Healthy Pumpkin Donut Holes (Paleo + Gluten-Free) (2024)

The most delicious homemade paleo pumpkin donut holes with maple glaze! Made with all gluten-free, grain-free and nut free ingredients for a healthy pumpkin donut holes recipe.

Raise your hand is you lived for MINI cinnamon donuts as a kid?! Yes, that was me. They were my favourite after school treat when my nanna would pick me up and take me to donut king. Oh, they were the days!

These beauties are probably my favourite pumpkin recipe to date. I love that these donuts are somewhat healthy to even be labeled donut. They are made with gluten-free, grain-free and nut-free ingredients. Plus they have no added oil and are quite low in sugar (only 2 grams a pop!). I dip them into a simple maple glaze mixture and dust them with coconut flour (use powdered sugar if you have it!) and they are absolutely to die for. This is step is totally optional but it does make them extra delicious and decedent.

I personally love to eat some sort of sweet thing everyday and these healthier pumpkin donut holes will definitely will be on my snacking rotation!

Ingredients you’ll need

In this recipe, pumpkin purée is mixed with spices, eggs, coconut flour and lightly sweetened with pure maple syrup creating the perfect gluten-free pumpkin donut holes!

• Eggs – you’ll need 2 eggs in this pumpkin donut recipe to give it the proper texture. I don’t think flax eggs would work here.
• Coconut flour – this is a great gluten free and grain free flour to help absorb moisture in recipes and also add fiber and nutrition. No need to pack the coconut flour though! I don’t have a sub for this as it behaves very different in recipes.
• Pumpkin purée – I used homemade pumpkin puree (blended in my vitamix), but canned pumpkin puree will work too! Just make sure to get one with no added sugar.
• Pumpkin spice + cinnamon – sub with cinnamon, a pinch of nutmeg and ginger to make homemade pumpkin spice. Otherwise just use cinnamon!
• Vanilla
• Maple syrup – or you can use honey. I don’t use much in this recipe so if you want a sweeter donut, add more.
• Baking powder

How to make the best healthy pumpkin donut holes:

These insanely easy and delicious paleo pumpkin donut holes only require a handful of ingredients and 1 bowl!

1. Preheat oven to 160C/ 350F and grease a mini muffin tray with coconut oil/ spray.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, pumpkin, maple syrup and vanilla.
3. Mix in the coconut flour, spices and baking powder until smooth.
4. Fill 16 mini muffin holes with batter (about 3/4 full) then bake in oven for about 15 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, make the glaze by mixing together the melted coconut butter, maple syrup and milk. If it’s hard to mix microwave for 30 seconds and stir until combine. Set aside.
6. Let donuts cool for a few then dip into a shallow bowl with the maple glaze then dust with coconut flour (or powdered sugar if you desire).

The delicious details on the maple glaze

The star of this donut recipe is by far the maple glaze! It’s dairy free and only contains only 3 ingredients!All you need is:

• Melted coconut butter (NOT coconut oil)
• Maple syrup (or honey if you prefer)
• Dairy free milk (almond, oat, soy or coconut milk)

Pumpkin health benefits

Pumpkin has an amazing nutrition profile. This tasty fruit (yes, it has seeds so is not a vegetable????) is high in micronutrients like:

• Vitamin A(1 cup cooked provides 457% of your daily needs).
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Magnesium, potassium, manganese,and multipleB vitamins.

It’s rich orange colour is thanks to the pumpkin’s beta-carotene content. Beta-caroteneis a plant pigment that have antioxidant properties and converts into vitamin A in the body.

Pumpkin is also an excellent source ofdietary fibre, with one cup of cooked squash providing 7 grams.

How to store leftovers

• Refrigerator: you can store the donut holes glazed or unglazed in an airtight container, for up to 5 days.
• Freezer: Store the donut holes unglazed wrapped in a freezer bag or zip lock bag in the freezer for up to 2 months. When ready to eat, defrost a slice in the fridge overnight or microwave for about 30 seconds.

More healthy pumpkin recipes to try:

Vegan Pumpkin Bread With Nut Crumble Topping

If you try thispaleo pumpkin donut holesrecipe or have a question, please let me know! Leave a comment and rate it below. I love to hear what you think, or any changes you make.

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