Savory Herb Donuts with Cream Cheese “Glaze”
- Total Time: 32 mins
- Yield: 8-10 1x
Description
Who says donuts have to be dessert? Full of garlicy and herbaceous flavors these baked vegan donuts are a far cry from the sticky-sweet kind.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 large sage leaves, chopped
- 1 tsp chopped tarragon
- 1 tsp chopped basil
- 1 cup (240 ml) unsweetened coconut or almond milk
- 3 tbsp ground flax seeds
- 1 1/2 cups (360 ml) self rising flour
- 1 tsp sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt (or to taste)
- 1/2 tsp lemon pepper
- 4 tbsp (60 ml) grapeseed (or vegetable) oil
For the “Glaze’
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) garlic & chive flavored cream cheese alternative, at room temperature ( we use Go!Veggie)
- 1 tsp chopped tarragon
- 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tbsp water
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F. Coat the bottom of a donut pan with cooking spray
- In a large non-stick skillet, heat olive oil. Add garlic, sage, tarragon and basil and cook at medium heat for 1-2 minutes. Set aside
- Combine milk and ground flax in a bowl and set aside
- In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and lemon pepper. Add flax mixture, oil and herbs and mix until just incorporated (do to overmix!)
- Spoon batter into donut pan and bake at 400F for 20-22 minutes
- To prepare the “glaze”, whisk all the ingredients together until smooth and creamy. Spread over the cooled donuts
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 22 mins
- Category: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 donut
- Calories: 180
If You Liked This Recipe, You’ll Love These
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- Strawberry Basil Window Cookies
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Frequently Asked Questions
What makes these donuts vegan, and what replaces the egg?
Ground flax seeds mixed with 1 cup of unsweetened coconut or almond milk serve as the egg replacement. The 3 tablespoons of ground flax absorb the liquid and act as a binder, giving the batter structure without any dairy or eggs.
Why does the recipe use self-rising flour and still add baking powder?
Self-rising flour already contains leavening, but the recipe also adds 2 tsp of baking powder on top of it for extra lift in the baked donut pan — without yeast or eggs to help the batter rise. 
Does the cream cheese glaze need to be dairy-free too?
Yes — the recipe specifies a garlic and chive flavored cream cheese alternative (the ingredients note Go!Veggie as one option) to keep the donuts fully vegan. The glaze is whisked with 1 tsp tarragon, 1 tbsp lemon juice, and 1 tbsp water until smooth and spreadable.
