• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Lane & Grey Fare
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • Our Story
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Fall Recipes
  • Recipes
  • Our Story
  • Portfolio
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Fall Recipes
    • Recipes
    • Our Story
    • Portfolio
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Dessert

    Red Velvet Donuts

    Published: Jun 3, 2021 · Modified: Jun 10, 2022 by Lee · This post may contain affiliate links · 6 Comments .

    Jump to Recipe

    The perfect combination of sweetness and tang, these Red Velvet Donuts will be devoured as soon as you make them! In addition to being delicious, they’re gluten free, egg free, nut free and easily dairy free (vegan). 

    A stack of three gluten free Red Velvet Donuts.

    These red velvet donuts are a dream! The frosting is sweet and balances out the slight tang of the donut! If you want even more tang, check out my cream cheese frosting. Or, you can also use a different frosting all together like in my Strawberry Red Velvet Cake!

    For more red velvet recipes, try my Red Velvet Cream Cheese Cookies, Red Velvet Whoopie Pies and Red Velvet Chocolate Chip Muffins.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredient Notes
    • Substitutions and Variations
    • How to Make Red Velvet Donuts
    • Expert Baking Tips
    • Give me all the donuts!
    • Other Donut Recipes You'll Love
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Red Velvet Donuts

    Ingredient Notes

    • Red Velvet- What makes red velvet special? Is it just chocolate cake with red food coloring? No, it’s more than just that. In addition to a small amount of cocoa powder, red velvet contains buttermilk and white vinegar. Those things help give it that tang that we know so well like in my 4th of July Cookies. 
    • Vegan Buttermilk- Measure out one cup of milk of your choice and add one tablespoon of white vinegar into that milk. Stir it and let it sit for 5-10 min on the counter. After it has sat, stir it again and you’ll notice it appears chunky. That’s perfectly normal and supposed to happen. This is your vegan buttermilk. It’s now ready to be added to our recipe.

    See my recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.

    Substitutions and Variations

    How to Make this Vegan

    • Use vegan baking sticks instead of butter!
    • Use a non dairy milk of choice.
    • Use gluten free flour that doesn’t contain dairy. 

    This recipe has not been tested with these substitutions and/or variations due to celiac disease and food allergies. If you change any of the ingredients, please let us know how the recipe turned out in the comments below!

    A Red Velvet Donut with white frosting and red velvet crumbs.

    How to Make Red Velvet Donuts

    Here are the step by step instructions to make these donuts!

    Step 1: Preheat the Oven and Grease the Pan

    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease the wells of two donut pans with vegetable oil. If you don’t have two pans you’ll have to cook the donuts in multiple batches. 

    Step 2: Make the Homemade Buttermilk

    Measure out one cup of milk of choice. Add 1 tablespoon of white vinegar to the milk and mix with a spoon. Set aside. 

    Step 3: Make the Cornstarch Water

    In a medium bowl, using a spoon, mix together the cornstarch and water until thin and watery. It will be thick and tacky at first. Set aside. 

    Step 4: Whisk the Dry Ingredients

    In a large bowl, whisk together the gluten free flour, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

    Step 5: Heat the Butter

    In a medium microwave safe bowl, heat the butter or vegan baking stick in 20 second increments until fully melted. Add in the cornstarch water mixture. Make sure to remix if it gets thick and tacky again. 

    Step 6: Add in the Buttermilk

    Using a spoon, stir the milk and vinegar mixture. It will appear chunky and that’s normal. Add this to the bowl with the melted butter and cornstarch water mixture.

    Step 7: Add Vanilla, Vinegar and Red Food Coloring

    Add in the vanilla, additional teaspoon of white vinegar and the red food coloring. Whisk to combine. 

    Step 8: Mix the Wet and Dry Ingredients

    Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry. Use a whisk to combine but if you notice it getting thick, use a spatula. 

    Step 9: Pipe into the Pan and Bake

    Next scoop the batter into a pastry bag or a zip top bag and cut a corner off and pipe into the donut pans, filling them almost all the way full.

    Bake for about 15 min until the donuts kind of spring back at you when gently touched.

    Remove the donuts from the oven, wait about 2-3 minutes and they should come out easily by using a small spatula. Let them cool completely before frosting.

    For the Frosting

    Step 1: Mix the Ingredients

    Combine all the ingredients, except the ripped up donut, in a bowl using a spatula. The frosting will be thicker than normal donut icing because it needs to stand up to the donut crumbs.

