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    Home » Gluten Free » Fried Coconut Flour Donuts – Low Carb and Gluten-Free

    Published: Sep 27, 2013 · Modified: May 7, 2018 by Carolyn

    Fried Coconut Flour Donuts – Low Carb and Gluten-Free

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    30.3K shares
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    Low Carb Coconut Flour Donuts have real fried donut flavour. Grain-free and gluten-free, this homemade fried donuts recipe makes the best sugar free donuts I’ve ever eaten.

    a stack of fried coconut flour donuts topped with shredded coconut

    I am about to toot my own horn here.  You ready for this?  You might want to stand back, it’s going to be a bit loud.  Cover your ears!

    YIPPEE, I MADE FRIED COCONUT FLOUR DONUTS!  Sorry about the all caps, but it needed to be done.  I needed to shout a little bit, because coconut flour is such a tricky ingredient and getting it to fry up without disintegrating in the oil is a sweet little accomplishment for me.  And by sweet, I  mean sweet with that real fried donut flavour.  Baked donuts are all very well and good and I love them, but this homemade fried donuts recipe is everything a donut should be.

    And I am very thankful for whoever invented the donut pan, as it allows us home cooks to easily whip up baked donuts for breakfast.  But let’s face it…baked donuts are really donut-shaped muffins or cupcakes. As a general rule, I am okay with that. It’s really a lovely thing to have another shape for my muffins and my cupcakes, especially since they delight my kids so much.  Somehow, being circular with a hole in the middle makes those donut muffins that much more exciting to my kids.

    Gluten-Free Coconut Flour Donuts

    Fried Coconut Flour Donuts

    But fried donuts are another creature altogether.  They have an intensity that is unrivaled by other baked goods, by virtue of the fact that they are fried. In fat. And in my world, that’s a very good thing.  A healthy thing, assuming you are using quality oils and not yucky processed or hydrogenated stuff. Quality oils will soak beautifully into fried donuts, giving them a deeper, more satisfying flavour.  And they will be good for you too, as long as they are not full of sugar and other carbs. They will keep you full longer, give you more energy and increase your good cholesterol.  All that from a fried donuts recipe?  You bet.

    But here’s the tricky part.  Almond flour and coconut flour don’t really lend themselves well to being cooked in oil.  Lacking the magical binding properties of gluten, things made with almond or coconut flour tend to simply disintegrate when subjected to hot oil.  I’ve tried it before, and ended up with a pan of oil and a lot of little bits floating around. Fried coconut flour crumbs don’t quite have the caché of fried coconut donuts, do they?  Plus I wasn’t ever sure how to get a nice round donut with a hole in the middle without special equipment. But my solution to this was rather brilliant, if I do say so myself.

    several low carb donuts topped with shredded coconut stacked on a plate

    I baked them first and THEN I fried them.  Yup. These coconut flour donuts are baked and fried, and they’re awesome. This way, they hold their round, lovely shape, they soak in some lovely, healthy oil, and they taste phenomenal.  It’s an extra step, but it’s so worth it!

    PS – I highly recommend using the Wilton Non-stick Donut Pan. I had a cheaper one, with smaller cavities, and it’s non-stick ability wore off quite quickly.  My kids bought the Wilton version for me for Mother’s Day and it’s been a treat to use. Treat it kindly so it keeps non-sticking for a while! I help my donuts release by inserting a thin rubber spatula between the donuts and the pan, and I always clean it with a soft cloth.

    Looking for more tasty donut recipes? These Gluten-Free Cinnamon Sugar Donuts from Gluten-Free Palate and these maple-bacon doughnuts from It’s Yummi look amazing. They are not low carb, but I bet the recipes could be adapted!

    a stack of gluten-free fried donuts made with coconut flour sitting on a plate

    Fried Coconut Flour Donuts – Low Carb and Gluten-Free

    These low carb coconut flour donuts have real fried donut flavour. Grain-free and gluten-free. Get the recipe here!
    4 from 24 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Servings: 10 medium donuts
    Calories: 153kcal

    Ingredients

    Donuts:

    • ½ cup coconut flour
    • ¼ cup Swerve Sweetener or other erythritol
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 4 large eggs
    • ¼ cup coconut oil melted
    • ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla
    • ¼ teaspoon stevia
    • Oil for frying coconut, grapeseed, etc.

