By Wendy Stoltz / Last Modified On January 15, 2023
Warm irresistible Gluten-Free Cinnamon Sugar Donuts that are also dairy-free and nut-free.
These gluten-free cinnamon donuts are ready in less than twenty minutes, and will melt in your mouth.
If you are a donut lover, make sure you check the Best Gluten-Free Donuts Recipes.
Looking for an extra special treat? Top this gluten-free cinnamon sugar donut with your favorite dairy-free vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce.
If you like donuts (and hopefully you do) you should check out my Gluten-Free Gingerbread Donuts and Gluten-Free Vanilla Cake Donuts.
Gluten-Free Cinnamon Sugar Donuts
No one can resist a fresh, warm, gluten-free cinnamon sugar donut out of the oven.
The wonderful smell of cinnamon baking into a perfect gluten-free treat wafting through the house is irresistible.
Anytime I bake up a batch of gluten-free donuts my family comes running.
What gluten-free flour blend can I use to make gluten-free donuts
You can use Bob's Red Mill 1-to-1 gluten free flour blend, or Ryze Blue Bag to make these gluten-free donuts, or you can use my homemade gluten-free flour blend.
How to make gluten-free cinnamon sugar donuts
- Add the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt to a large mixing bowl.
- Whisk until combined.
- Add the egg, vanilla, vegetable oil, dairy-free milk and vinegar.
- Mix just until combined.
- Spoon the batter into the prepared donut pan - filling each donut well about ⅔ full. The batter should not cover the center of the donut well where the hole will go.
- Bake for 9-11 minutes or until the donuts rise and set. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Coat with cinnamon sugar and enjoy.
These numbered steps match the numbered photos above and are for illustration purposes only. Please see the printable recipe card below.
I mean, just look at these donuts. Did you see the texture in the picture at the top of this post? Perfect.
These donuts have a really nice texture and they hold of for days.
I made a double batch for my girls and then munched through them until the were gone.
I've also frozen a batch so my girls can pull them out on Fridays and reheat them. They were still moist and delightful.
Working with Gluten-Free Flours
When working with or measuring gluten-free flour, spoon the flour into the measuring cup and level. Do not scoop your measuring cup into the gluten-free flour.
Is brown sugar gluten free?
I'm often asked is brown sugar gluten free. Yes, brown sugar is gluten free. Please always check labels on off-brands to make sure no gluten containing ingredients were added for coloring.
How can I make gluten-free cinnamon sugar donuts egg-free
For these gluten-free cinnamon sugar donuts you can use a flaxseed egg.
To make a flax egg, mix one tablespoon ground flaxseed meal with three tablespoons of water.
Mix together, and let sit in your fridge for 15 minutes to set up and thicken.
You can also try an egg replacer like Bob’s Red Mill Egg Replacer. I hear it’s easy to work with.
Pin for later:
What other milk can I use in gluten-free cinnamon sugar donuts
For this gluten-free cinnamon sugar donut recipe I used almond milk, which is a dairy-free milk.
You can use regular milk or you milk of choice.
I recommend you don't add buttermilk or full fat coconut milk to these gluten-free cinnamon sugar donuts.
The milk is too thick, and has to much fat for the rest of the ingredients.
For a gluten-free vegan donut check out my Gluten-Free Vegan Espresso Donuts.
My friend Brianna from Flipping Delicious has a wonderful Gluten Free Red Velvet Donut Recipe. For a low carb version, try these Keto Donuts.
All are amazing and all are super simple. If you are looking for more donut recipes, you can search for donuts in the search bar at the top or try some of my favorites:
Did you make these donuts? Please let me know what you thought. If you have a question about gluten-free donuts or any of my recipes please leave a comment below and I will get back to you.
Gluten-Free Cinnamon Sugar Donuts
Warm irresistible Gluten-Free Cinnamon Sugar Donuts that are also dairy-free and nut-free.
Ingredients
For the donuts:
- 1 cup gluten-free flour blend
- ⅓ cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon gluten-free baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon gluten-free vanilla
- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons avocado oil (or oil of choice)
- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons dairy-free milk (or regular milk)
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
For the coating:
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- For the donuts: Preheat oven to 425°F. Grease one six-serving donut pan; set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
- Add the egg, vanilla, oil, dairy-free milk, and vinegar and stir until combined.
