These paleo chocolate zucchini donuts taste rich and indulgent, but are gluten-free and refined sugar-free. They make a deliciously guilt-free breakfast (or dessert)!
Let’s do this Monday thing! Paleo donuts brighten even the ugliest of days. . .
Remember margarine? More specifically, remember when we were supposed to be eating margarine instead of butter?
I grew up in a margarine house; the first time I tasted real butter I didn’t actually know what it was and had to ask my mother why it tasted so much better than our regular “butter.”
She just laughed at me.
I don’t know how old I was when butter became acceptable but the fact that something that was so unhealthy for years is now something we’re allowed in our diets gives me hope that someday sugar will become acceptable again, too.
Like, maybe in 10 years we’ll all wake up and find out kombucha and coconut oil cause night blindness and we’re supposed to eat refined sugar because it’s good for ulcer prevention.
Really. Can you even imagine if candy were a health food?
Until that glorious day comes I will try to moderate my sugar intake. At least to an extent.
Fortunately, it’s totally possible to have treats that are indulgent but aren’t full of refined sugar.
Take these paleo chocolate zucchini donuts. They’re totally gluten free AND refined sugar-free. But they’re still totally decadent!
If I don’t miss the sugar I can almost promise you won’t either.
I’ve been eating these donuts for breakfast (and afternoon snacks, and dessert) since last week and they taste like they’re unhealthy but I don’t have that terrible sugar crash that accompanies a regular donut. I can totally live with that.
Oh and guess what? These are super easy to make. No messy deep frying or anything. Just mixing and baking. So simple!
My only regret is not buying a donut pan sooner so I could have been eating paleo chocolate zucchini donuts for the last year instead of the last week.
I have a lot of time to make up for.
Whether sugar is ever determined to be a health food or not, I will NOT abandon one of my favorite vices. (Gluten is tied with sugar for number one.) So worry not! My blog is not going paleo. I’ll be back Thursday with a delightfully sugary treat. But if you’re looking for something a bit more on the healthy side, check out these raw vanilla bean macaroons.
Enjoy your week!
Paleo chocolate zucchini donuts make a delicious guilt-free breakfast or snack!
- Donuts:
- 1 cup finely grated zucchini
- 2 eggs + 1 egg yolk at room temperature
- 6 tablespoons raw honey
- 1/4 cup coconut oil measured at room temp, then melted
- 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups blanched almond flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons coconut oil measured at room temperature, then melted
- 1/4 cup raw cacao powder
- 3 tablespoons full-fat coconut milk
- 2 tablespoon raw honey
- 1 1/2 teaspoons arrowroot powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Generously grease a 14-cavity donut pan with coconut oil. Set pan aside.
- Gently squeeze some of the liquid out of your zucchini—it doesn’t need to be completely dry. Place the zucchini, eggs, egg yolk, honey, coconut oil, lemon juice, and vanilla in a medium mixing bowl and stir until well combined.
- Combine the remaining donut ingredients in another medium mixing bowl and stir to combine. Add the zucchini mixture to the flour mixture and stir until zucchini is just incorporated (don’t over-mix or your donuts will end up oily).
- Divide the batter between the prepared donut cups. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the donuts comes out clean.
- Cool in pans for 15 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack to cool before glazing.
- Combine all ingredients in the top of a double boiler set over barely simmering water. Heat, whisking constantly, until mixture is smooth and has thickened slightly.
- Dip the donuts in the frosting or spread the frosting on top. Serve and enjoy.
Adapted from Paleo Desserts for Dummies
Velva says
I definitely remember when margarine ruled (sigh) It was more than 30 years before I kicked margarine out of the house and returned to butter. I have never looked back.
Your Paleo doughnuts look delightful. Who says you can’t enjoy doughnuts without all the refined sugar.
Thanks for sharing.
Velva
Kelsie says
Thank you Velva! I’m so glad you can relate to the margarine thing. Yuck 🙂
Kim | The Baking ChocolaTess says
As long as it tastes good it can be paleo all the way! I can absolutely live with these kinds of treats everyday and donuts to boot! 😀 Heck yes!!
Kelsie says
Totally agree! Healthy, not healthy, who cares? As long as it tastes good I’m in!
Alia | Everyday Easy Eats says
Kelsie, I love your headnotes for this recipe! “Like, maybe in 10 years we’ll all wake up and find out kombucha and coconut oil cause night blindness…” LOL 🙂 But in all seriousness, guilt-free sweets like these are the best! Great work!! 🙂
Kelsie says
Hahaha! Thank you Alia! Have a great rest of your week!
Kankana says
I too don’t know why am I not buying a donut pan yet. You totally motivated me 🙂 And zucchini donut, sounds less guilty pleasure too!
Kelsie says
Get one asap, Kankana! You’ll love it! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
marcie@flavorthemoments says
Do I ever remember margarine…bad memories mostly! Butter is so much better and I had no idea until late into my childhood. lol These donuts look delicious and I’m loving that chocolate frosting!
Kelsie says
I’m still scarred from those early margarine years :). Thank you Marcie!
Amy (Savory Moments) says
I really like that you added zucchini into these donuts! They look super yummy!
Kelsie says
Thank you so much, Amy!
evolvewithmary says
I’m a huge fan of zucchini baked goods, zucchini bread, zucchini muffins and now these paleo chocolate zucchini donuts. I’ve never made donuts but I’ve ate my fair share. I’m totally trying this recipe.
Kelsie says
Zucchini totally belongs in baked goods doesn’t it? It’s soooo good :). Hope you’re having a great week, Mary!