    Step 2: Rip Apart a Donut

    Take one cooled donut and rip apart with your hands or roughly chop into tiny crumbs. I feel it works best when you rip. Place the crumbs on a flat plate. 

    Step 3: Frost and Sprinkle Crumbs

    Use a butter knife to frost the donut. Once it is frosted, immediately sprinkle crumbs onto the frosting. Serve and enjoy!!! 

    Expert Baking Tips

    • Make the buttermilk first- It takes about 5 to 10 minutes to make it. Mixing it first ensures it will be ready when you get to the wet ingredients. 
    • Mix the wet ingredients- Melt the butter and add in the wet ingredients, one at a time. 
    • Transfer the batter into a pastry or zip top bag- If using a zip top bag, snip the corner off and pipe the batter into the greased donut pans almost to the top. Bake the donuts for 15 minutes or until the tops spring back at you when carefully touched.

    Give me all the donuts!

    Please? Ok. That was a little more polite but seriously, I could eat half a dozen donuts and still want more! 

    Anyway, these Red Velvet Donuts are super delish, gluten free, nut free, egg free and easily dairy free (vegan). You’ll be whipping up another batch of these beauties in no time! Enjoy! 

    Other Donut Recipes You'll Love

    • A stack of four glazed chocolate donuts.
      Glazed Chocolate Donuts
    • A plate of donuts sit covered in cinnamon sugar.
      Baked Apple Cider Donuts
    • A Maple Donut with a bite taken out.
      Maple Donuts
    • Rainbow colored bread shows through the bite of a Rainbow Donut.
      Rainbow Donuts

    Did you try this recipe? Please leave me a ⭐ review below!

    Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram @laneandgreyfare and follow along on Pinterest, Facebook and YouTube! Enjoy!!! 

    📖 Recipe

    A Red Velvet Donut with white frosting and red velvet crumbs.

    Red Velvet Donuts

    Author: Lee
    The perfect combination of sweetness and tang, these Red Velvet Donuts will be devoured as soon as you make them! In addition to being delicious, they’re gluten free, egg free, nut free and easily dairy free (vegan). 
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Donuts
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12 Donuts
    Calories 254 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    For the Donuts:

    • 1.5 cups gluten free flour
    • ¾ cup granulated sugar
    • ⅓ cup cocoa powder I filled the ⅓ cup with half Dutch cocoa powder and the rest with Dark cocoa powder
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 1 cup milk of choice mixed with 1 tablespoon white vinegar
    • 4 heaping tablespoons of cornstarch mixed with 6 tablespoons of water
    • ½ stick 4 tablespoons unsalted butter or vegan baking stick, melted
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • 1 teaspoon white vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon liquid red food coloring I use McCormick (If you’re using red gel or paste you will probably only need 1 teaspoon of red total)

    For the Frosting:

    • 1.5 cups confectioners’ sugar
    • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter or vegan baking stick softened
    • 1-2 tablespoons room temperature water
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    • Pinch of salt
    • 1 baked red velvet donut ripped or chopped into tiny crumbs

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease the wells of two donut pans with vegetable oil. If you don’t have two pans you’ll have to cook the donuts in multiple batches. 
    • Measure out one cup of milk of choice. Add 1 tablespoon of white vinegar to the milk and mix with a spoon. Set aside. 
    • In a medium bowl, using a spoon, mix together the cornstarch and water until thin and watery. It will be thick and tacky at first. Set aside. 
    • In a large bowl, whisk together the gluten free flour, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
    • In a medium microwave safe bowl, heat the butter or vegan baking stick in 20 second increments until fully melted. Add in the cornstarch water mixture. Make sure to remix if it gets thick and tacky again. 
    • Using a spoon, stir the milk and vinegar mixture. It will appear chunky and that’s normal. Add this to the bowl with the melted butter and cornstarch water mixture.
    • Add in the vanilla, additional teaspoon of white vinegar and the red food coloring. Whisk to combine. 
    • Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry. Use a whisk to combine but if you notice it getting thick, use a spatula. 
    • Next scoop the batter into a pastry bag or a zip top bag and cut a corner off and pipe into the donut pans, filling them almost all the way full.
    • Bake for about 15 min until the donuts kind of spring back at you when gently touched.
    • Remove the donuts from the oven, wait about 2-3 minutes and they should come out easily by using a small spatula. Let them cool completely before frosting.
    • For the frosting: Combine all the ingredients, except the ripped up donut, in a bowl using a spatula. The frosting will be thicker than normal donut icing because it needs to stand up to the donut crumbs.
    • Take one cooled donut and rip apart with your hands or roughly chop into tiny crumbs. I feel it works best when you rip. Place the crumbs on a flat plate. 
    • Use a butter knife to frost the donut. Once it is frosted, immediately sprinkle crumbs onto the frosting. Serve and enjoy!!! 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 254kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 3gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 189mgPotassium: 72mgFiber: 2gSugar: 29gVitamin A: 318IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 61mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    This recipe is adapted from Wilton's Red Velvet Donuts.

