Vegan Jelly Donuts are pillowy soft, filled with raspberry jam and dusted with powdered sugar! Fry, bake or air fry.
It’s incredibly easy to veganize donuts of all kinds, and jelly donuts are no exception. I tested making these donuts three ways: fried, baked and air fried! Each way worked beautifully, so make them however you want.
Of course, frying them in oil is going to give you that classic crispy outside, while being soft and fluffy inside, but baked/air fried donuts are quite delightful as well.
I love using instant yeast because that means you can enjoy fresh donuts in less than an hour!
How to make jelly donuts – 3 ways
First, make the simple dough (detailed recipe is below in the recipe card below), either in a stand mixer with a dough hook, or a large bowl with a spoon. Knead until you have a nice soft ball of dough, then cover and let rise for 30 minutes.
Punch the dough down, place on a lightly floured surface and roll to about 1/2 inch thick. Cut out circles with a donut cutter or large biscuit cutter; you should get about 16-18 rounds.
To fry
Heat a few inches of oil in a large pot to 375℉ (you need a thermometer for this). Once hot, drop the donuts into the oil, about 3-4 at a time, and cook for 1-2 minutes on each side until golden brown. Remove and place on a cooling rack with another pan or parchment paper below it.
To bake
Preheat the oven to 350℉. Spray the donuts with oil, then bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes, until a little golden brown and fluffy. Watch carefully so they don’t burn. Brush with melted vegan butter, if desired.
To air fry
Place 3-4 donuts at a time in air fryer basket (first spray with oil to prevent sticking). Spray the donuts lightly with oil, then air fry at 350℉ for 5 minutes, then flip and cook for 3-5 more minutes. Brush with melted vegan butter, if desired.
Fillings and toppings
Cut a slit in the side of each donut, then use a piping bag with tip to pipe jelly into the cooked donuts. Alternatively, you can use any other jelly filling you like, such as apricot, raspberry, blueberry, etc.
You could also try piping any of the following into donuts: Vegan Custard/Pastry Cream, Vegan Chocolate Frosting, Vegan Vanilla Frosting, Coconut Whipped Cream or Vegan Lemon Curd.
I like a dusting of powdered sugar on jelly donuts, but you can also roll them in granulated sugar. Either way is perfectly delicious!
Want more vegan donut recipes?
Vegan Jelly Donuts
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsweetened soy milk
- 1 packet instant yeast ( 2 1/4 tsp)
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 6 tablespoons vegan butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 cups all purpose flour, plus more as needed
- vegetable oil, for frying
- 8 ounces seedless raspberry jelly, or other jelly
- powdered sugar, for dusting OR granulated sugar for rolling in
Instructions
- Microwave the soy milk for about 1 minute if refrigerated, so that it's as warm as bath water. You don't want it to boil, so watch closely. If you don't have a microwave, warm it in a small pan.
- In a large bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer, stir together the warm soy milk, yeast and sugar. Let the mixture sit for 3-4 minutes, until it's a bit frothy.
- To the bowl with the yeast mixture, add the applesauce, softened vegan butter, vanilla, salt and 2 cups of flour. Mix on low speed with a dough hook, or by hand with a large wooden spoon, for a few minutes, then add the rest of the flour and continue to mix.
- If using a stand mixer, beat with the dough hook for about 2-3 minutes. If you are making them by hand, mix it as well as you can with a spoon, then transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead the dough for about 5 minutes until you have a nice soft ball of dough.
- Lightly grease a large bowl (I use non-stick spray) then place the dough in the bowl. Cover with a clean kitchen towel, then allow to rise in a warm place for 30 minutes. I preheat my oven to 170℉, then turn it off and place the bowl inside with the door cracked.
- After 30 minutes, punch the dough down. Place it on a lightly floured surface and roll it about 1/2 inch thick. Use a donut cutter or a large biscuit cutter to cut the donuts. You should get about 16-18.
- Line a large baking sheet or two with parchment paper, and place the cut donuts on the pans. Cover with a large towel for about 15 minutes while you heat the oil.
- Heat 2-3 inches of oil in a large pan or pot until it reaches 375℉. I highly suggest using a thermometer so you get this just right.
- Add a few donuts at a time to the oil and cook for about 1-2 minutes on each side, until golden brown, being careful not to let them get too dark and burnt. If the oil is hot, this won't take long. Be careful of hot oil!
- Place the cooked donuts on a cooling rack with a pan or parchment paper underneath to catch any oil drippings. Repeat until all donuts are fried.
- Cut a deep slit into the side of each donut, then use a piping bag with tip to pipe jelly into each one. Dust the tops with powdered sugar or roll in granulated sugar. Serve and enjoy!
To bake
- Place the cut donuts on the parchment line baking sheet (or two, if needed). Cover with a tea towel and let them rise for about 15 minutes. While the donuts sit, preheat the oven to 350℉.
- Spray the donuts with oil, then bake for 10-15 minutes until lightly golden on top. If desired, brush the donuts with melted vegan butter right when they come out of the oven, then pipe with jelly and dust with powdered sugar.
