Baked Spinach Donuts (Paleo)
Posted Mar 02, 2017, Updated Oct 18, 2021
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Baked Paleo Spinach Donuts are a healthy breakfast full of sneaky veggies! No food coloring needed to make these donuts naturally green!
I enjoy making healthy donuts for my familyย for special occasions, like these spinach donuts.
This recipe is paleo, which means there’s no gluten, dairy or refined sugar! Plus, the beautiful green color is impartedย naturally by the addition of spinach,ย not artificial food coloring or dyes!
They’re also baked instead of fried, but just as delicious!
Paleo Spinach Donuts: Ingredients & Substitutions
Since paleo baking is like a fine science, I do not recommend making any substitutions in this recipe. Please absolutely do not change the type or ratio of flours in this recipe! There are only a few substitutions that I haven’t tried, but could potentially work:
- Coconut sugar:ย Any granulated sugar works, I sometimes use organic cane sugar.
- Almond Milk:ย Coconut milk or regular dairy milk can be substituted for almond milk.
- Coconut oil:ย You may substitute grass-fed butter for the coconut oil.
How to make Spinach Donuts
These donuts are super easy to make (like every recipe I will be sharing with you from now until well after this baby girl arrives)!
Mix dry ingredients together first.
Mix the dry ingredients together in a large bowl and set aside. I like to mix dry ingredients first so that I don’t have to wash measuring cups/spoons during the batter-making process!
Blend wet ingredients.
then blend the wet ingredients in the Vitamix. I really can only recommend a super high-powered blender like the Vitamix here to ensure that your mixture becomes totally homogenous and silky-smooth. I don’t recommend using a food processor.
Pour wet into dry, then let the batter sit!
Next, pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently mix until completely combined. Let the mixture stand for 5 minutes to ensure that the coconut flour has absorbed all the moisture, then bake.
This recipe makes 12 regular-sized donuts. Since I only have on donut pan with 6 cavities, I had to bake two batches but I totally didn’t mind.
How to make Matcha Glaze
In my opinion these baked Paleo Spinach Donuts stand alone on their own and do not need a glaze. I made one because…..hello, frosting. I used my recipe for Paleo Powdered Sugar to make this glaze.
However you can let your imagination run wild and glaze these guys with whatever you like! I wanted to keep the green color natural, so I used just a touch of Matcha powder so that the flavor wouldn’t be overpowering.
FAQs about Spinach Donuts
If you use coconut sugar to make your own powdered sugar the glaze on these will not be green, it will be brown. If you want it green, use white powdered sugar, however it is not paleo).
Store/Freeze
Store these in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months. Make sure to store them in a single layer if you use glaze.
More delicious recipes
- These pumpkin baked donuts scream fall!
- I love making these raspberry donuts in the summer.
- For another sneaky veggie recipe, try these spinach pancakes and these spinach muffins.
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Paleo Spinach Donuts
Ingredients
Donuts:
- 1 cup almond flour
- ยฝ cup tapioca flour
- ยผ cup coconut flour
- 2 TBS coconut sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ยผ tsp baking soda
- ยผ tsp sea salt
- ยฝ cup almond milk
- ยผ cup coconut oil melted
- ยผ cup honey
- 2 cups spinach
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Glaze:
- ยฝ cup Paleo Powdered Sugar
- ยฝ tsp matcha powder
- 1 TBS almond milk or to your desired consistency
Instructions
Make the Donuts:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and lightly grease a donut pan.
- In a large bowl combine almond flour, tapioca flour, coconut flour, coconut sugar, baking powder, baking soda and sea salt. Set aside.
- In your Vitamix, add almond milk, coconut oil, honey and spinach. Blend, starting on low and increasing to medium speed, until mixture is completely smooth and green.
- Add eggs and vanilla and pulse to combine.
- Pour wet ingredients into the large bowl with your dry ingredients and gently mix until combined. Let the mixture stand for 5 minutes.
- Evenly divide the batter into your prepared donut pan, filling each โwellโ about ยพ of the way full.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes.
- Let sit in the pan for 3 minutes before removing to a wire cooling rack. Cool completely.
Make the glaze:
- While the donuts are cooling, make the glaze.
- Whisk all glaze ingredients together in a small bowl. If you would like a thinner glaze, add more almond milk. If you would like a thicker glaze, add more powdered sugar.
Assembly:
- When donuts are completely cooled, drizzle them with glaze.
- Let sit at room temperature or in the refrigerator until the glaze is hardened!
- Eat immediately.
Storage:
- Store the donuts in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Note: If you glaze them the donuts could become a a little soggy if not eaten the day they are made.
Video
Notes
Ingredient Substitutionsย
- Coconut sugar:ย Any granulated sugar works, I sometimes use organic cane sugar.
- Almond Milk:ย Coconut milk or regular dairy milk can be substituted for almond milk.
- Coconut oil:ย You may substitute grass-fed butter for the coconut oil.
Store/Freeze
Store these in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months. Make sure to store them in a single layer if you use glaze.ยNutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I have been wanting to make donuts SO badly AND I have matcha I need to use. These are absolutely perfect and I am so excited. Thank you!!
Whoo hoo! I hope you love them Cora!
These are SO pretty! Perfect treat for St. Patty’s ๐
Thank you Maria!
Love the vibrant green color of these donuts! I bet your kids LOVE these, they probably don’t even know that the food color here is veggies! YASSS to sneaking in veggies ๐
They have NO idea I put spinach in them! I just have to make sure they don’t help me with this recipe…lol!
I saw these on Instagram a day or so ago and was sold! I think they are so gorgeous and will be perfect for St. Patty’s Day! I can’t wait to whip them up!
Yay! They’re so easy to make too! ๐
WoW! They are so beautiful; I really want to make donuts now; maybe when I get home!
I bet your siblings would enjoy them! ๐
OMG, spinach donuts!! I love it. They’re such a pretty green and it’s the perfect time of year to sneak these by loved ones.
My kids have no idea they’re eating veggies! LOL!
I am seriously crushing on these paleo spinach donuts! I need to make asap! Oh, and love that gorgeous green color!
I love using real food to impart fun colors! ๐
I can’t get over that gorgeous color! How festive for the St. Patrick’s holiday!
Thank you Jessica!
I’ve never tried making donuts at home, but I now seriously want to!! I love the whole combo and mmmm icing!
I love that my kids think they’re eating a “real donut!” haha!
Who doesn’t love a good donut and I LOVE that these are green! So perfect for St. Patrick’s Day, I wish I was in town because these would be made if I was.
I’ve been working on lots of healthy green treats! ๐