Decadent, but secretly healthy, Dark Chocolate Walnut Doughnuts! These gluten-free, vegan, & paleo doughnuts are baked breakfast perfection! Serve them with a cup of coffee or your afternoon tea!
What's life without some DOUGHNUTS! I haven't shared a doughnut recipe in months! (My apologies!) To be honest, I haven't even made them or gotten out my doughnut pan since the Fall :/ One day a few weeks ago, I was getting out a bread pan and I saw my poor little doughnut pan just sitting there (crying) in the dark cabinet. I felt bad, but I just wasn't feeling it. That changed a couple of weeks ago (as you can tell)!
I'm glad I got that pan out. Once I made these doughnuts, I fell back in love with the baked (healthy) decadence! A nice little breakfast carb, dipped into some protein sludge. Always, always welcome in my belly 😉 So what sparked the doughnut "bug"?
SILK® NUTCHELLO™!! This is the second (of 3) recipes I'll be sharing and this time the dark chocolate walnut Nutchello™ seemed like the perfect flavor for some doughnuts 😉 I was most excited about this flavor...doesn't it just look delicious even in the bottle!? I thought so! That is pure dairy-free decadence! Funny thing is, as you know, walnuts are my least favorite nut. I really never even have them in the house (cashews trump all nuts. I eat cashews every day).
I'm not into shunning any nut though, and this walNUT-milk just had to be used in all its walnutty glory, regardless of my taste preferences. Baking seemed like the perfect use for such a rich and decadent vegan milk. Low-and-behold, that doughnut pan was right there waiting to be used. Milk + Doughnut Pan = baked IDEAS!
The only problem was that I had no actual walnuts in the house (oops). Lucky me, my mom happened to be at the store and I asked her to pick me up some walnuts 😉 #MomHug Actually, she was always the one to be eating walnuts in our house, but of course, the one time I NEED walnuts, there are none :/
There is something about the taste or maybe it's the softness of walnuts that just doesn't sit well with me. They just don't give me the same elation that other nuts do. Haha! But, like I said, I've always been determined to like them and this way seemed like it would be a winner! Have you ever had a bad doughnut? I don't think so!
Walnuts are truly the star here. If I was going walnut, I was going all out! These doughnuts have crushed walnuts INSIDE for some crunch along with that decadent dark chocolate walnut milk. Walnuts are super-duper good for your brain function too! Why? Because they look like the brain! Okay, yes, but no, haha! They do look that way, but they also contain a hefty dose of Vitamin E, folate, melatonin, omega-3s, and antioxidants, which are brain health superstars! Plus, dark chocolate is great for increasing brain function as well! These dark chocolate walnut doughnuts are HEALTHY!
I made them with the plantain method again, so these are gluten-free, vegan, and paleo! The only thing I need to tell you before you get baking is TRY not to drink the entire bottle of Nutchello™ before you even start mixing the batter. It tastes (and smells!) so good! Who would have thunk I would be such a walnut "milk" fan? 😉
Dark Chocolate Walnut Doughnuts
Dark Chocolate Walnut Doughnuts
Decadent, but secretly healthy, Dark Chocolate Walnut Doughnuts! These gluten-free, vegan, & paleo doughnuts are baked breakfast perfection! Serve them with a cup of coffee or your afternoon tea!
- Cook Time: 12 mins
- Total Time: 12 mins
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Breakfast, Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 Large Yellow (Ripe) Plantain
- ¼ Cup Arrowroot Starch
- 3 TB Dark Chocolate Walnut Nutchello™
- 2 TB Unsweetened Dark Cocoa Powder
- 1 Tsp Baking Powder
- 1 TB Cocoa Stevia Syrup
- 2 TB Crushed Unsalted Raw Walnuts
- 2 TB Unsalted Raw Walnut Pieces (to top, garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Puree the plantain and Nutchello™ in a food processor until smooth.
- In a mixing bowl, scoop out the plantain puree, then add the rest of the ingredients to the bowl and mix well to form a smooth batter.
- In a greased doughnut pan, scoop out the batter into 4 molds, evenly.
