I’ve always been a huge fan of homemade donuts, and this vegan donut recipe is one of my favorites to make! These soft and fluffy donuts are filled with a creamy coconut custard that adds just the right amount of richness. The combo of the fluffy, golden donuts rolled in cinnamon sugar and the luscious custard filling is simply irresistible!
This recipe has been kindly sponsored by Nature's Charm.
This donut recipe is perfect for anyone who loves experimenting with vegan recipes, and it's easy to prepare, if you follow the steps in detail. It als brings you that classic donut flavor with the delicious twist of vanilla custard. Trust me, the effort is worth it when you bite into one of these warm, homemade donuts.
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❤️ What's Great About this Recipe
- 🌱 It's vegan-friendly and uses only plant-based ingredients.
- 🥥 The donuts are filled with creamy Nature's Charm Coconut Custard for a rich flavor!
- 🕒 The recipe is detailed with easy-to-follow steps.
- 🍩 The donuts are soft, fluffy, and golden brown - everything you'd want in perfect homemade donuts!
- 🌟 Great for sharing!
🌱 Ingredients & Notes
Here is everything you need for this recipe:
- Self-raising flour - This helps your donuts rise and stay fluffy. If you don’t have self-raising flour, you can use all-purpose flour with baking powder as a substitute.
- Active dry yeast - Essential for making the dough rise. Make sure it’s fresh and not expired for the best results.
- Caster sugar - Used for sweetness in the dough and for coating at the end. Coconut sugar can be a good swap if you prefer.
- Plant milk - Almond milk, soy milk, or oat milk all work here. Use lukewarm milk to activate the yeast properly.
- Sweetened Condensed Coconut Milk - Adds a richness flavor to the donuts.
- Vegan butter - Melted vegan butter keeps the dough soft and adds a buttery flavor. Coconut oil can be used as an alternative.
- Flaxseeds - Mixed with water, these replace eggs and help bind the dough. They’re a great option for vegan recipes.
- Fine salt - Balances the sweetness and enhances the overall flavor of the donuts.
- Vanilla extract - Adds a subtle sweetness and warm flavor. Opt for a good-quality extract if possible.
- Ground cinnamon - Combined with sugar, it’s used to coat the donuts for a classic finish. Feel free to adjust the amount to taste.
- Nature’s Charm Coconut Custard - This is used as a filling for the donuts. It's ultra divine!
- Vegetable oil - Needed for deep frying. Use a neutral oil like sunflower or canola for the best results.
Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for detailed quantities and measurements.
🔪 Equipment
Here is all the equipment you need to make this recipe:
- Mixing bowls - You'll need a large one for the dough and a separate one for the wet ingredients.
- Measuring cups and spoons - Accurate measurements are key for the perfect dough.
- Wire whisk - For mixing the wet ingredients evenly.
- Stand mixer or hand mixer (optional) - Makes kneading easier, but you can do it by hand too.
- Rolling pin - To roll out the dough evenly.
- Round cutter - A 3-inch round cutter works best for shaping the donuts.
- Parchment paper - Keeps the donuts from sticking to the baking sheets.
- Baking sheets - For placing the donuts during the second rise.
- Plastic wrap or clean kitchen towel - To cover the dough while it rises.
- Deep frying thermometer - Keeps the oil at the perfect frying temperature (180°C/350°F).
- Deep fryer or heavy-bottomed pot - Choose a pot deep enough to safely fry the donuts.
- Slotted spoon or frying spider - For flipping and removing the donuts from the oil.
- Paper towels - To drain excess oil after frying.
- Wire Rack - To let the donuts cool down after frying.
- Piping bag with a long tip - Essential for filling the donuts with custard.
🧑🍳 Instructions (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Prepare Flax Mixture
Mix flaxseeds with water and let thicken for 10 minutes.
Step 2: Activate Yeast
Combine lukewarm plant milk, yeast, and sugar. Let sit until frothy.
Step 3: Mix Ingredients
In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, mix wet ingredients, including the flax mixture.
Step 4: Form Dough
Add wet ingredients to the dry mixture. Knead until smooth and soft.
Step 5: First Rise
Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise until doubled.
Step 6: Shape Donuts
Roll dough to 1-inch thickness. Cut into rounds and place on a baking sheet.
Step 7: Second Rise
Cover dough rounds and let rise again for 30 minutes.
Step 8: Fry Donuts
Heat oil to 180°C/350°F. Fry donuts until golden brown on both sides.
Step 9: Coat and Fill
Roll warm donuts in cinnamon sugar. Once cooled, fill with coconut custard using a piping bag.
Useful tip: Use a thermometer to heat the cooking oil to exactly 180°C/350°F!
📌 If you love Pinterest you can pin any of the images to your boards!
🍽️ Serving
Serve the donuts fresh for the best flavor and texture! Pair them with a cup of coffee or tea or enjoy them as a fun dessert after a meal.
❄️ Storage
Store leftover donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
For longer storage, keep them in the fridge for up to a week.
To reheat, pop them in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or warm them in the oven at a low temperature for a few minutes. This will help bring back their softness. Avoid reheating the custard-filled donuts for too long, as the filling can get too hot.
💡 Expert Tips & Tricks
Here are some extra tips for you to make these vegan donuts successfully at home:
- Use a Thermometer: Keeping the oil at the right temperature (180°C/350°F) is crucial. This ensures the donuts cook evenly without becoming greasy or burning. A thermometer is the best way to monitor this.