- Spoon the batter into the prepared donut pan - filling each donut well about ⅔ full. The batter should not cover the center of the donut well where the hole will go.
- Bake for 9-11 minutes or until the donuts rise and set.
- Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes.
- Place a wire rack over a cookie sheet or piece of parchment paper.
- Carefully remove the donut from the pan. You may need to use a spoon or a rubber spatula to loosen them if they stick.
- For the coating: In a separate small mixing bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon. One at a time, dip the tops of your donuts into the coating, then flip them to coat the bottoms.
- Place your cinnamon sugar donut on the rack and repeat until all donuts have been coated.
- Store donuts in an airtight container at room temperate for up to three days.
Notes
- When measuring gluten-free flour, spoon the flour into the measuring cup and level. Do not scoop your measuring cup into the gluten-free flour.
- You can use your milk of choice in this donut recipe. Be sure not to use full fat cream, or full fat coconut milk as the batter will be too thick.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1 donutAmount Per Serving: Calories: 227Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 275mgCarbohydrates: 35gFiber: 1gSugar: 18gProtein: 3g
Josie And Jaye Clark
I set this recipe aside for the longest time and finally, today, we made them. I’m the only gluten free person in the family and I’ve been craving cinnamon sugar doughnuts for forever. Craving satisfied. So easy to make. And my three year old was able to help. If I could add a picture you’d see her delight. Thank you for your recipe. I’ll be doing more as we shelter in from the chaos of the world right now.
chrystal
Hi Josie,
I am so glad you made them 🙂 And I'm happy to hear that you and your three year old like them. My girls love helping too.
I hope you find many more recipes that you love.
Thank you for taking time to stop back by. Best, Chrystal
Jamie
Terrific recipe! Thank you!
chrystal
I'm so glad you like it.
Best,
Chrystal
Kat
Just made these! So good and so easy! But they are also all gone! Thanks for this awesome recipe, just what I have been craving for so long! ♥️
Elizabeth A Clements
Jamie,
Made these today and a batch of the birthday cake too. So Yummy and super easy. I used cup 4 cup gluten free flour and it worked great. I can't wait to make the lemon ones too. Thanks so much.
Lindsay
So glad you loved the donuts Elizabeth! Thank you.
Kari
Can you switch white vinagre for apple cider vinager
chrystal
Yes, both work.
Best,
Chrystal
Janet Mc
I made these donuts for Easter brunch while we were in quarantine. They were fantastic!! Thank you for this fabulous and easy recipe!!
chrystal
I'm so glad you like them. Thank you for letting me know.
Best,
Chrystal
Dot
Delicious! I had to use serious self control so the rest of the family could each have one! Was not easy! Thanks for the recipe!
chrystal
I am so glad you liked it. Good job sharing 😉
Best,
Chrystal
Maria
Best gluten free donuts I have ever tasted in my life!!!! I wish I could post a video!!! My kids and I are beyond happy!! And needless to say we ate them within 5 mins!!! I also want to share that I accidentally used 1 tbs of Vinegar and it still came out amazing!!!
Donna
I just made these and omg! They are sooooo delicious! I used Gravesend oil and 2% lactose free milk. They were so easy to make and they do not taste gluten free at all!! I only use Bob's red mill 1 to 1 gf flour blend, so I was happy to see that as a recommended flour. I will be doubling this recipe next time for sure! Thank you!! I really missed donuts!
Lindsay
Hi Donna! So happy to hear that you loved the recipe. Thank you so much for coming back with a comment.
Alissa
My husband and I are gluten intolerant, and I've been making these for sometime. We love them. But I don't use the glaze we just eat them that way. So yummy thank you
Wendy Stoltz
Thanks, Alissa. It's a pleasure.
lyndsey
Hi There, I am just wondering how you got the cinnamon and sugar to stick? Mine fell right off. Any advice would be great. Thanks!
chrystal
Hi Lyndsey,
About five minutes after I pull them from the oven, I remove the donuts from the pan and I dip them in the cinnamon sugar. The steam from the donuts helps it stick. Then I roll it a second time.
Best,
Chrystal
Niki
We have 3 celiacs in our family of 7 so I have done a lot of GF baking. This is literally the BEST gluten free baked item I have bought or baked myself. Wow! Thank you!!!
chrystal
I'm so glad you love them. Thank you for letting me know.
