Happy Birthday Donuts

These Happy Birthday Donuts are rich chocolate donuts loaded with chocolate chips and topped with a raspberry frosting and rainbow sprinkles. They're a party in donut form! If that wasn't enough, they're gluten free, nut free, eggless and can easily be dairy free (vegan).

These Happy Birthday Donuts could not be more fun! They’re soft, rich and decadent but also sweet! My daughter had the idea for these and I think she made an amazing combo!

If you’re looking for more donut recipes, check out my Cinnamon Sugar Donuts, my Baked Chocolate Donuts and my Red Velvet Donuts.

Reasons to Love these Donuts

• Allergy Friendly- These donuts are gluten free, nut free, egg free and can easily be dairy free (vegan). 
• Soft & Fluffy- The donuts are super soft, decadent and delicious.
• Double Chocolate- The donuts have a chocolate base loaded with chocolate chips.
• Raspberry Frosting- Gives the donuts a lovely sweetness.
• Easy to Make- The batter mixes up with a whisk!

Ingredient Notes

For the Donuts

• Gluten Free Flour- If you also have nut allergies, make sure to use a brand that’s made in a nut free facility. I really love to use this one because it’s nut safe but it does contain dairy. 
• White Vinegar- Used with the baking soda to help the donuts rise.
• Vegetable Oil- These donuts use oil, so they stay moist longer.
• Cocoa Powders- I like to use two types but if you only want to use one, use Dutch or Natural Unsweetened.
• Cornstarch and Water- These are eggless donuts so this mixture helps bind everything together.

For the Frosting

• Butter/Vegan Baking Stick- Make sure to use softened not melted or your frosting will be a liquidy mess.
• Water- This frosting uses water and no milk at all.
• Raspberries- This frosting uses frozen raspberries to give it that pink hue and added sweetness!

Expert Baking Tips

Using Two Types of Cocoa Powder

People ask how I get my chocolate baked goods to be so dark. The secret is in that bit of dark cocoa powder.

Using two types of cocoa powder creates a richer color and flavor, which I love!

With that said, keep in mind that cocoa powder is quite dry. Dark is even drier than Dutch or Natural Unsweetened. 

If you only used the dark cocoa powder, your baked goods would be way too dry and bitter.

If you don’t have both types of cocoa powders on hand, just use either the Dutch or Natural Unsweetened. 

But, if you only use the one type, keep in mind that your donuts and won’t be as dark as mine are. 

Smoothing the Batter

Many gluten free flour batters have a way of staying exactly as they are placed, when baked.
If you leave it misshapen, that’s how it will remain when baked.

When the batter is in the donut pans, gently smooth the tops with a butter knife.

Step By Step Instructions with Pictures

Here are the steps to make these donuts! 

Step 1: Whisk Together all the Dry Ingredients

In a large bowl, sift together the gluten free flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, salt and the light brown sugar. Then use a whisk to combine.

If you don’t sift, you’ll get large clumps of brown sugar which is fine if that doesn’t bother you. Set aside.

Step 2: Make The Cornstarch Water

In a medium bowl, using a spoon, mix together your cornstarch and water until there are no lumps and it is smooth. It will be thick and tacky at first.

Step 3: Add in the Milk, Vanilla & Vinegar

Once the cornstarch water is combined, whisk in the milk of choice, vanilla and vinegar. 

Step 4: Add the Wet Ingredients Into the Dry

Add the wet ingredients and the vegetable oil into the dry ingredients. It might be easiest to mix this with a spatula, until combined. It will be super dense. 

Step 5: Add in the Chocolate Chips

Using the spatula, fold in the chocolate chips.

Step 6: Put the Batter in a Zip Top Bag

Next scoop the batter into a pastry bag or a (zip top bag and cut a corner off) and pipe into the greased donut pans, filling them about ¾ of the way full.

Step 7: Bake The Donuts

Smooth the tops of the donuts and bake for about 15 min until the donuts kind of spring back at you when gently touched.

Step 8: Cool

Remove the donuts from the oven, wait about 5 minutes before trying to remove them from the pan. They should come out easily by using a small spatula.

Let them cool completely before icing.

Step 9: Make The Frosting

In the large bowl of an electric mixer or using a hand held mixer, beat the confectioners' sugar, butter or vegan baking stick, water and 12 frozen raspberries together, making sure to break the raspberries apart.

Once combined, the frosting will turn pink and there will be flecks of raspberries. That's normal.

Step 10: Frost The Donuts

Using an icing spatula or a butter knife, frost the tops of the donuts.

Step 11: Add the Sprinkles

Immediately after frosting a donut, scatter the sprinkles over the top so the sprinkles stick.

How to Make these Donuts Vegan

Follow these simple steps to make sure the donuts are vegan:

• Use a gluten free flour that’s free from dairy.
• Only use vegan baking stick, not butter.
• Get a non dairy milk of your choosing.
• Make sure the chocolate chips you use are allergy safe and vegan.
• Read the label on your sprinkles to make sure they’re gluten free, nut free and vegan.

Recipe FAQs

Storing and Freezing

Storing

Since gluten free baked goods are best the first day, we want to try to keep these happy birthday donuts as fresh as possible. 

Once the frosting on the donuts has hardened, store in an airtight container or individually wrap the each donut in aluminum foil. Try to create a teepee with the top of the foil so it isn't touching the frosting as much.

Store them in the fridge for up to two days. Take out 1 hour before eating or warm in the microwave 5-10 seconds prior to eating.

Freezing

Once the frosting on the donuts has hardened a bit, wrap them each in aluminum foil. 

Pop them in a zip top bag and freeze the donuts for up to 30 days. 

To defrost, take out if the freezer and leave at room temperature until soft; about 2 hours.

Other Raspberry Desserts to Try

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