Vegan Donut Test Kitchen

Over this weekend, I turned our kitchen upside down testing out a few variations of baked cake donuts. I've made them with Earth Balance before, and wanted to try out coconut oil and shortening for fats.

My family were the eager taste testers, and the coconut oil won by a landslide. Next in line was the Earth Balance, and the least favorite across the board was shortening.

Along with tweaking the donut recipe, I tried out a few new types of frosting: maple, white chocolate, pecan butter, and chocolate. Both types of chocolate were the favorites, but the maple was pretty delicious too. The pecan butter was more subtle in flavor, but a sprinkling with coconut chips finished it off nicely.

Classic Chocolate Frosted Donut

 Chocolate Frosting

5 oz. semi-sweet chocolate
2 Tbsp. Earth Balance or coconut oil melted
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/3 cup non-dairy milk

1. Melt chocolate in a microwave safe bowl, heating in 30 second increments, stirring in between until melted.
2. Whisk in Earth Balance or coconut oil and milk until fully incorporated.
3. Last whisk in the powdered sugar, adding a little at a time. 
4. Add extra non-dairy milk to thin frosting if desired, and powdered sugar if it is too runny. It should be the consistency of thick syrup pouring.

Frosts 6 donuts

Maple Frosted Donut

Maple Frosting

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp. maple extract

2 Tbsp. maple syrup

1-2 Tbsp. non-dairy milk

1. Add maple syrup and extract to a bowl.
2. Whisk in powdered sugar and non-dairy milk, adding a little of each until all the frosting is smooth without lumps.
3. Add extra maple syrup to thin frosting if desired, and powdered sugar if it is too runny. It should be the consistency of thick syrup pouring.

Frosts 6 donuts

Pecan butter topped with Coconut Chips

Pecan Butter Frosting

2 Tbsp. pecan butter

3/4 cup powdered sugar

2-3 Tbsp. non-dairy milk

coconut chips chopped (optional) 

1. Add pecan butter to a bowl and whisk in powdered sugar and non-dairy milk, adding a little of each until all the frosting is smooth without lumps.
2. Add extra non-dairy milk to thin frosting if desired, and powdered sugar if it is too runny. It should be the consistency of thick syrup pouring.
3. Frost donut and sprinkle with pieces of coconut chips.

Frosts 6 donuts

White Chocolate Frosted Donut

 White Chocolate Frosting

1/2 cup white chocolate
1 cup powdered sugar
1-2 Tbsp. non-dairy milk

1. First melt white chocolate in microwave safe bowl, heating in 30 second increments, stirring in between until melted.
2. Whisk in powdered sugar and non-dairy milk, adding a little of eat until all is well combined. 
3. Frost and sprinkle immediately for easiest spreading. Heat in microwave 20 seconds if it thickens up too much.

Frosts 6 donuts