When it comes to donuts, we all know how much i love to bake them. I’m constantly trying to make the best batch better than the last, and these were no exception.

These were definitely an experiment, and i had no idea how they’d come out, but HOLY MOLY THEY ARE SO GOOD.

Winter is citrus season, and we just had our local mandarin festival last weekend. So i was inspired by all the orange and mandarin trees everywhere up here in Northern California for these orange + vanilla creamsicle donuts…and i made two recipe variations; one vegan and gluten free and one healthy(ish) version…

Orange Vanilla Creamsicle Donuts 🍩🍊

Donut Ingredients:

• 1 cup organic whole wheat flour
• 1 1/2 Bobs Red Mill 1:1 gluten free baking flour
• 3 organic and free range eggs
• 2 tablespoons Chosen Foods avocado + coconut oil blend
• Zest of three organic oranges
• 1 cup organic orange juice
• 2 teaspoons organic vanilla extract
• 1 cup organic coconut sugar
• 1/2 cup organic sugar (optional) or just add more coconut sugar, 100% pure maple syrup, or honey
• 1 teaspoon organic vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon organic salt
• 1 tablespoon organic no hormone ghee, softened to room temp
• 1/4 cup organic unsweetened almond, cashew, or coconut milk
• 2 tablespoons baking powder
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• Sprayable coconut oil

Frosting Ingredients:

• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon organic vanilla
• Juice from one organic orange
• Optional: 4 drops artificial coloring free red + yellow food dyes
• Optional: 1/2 teaspoon orange zest

Candied Orange Ingredients:

• 1 organic orange
• 1/2 teaspoon organic vanilla
• 1 cup organic granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons raw, local honey
• 2 tablespoons 100% pure maple syrup

Orange Vanilla Creamsicle Donut Directions:

1. Make candied oranges first (see below for Directions)
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
3. Add all dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl and mix together
4. In another large mixing bowl, add all wet ingredients, including eggs and ghee and mix until smooth
5. Add wet and dry ingredients together and blend until batter-like consistency forms
6. Spray donut pan with coconut oil
7. Distribute batter into donut pans. Add about halfway up the donut mold (it’s less than you’d think, as they puff up really tall!)
8. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes depending on your oven
9. When a toothpick comes out clean, remove from oven and let cool
10. Remove donuts from mold and let cool on baking racks for 30 minutes
11. Make frosting (Directions below) while you wait for donuts to cool
12. Optional: add artificial coloring-free and dye-free sprinkles
13. Frost donuts with glaze and decorate with sprinkles and candied oranges!

Frosting Directions:

1. Add powdered sugar to a large mixing bowl
2. Add freshly squeezed orange juice
3. Add vanilla
4. Mix until thick. If frosting is too runny, add more OJ. If too thin, add more powdered sugar.

Candied Orange Slices’ Directions:

• Slice one organic orange into slices
• In a large saucepan, add 3 cups water, 2 tablespoons of local, raw honey, 2 tablespoons of organic maple syrup, and 1 cup of organic sugar
• Add water + sugar + honey + syrup to large saucepan and turn burner on high
• Mix everything together until sugar is melted
• Once boiling, add orange slices
• Reduce heat and simmer on low for 35 minutes
• Remove oranges by pouring them careful into a strainer
• Place on parchment paper and let dry for about 30 minutes or so

Vegan and Gluten Free Orange Vanilla Creamsicle Donuts 🍩🍊

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups Bobs Red Mill 1:1 gluten free baking flour
• 3 flax eggs or 3/4 cup organic applesauce
• 2 tablespoons Chosen Foods avocado + coconut oil blend
• Zest of three organic oranges
• 1 cup organic orange juice
• 2 teaspoons organic vanilla extract
• 1 cup organic coconut sugar
• 1/2 cup organic sugar (optional) or just add more coconut sugar, 100% pure maple syrup, or honey
• 1 teaspoon organic vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon organic salt
• 1 tablespoon organic vegan/dairy-free butter (or just add 1 extra table spoon of oil)
• 4 cup organic unsweetened almond, cashew, or coconut milk
• 2 tablespoons baking powder
• 1 tablespoon baking soda

Frosting Ingredients:

• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon organic vanilla
• Juice from one organic orange
• Optional: 4 drops artificial coloring free red + yellow food dyes
• Optional: 1/2 teaspoon organic orange zest (about 1/2 orange)

Candied Orange Ingredients:

• 1 organic orange
• 1/2 teaspoon organic vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups organic granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons 100% pure maple syrup

Donut Directions:

1. Make candied oranges first (see below for Directions)
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
3. Add all dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl and mix together
4. In another large mixing bowl, add all wet ingredients, including applesauce and vegan butter and mix until smooth
5. Add wet and dry ingredients together and blend until batter-like consistency forms
6. Spray donut pan with coconut oil
7. Distribute batter into donut pans. Add about halfway up the donut mold (it’s less than you’d think, as they puff up really tall!)
8. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes depending on your oven
9. When a toothpick comes out clean, remove from oven and let cool
10. Remove donuts from mold and let cool on baking racks for 30 minutes
11. Make frosting (Directions below) while you wait for donuts to cool
12. Optional: add artificial coloring-free and dye-free sprinkles
13. Frost donuts with glaze and decorate with sprinkles and candied oranges!

Candied Orange Slices’ Directions:

• Slice one organic orange into slices
• In a large saucepan, add 3 cups water, 2 tablespoons of organic maple syrup, and 1 1/2 cups of organic sugar
• Add water + sugar + honey + syrup to large saucepan and turn burner on high
• Mix everything together until sugar is melted
• Once boiling, add orange slices
• Reduce heat and simmer on low for 35 minutes
• Remove oranges by pouring them careful into a strainer
• Place on parchment paper and let dry for about 30 minutes or so