Healthier baked carrot cake donuts [refined sugar and dairy free]

Hello all! How are you going? Do you wish it was baked donuts time where you are? I sure do.
The kids and I have just come back from 4 nights at the Gold Coast (which, if you don’t know, is a region south of Brisbane on Australia’s east coast famous for its long sandy beaches, surfing spots and elaborate system of inland canals and waterways, which is also home to theme parks such as Dreamworld, Sea World and Wet’n’Wild as well as inland, hiking trails crisscrossing Lamington National Park’s mountain ridges and valleys, home to rare birds and rainforest – thanks Google).
And let me say, it was wonderful. The only thing which could have possibly made it better would be if we had brought some of these delicious healthier baked carrot cake donuts with us!

Healthier baked donuts – a delicious snack
If you follow me on Instagram, you might already know I am a big fan of my Wilton mini donut pan. I’ve had it for about 12 months now and the kids and I have made a few different kinds of donuts in it. I only have one other donut recipe on the blog so far – these gorgeous zucchini pancake donuts – but there are others which I need to write up.
The beauty of baked donuts is that they are healthier (not fried) and cakier (if that’s a word – the texture is just lovely). As a bonus, anything tastes better in a donut shape and the mini size helps ensure that you can control your portions better (if that’s usually a problem for you). Either way, you won’t be sorry.

What makes these baked carrot cake donuts healthier?
These healthier baked carrot cake donuts are refined sugar free and contain healthier ingredients such as oats, carrots, linseed and almond meal and Greek (or plant based) yoghurt. If you switch up the spelt flour, you can make then gluten free.
These do have some flour in them but it’s wholemeal spelt flour (rather than bleached plain white flour). If you want to make this dairy free, use plant-based yoghurt, such as coconut yoghurt or almond yoghurt, instead of Greek yoghurt.
And yes, the texture is just delightful – as you can probably see from some of these photos – soft and squishy, scented with coconut, carrot, cinnamon and dotted with bits of crunchy walnuts.
And that soft texture is beautifully contrasted with the crunchy chocolate topping. But do not fear, this doesn’t make the donuts unhealthy or overly sweet. Firstly, I have used sugar free chocolate bits (dark and white – I like the Noshu brand) and, secondly, there isn’t much there – just enough to give you that nice textural contrast and a hint of sweetness. Plus, don’t they look amazing, drizzled in that yummy chocolate goodness?


Baked donuts for every occasion – thank you Leanne!
I imagine these baked donuts would be perfect for any informal occasion, like a lazy afternoon tea, a nice picnic, a gathering with friends or family, or even just to have with your cup of tea in the morning. But they would be fabulous even for a fancier occasion such as a high tea or a birthday party.
The inspiration for these donuts came from a wonderful recipe for Carrot cake donuts (gluten free) from one of my friends, Leanne, which she’s featured on her gorgeous blog Crumb Top Baking.
If you are not familiar with Leanne’s blog, you absolutely need to check it out – this is not the first recipe I have made from her blog and they have all turned out absolutely wonderful (plus she has more baked donut recipes if carrot cake isn’t your thing!). I love Leanne’s writing style and her step by step photos and I find myself returning to her blog over and over again.
I have changed a few ingredients and some of the method in this recipe, in particular substituting linseed (flaxseed) meal for the protein powder which Leanne uses, to make it more child-friendly, if you – like me – have young children and are not sure about including protein powders in their meals just yet.
I am also not using oat flour like Leanne is (which means my recipe is not gluten free) and instead I have used a mix of almond meal, wholemeal spelt flour and rolled oats, which makes these quite nutritious. I have subbed in yoghurt for the apple sauce (I didn’t have any), I pop the walnuts straight into the batter, I use whole eggs (and not just egg whites) and my toppings are a little different – but otherwise the amounts are very heavily based on Leanne’s – you don’t change a good thing when you see it, right!? Thank you Leanne for your ongoing inspiration!