Carlee says
I want to live in your dream world with you? Feeling a little under the weather? Eat cheesecake! Need a cure for that headache? Have a mint chip ice cream sandwich! Have an ulcer? How about a cherry chip cupcake?! If we start rewriting wikipedia now we still have a shot! 😉
Kelsie says
Yes! Join me in my delusions! We have all the best desserts here in fantasyland :). I’ll get on the wikipedia thing stat. Have a great rest of your week, Carly!
Ben|Havocinthekitchen says
When I saw the first pics, I immediately thought “Well, Kelsie created another decadent deliciousness!” I was quite surprised that still being decadent, these donuts are a healthier version too (You see, you’ve got a notorious reputation when it comes to desserts haha). Very nicely done!
Kelsie says
Haha! I’m secretly glad for that reputation :). Thank you Ben!
Emma says
I grew up in a butter household and I am so glad that I did, you know I am a great believer in a little of everything is fine. I have butter, cream, sugar and chocolate in my diet. I don’t eat a ton of it and only indulge at times like Christmas. But I think all these things can be part of a healthy well balanced diet. I met a French doctor once who was horrified at us Brits for eating things like margarine. He couldn’t understand why we didn’t like butter as it was a natural fat our bodies were designed to break down where as margarine was artificial and nasty! I agree with him, a little now and again is a healthy relationship with food. I must admit these donuts of yours do look fab 😉
Kelsie says
Totally agree with that doctor. The French definitely know their butter! Thank you Emma :). Hope you’re having a great week!
Katherine | Love In My Oven says
Congratulations on your donut pan!! It’s life changing 😉 We totally grew up in a margarine house too – my Mom still bakes almost exclusively with it. I’m crossing my fingers that refined sugars will become healthy!! These look great Kels! All the zucchini in all the baking!!!
Kelsie says
I’m so glad you feel my pain! We should get our moms together–they must have a lot in common! Thank you Katherine :). Hope you’re having a great week, my dear!
hummingbirdthyme says
This recipe will come in handy for my gluten-free sugar-avoiding friends. (I’m happily on your side of the fence!). But they look so indulgent and decadent they must be delish!
Kelsie says
I like our side of the fence much better :). But paleo recipes definitely come in handy sometimes!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
I remember when margarine was a thing, but we never had any in our house… at least not to my recollection. But I do remember seeing it a friends house and thinking it looked weird. 😉 Annnywho, DONUTS! YES! And healthy donuts at that! Wahoooo! These can definitely solve at least a few of my Monday blues! Cheers, friend!
Kelsie says
You’re lucky! That stuff is just wrong. Donuts cure ALLLLL the Monday problems :). Hope you’re having a great week, Chey!
annie@ciaochowbambina says
Guilt-free breakfast in the form of a donut….I’m in!! Delicious!!
Kelsie says
Thank you Annie!
Deepika|TheLoveOfCakes says
You have hidden zucchini in those drool-worthy donuts!!Who are u? Genius :*! I love that glossy thick creamy chocolate frosting. So yum!
Kelsie says
Thank you so much, Deepika!
Kelly @ Kelly Lynn's Sweets and Treats says
Yay for healthy donuts!! And when they proclaim candy a health food, I’ll be right there next to you to celebrate (next to a mound of candy wrappers of course) hahahaha. Have a great week! Xoxo 🙂
Kelsie says
Hahaha! One of these days we’ll get there, Kelly! Have a great rest of your week!
Milena | Craft Beering says
These sound so delicious even without the frosting. I can see myself just using mascarpone cheese and a honey drizzle in lieu of it (in case I’m rushing or something). But I definitely would like to try them with the chocolate glazing. I love that it is all home made and I’m interested in using the arrowhead root powered as a thickener, never have before.
I believe that as long as we don’t consume excessive amounts of sugar daily and we properly detox after the days we consumer sugar it is OK.I know, I know it is a negative food, robs you of more nutrients than it brings (since it brings none really:)…So I automatically tune out any opinions to the contrary, lol.
Kelsie says
They’d be awesome with mascarpone! I agree with you about sugar; I’ll never believe that eating it in moderation is a bad thing :). Have a great rest of your week, Milena!
thebakingskillet says
In India, butter was such a luxury that’s why now my fridge and freezer is full of butter. lol! If the world ends tomorrow I will go down with my butter supply! ALso I love your imagination and I hope our dreams of sugar suddenly becoming super food come true although I won’t complain too much if I get to eat these donuts. They look delish!
Kelsie says
Hahaha! I’m going to start telling people my stock of butter is in case the apocalypse comes. Thank you so much, Jenny! Hope you’re having a lovely week my dear!
David | Spiced says
Wait. Kombucha and coconut oil cause night blindness!? I knew it! I’m ditching all of the kombucha and coconut oil in my pantry right now. Oh wait. I don’t have any kombucha and coconut oil in my pantry. Haha! (But I do have sugar and a nice, new bag of gluten!) Anyhoo, I also have a ton of zucchini out in the garden and these doughnuts sound amazing. I could definitely get on board with these!
Kelsie says
Haha! I like to keep a nice stock of gluten around too :). I’m so jealous you’re growing your own zucchini! I can’t make anything grow. Except Cookie. Hope you’re having a great week, David!
Dawn @ Girl Heart Food says
I love butter! Yep. Butter. And there’s nothing like the smell of butter melting….mmmmmmm!! I don’t know much about paleo, but I do know that these would be a lovely way to start the day. And, considering that they are on the healthier side, I have no problem eating two 🙂 !! Have a great week, Kelsie!!
Kelsie says
TOTALLY AGREE! Butter is basically the best thing ever! Thank you Dawn! You have a great week too, my dear!