Ah, the famous, round pastry that the world swoons over! They come jelly-filled, glazed, powdered, chocolate-covered, or pumped with Boston crème pie filling. Recalling its dense, moist texture already has you craving one.

Hold on just a moment! Are donuts vegan? I bet you're thinking, “I sure hope so!” They look innocent enough, but how are they so fluffy yet dense? Let's take a look at a regular donut's ingredients.

Common Donut Ingredients

• yeast
• water
• milk
• white sugar
• salt
• eggs
• shortening
• all-purpose flour
• vegetable oil (used for frying)
• butter
• powdered sugar
• vanilla extract

Are Donuts Vegan?

Unfortunately, most donuts that you may come in contact with are not vegan. Donuts are usually made with more than one dairy product. The fact that donuts are made with cows' milk and eggs easily answers the question. White sugar and butter are the other two ingredients that create a problem.

Butter mostly consists of mammals' milk, making it an off-limits doughnut ingredient as well. If you are wondering why white sugar is highlighted as a non-vegan ingredient, it is because bone char (ground up cattle bones) is used in the processing of sugar. You can check out more on that subject over here!

Vegan donuts do exist though! Eggs, butter, dairy milk, and white sugar can all be replaced by safe, vegan products. Almond milk, coconut milk, soy milk, or any nut milk can be used in place of cows' milk.

There are some great vegan butter options on the market. You can always use coconut oil as a replacement too, if that is what you have on hand. Instead of using white sugar in your recipes, opt for a raw sugar like Sugar in the Raw. You'll see that this is used in the recipe below. You might think eggs are a bit tricky to replace in baking, but many options are out there.

Mixing flax meal and water, or chia seeds and water, can create an amazing egg replacement. Baking soda and vinegar offer the same effect in baking as an egg would, making your goodies more fluffy. Some vegans enjoy using tofu, applesauce, or mashed banana in place of an egg.

Take a look at the “egg replacements” that are sold in health food stores, and find out what works best for you. Some recipes, like this vegan donut recipe, do not require an egg replacement.

How to Make Vegan Donuts

Donuts can be baked or fried. Your donut craving can be satisfied today, if you choose! This recipe will teach you how to create donuts easily in your own kitchen. Check out this easy, vegan donut recipe! You'll even be able to make these baked donuts without needing any special equipment or bakeware.

For the Dough

• 1 cup of full-fat coconut milk
• 1 tablespoon vegan butter
• 2 ½ cups of all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ tablespoons of yeast
• ¾ cup Sugar in the Raw
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon vegan butter
• 2 tablespoons full-fat coconut milk

Directions
1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Start by melting a tablespoon of vegan butter with the coconut milk in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir the butter and milk until the butter is melted.
3. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, yeast, and sugar. Whisk together until well-combined.
4. Pour the vanilla extract into the bowl of dry ingredients.
5. Add the wet ingredients (coconut milk and vegan butter) to the mixing bowl.
6. Use a wooden spoon to mix the ingredients together. The dough will become very firm.
7. Knead the dough for three to five minutes.
8. Flatten the dough out on the counter with your hand.
9. Use a cup or circular cookie cutter to cut out donut shapes in the dough.
10.With your finger or a utensil, poke a hole into each donut that you have cut out.
11.Place donuts on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and let them set for one hour.
12.Once set, bake the donuts for 10-12 minutes, until they appear golden-brown in color.
13.While the donuts are cooling, prepare the glaze. With a whisk, combine the powdered sugar, melted vegan butter, and coconut milk in a bowl.
14.Once the donuts are cool, drizzle the glaze all over your freshly baked donuts.

Another easy option would be to sprinkle your donuts with powdered sugar. You could also experiment making a frosting or chocolate glaze for your donuts. There you have it - easy, satisfying, vegan donuts!

It can be discouraging, especially when you're just adopting a vegan lifestyle, to realize that your favorite foods are no longer an option for you. The great news is that with a few modifications and adjustments to donut ingredients, you can create your own vegan masterpiece at home!

There are countless vegan donut recipes online. Let me know how you decorated and enjoyed your donuts once you have made this easy vegan donut recipe!

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