Date-Sweetened Donuts with Chocolate Frosting

Vegan cake donuts made with oat flour and sweetened with Medjool dates, topped with a two-ingredient dark chocolate frosting. Perfect for a healthy dessert!

Hi, friends. 

It’s been a while since we last chatted.

June has been an absolute whirlwind for me and I can’t quite believe just *how* much has changed in the past two weeks. 

For one, I’m moving! 

I’m in the process of packing boxes and making plans to move to Maryland with M.  

Secondly, I’m reconnecting with friends and family in a major way; scheduling dinners and hikes and hugs.

After a *very* trying 2020, all of this feels like a new beginning, a clean slate, a fresh start. 

But between all of the positive changes in life, summer keeps running on, hot summer days spilling into cool summer mornings. 

And what do you know, this weekend is dad’s day!

Let’s put all of the busy-ness aside for a second and celebrate dad, OK? 

These Date-Sweetened Donuts with Chocolate Frosting are just what any man in your life needs this Father’s Day.

They’re totally vegan, gluten-free, and refined-sugar-free with a cake-y interior and a 2-ingredient chocolate ganache!

Donuts for dad does kind of have a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? 

I was talking to my sister this past week and mentioned my intense craving for donuts. 

With the move and all of the life changes, I’ve been craving all of the comfort foods. 

So, something cake-y, circular, and sweet sounds just about perfect. 

Yum. 

Even better than store-bought donuts are ones you can make at home that are totally plant-based and delicious. 

I love these donuts because they’re sweetened with dates and no added sugars!

Here’s what you need to make date-sweetened donuts:

• oat flour
• Medjool dates
• unsweetened almond milk
• baking powder
• lemon juice
• tapioca starch

That’s it!

First, preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease a donut pan with oil. 

If you don’t have a donut pan, you can use a mini muffin pan to make donut holes, instead! 

Which is also super cute. 

Blend the dates and almond milk in a food processor or blender until you have a smooth consistency.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the oat flour, baking powder, and tapioca starch and stir them well to combine.

Finally, a lemon juice, and date mixture and mix everything until it’s well-combined.

This is your donut dough!

Now, spoon the dough into the prepared donut pan. 

I like to use a spatula or the back of a spoon to spread the mixture into an even layer in the pan. 

Transfer the donut pan to the oven and bake them for about 10 mins.

The donut should start to pull away from the sides of the pan and be mostly firm to the touch. 

Set them aside while you start to make the chocolate frosting. 

Here’s what you need for the dark chocolate frosting:

• Endangered Species chocolate
• unsweetened almond milk

That’s it!

I used Endangered Species Bold + Silk Dark Chocolate Bars to make my chocolate frosting!

This deliciously dark, silky and bold chocolate is packed full of pure cocoa flavor, and is totally free of all artificial sweeteners or additives.

I love using Endangered Species Chocolate because they taste delicious and give back ecosystem. 

By donating 10% of their annual net profits to conservation organizations, Endangered Species Chocolate supports wildlife every day.

Try out their chocolate and support the plight of the Chimpanzee with this chocolate bar!

Add the chocolate bars to a pan over medium low heat and stir them until the chocolate is fully melted.

Transfer the chocolate to a glass bowl and add in the almond milk.

Whisk to combine everything and refrigerate it until it’s ready for use.

When the donuts are done, remove them from the oven and allow them to cool for 15-20 minutes before frosting them. 

I recommend removing the donuts from the pan, transferring to a wire cooling rack, and “frosting” with chocolate frosting.

Top them with any additional toppings, like sprinkles, nuts, or seeds, before serving. 

Enjoy them immediately!

You can store any leftover donuts in the refrigerator for several days.

Enjoy these Date-Sweetened Donuts with Chocolate Frosting any time you’re craving a healthier donut with ingredients you love. 

These donuts, while dessert-worthy, are also full of fiber, protein, complex carbs, and antioxidants!

Try them for breakfast with a cup of coffee or tea, as a tasty snack, or an evening dessert.

They’re perfect for a weekend brunch with friends, family, and fathers!

If you have leftover icing, try spreading it on toast, crackers, oatmeal, or pancakes. 

Enjoy!

If you make these Vegan Donuts with Chocolate Frosting, let me know what you think!

Give me a shout on Instagram and use #floraandvino to show me your sweets.

Visit my Pinterest page to pin more recipe like this one to make later!

Want more vegan, gluten-free, and refined-sugar-free donuts? 

Check out my Chocolate Donuts with Chocolate Hazelnut Ganache and Vegan Apple Cider Donuts. 

Do you love this post and want more? Go to my homepage and subscribe to get updates delivered right to your inbox!

XO Lauren

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This post is brought to you by Endangered Species Chocolate, but all words and eats are my own. Thanks for supporting the sponsors that keep me hungry!

Photography by Hot Pan Kitchen