To air fry
- Place the cut donuts on a parchment lined baking sheet, cover with a tea towel and let rise for about 15 minutes. Spray the air fryer basket with oil, then transfer the donuts to the air fryer in a single layer (about 3 at a time). Spray the donuts with oil.
- Cook at 350℉ for 5 minutes, then flip the donuts and cook for 3-5 more minutes until golden brown. If desired, brush with melted vegan butter as soon as they come out. Remove from air fryer, pipe with jelly and dust with powdered sugar.
Notes
- You may substitute another milk for soy, such as almond, cashew, hemp or oat milk.
- Donuts are best when eaten the same day. To keep them fresh longer, store in the refrigerator in a covered container for 3-4 days at most. They can be frozen if needed.
- Gluten free - Use a gluten free all purpose mix in place of regular flour. I like King Arthur Brand or Bob's Red Mill.
Scrumptious donuts! It was impossible to stop eating them. Thank you, Nora! All your recipes are gold.
I was just wondering, is the flour amount in the dough supposed to be 4 cups, or 2? I put 2, but then I added more, until it looked like a soft dough. Still, it came out perfect. Thank you again!
I’m glad you like them! The correct amount of flour is 4 cups. I think the confusion might be that you first add 2 cups, mix, then add the rest of the flour (step 3). Hope that clears up any confusion!
Thank you for explaining! It was my fault for not reading properly! These are the pefect donuts!
Hi Nora,
What do you recommend I substitute for the 1 packet instant yeast ( 2 1/4 tsp)?
Thank you.
This is a yeast donut recipe so there is no substitute for the yeast, unfortunately. If you’re looking for a donut recipe without yeast, you could try my Cinnamon Sugar Donuts or Chocolate Donuts instead!
Thanks for this wonderful recipe. Do you think oat milk instead of soy milk would work ok? My son has a soy allergy.
Yes, that will work fine. Enjoy!
I made a different jelly donut recipe and they ended up hollow. These ones were very easy to make and turned out lovely!! Very fluffy on the inside and super tasty. Definitely recommend the thermometer – it made a difference! These donuts are perfect for Hanukkah – thank you Nora!!
Makes me very happy to hear that the donuts turned out great for you and were easy to make! You are very welcome for the recipe! Thank you for sharing your great feedback!
I just made these today and I baked some and fried some and they all came out flat.The ones in the oven did not get brown on top so I left them in a little longer and they turned into biscuits. Ugh so disappointing. I used flax egg because I did not have applesauce but the ones I fried tasted good they just didn’t get big but were flat and fluffy.
I had this same exact issue. Unfortunately I didn’t fry any and baked them all. I’m so bummed. Nora, any idea what went wrong? I followed the recipe exactly for baking.
Hi Sara. Unfortunately, baking will result in a very different donut. It technically works, but in no way compares to frying. I have it as an option for those who need to bake them, but there is no way they will taste the same as a donut fried in oil.
Trying these today. Do you let them cool before filling?
No. You can fill them right after they are cooked!
Hi Nora,
Thank you so much for this recipe! My son is allergic to eggs and your website is amazing for him! I never would have thought that making donuts was this easy.
I’m so glad that my recipes are able to be enjoyed by your son! Thank you for sharing your fantastic review, and enjoy the donuts! Happy cooking!
Hey Nora,
is it possible to prepare those with gluten-free flour?
I think it will work but I haven’t personally tried it. Use a quality gf mix, like King Arthur or Bob’s Red Mill.
Would this work well fried in a deep fryer?
Yes, they should work just fine in a deep fryer.
Hi Nora!
Thank you for posting this recipe, especially the air fryer version.
Can this donut recipe be used for glazed donuts? For example, if I didn’t add the jelly inside and dipped the outside in a chocolate glaze, would that work?
Sure, that works!
If i want to bake them in the oven, is it still @350°?
I figure I’d have to leave them in longer than 5 minutes… maybe 12-15?
Yes, the instructions are there for baking. 🙂
I’m so excited to try these as I’ve been craving donuts and I live in a small town so vegan treats are pretty limited. Just wondering if I could prepare the dough the day before I want to cook them? Thank you 🙂
That should work fine yes. Hope you enjoy the donuts!
The most delicious donuts I’ve ever had
Thank you! Glad you love them!
Can I use something else aside from applesauce ? Flax egg? Banana ?
Sure! I bet it would work with either mashed banana or 2 flax eggs instead (2 tbs ground flax + 5 tbs water.)
Hi Nora so excited to try this recipe!!
Only problem is i dont have a stand mixer (yet) and all I got is a hand mixer with the standard attachments. Would I be able to use this to mix the dough and such?
Hi Caitlyn! So you can’t use a regular mixer, but you can use a spoon and then knead by hand. I do it both ways, and include instructions for both. 🙂 Hope you love them!
Nora, Thank you for all the amazing recipes! You never disappoint and I rely on you to make great vegan food for my daughter that the whole family will ❤️!
Denise
Hi Denise. I appreciate your wonderful comments! Thank you for using my recipes! I’m thrilled that you and your family enjoy them!