30-Minute Vegan Carrot Cake Donuts w/ Cream Cheese Icing + Toasted Pecans
Difficulty: 2/5 (5 being hardest)
Spice Level: 1/3 (3 being spiciest)
Prep & Cook Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 6
The Challenge: Carrot Cake Donuts
Donuts baby. Oh yes!
It is time for vegan donuts. So, I don't love sweets. I am not much of a baker. The one sweet treat I do enjoy is a hearty carrot cake. I was looking to turn carrot cake into something a bit more bite size - donuts seemed great.
I created a vegan donut recipe that combines the amazing carrot cake ingredients and then topped it with a delicious dairy-free cream cheese icing. On top of that, we dripped it with toasted pecans.
Damn, these turned out so tasty. The recipe is incredibly easy...only takes 25 minutes...and anyone can make these. An amazing after dinner treat or a delicious breakfast item for you to enjoy as a plant-based eater.
Donuts on Saturday morning...you got it!
Let's get into it.
Ingredients:
Carrot Cake Donuts
- 1 + 1/3 cup unbleached flour
- 1/3 cp brown sugar
- 1 + 1/3 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 cup vegan butter, melted + cooled
- 1.5 chia eggs (1.5 tbl chia meal + 4.5 tbl water)
- 2/3 cup dairy-free milk (almond or cashew preferred, unsweetened)
- 2/3 tsp vanilla extract
- 3/4 cups shredded carrots
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 3 oz vegan cream cheese
- 1.5 tsp veganbutter
- 1/3 cup confectioner's sugar
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp salt
Other
- 1/4 cup pecans, chopped
Equipment You'll Need:
Mixing Bowls . Donut Pan . Food Processor . Knife . Whisk
Before You Cook:
- Preheat oven to 350F
- Mix chia meal + water for chia eggs, set aside
- Use oil, vegan butter, or vegan shortening on donut pan to grease
- Melt vegan butter for donuts, set aside
1. Start by mixing together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg with a whisk in a large mixing bowl.
2. Next, whisk in the melted butter, chia egg, non-dairy milk, and vanilla extract.
3. Mix in shredded carrots into the batter. Whisk gently.
4. Fill the dough in a plastic bag and snip the corner of the bag. Squeeze the dough into your donut pan and fill each portion up so that it meets the edge. Don't overfill the pan as it will rise in baking.
5. Once filled, place the donuts in the oven and bake for 12-14 minutes (this varies on oven so watch closely) until the donut has firmed and started to brown slightly.
6. While the donut bakes, whisk together all the frosting ingredients in a seperate bowl.
7. Once the donuts are done in the oven, pull the pan. Flip it upside down and place on a cooling rack (hint..hint...you have one in your microwave. Let it sit for 3-4 minutes. Lift the pan off and gently cut out any donuts that are still stuck in the pan. Place on the cooling rack and let it cool for another few minutes.
8. While the donuts cool, throw the pecans into a dry pan over medium heat and warm for 5 minutes. Frost the donuts and then sprinkle with the pecans. Enjoy!