- Choose the Right Oil: Use a neutral oil like sunflower or canola for frying. These oils have a high smoke point and won’t overpower the flavor of the donuts.
- Don’t Skip the Second Rise: Allowing the dough to rise a second time after shaping is key to achieving light and airy donuts. Be patient and don’t rush this step.
- Roll Evenly: When rolling out the dough, aim for consistent thickness to ensure all donuts fry evenly. Uneven dough can lead to some being undercooked or overcooked.
- Avoid Overcrowding: Fry only a few donuts at a time to maintain the oil temperature. Overcrowding the fryer or pot can lower the heat and result in soggy donuts.
- Cool Before Filling: Let the donuts cool completely before filling them with custard. Filling them while warm may cause the custard to melt and become messy.
- Proper Dough Consistency: The dough should be soft but not sticky. If it’s too sticky, add a little flour, one tablespoon at a time. If it feels dry, add plant milk a teaspoon at a time until the texture is right.
- Test the Yeast: Ensure your yeast is fresh and active before starting. If the mixture doesn’t become frothy when activated, the yeast might be expired or the liquid too hot or cold.
- Work in a Warm Environment: Yeast dough rises best in a warm, draft-free spot. If your kitchen is cool, you can use an oven with the light on or place the bowl near a warm appliance.
Did you make this recipe? If so, will you do me a huge favor and leave a review and star rating & let me know how you liked this recipe? THANK YOU! ❤️
🔜 Related Recipes
If you enjoyed this vegan donut recipe, you might want to try my Vegan Bread Pudding for a cozy dessert or my crunchy Vegan Condensed Milk Waffles for a fun breakfast treat. Both are easy to make and perfect for sharing!
Here's a handy recipe card that you can print out and keep in your kitchen for easy reference:
📖 Recipe Card
Vegan Custard Donuts
Ingredients
- 4 ¾ cups self-raising flour (600g)
- 2 sachets active dry yeast (14g)
- ¼ cup caster sugar (50g)
- 1 cup lukewarm plant milk (250 ml) e.g. soya milk, oat milk, coconut milk or almond milk
- ¾ cup sweetened condensed coconut milk (200 ml)
- 5 tablespoon vegan butter (80g) melted
- 2 tablespoon flaxseeds mixed with 4 tablespoon water
- ½ teaspoon fine salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For Coating:
- ½ cup caster sugar (100g)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For Filling:
- 1 tin Nature's Charm Coconut Custard (400 ml / 13.5 oz)
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of flaxseeds with 4 tablespoons of water. Let it sit for about 10 minutes until it thickens. This will act as an egg substitute.
- In a separate bowl or jug, combine 250ml of lukewarm plant milk, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and 2 sachets (14g) of active dry yeast. Stir gently, cover, and let it rest in a warm spot for 10 minutes until the mixture becomes frothy. This step ensures the yeast is active.
- In a large bowl, sift the self-raising flour and ½ teaspoon of fine salt. Mix them together evenly.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the thickened flaxseed mixture, sweetened condensed coconut milk, melted vegan butter, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour in the activated yeast mixture and the wet ingredients. Mix everything together until a soft dough forms. If the dough is sticky, add a little flour, one tablespoon at a time.
- Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface. Knead it for about 5 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. This step helps develop the dough's structure for fluffy donuts.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl and cover it with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel. Let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until it doubles in size.
- Once the dough has risen, punch it down to remove air. Roll it out on a floured surface to about 1-inch thickness. Use a 3-inch round cutter to cut out donut shapes. Place the cut dough on parchment-lined baking sheets.
- Cover the shaped dough with a clean kitchen towel and let it rise for another 30 minutes. This step gives the donuts their light and airy texture.
- In a deep fryer or heavy-bottomed pot, heat vegetable oil to 180°C (350°F). Use a thermometer to ensure the oil stays at the right temperature. Too hot will burn the donuts; too cool will make them greasy.
- Carefully fry 2-3 donuts at a time, turning them occasionally with a slotted spoon. Fry for about 2 minutes on each side, or until they are golden brown. Remove the donuts and place them on paper towels to drain excess oil and let them cool on a wire rack.
- While the donuts are still warm, roll them in a mixture of 100g caster sugar and 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon. This gives them a sweet, flavorful coating.
- Once the donuts have completely cooled, fill a piping bag fitted with a long tip with coconut custard. Insert the tip into the side of each donut and fill until you feel resistance or the custard begins to ooze slightly.
- Serve the donuts fresh and enjoy them with your favorite drink. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature to keep them soft.
Notes
- Serve the donuts fresh for the best texture and flavor. They pair well with coffee, tea, or even a glass of plant-based milk!
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to a week. To maintain their softness, reheat briefly in the microwave (10-15 seconds) or in a low oven.
- Use a thermometer to monitor the oil temperature for frying. Consistent heat ensures donuts cook evenly without becoming greasy.
- Allow the dough to rise in a warm, draft-free spot to ensure it doubles properly. If your kitchen is cool, an oven with the light on can provide a good environment.
- For even cooking, avoid crowding the fryer or pot. Fry only 2-3 donuts at a time to maintain the oil temperature.
- When rolling out the dough, aim for an even thickness to ensure all donuts cook uniformly.
- If you don’t have a piping bag for the custard filling, a zip-top bag with a small corner cut off can work as an alternative.
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