These Vegan Salted Maple Donuts are baked in the oven instead of fried, then finished with a smooth maple glaze and a light sprinkle of sea salt. They are soft, sweet, lightly fluffy, and perfect when you want a homemade donut with a delicious sweet-and-salty finish.
Healthier baked donuts
These Vegan Salted Maple Donuts are a simple and satisfying treat for anyone who loves the cozy flavor of maple syrup. Unlike classic donuts made with yeast dough and cooked in hot oil, this baked donut recipe is prepared with a quick batter and baked in a donut pan. The result is a tender, cake-style donut that is easier to make at home and does not require frying.
The maple glaze gives each donut a sweet, rich finish, while the sea salt adds just enough contrast to keep every bite balanced. They are great for a weekend baking project, a casual dessert, or a fun homemade treat to enjoy with coffee or tea. Since the batter comes together quickly, this recipe is also a good choice when you want donuts without waiting for dough to rise.
You will need a donut pan for the classic donut shape. If you do not have one, the batter can also be baked as muffins. If making muffins, keep in mind that the baking time may need to be adjusted slightly. Watch them closely and test with a toothpick to make sure they are fully baked without becoming dry.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- These baked vegan donuts are quicker and easier than traditional fried donuts because they do not require yeast, rising time, or deep frying.
- The recipe is fully vegan and can be made gluten-free by using a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour.
- The sweet maple glaze and sea salt topping create a balanced flavor that feels special but is still simple to prepare.
- This is a fun baking recipe for weekends, brunch, holidays, or whenever you want a homemade dessert that looks impressive without being complicated.
- The donuts bake in about 8 to 10 minutes, making them a fast option when you are craving a freshly baked treat.
Tips for making this recipe perfectly
- Do not skip the apple cider vinegar. It reacts with the leavening ingredients and helps the donuts bake up light and fluffy. If you do not have apple cider vinegar, regular vinegar can be used instead.
- Avoid overmixing the batter. Stir the wet and dry ingredients together gently, just until combined. A few small lumps are fine and are better than a dense, overworked batter.
- Grease the donut pan generously before adding the batter. This helps the donuts release cleanly after baking and keeps their shape intact.
- Use a piping bag or a large zip-top bag with one corner cut off to fill the donut pan neatly. Fill each cavity about three-quarters full so the donuts have room to rise.
- Keep a close eye on the donuts while they bake. They only need about 8 to 10 minutes, and overbaking can make them dry.
- Let the donuts cool completely before adding the maple glaze. If they are still warm, the glaze may melt and slide off instead of setting nicely.
More donut recipes to try
- Pumpkin Spice Donuts
- Banana Bread Donuts
- Apple Cider Donuts
If you tried these Vegan Salted Maple Donuts, leave a comment or rating and share how they turned out. These baked maple donuts are best enjoyed fresh, but they can still be enjoyed within two days of baking.
Vegan Salted Maple Donuts
- Author: Jessica Hoffman
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 donuts
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
These Vegan Salted Maple Donuts are soft baked donuts topped with a maple glaze and finished with sea salt. They are sweet, simple, and perfect for a homemade vegan dessert.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour, or 1-to-1 gluten-free flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 1/4 cup almond milk
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar, or regular vinegar
- 3 tbsp maple syrup
- 3 tbsp apple sauce
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Maple glaze
- 1 1/2 cup icing sugar
- 3 tbsp maple syrup
- 1–3 tsp almond milk, as needed to thin the glaze
- Sea salt, for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Add the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to a mixing bowl. Whisk until evenly combined.
- In a separate bowl, mix the almond milk, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, apple sauce, and vanilla extract.
- Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and gently fold the mixture together just until combined. Do not overmix the batter.
- Transfer the batter to a piping bag or a large zip-top bag with one corner cut off. Pipe the batter into a well-greased donut pan, filling each cavity about three-quarters full.
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into a donut comes out clean. Let the donuts cool completely before glazing.
- To make the glaze, whisk the icing sugar, maple syrup, and almond milk together in a bowl until smooth. Dip each cooled donut into the glaze, let the glaze set slightly, then sprinkle with sea salt.
Notes
The vinegar is important in this recipe because it helps create a lighter texture. Apple cider vinegar is recommended, but regular vinegar can be used if needed.
Mix the batter gently and stop as soon as the ingredients come together. Overmixing can make baked donuts dense instead of soft.
Grease the donut pan well before piping in the batter to prevent sticking and help the donuts release cleanly.
Check the donuts near the 8-minute mark. They bake quickly, and leaving them in the oven too long can make them dry.
These donuts are best enjoyed within 2 days of baking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 donut
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 25g
- Fat: 5g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g