- Bake in the oven for 12 minutes. Remove and let cool. Top with additional walnuts to serve!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
Will you be baking some doughnuts today? I hope so! They do make a nice little mid-week boost! Although, is it really mid-week since we had Monday off? Eh, that probably means your in even more need of some healthy decadence (and brain power) to help you through if you're feeling a bit sluggish. What to you say? You in?
More doughnuts?
So tell me:
+ Walnut fan, semi-fan, or not so much?
+ Did you drink chocolate milk as a kid? Actually, I was a Nesquick Strawberry type of girl (pure sugar!)
———————————————-
Stay connected: Facebook: Strength and Sunshine Twitter: @RebeccaGF666 Instagram: rebeccagf666 Pinterest: RebeccaGF666 Bloglovin’: Strength and Sunshine Google+: Rebecca Pytell*This post was sponsored by Silk as part of an influencer activation for the #SilkCrowd and Socialstars™. I received complimentary products to facilitate my review, but all opinions are my own.
Deborah Davis
As a chocolate lover, these healthy dark chocolate walnut doughnuts represent a wonderful guilt-free pleasure. I can't wait to try this recipe!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, yes! Who doesn't love chocolate treats!
Silly Mummy
These look so amazing - I want one right now!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Of course 😉
Raia
Those sound Uh-mazing, Rebecca! I definitely need to have some for breakfast! 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yes, yes! They'll make the day great!
Nikki Frank-Hamilton
I love a great donut. And a great recipe with few ingredients and steps to follow. This fits all those areas. And Chocolate? Seriously! I'm not a huge walnut fan either, but I don't shun the nut! LOL These are definitely going to be tried! I so gotta get that donut pan! ARG! You are tempting me!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I mean...and anything paired with chocolate is.a.winner!!!!!
Ginny McMeans
Looking great! Love Nutchello and this is a nice way to use it in baking.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Right? It's so great for baking!
kimmythevegan
Woah that Nutchello looks amazeballs. I'll have to keep my eye out for it.
And your mom is so nice =) Making sure you have walnuts for your awesomesauce recipe.
Wow. I can't wait to try these out. Whenever I see a doughnut recipe come up on my blog, I get excited and then realize it's not gluten-free. I never have to worry about that with you =D
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha never! You'll love these doughnuts!
Cristina at Ava's Alphabet
Oh, yum! These look amazing and your photos are gorgeous! I have never made my own donuts. I might have to try!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Deborah @ Confessions of a mother runner
Believe it or not I've never made my own donuts! These look so yummy!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
That's a sad thing!
Sarah
These look delicious!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Laura Gilleland
Hey, this was perfect timing for National Doughnut Day last week! You are so right, doughnuts always taste great! Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It was and I had no idea!
DessertForTwo
I'm so into these!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Good!
Cathy Lawdanski
This doughnut has everything I love - it's a cakes-doughnut, dark chocolate AND walnuts. Looks so good and your pictures are great.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Fantastic! I hope you can enjoy them!
Kathryn @ Family Food on the Table
Glad you busted out your doughnut pan again so we could all have these delicious dark chocolate walnut doughnuts! Love chocolate and walnuts (which is my favorite nut) together 🙂 Pinned!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Hahahahaha, well I'm glad they're someone's FAVORITE nut 😉 I'll say I can tolerate them now 😉
Miz Helen
I love these awesome doughnuts!
Miz Helen
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
Clotilde/Craftybegonia
Those look absolutely amazing and I love your photos! Thanks for sharing.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you so much!
Megan @ MegUnprocessed.com
These are my kind of donuts!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Everyone's kind of doughnut 😉
Marla
Hi Rebecca,
Boy these donuts sure sound tasty and healthy. Pinned & tweeted!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
They do and they are! Thank you Marla!
Christie
Walnuts in doughnuts - Yes! Sounds delicious!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
A perfect combo!
Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks
That's one awesome doughnut recipe! I love the dark chocolate and how clever to put nuts inside!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you Rachelle!
