini then press in a sieve or colander to release excess liquid. Spoon out onto paper towels, then cover with another layer of paper towels and press to blot remaining liquid.
  • Measure and mix together milk and lemon juice in small bowl; set aside to curdle.
  • Whisk together gfJules Flour, baking soda, baking powder, cocoa, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamom.
  • Add these ingredients together in a large mixing bowl: oil, maple syrup, eggs, vanilla and sugar, beating to combine. Slowly stir in the dry ingredients followed by the curdled milk. Lastly fold in the shredded zucchini.
  • Soft and moist baked donuts cooling before icing.
  • For Baked Donuts:Fill donut pan with even amounts of batter, leveling with the top of the pan and smoothing the batter with a rubber spatula. Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out nearly clean – start checking for doneness at 15 minutes.
  • (Recipe makes enough for 6 large donuts + 14 mini muffins.)
  • For Fried Doughnut Holes:Prepare a small pot by filling at least 1 1/2 inches deep with oil. Heat to medium (no more than 350°F). *Note: a candy thermometer is super helpful to ensure the oil reaches and stays at the right temperature. If the oil is too hot, the doughnut holes will burn on the outside and remain uncooked on the inside.
  • Once the oil has reached 325-350°F, using a small cookie dough scoop or tablespoon measure, carefully drop doughnut dough into the hot oil, boil and flip as necessary to cook until browned on all sides – approximately 4 minutes total. I suggest starting with only one doughnut hole as a test, cooking with a timer and checking to see if it is cooked through so you know exactly how long they will need to cook, since size of the doughnut hole and temperature of the oil will cause variations in cook time.
  • Once cooked, immediately remove doughnuts with a skimmer or slotted spoon to a plate covered with paper towels to absorb any excess oil.
  • Quickly transfer to a bowl of colored sugar and roll to completely coat the doughnuts or set aside to cool if icing later.
  • Once the doughnuts have cooled, prepare the icing by whisking sifted confectioner’s sugar with milk, starting with only one tablespoon milk and adding more only if and as much as is needed to spread or drizzle on doughnuts. Add food coloring, if desired. If the icing gets too thin, simply stir in more confectioner’s sugar until the proper consistency is reached.
  • Drizzle or spoon on top of donuts or dip doughnut holes into the icing, if you find that method easier.

For Mini Muffins:

  • Spoon into mini muffin pans (makes approximately 48) and bake for 15-16 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into a muffin comes out clean – start checking for doneness at 14 minutes.

** Please keep in mind that nutrition information provided is per serving, which may vary. While we have taken care to provide you with the most accurate nutritional values possible, please note that this information may differ significantly depending on the exact ingredients and brands that you choose to use to make this recipe. Additionally, where options are given for ingredients, the resulting calculation may include all ingredient options instead of only one per line, skewing the totals significantly.