These easy vegan donut holes are deep-fried to perfection and then dusted with cinnamon and sugar for the classic old-fashioned donut flavor in every bite.

Vegan cinnamon and sugar donut holes on a blue plate with cinnamon sticks in the background.

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Why make this recipe

These donut holes taste like the small-batch donuts you may find in an old country store or specialty donut shop. With just a few simple everyday ingredients, you can make delicious homemade vegan donuts that everyone will love! They also work perfectly with gluten-free flour!

Donut holes are so much easier to make than traditional-shaped donuts, plus the bite-sized holes are the perfect size.

Ingredients and substitutions

  • Flour – you can use all-purpose flour or any grain-based gluten-free flour mix.
  • Sugar – organic, cane sugar, or any granulated vegan sugar will work.
  • Baking Powder – this makes the donuts expand and creates the perfect texture.
  • Salt – for flavor.
  • Nutmeg – for flavor. (optional) My great-grandmother always put nutmeg in her donuts, and it was that added something that made them special.
  • Plant-Based Milk – you can use soy milk, almond milk, oat milk, or any other plant-based milk that you want.
  • Oil – for frying. You can use any neutral-flavored oil that you want.
  • Cinnamon and Sugar – for coating the donuts. You can also use powdered sugar instead to make powdered donuts.

Helpful tools

  • A small saucepan – for frying the donut holes. (You can also use a deep fryer if you have one.)
  • A cookie scoop – to shape the dough into small round balls.
  • Thermometer – to ensure the correct frying temperature.
  • Tongs – to remove the donut holes from the oil.
  • A paper bag – to coat the donut holes with cinnamon and sugar.

How to make vegan donut holes

A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.

Step 1 – In a heavy pot or saucepan, heat 2 inches of oil over medium-high heat until the oil reaches 375 degrees.

Step 2 – In a brown paper lunch bag, mix the sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.

Step 3 – While the oil is heating, prepare the donut dough by mixing the dry ingredients in a small bowl, then adding the wet ingredients to the dry and stirring until combined. (Don’t overmix.)

Dry ingredients to make vegan donut holes.
Measure the dry ingredients.
The wet ingredients added to the dry to make vegan donut holes.
Add the wet ingredients.
A cookie scoop measuring out dough to make donut holes.
Mix and then measure a small ball to drop in the hot oil.

Step 4 – Measure about 3/4 of a cookie scoop of dough (about 1 tablespoon) and drop it into the hot oil.

Step 5 – Use tongs to turn it until it’s evenly golden brown on all sides, then remove it from the hot oil with tongs and drop it into the bag of cinnamon and sugar.

Step 6 – Shake the bag until the donut hole is coated, then set it on a serving dish.

Step 7 – Repeat until all the dough has been used. They are best served warm.

Pro Tips

  • Your donut holes will double in size when fried, so be sure to use only half the dough of the desired size donut that you wish to make.
  • The temperature of the frying oil is key to a great donut. Use a thermometer to ensure that the oil is 375°F. You want the donut hole to turn golden brown after about 1 minute in the oil. If it cooks too quickly, the inside will remain raw. If it cooks too slowly, the donut hole will be greasy.
  • If you don’t have a thermometer, add a small amount of batter to the oil. It should bubble quickly, then the bubbles will die down, and it should turn golden after about 45 seconds in the oil.

Storage

These donut holes taste best when they are eaten soon after frying. You can store them in a paper bag on the countertop for up to 24 hours, but they taste best hot.

A close up of a plate filled with vegan cinnamon and sugar donut holes.

More vegan breakfast ideas

Vegan donut hole recipe

A blue plate filled with vegan cinnamon and sugar donut holes.
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5 from 1 rating

Vegan Donut Holes (with Cinnamon and Sugar)

Yield: 8
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
Author: Monica Davis
Classic tasting old-fashioned cinnamon and sugar donut holes.
Print Leave a Review Pin Recipe

Ingredients

donut holes

  • 1 cup flour, (gluten-free flour works well too.)
  • 3 tablespoons vegan sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, (optional)
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 cup plant milk, (soy, almond, oat, or any other you wish)
  • oil for frying*, (2 inches deep in your pan)

cinnamon sugar coating

  • 1/4 cup vegan sugar, (or organic powdered sugar)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions
 

  • In a heavy pot or saucepan, heat 2 inches of oil over medium-high heat until the oil reaches 375 degrees.
  • In a brown paper lunch bag, mix together sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.
  • While the oil is heating, prepare the donut dough by mixing the dry ingredients in a small bowl, then adding the wet ingredients to the dry and stirring until combined. (Don't overmix.)
  • Measure about 3/4 of a cookie scoop of dough (about 1 tbsp) and drop it into the hot oil.
  • Use tongs to turn it until it's evenly golden brown on all sides.
  • Remove it from the hot oil with tongs and drop it into the bag of cinnamon and sugar.
  • Shake the bag until the donut hole is coated, then set it on a serving dish.
  • Repeat until all the dough has been used. They are best served warm.

Notes

    • Your donut holes will double in size when fried, so be sure to use only half the dough of the desired size donut that you wish to make.
    • The temperature of the frying oil is key to a great donut. Use a thermometer to ensure that the oil is 375°F. You want the donut hole to turn golden brown after about 1 minute in the oil. If it cooks too quickly, the inside will remain raw. If it cooks too slowly, the donut hole will be greasy.
    • If you don’t have a thermometer, add a small amount of batter to the oil. It should bubble quickly, then the bubbles will die down, and it should turn golden after about 45 seconds in the oil.
Serving: 2donut holes, Calories: 187kcal, Carbohydrates: 26g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 0.02g, Sodium: 299mg, Potassium: 160mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 12g, Vitamin A: 59IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 110mg, Iron: 1mg
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