Best,
Chrystal
Jen
These turned out perfectly! The batter seemed so thin, but they puffed up and held nicely. I also had enough leftover batter to make one last one. Thank you for the recipe. My family loved them!
chrystal
You are very welcome. I am so glad you and your family loved them.
Best,
Chrystal
Lynnae
I just made these, so, so good!!!! They kind-of remind me of fair donuts. The only thing I used differently was apple cider vinegar. I will be making these often . Thank you!!!!
chrystal
I am so glad you like them. Thank you for sharing.
Best,
Chrystal
M
Great recipe. Very easy and came together quickly. I used Namaste GF flour and apple cider vinegar because that’s what I had on hand and recipe worked perfectly. Thank you.
chrystal
I am so glad! I haven't tried this recipe with Namaste flour, so it's good to know you got good results with it.
Best,
Chrystal
Allison
Can I deep fry these donuts? Also wondering if I could sub out 1/2 the “milk” with apple cider?
chrystal
Hi Allison,
I haven't tried deep frying them. The batter isn't firm enough to deep fry them. Have you tried my chocolate donut holes? They are a deep fried donut. You can add cinnamon sugar to the coating.
Best,
Chrystal
Sherri Gambill
Found your wonderful recipe and made them the next day. Delicious, soft, great. Thank you! I will certainly make them again
chrystal
So glad you like them.
Best,
Chrystal
Catherine
This is my absolute favorite GF donut recipe. I love the texture! It's not too cupcake-like as so many other recipes are. It's the perfect balance of structure, moisture, and lightness. This is the closest donut to a "real" donut!!
chrystal
I am so glad you like it. Thank you for letting me know.
Best,
Chrystal
Andrea Cerny
Oh. Em. Gee. I just finished my second one and I can honestly say this is the best gluten free baked treat I've made. My son said they are the best donuts he's ever had. I'm so excited to make these again and customize for other flavors! THANK YOU!
chrystal
You are very welcome. I am so glad you both liked them. Thank you for letting me know.
Best,
Chrystal
Nico
I've made this consistently with Lulubelle GF flour and it's perfection, however all out and going to try my low oxalate flour blend that doesn't include Xantham Gum (which for me personally is a better choice anyway), anyone have success without xantham gum? TIA!
chrystal
I am so glad you liked them. Thank you for letting me know. You don't need to use xanthan in this recipe.
Best,
Chrystal
Amber
I made these for my son with food allergies to take on a field trip to the apple orchard (they were serving cider donuts). I used Bob's Red Mill egg replacer in place of the egg. They were delicious! Two thumbs up from my son. They were easy and turned out great. Thanks so much for sharing your recipe!
chrystal
I am so glad he loved them. Thank you for letting me know.
Best,
Chrystal
Nora
I made them for the first time a d turned out great. The second time I used powder stevia and they were all sticking to the pan and I had crumbled donut instead. Has this happened to anyone else?
Sandra
Our whole family Is Gluten free! We were so happy to find this recipe. It’s our go to now when ever we feel like having donuts . Soft and delicious! Thank you so much.
chrystal
You are very welcome. I am so glad everyone loves them.
Best,
Chrystal
Michelle
Do you think this recipe would work in the Dash Express Mini Donut maker?
chrystal
I haven't tried this recipe in a donut maker but a few readers of mine have and had luck.
Best,
Chrystal
Candace
Did anyone else only get 4 donuts out of this recipe? I followed the recipe exactly and it only made 4.
chrystal
Hi Candace,
Were your donut wells on the larger side? If not, you fill the wells up about 2/3 or up to the just under the top of the center, so the hole isn't covered when it bakes.
I hope that helps.
Best,
Chrystal
Elizabeth
Just made your doughnuts for the second time. Delish!! Only change I made was I buttered the doughnut pan and sprinkled cinnamon and sugar in before I put the batter in. Gave them a nice "crust", almost like a fried doughnut without the mess!! I am curious about something though. Your flour blend recipes have weight measurements but the recipe for doughnuts used cup measurement. Is there a reason for this? I really like recipes with weight measurements because they tend to be more accurate. Am new to your site but love it so far!! Thanks for sharing with those of us who aren't good at recipe development!!
chrystal
Hi Elizabeth,
I am so glad you are enjoying my doughnut recipes! I am working on adding the weight measurements for recipes, I don't have all of them done yet.
Best,
Chrystal
Zoey
Love this recipe. I make these often and they always turn out great.
