TL;DR: Gluten free mini donuts are easiest to make from a mix. Use the same batter as full-size donuts, pipe it into a mini donut pan, and bake at 350°F for 8 to 10 minutes. One pouch of West Food Brands Sweet Potato Donut Mix makes 24 mini donuts, or a batch of donut holes in a mini muffin tin, all bite-sized, soft, and ready in about 15 minutes.
Mini donuts and donut holes are the same batter as standard donuts, just smaller, so the only real change is the pan and a shorter bake time. They are perfect for kids, parties, and snack boxes because the portion is built in. Here is how to make both, the pans you need, vegan swaps, and how to keep them from drying out.
How do you make gluten free mini donuts from a mix?
You whisk three wet ingredients into the dry mix, pipe the batter into a mini donut pan, and bake at 350°F for 8 to 10 minutes. The shorter bake is the only difference from full-size donuts, since the smaller wells cook through faster.
Here is what you add to one pouch of West Food Brands Sweet Potato Donut Mix:
· 2 large eggs, or 2 flax eggs for a vegan batch
· 1/4 cup melted butter or coconut oil
· 1/2 cup milk, dairy or plant based
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease a mini donut pan.
2. Whisk the eggs, melted oil, and milk in a bowl until smooth.
3. Add the donut mix and stir until it just comes together. Stop as soon as the dry powder disappears, since overmixing makes gluten free donuts gummy.
4. Pipe the batter into the small wells using a zip top bag with the corner cut off, filling each about two thirds full.
5. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until the tops spring back. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then turn the mini donuts out onto a rack.
One pouch makes about 24 mini donuts. Check the back of your pouch, since amounts can vary by batch.
How do you make gluten free donut holes?
You bake the same batter in a greased mini muffin tin at 350°F for 9 to 11 minutes, then roll the warm balls in cinnamon sugar. A mini muffin tin gives you round donut holes without any special pan, and the cinnamon sugar coating is what makes them taste like the classic.
· Fill each mini muffin cup two thirds full so the holes dome into a round shape.
· Bake for 9 to 11 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
· While they are still warm, brush each one lightly with melted butter or oil and roll in a mix of 1/4 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon.
One pouch makes about 24 donut holes. They are best the same day, while the coating is fresh.
What pan do you need for gluten free mini donuts and donut holes?
You need a mini donut pan for ring-shaped minis, or a mini muffin tin for round donut holes. Both are inexpensive and widely available. Here is how the sizes and times compare:
|
Shape |
Pan |
Temp |
Time |
Yield per pouch |
|
Mini donuts |
Mini donut pan |
350°F |
8 to 10 min |
About 24 |
|
Donut holes |
Mini muffin tin |
350°F |
9 to 11 min |
About 24 |
|
Air fryer minis |
Silicone mini molds |
350°F |
5 to 6 min |
6 to 8 per batch |
If you only have silicone molds, they work in the oven and the air fryer. Grease them even if they are nonstick, since the low sugar batter can grip.
How do you make vegan gluten free mini donuts?
You swap two ingredients. Use 2 flax eggs in place of the eggs by stirring 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed into 5 tablespoons of water and letting it sit for 5 minutes. Use melted coconut oil for the fat and any plant milk for the liquid. Minis bake fast, so vegan ones can dry out if left too long. Pull them at 8 minutes and test, since the smaller size finishes quickly.
Are gluten free mini donuts good for kids and parties?
Yes, the small size makes them easy to serve and portion. Each mini donut is about a third of a standard donut, so a serving for a child is one or two. Because the mix is certified gluten free, non GMO, and made with no preservatives or artificial sweeteners, mini donuts also work for a classroom or party where a guest may have celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity. For the full ingredient list, see what is in our mixes.
How do you store mini donuts and donut holes?
Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Cinnamon sugar donut holes are best eaten the same day, since the coating softens overnight. To freeze, let plain minis cool completely, freeze them in a single layer, then bag them for up to 3 months. Reheat a frozen mini for about 10 seconds in the microwave, since the small size warms fast.
Why are my gluten free mini donuts dry or stuck?
Minis are small, so timing and greasing matter even more than with full-size donuts.
· Dry minis usually mean they baked too long. Start checking at 8 minutes, since small wells finish fast.
· Stuck minis usually mean the pan was not greased. Grease every well, even nonstick, and cool 5 minutes before turning them out.
· Flat minis usually mean the wells were overfilled. Fill each about two thirds, not to the top.
Frequently asked questions about gluten free mini donuts
What is the difference between mini donuts and donut holes?
Mini donuts are small rings baked in a mini donut pan. Donut holes are round balls baked in a mini muffin tin. They use the same batter and taste the same, so the choice is just about shape and the pan you own.
Can I make donut holes without a special pan?
Yes. A standard mini muffin tin is all you need for donut holes, so you do not have to buy a donut pan at all.
How long do mini donuts take to bake?
Mini donuts bake at 350°F for 8 to 10 minutes, and donut holes take 9 to 11 minutes. Both are faster than full-size donuts, which take 12 to 15 minutes.
Are these mini donuts gluten free?
Yes, when the mix is certified gluten free. That means it is tested to contain less than 20 parts per million of gluten, the threshold the U.S. Food and Drug Administration sets for that label.
How many mini donuts does one mix make?
One pouch makes about 24 mini donuts or 24 donut holes.
Can I glaze mini donuts instead of using cinnamon sugar?
Yes. Whisk 1 cup powdered sugar with 2 to 3 teaspoons of milk and dip the cooled minis. Cinnamon sugar suits donut holes, while a glaze works well on mini rings.
Key takeaways
· Gluten free mini donuts use the same batter as full-size donuts, baked at 350°F for 8 to 10 minutes.
· Donut holes are the same batter baked in a mini muffin tin for 9 to 11 minutes, then rolled in cinnamon sugar.
· One pouch makes about 24 minis or 24 donut holes.
· Make them vegan with flax eggs, plant milk, and coconut oil.
· Check minis at 8 minutes, since the small size dries out if overbaked.
Ready to bake a batch of bites? Grab the Sweet Potato Donut Mix, or see the full-size method in our guide to gluten free baked sweet potato donuts.
Trusted sources
· U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Gluten-Free Labeling of Foods
· Celiac Disease Foundation: Sources of Gluten
· Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, The Nutrition Source: Sweet Potatoes