Donna Parker
You had me at chocolate...and doughnuts and come to think of it, walnuts. These look yummy. I've bookmarked, shared, and will try. Thank you. 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you! Enjoy!
julia-tagandtibby
Great photos! I haven't tried Nutchello before, but love chocolate + walnuts. Sounds good!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Ah well then you will love this! Thank you Julia!
Tara | Treble in the Kitchen
So funny that you don't like walnuts…I love walnuts!! They make a really smooth nut butter that comes together much quicker than some other nuts 🙂 Also, love that you used plantain flour. These look really great and creative!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yea! They seem like they would since they're must more "oily" than something like an almond!
Plantain puree, haha! No flour!
Megan A Teet
Yum, I could eat these all day long! They look so good and decadent!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
And there'd be nothing wrong with that!
Jenna @ A Savory Feast
I want to make these for breakfast soon! They sound soooo good (and good for me, too!). Hooray for healthy donuts!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yes! Double yes!
Annmarie
Drooooling. Totally want one of these right MEOW. Happy National Donut Day! 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Hahaha! And I had NO idea!!!
Julie @ Running in a Skirt
So easy and good! Love how simple they are!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you Julie!
Izzy Bruning
These look amazing!
I love dark chocolate so much, I have never really tried walnuts before but with this recipe I sure will!
Izzy | https://plantbasedizzy.wordpress.com/
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Well this is the perfect way to try (and fall a little bit in love 😉 )
Lisa @ Fun Money Mom
These look absolutely delicious! I love dark chocolate but have never tried dark chocolate doughnuts before...YUMM!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Dark chocolate in every thing and every way!
Lily
Wow, I can't believe how decadent your doughnut looks and sounds for something so healthy - good job!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, well thanks!
Kristy @ Southern In Law
These look SO good - and i bet no one can tell they're paleo!
I'm definitely a walnut fan!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Everything but nut free!
Cristina @ I Say Nomato
Hooray for another doughnut recipe! I think walnuts might be one of my favourite nuts, actually, so this sounds perfect. Yum!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, really? Well then these are perfect!
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
The first thing I thought when I saw this was "yum, I could eat these for breakfast"
I can imagine them going down really well with my first cuppa of the day. And then the next one, and then the next one.....you get the picture? 😉
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Mmmhmm 😉 And 'tis a beautiful picture!
masala girl
oh i was also a strawberry nesquick fan! hah. i actually strongly disliked chocolate growing up, only over the past year or so have i started to like dark chocolate! and im the same with walnuts, too!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
That stuff was the only way I would drink milk 😛
O goodness! Well I'm glad you like it now and DARk at that! I love it super duper bitter 😉
susan / the wimpy vegetarian
These look fantastic!!! And your photos are really lovely 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you Susan!
Joanna @ Everyday Made Fresh
I love the new Silk Nutchello, and I love that you used it in this recipe! I bet these are delicious!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It's so delicious! Thank you Joanna!
Samara Thiessen
What I love especially about these is that they are healthy 🙂 They look amazing, too! This summer I will be spending many days trying to experiment with healthy recipes - this one is on my list!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I know you will love these! Healthy doughnuts are so fun to make (and eat!)
Carly @ FitLiving Eats
YUM! Can you mail some in a box to me? 😉 These look delicious!!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, we can arrange 😉
Megan - The Emotional Baker
Healthy donuts? Sign me up. I don't love traditional ones, (because they make me feel sick) but I'm sure I'll love these. This chocolate walnut combo is genius 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, yes! These only make you feel GOOD 😉
The Vegan 8
Ha! I totally have a chocolate walnut recipe I wrote awhile back but haven't shared yet because I was perfecting the texture, but of course my recipe is totally different. Anyways, these look totally delicious, that drink sounds sooo good! I remember Sophia making a shake with hers, I just love chocolate and walnuts together!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It seems to be a new winning combo! Any and all ways it's delicious!