    More Dessert

    • A perfect halved Pumpkin Cupcake reveals its light and fluffy interior.
      Pumpkin Cupcakes
    • A perfect piped swirl of Cream Cheese Frosting sits in creamy goodness atop this pumpkin cupcake.
      Cream Cheese Frosting
    • Granulated sugar and flecks of cinnamon dot the landscape of deliciousness of the Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cookie.
      Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cookies
    • A bite reveals the tender tangy moist crumble inside of the Orange Shortbread Cookies.
      Orange Shortbread Cookies

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. john

      May 02, 2022 at 5:57 pm

      5 stars
      I usually don't go nuts for donuts, but for these I have to make an exception.

      Reply
    2. Nicole

      December 01, 2022 at 6:25 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious! Perfect chocolate flavor but with a little something different from the buttermilk. Donuts baked up light and fluffy. Amazing texture for being gf and egg free!

      Reply
      • Lee

        December 02, 2022 at 10:32 am

        Thanks so much!!!!

        Reply
    3. Dan Spicer

      December 03, 2022 at 5:20 pm

      5 stars
      I used your recipe but changed it to a sugar free donut . Fantastic flavor and color in the donuts. I’m so hooked on your recipes ty ty ty

      Reply
      • LuAnn

        January 30, 2023 at 7:46 pm

        In addition to omitting the sugar, did you add anything else?

        Reply
        • Lee

          February 03, 2023 at 9:52 am

          Hi LuAnn! I spoke with Dan and he said he replaced the sugar in the recipe with monk fruit sugar with a 1 to 1 ratio. I hope this helps!

          Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    LET'S CONNECT!

    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

    Lee, the beautiful founder of Lane and Grey Fare.

    Hi guys, I'm Lee! As a mother of two children with celiac disease and multiple food allergies, I wanted to share all that I’ve learned with others in a way that’s entertaining and helpful. All my food is 100 percent gluten free, nut free, seed free, egg free and most of my baked goods can easily be made dairy free (vegan).

    Read More

    Fall Recipes

    • A perfect halved Pumpkin Cupcake reveals its light and fluffy interior.
      Pumpkin Cupcakes
    • A perfect piped swirl of Cream Cheese Frosting sits in creamy goodness atop this pumpkin cupcake.
      Cream Cheese Frosting
    • Granulated sugar and flecks of cinnamon dot the landscape of deliciousness of the Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cookie.
      Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cookies
    • A scrumptious golden brown gluten free Vanilla Muffin on wax paper.
      Vanilla Muffins
    • A delicious Gluten Free Snickerdoodle covered in cinnamon sugar with a bite taken out.
      Gluten Free Snickerdoodles
    • Delicious, soft, round and golden Chocolate Chipless Cookies on wax paper.
      Chocolate Chipless Cookies

    Popular Recipes

    • A round pink Strawberry Sugar Cookie on wax paper amongst fresh strawberries.
      Strawberry Sugar Cookies
    • Freshly baked delicious Blueberry Cookies with a bite taken out.
      Blueberry Cookies
    • A delicious slice of vegan flourless chocolate cake with a strawberry on top on a black plate.
      Vegan Flourless Chocolate Cake
    • Chocolate Lemon Cake on a stand with star sprinkles and slices of lemon.
      Chocolate Lemon Cake
    • The layers alternating from cake, to pudding, to cake, to frosting.
      Brooklyn Blackout Cake
    • A Sprinkle Sugar Cookie with a bite taken out.
      Sprinkle Sugar Cookies

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    ABOUT
    ABOUT ME
    PRIVACY POLICY
    ACCESSIBILITY POLICY
    RESOURCES
    WORK WITH ME

    NEWSLETTER
    SIGN UP for emails and updates

    CONTACT
    CONTACT
    PORTFOLIO

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2021-2023 Lane & Grey Fare, All Rights Reserved.