Recipe
Healthier baked carrot cake donuts [refined sugar and dairy free]
Ingredients
Dry ingredients
- 1/2 cup almond meal
- 1/2 cup wholemeal spelt flour
- 1/4 cup linseed (flaxseed) meal
- 1/4 cup rolled oats (not quick cook oats)
- 3 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp baking powder
- pinch salt
- 1/2 cup coconut flakes (or shredded coconut)
- 1/2 cup grated or blitzed up carrot (you will need about 2 small carrots) (I blitz them up in my mini food processor)
- 1/2 cup walnuts, roughly crushed or chopped
Wet ingredients
- 1/2 cup macadamia (or other plant based) milk
- 1/4 cup macadamia oil
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup plant based or Greek yoghurt
- scant 1/4 cup honey
- squeeze of vanilla paste
Chocolate topping
- handful of chocolate chips (preferably sugar free), white
- handful of chocolate chips (preferably sugar free), dark
- drizzle of MCT oil
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 180C and spray your 12-hole mini donut pan with coconut oil spray (or grease with coconut oil)
- Mix the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. (And yes, the carrot goes in there because you want the carrot bits covered in the flour mix so they disperse through the donut mixture evenly.)
- In a separate bowl (or a measuring jug), whisk the wet ingredients together.
- Pour the wet ingredients mixture into the bowl with the dry ingredients and mix until well incorporated (don't overmix).
- Gently pour the mixture into the mini donut pan, trying not to spill too much (yes, it's hard) – but it doesn't need to be perfect (just wipe off any spillage with a wet paper towel).
- If you have a mini donut pan with more than 12 holes, then keep on filling. Otherwise you are likely to have some mixture left over. I usually make a couple of smaller cake shapes (like stars or love hearts – these are forms/tins for mini tea cakes) so do what you can – otherwise you can reserve the rest of the mixture in the fridge and do another round with the same mini donut tin once the first 12 donuts have been baked.
- Bake in the over for about 17 to 19 minutes until golden on top. Take out of the oven and let cool completely.
- If you're baking additional cake shapes with the leftover mixture, if they are deeper, they will need more time. Depending on what you're using, I suggest extra 10 minutes but it will really depend on what form you're using. Test with a cake tester to make sure they're baked through.
- When the donuts are completely cool, place them onto a cooling rack. Then melt the chocolate chips. I just pop them on a small plate each (white chips on one small plate and dark chips on another small plate) and heat in the microwave in 15 second intervals. Mix with a spoon after each interval until melted.
- Once melted, drizzle a little bit of MCT oil onto each plate and mix together until gorgeous and shiny.
- I then simply gather a little of the chocolate mixture on a spoon and go to town drizzling the cool donuts until my heart's content. Drizzle one type of chocolate first, then the other for best effect.
Notes

Recipe notes
This recipe makes about 16 to 18 mini donuts – I only have a 12-hole mini pan so I make 12 mini donuts and 2 larger cake shapes.
This recipe is based on Leanne’s Carrot cake donuts (gluten free) which is featured on her excellent blog Crumb Top Baking.