    Coating:

    • ¼ cup unsweetened shredded coconut lightly toasted
    • ¼ cup powdered Swerve Sweetener or other powdered erythritol

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 325F and grease a donut pan well.
    • In a large bowl, whisk together the coconut flour, sweetener, baking powder and salt.
    • Stir in eggs, coconut oil, almond milk, vanilla and stevia until well combined and batter is smooth.
    • Fill wells in donut pan about ⅔ full (you will have leftover batter and will need to do another batch).
    • Bake about 16 minutes, or until set and just barely brown around the edges. Remove from oven and let cool 5 minutes in the pan, then flip out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with remaining batter (I got 10 donuts out of my pan).
    • In a large skillet, add oil so it is about ½ inch deep. Heat over medium heat.
    • While oil is heating, combine toasted coconut and powdered sweetener in a medium bowl.
    • Once the oil is hot, add 5 or 6 donuts to the pan. Flip after 1 to 2 minutes (they brown quickly), and cook the other side another minute or so. Remove from the pan and quickly dip each side in the coconut coating, pressing lightly to adhere.
    • Let cool slightly on wire rack (they are really good warm out of the oil!).

    Notes

    Serves 10. Each serving has 7 g of carbs and 4 g of fiber. Total NET CARBS = 3 g.
    153 Calories; 13g Fat (76.5% calories from fat); 2g Protein; 7g Carbohydrate; 4g Dietary Fiber; 0mg Cholesterol; 143mg Sodium
    Nutrition Facts
    Fried Coconut Flour Donuts – Low Carb and Gluten-Free
    Amount Per Serving (1 g)
    Calories 153 Calories from Fat 117
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 13g20%
    Sodium 143mg6%
    Carbohydrates 7g2%
    Fiber 4g16%
    Protein 2g4%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    30.3K shares

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    Nutritional Disclaimer

    Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.

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    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Sabine says

      June 09, 2016 at 9:26 am

      One word: perfection!

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        June 09, 2016 at 9:39 am

        Well, that’s nice to hear!

        Reply
    2. Rebecca Haen says

      May 16, 2016 at 3:18 pm

      Thanks so much, I really miss the doughnuts my mother used to make. The smell of yeast bread and treats is always a reminder of home. True comfort food. I wonder if I couldn’t add a little yeast and honey to this recipe keeping it just as low carb because the yeast would eat the sugar…..?

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        May 16, 2016 at 5:36 pm

        I have no idea but it’s worth a shot.

        Reply
    3. Bonbon says

      April 02, 2016 at 10:16 am

      Hi Carolyn, can you please tell if if you meant powdered or liquid stevia. Can you please also tell me what the equivalent for this in Swerve might be in case I want to sub in Swerve? Looking forward to having my first lowcarb donut!!

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        April 02, 2016 at 10:25 am

        It was liquid stevia and you can use another 1/4 cup of Swerve in its place.

        Reply
    4. Sondra says

      March 22, 2016 at 3:43 pm

      This recipe was awful for me. The batter was fine but once they cooked they were stuck inside the silicon mold despite oiling. They also had a muffin-like consistency which I hoped would go away with frying in oil…nope. The best part about a donut is the amazing chewy texture! Mine were sort of a greasy crisp on the outside and muffin on the inside. Total failure!!!!!

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        March 23, 2016 at 5:49 am

        I’m sorry you found that it didn’t work out. I always use metal donut pans so maybe the silicone was part of the problem when they stuck.

        Reply
    5. April says

      October 04, 2015 at 4:21 pm

      Oh MY! Genius! I have terribly missed my favorite D.D. Sour Cream donuts, which definitely have a crispy outside. The chocolate donuts I’ve baked are delicious…but like you said, they are basically a muffin, or brownie, with a hole. 🙂

      I can’t wait to try these and will add some nutmeg to be more like my “favorite”. I’m sure you have saved me from falling off the wagon. My vacation trip always included 2 sour cream donuts; so when I leave in 2 weeks…I won’t have to buy those. 🙂

      Thank you!

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        October 05, 2015 at 8:34 am

        So glad to help!

        Reply
    6. GaelachAingeal says

      September 19, 2015 at 2:39 pm

      These came out fabulous! I made a chocolate ganache from sugar free chocolate chips, heavy cream and a tad of vanilla extract. Thank you!

      Reply
    7. rosalyn says

      June 03, 2015 at 10:54 am

      Wow…i just baked these….totally awesome…and i didn’t even put a topping on yet…. the BEST donut recipe i have found, just the perfect consistency…..not eggy like others i tried….THANK YOU!

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        June 03, 2015 at 2:24 pm

        So glad to hear it!

        Reply
    8. Deb says

      May 25, 2015 at 4:45 pm

      Are they good just baked? I have an electric donut baker just sitting here collecting dust! Now I can make donuts again!!!! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        May 25, 2015 at 5:25 pm

        Sure,they are delicious just baked. You may want to bake them a touch longer to get them browner.

        Reply
    9. shirley says

      May 11, 2015 at 7:20 pm

      Hi Carolyn,

      I love the idea of frying the donuts after baking, but I don’t like coconut flour and coconut oil, how do I substitute with almond flour and butter? Thanks!