Tracy
Any suggestions if you do not have a donut pan for cooking?
chrystal
You can use a muffin pan.
Best,
Chrystal
Jen
Wow, this recipe was wonderful! I needed something I could whip up quickly for some kids for a special breakfast, and these were perfect. They were so fast and easy, and they tasted great. I doubled the batch, and I coated half with cinnamon sugar and half with a simple vanilla glaze (just powdered sugar, small splash of milk, maybe 1/2 tsp vanilla, and tiny pinch of salt). The flavor was great, the texture was not at all "gluten free," and both kids and adults gobbled them up.
S
These were super easy to make with Bob’s Red Mill baking flour and they turned out great! I want to try this in coffee cake form sometime. I wish I could have gotten more of the cinnamon sugar to stick so the entire surface area was covered (I have a serious sweet tooth). Next time I might try brushing them lightly with butter first. These are great with a light drizzle of maple syrup before serving which adds a little more sweetness since the sugar wasn’t sticking well. I may also try coconut oil next time just to experiment. I love the texture of these. They aren’t super dense like a traditional cake donut. They are lighter/fluffier. These would make awesome cider donuts too.
chrystal
I am so glad you like them. You can try rolling them in the cinnamon sugar twice, a couple minutes apart, if you'd like more to stick.
Best,
Chrystal
Liz
Do you know if you can substitute the eggs for flax eggs?
chrystal
Yes, you can use flaxeggs in this recipe.
Best,
Chrystal
Bri
Is there a substitute for vinegar if I don’t have any? I can’t wait to make these!
chrystal
You can leave it out if you want.
Best,
Chrystal
Monika Clark
⁸love it made it last night as I couldn't fall asleep! Made 3 batches lmaooo thanks doll!!
Love this recipe its quick and easy❤
Sandy
THANK YOU for the recipe! My Celiac teenager loved them along with everyone else! She hopes you have a powdered sugar donut recipe?
chrystal
I am so glad. I don't have a powdered sugar donut recipe, but you can make these vanilla donuts and add 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg, and dip them in powdered sugar when they are still warm.
Best,
Chrystal
Shelly
I was planning to use skim milk because I had that on hand and while I was waiting for the flax seed egg to gel my husband drank the last of the milk! I subbed coffee creamer diluted with water (about 1/8 cup each with 2 T of water) and whisked it together and hoped it would turn out. It did! Also, my donut pan makes 12 small donuts and I was able to get 12 with the batter from this recipe. I baked for 9 minutes and they were great!
Megan Murphy
I just made a batch of these and my family is drooling! I also made a half batch of your buttercream frosting from your GF Cinnamon Roll recipe, added cinnamon, and swirled on top! Simply amazing!
Natalie
I was so happy to make this! But I accidentally used whole milk, wish the warning was on top.
Donuts turned out nice and soft! Will have to try with regular milk.
Lindsay
Hi Natalie! Whole milk is fine, we just mean that you shouldn't use heavy cream. I'll update the instructions 🙂 thanks!
Lisa
I made these for a birthday brunch today, and everyone (even the non-gf people lol) really loved them! Many thanks for the recipe. Thanks also for the tip about spooning the flour into the measuring cup—very important! I used Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 GF flour in the blue bag, canola oil, and Oatly oat milk.
I got six doughnuts out of the batch, baked for 11 minutes, and they were fluffy and had a nice crumb. So easy and quick to make, and sooo good. Thanks again!
Wendy Stoltz
Thanks Lisa, I am so glad you loved them!
Lisa
Hi Wendy,
Do you know if this recipe would work with all-purpose flour? I don’t need to bake gluten-free, as a rule, but I love these donuts and wonder if I could make them with regular white (wheat) flour.
Thanks for any thoughts on that!
Wendy Stoltz
Oh gosh Lisa, I have not tried it. I am hesitant to say yes.
Lisa
Understood. Thanks for the reply, Wendy!
Ryan Riley
Question! Every gluten free donut recipe I try, the tips puff up like a muffin...don't get me wrong, they're delicious and this recipe is amazing, but the tops are not donut shapes...has anyone had this issue?
Wendy Stoltz
Hi Ryan,
Over-mixing the batter can cause the donut tips to puff up like muffins. When you mix the batter too much, you incorporate more air into it, which can cause it to rise excessively. Try mixing it for less time, and I hope that works for you.