56 Comments
Aarthi
Omg , this is sucha a great idea to use fresh carrots , one vegeatable my kids dont like. Absolutly looks gorgous. I also like how you have baked it instead of deep frying . Macademia milk and oil is intersting , would surely try this recipe for hoildays, Thanks so much for posting it during this season!
Katerina
Thank you so much, Aarthi, I’m so glad I was able to inspire you!
Balvinder
Oh my gosh this looks so good! I am over here drooling over these healthier carrot doughnuts.
Katerina
Thank you so much Balvinder!
Leanne
Katerina, your version of these carrot cake donuts look amazing! Next time I make them, I’m going to try using flaxmeal instead of the protein powder. And thank you for the shout out and your kind words. Happy my recipe inspired you and appreciate you visiting the blog regularly! Hope all is well!
Katerina
Thank you so much, Leanne, I’m so pleased you approve! Your donut recipes are absolutely amazing. Hope you’ve been well!
Jeff the Chef
What a delicious-looking doughnut! I love that they’re baked!
Katerina
Thanks so much Jeff!
Jill
I’m glad you had a wonderful getaway! I love carrot cake and these donuts look absolutely delicious!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Katerina
Thank you very much Jill, much appreciated!
Rosemary Squires
These look incredible especially with that drizzle on top! I love cooking with flour alternatives like almond meal and almond flour 🙂
Katerina
Thank you so much, Rosemary! I love a good chocolate drizzle 🙂
David Gascoigne
My wife grew up on a Mennonite farm where no one gave a thought to calories, and donuts, deep fried and decadent were staples. She hasn’t baked them as long as I have known her, but amybe we should give this recipe a shot. I envy you your visit to Lamington NP, your visit to Queensland in fact. My next visit to Australia will be my third, but it is unlikely I will make it as far north as Queensland. You can’t go everywhere!And unless COVID relinquishes its hold we can’t go anywhere!
Katerina
Baked is definitely much better than fried, David so I hope you do give these a go! And yes, we’re very lucky in Australia. I do hope that you’ll be able to come visit again!
Lauren
These look delicious Katerina! Love that they’re healthy too! I’ll be honest, I have a donut pan but I don’t think I’ve ever used it…these make me want to pull it out and give it a try ASAP.
Katerina
I’m glad I’ve inspired you, Lauren! Thanks so much!
Sophie
They look and sound delicious! I love carrot cake, so I’m sure they will be amazing. I’m on a little bit of a mission to try and find a good gluten free donut recipe at the moment x
Sophie
Katerina
Thanks so much Sophie! You should check out Leanne’s recipes for some inspiration!
Never Ending Journeys
How incredible! These donuts look simply so delicious and irresistible. I love anything with carrot cake, so these are calling my name!
Katerina
Thank you so much, I’m so glad you think so!
Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom
Yum! I bet these are delicious with and without the chocolate drizzle!! Carrot cake is one of my faves this time of year.
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Katerina
Thanks so much Carrie!
John / Kitchen Riffs
Baked donuts are great! Much healtheir than the fried ones, of course, and you can really do more with different flavors. Like carrot cake! Never would have thought of this — neat idea. Thanks!
Katerina
Thanks so much John! And I agree – we love trying out new flavours!
Anika
This is 100% the recipe for me, not only do they look delicious but carrot cake and donuts are two favourites! I never thought about putting them together, and in a healthier way too! Great recipe.
Anika | chaptersofmay.com
Katerina
Thanks so much Anika, it’s such a great combo!
Lovely
Carrot cake donuts sounds interesting. I need to try this! They look super yum.
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
Katerina
Thank you Lovely!
Molly Pisula
These look super healthy, but delicious too! Love that white and dark chocolate drizzle on top!
Katerina
Thank you Molly! That drizzle is my favourite part too 🙂
David @ Spiced
Ah, that Gold Coast vacation sounds absolutely lovely – of course, I’m looking outside at a very cold rainy day here. So the thought of a beach of any kind sounds great! Speaking of great, these donuts. I love my donut pan, too, and I also love carrot cake – the flavors rank up there on my list of favorite baking flavors! I’m pretty sure a batch of these donuts would make any day better – even a vacation day on the Gold Coast!
Katerina
Haha, I agree, David – there’s not many things which could make a holiday in the Gold Coast better but these donuts are definitely one of them. Thank you so much!
All That I'm Eating
Carrot cake donuts! These sound so good! Great that they’re baked rather than fried, would love to try one of these!
Katerina
Thank you! I agree baked is so much better than fried. Hope you enjoy these!
Neil
Glad that you and the kids could get away to The Gold Coast there Katerina. My Australian family have just returned to Melbourne after having avoided going back there and staying in their holiday homes in Phillip Island until the worst of the Covid-19 situation was over. We’re still really bad here in Scotland and I need a holiday. But seeing as I can’t get one at the moment your healthy baked carrot cake donuts will do for now. Thank you!!
Katerina
Thank you so much Neil! I think everyone needs a holiday from 2020 – it’s been such a difficult year. I hope you’re well, despite the Covid-19 situation, and things will start to look up soon in Scotland.
Honeycombee
This sounds so delicious! And like a perfect snack to have around the house around the holidays!
https://honeycombee.com/
Katerina
Indeed! Thanks so much Katerina!
marcie
I can never pass up carrot cake in any form so these are calling my name. Time to pull out the donut pans! 🙂
Katerina
Haha.. I’m super happy to have inspired you, Marcie! Thanks so much!
Marie
Homemade baked donuts?? Oh my! What a treat. Beautiful photos as always.
Katerina
Thank you Marie, much appreciated!
Lisa
I adore carrot cake and my daughter adores doughnuts but I had no idea you could bake them, I thought they had to be deep fried. This is brilliant, thank you so much, and your doughnuts look absolutely delicious!
Katerina
Thanks very much, Lisa! You’ll find the texture a little different from the fried donuts but if you like carrot cake, I dare say you’ll love it!
Laura Bambrick
These look and sound amazing! I love carrot cake! And to have it in donut form? Yes please!
Katerina
Everything’s better in donut form, isn’t it? Thanks so much, Laura!
jodie filogomo
I have never tried to make donuts…can you believe?? BUT if I do, these will be the ones for us!!
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Katerina
Thanks Jodie – hope you get to try these!
Auggie
I am sold! I haven’t baked donuts that much but now I feel like it’s time. I love how you always make delicious food healthy and oh that chocolate drizzle just top it up perfectly. Yum!
Katerina
Thanks so much, Auggie, you have just made my day!
Renuka Walter
Donuts are my favorite! I was just thinking what to do to make healthy donuts around Christmas. I don’t want to gain any extra weight now, and want to eat my favorite sweets.
Thank you so much for this recipe! Will try for sure and let you know how it turned out. 🙂
Katerina
I am glad I have inspired you, Renuka! Thank you!
Healthy World Cuisine
These look so moist and delicious. Carrots and coconut is really interesting. I love that they are only delicately sweet so delicious for breakfast or snack any time of the day.
Katerina
Thank you so much for your comment – I love the carrot coconut combo myself!
Priya
Looks yummmy 🙂 it is an innovative idea to make donuts from carrot cake.
Katerina
Thanks so much, Priya – isn’t it great?