      Reply
    10. Diane says

      April 29, 2015 at 8:08 am

      Nut allergy here! Can I substitute 10% or higher cream for the almond milk?

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        April 29, 2015 at 8:25 am

        Do half cream and half water so it isn’t too thick.

        Reply
    11. Dave Anderson says

      April 13, 2015 at 12:57 pm

      Thanks for this recipe! I’ve made these twice now and they’ve been delicious both times. I added some cinnamon to the second batch and did a Swerve/cinnamon topping for them.

      Reply
    12. Cheryl says

      April 12, 2015 at 12:01 pm

      This is my first attempt ever at making donuts. They are so yummy! I mixed up some of your browned butter icing, dipped the donuts in it and then in the toasted coconut. I will be making these again. Wondering if I can save the coconut oil and use it again? Thanks!

      Reply
    13. Kate says

      March 28, 2015 at 8:45 am

      Carolyn,

      Another outstanding treat !

      I have been a low-carber since Atkin’s book first came out, and the variety of commercial foods, recipes and techniques have REALLY come a LONG way over the decades. Your site is altogether another animal. You have the greatest recipes, (from breakfast to treats !!), lovely images, wonderful blogging talents and an infectious joy for all things low carb. I just want to thank you from myself and my family. You have been the best contributor to me being able to finally “convert” my family to this much healthier WOE, and I can’t thank you enough. It likely saved my age 50’s, former pre-diabetic husband from a terrible disease.

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        March 28, 2015 at 9:28 am

        Thank you so much, Kate! Your words are so nice, I truly appreciate that you took the time to tell me.

        Reply
    14. Amy says

      March 18, 2015 at 1:11 pm

      Cannot buy “swerve.” What can we use as a substitute? Honey?

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        March 18, 2015 at 6:28 pm

        This recipe is designed for non-nutritive sweeteners like erythritol and xylitol. Honey will not work.

        Reply
    15. Lisa says

      February 21, 2015 at 3:46 pm

      I made these today. AMAZING!!!!! I only had medium eggs on hand, (they were more like between medium and large) so I used 1 extra. Also, I used whole milk since I didn’t have any almond milk on hand. I also do not have a donut pan, but I do have a cake pop pan that makes 18 cake pops. This recipe perfectly filled my 18 cake pops / donut holes. I heated my coconut oil in a large skillet and used a toothpick to roll them around until they were nicely browned, transferred them to a plate. I then poured the oil from the skillet in a small glass bowl and added some powdered swerve in it to make a glaze and rolled each donut in it. These were a huge hit at my house with my kiddo and hubby as well. YUMM! Thanks so much for the recipe!!

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        February 21, 2015 at 9:11 pm

        Glad you liked them!

        Reply
    16. Gary says

      September 30, 2014 at 8:07 am

      grapeseed is a unhealthy oil. I would recomend palm oil

      Reply
      • Diane says

        April 29, 2015 at 8:13 am

        I try to avoid palm oil. Think of the orangutans. 🙁 I’d opt for the coconut oil!

        Reply
    17. Kathleen says

      September 04, 2014 at 7:58 am

      I made these last week and they tasted Wonderful!
      I didn’t want to waste coconut oil, so I used a small stainless steel sauce pan and fried them one by one. (The oil did get darker over time and so did the donuts.) Even frying them one by one, and then dipping them immediately in the coconut and powdered Swerve mixture, I found only a small amount of the coconut would stick to the donut and that most fell off. This didn’t matter as a little goes a long way with the Swerve and we just put a little of the coconut back on before eating. I think next time I will try to make a glaze with the Swerve and it may help keep the coconut on the donut.
      Thanks for the recipe! You are awesome Carolyn!

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        September 04, 2014 at 8:05 am

        It is tricky, getting the coating to stick, I agree.

        Reply
    18. Kelly says

      July 09, 2014 at 7:09 pm

      I was planning on making these the night before serving. How long do they keep and what way is best to store them?

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        July 10, 2014 at 10:29 am

        They are really best fresh but will keep for 2 days or so.

        Reply
    19. Jen says

      June 28, 2014 at 11:02 am

      Hi! Just wondering how the texture of these comes out? Are they like the typical airy fried donuts you get at a bakery, or are they cake-y like most baked donuts? Either way, thank you for the recipe!! 🙂

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        June 29, 2014 at 1:40 pm

        They are more liked baked donuts.

        Reply
    20. Barefootess says

      June 06, 2014 at 5:47 pm

      These are great! I followed the recipe for the batter exactly, except I baked them in a mini muffin pan. Then when they were out and cool, I tossed them with a little butter and splenda/cinnamon! Amazing!

      Reply
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