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Who says donuts can’t be healthy?! These Gluten-Free Blueberry Donuts are the perfect oven-baked donut that aren’t loaded with sugar or calories.

Gluten free blueberry donuts on a serving plate.
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These healthy blueberry donuts even sneak in some chickpeas for a little boost of protein. They make the batter creamy, but you can’t even taste them. Baking them in the oven makes them low-stress and easy to make. They’re also great for making ahead and freezing for a quick treat or breakfast on the go!

If you like healthier donut recipes, you will love my chocolate protein donuts and gluten-free gingerbread donuts!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Ready in Less Than 30 Minutes: You can have delicious blueberry donuts in less time than it takes to pick up donuts with this recipe. All you need to do is blend the batter, fill the donut molds, and bake them. They will be ready to enjoy in less than 30 minutes!
  • Easily Customizable: This recipe is so easy to alter to your tastes or the season! Try mixing in different fruits, chocolate, or creating a glaze to make the perfect gluten-free donut for your mood.
  • Plant-Based Nutrition: You won’t be able to taste the chickpeas in this recipe, but they add a lot of nutrition to the recipe. That includes a bit of protein and fiber.

Ingredients

Ingredients for making blueberry donuts in bowls.
  • Chickpeas: You’ll need to drain and rinse a can of chickpeas to prepare them for the recipe. Use chickpeas to also prepare savory dishes, like my chickpea tomato cucumber salad or buffalo chickpea salad. You could also use a different white bean that doesn’t have a bold flavor, like great northern beans.
  • Blueberries: You can use fresh or frozen blueberries for this recipe. I’ve found that frozen is best since the flavor of frozen fruit is more consistent.
  • Gluten-Free Oats and Oat Flour: You’ll need a combination of oats and oat flour for this recipe. If you don’t need the donuts to be gluten-free, you can use regular oats.
  • Olive Oil: You’ll need extra virgin olive oil to add moisture to the donut batter so you get moist and tender donuts. You could also use coconut oil or avocado oil if you prefer. 
  • Spices: The spices in this recipe make the donuts flavorful and eliminate the need for excess sugar. I used nutmeg, cardamom, and cinnamon for a warm, spiced flavor.

See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.

Variations & Dietary Modifications

  • Add a Glaze: Use powdered sugar, cinnamon, and coconut oil to make a quick cinnamon glaze for these delicious donuts, like in these pumpkin donuts. You could also add a little lemon or orange zest and juice to make a citrus glaze. 
  • Try Different Berries: You can change the flavor of these chickpea donuts by using different berries like raspberries or cranberries. You can also use my recipe for baked strawberry donuts.
  • Make Them Vegan: You can make these gluten-free homemade blueberry donuts vegan-friendly by using flax eggs. Combine a tablespoon of flaxseed meal with 3 tablespoons of water to make the plant-based egg. 

How to Make Gluten-Free Blueberry Donuts

These blueberry chickpea donuts are a simple way to enjoy donuts at home without frying or adding excessive sugar. They are moist with a tender crumb and ready in less than 30 minutes. All you need to make them are a donut baking pan coated with cooking spray and an oven preheated to 325°F. 

Blueberry donut ingredients added to a food processor.

Step 1: Add Ingredients to Food Processor. Layer the ingredients into the food processor, starting with the dry ingredients, then the chickpeas, then the liquid.

Blueberry donut ingredients blended together in a food processor.

Step 2: Blend All of the Ingredients. Blend the ingredients on high speed until they form a smooth batter. Then transfer the batter to a mixing bowl.

Blueberries added to the blueberry donut batter.

Step 3: Fold In Blueberries. Fold the blueberries into the batter by hand using a spatula.

Donut batter added to a donut pan.

Step 4: Fill the Donut Pan. Pour the batter into the donut cavities in the pan. Fill each cavity to the top. Bake the donuts for 12-13 minutes until they are slightly browned around the edges. Let the donuts cool for 2-3 minutes, then flip the donut tray upside down to remove the donuts. Let them cool for another 15 minutes on the wire rack before enjoying with a skinny peppermint mocha latte or your favorite coffee drink.

Expert Tips

  • Scrape the Sides of the Food Processor: As you blend the donut batter, you’ll need to pause and scrape down the sides of the food processor to ensure there aren’t any chunks in the batter. 
  • Let the Batter Rest: Allow the batter to sit for about 5 minutes after blending to give the flour time to absorb the liquid for moist, tender donuts.
  • Layering Is Important: It’s important to layer the ingredients, starting with the dry ingredients first, then the chickpeas, and then the liquids. This helps ensure the batter is smooth and free of clumps.
  • Storing: Store leftover donuts in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 7 days. These donuts are not able to sit at room temperature like other donuts. You can also freeze leftovers for up to 30 days.
Gluten free blueberry donuts on a serving plate.

Serving Suggestions

Sometimes nothing beats a delicious donut. This blueberry donut recipe uses chickpeas and maple syrup to make more nutritious donuts with less sugar. They are oven-baked, tender, and flavorful. These donuts are also great for making ahead and freezing to enjoy later in the month. They would make an excellent on-the-go breakfast or a delicious afternoon snack.

Recipe FAQs

Why aren’t my gluten-free blueberry donuts smooth?

If the top of the batter isn’t smoothed, then the bottom of the donuts will be rough and uneven. Use your finger or a spatula to smooth the batter after you fill the molds.

Why did my gluten-free blueberry donuts fall apart when I tried to remove them from the pan?

This sounds like the donuts weren’t fully cooked. Try baking them for another 2-3 minutes so they are tender, but firm and don’t fall apart. Allow them to cool slightly in the pan before removing them.

Can I use a different flour to make these gluten-free blueberry donuts?

I can’t recommend using a different flour since I didn’t test this recipe with anything else. I know coconut flour definitely wouldn’t work because it absorbs too much of the moisture.

A stack of gluten free blueberry donuts.

More Delicious Chickpea Dessert Recipes

If you tried this Gluten-Free Blueberry Donuts recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below.

A stack of gluten free blueberry donuts.
5 from 4 votes
Servings: 9 donuts

Gluten-Free Blueberry Donuts

Make delicious oven-baked gluten-free blueberry donuts in less than 30 minutes. All you need is a food processor, a donut pan, and a hot oven!
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 13 minutes
Total: 23 minutes
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Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven 325 F. Prepare a donut baking pan with cooking spray.
  • To a blender or food processor, add all ingredients layering the dry ingredients first, then the chickpeas, then the liquid.
  • Blend on high until a smooth batter appears. Add blueberries to blender and fold by hand. Fill the donut cavities with the batter, filling until flush.
  • Bake 12-13 minutes until donuts are slightly browned around the edges. Remove from the oven and cool 2-3 minutes before flipping the donut tin upside down onto a cooking rack. The donuts should easily slide out. Cool donuts another 15 minutes on the wire rack prior to enjoying.
  • Keep donuts in refrigerator to maintain freshness up to 7 days.

Notes

  • Be sure you scrape down the sides of the food processor as you blend the batter to avoid clumps and get smooth donuts.
  • Let the batter set for about 5 minutes to give the oat flour time to absorb more of the moisture to ensure tender donuts.
  • Layer the ingredients starting with the dry ingredients first, then the chickpeas, and then the liquids. This order helps ensure the batter is clump-free and smooth.

Nutrition

Serving: 1donut, Calories: 120kcal, Carbohydrates: 23.5g, Protein: 4.7g, Fat: 1.2g, Sodium: 68.7mg, Fiber: 3.8g, Sugar: 7.4g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Megan

Megan is a nutritionist who coaches women 35+ lose weight sustainably. She is the author of the Low Calorie Cookbook, fitness instructor, host of the Dish On Ditching Diets Podcast and creator of Skinny Fitalicious where you get lighter, higher protein recipes. Follow Megan on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube and Instagram for the latest updates.

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33 Comments

  1. jill conyers says:

    I’m not much of a donut person but this recipe makes me want one. I’m going to make them this weekend. Or even better, do you take orders and deliver 🙂

    1. Megan says:

      Haha, wouldn’t that be fun! These will definitely be going on my dream cafe breakfast menu. 🙂

  2. Erin @ Erin's Inside Job says:

    These look so good and magical right now. I want the whole tray please.

    1. Megan says:

      I still have some in the fridge if you want to come over. 🙂

  3. Kaila @ Healthy Helper Blog says:

    I just posted a recipe today using chickpeas in donuts!!! Great minds think a like!!! 😉 These look awesome!

    1. Megan says:

      How funny is that! I haven’t seen any so far so I think we are starting a new trend!

  4. Sarah-A Whisk and Two Wands says:

    These look so good! Never thought about chickpeas in donuts, and we love our donuts (healthy and not so healthy)! Thank you for linking up with us for Meatless Monday!

    1. Megan says:

      Haha…don’t we all?

  5. michele @ paleorunningmomma says:

    Donuts are always just fun! I’m actually curious how I’d tolerate chickpeas now. I used to love them!

    1. Megan says:

      I hadn’t had any in months but chickpeas are working out well for me now. Maybe just try not to do too much at once!

  6. Nicole @ Fitful Focus says:

    I really need to get myself a donut pan – these look so good!

    1. Megan says:

      Yes you do! I’m sure you would do amazing things with it too.

  7. rachel @ athleticavocado says:

    love the idea of using chickpeas in donuts! These look amazing!

    1. Megan says:

      Thank you!

  8. Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says:

    Yay beaniness <3 Beans and blubs 😉 A great combo, haha!

    1. Megan says:

      Next time I made something chickpea and blueberries that’s what I’m calling it. Haha!

      1. Janell says:

        Is there something we can use in place of apple cider vinegar? My LO can’t have anything apples.

        1. Megan says:

          White vinegar or lemon juice.

  9. Deborah @ Confessions of a mother runner says:

    And I am now going to need a donut pan asap! Thanks for linking up with us today for meatless Monday

    1. Megan says:

      Yes you do!

  10. Susie @ Suzlyfe says:

    SIGN ME UP.
    I don’t have great ideas while working out. I usually have cyclical stupid thoughts. THAT JUST WON’T STOP

    1. Megan says:

      I would never have guessed that about you.