Anjali @ Vegetarian Gastronomy
Ha! Love your opening statement...what's life without doughnuts...completely agree, especially when they are dark chocolate! These look delicious and love your use of the nutchello and plantain!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Right? We just NEED them to live a good life 😉
Mel @ avirtualvegan.com
Chocolate and walnut is just the perfect combo. Add doughnuts to the mix and I'm in heaven. I have yet to find Nutchello though which is a shame. We tend to be a bit behind the times with new things here.
I really need to use my doughnut pan again soon. It's been sat (crying) in a dark cupboard just like yours was!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You'd think we'd all be using our beloved doughnut pans more! Haha! They suffer so much but bring so much joy!
Immaculate
Yum! Chocolate and healthy in a dessert ? Count me in!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Breakfast!
Casey the College Celiac
STUNNING AS ALWAYS! You had me when I heard "dark chocolate walnut." YUM!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
A match made in heaven!
Chrisy @ Homemade Hooplah
Such a creative recipe! And I absolutely love out the outside of these baked - so pretty!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you so much Chrisy!
Linda @ Veganosity
Love walnuts and I was a chocolate milk fan when I was a kid. Those doughnuts look so good that you've convinced me to get out my doughnut pan.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Woohoo for doughnut baking!!!
Nadia
Oh my! These doughnuts look amazing! Made using plantain?! Love that idea 😀
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
The only way to do a baked doughnut!
Bianca - ElephantasticVegan
These donuts are so pretty! I really like the small dark cracks in there.. kind of looks like a vulcano surface or something like that. Using plantains in the mixture is such a good idea!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Bahahaha! I love that description Bianca 😉 A volcanic eruption of goodness in your mouth 😉
Sonali- The Foodie Physician
I love Silk Nutchello and just bought the dark chocolate walnut flavor for the first time! Like you, I'm more of a cashew girl and I usually buy the toasted coconut and cashew version. These look great- you've inspired me to buy a doughnut pan!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I just love all 2 Nutchellos! I mean, how could you go wrong with any sweet decadent nut milk! I just love this one for baking!
Michelle De La Cerda
These doughnuts look to die for. I am a big chocolate and walnut fan, not to mention they are in the form of a doughnut. Yum!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I think we found your dream doughnuts 😉
Courtney
Dark chocolate and walnuts-- a perfect combination! 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yes it is!
Abby @ WinsteadWandering
I wasn't allowed to have much chocolate milk as a kid, but my current pregnancy cravings seem to be trying to make up for that. These doughnuts look SO good!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, well these will satisfy that craving...healthfully!
Uma
Looks lovely Rebecca! I am big fan of donut. But after staring healthy diet, I stopped eating it, now I got to know that we can bake them!! Thanks!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yes you can!
Ashley@CookNourishBliss
I still have yet to buy a donut pan! But I always think about it whenever I see recipes! These sound wonderful - love the chocolate / walnut combo!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You must! They are so cheap!
Citra Kale @Citra's HOme Diary
not just for breakfast... I should need them for my afternoon coffee time!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Perhaps morning, mid-day, and a nice night cap 😉
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish
These look so yummy! How can you go wrong with chocolate doughnuts.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It's impossible 😉
Kristina
I used to dislike walnuts, but now I LOVE them. need to find my donut pan...
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Hahaha, my feelings exactly 😉
Mandy
DOUGHNUTS!!!!! Oh, man...the name of these totally caught my eye because I loooooooove walnuts + dark chocolate, so these sound incredible! It's been a long time since I've made doughnuts, but now you've got me craving them. And the plantain method...I must try. These look divine, my friend!
Oh, and I was a chocolate milk kind of girl...not much has changed 😉
xo
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Then I suggest you make these and dunk them in some chocolate milk....or just more of this Nutchello 😉
Lane & Holly @ With Two Spoons
Donuts and healthy? Heading out to buy a donut pan today!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Woohoo!! You won't regret it!
Michele @ paleorunningmomma
You had me at dark chocolate but I'll happily take the walnuts and of course the doughnuts (!!) too 🙂 So good and love the photos
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Hahaha 😉 Thank you Michele <3
Liz @ The Clean Eating Couple
I've been on a serious donut kick lately! They're so much fun to make. I love dark chocolate + walnuts together - so I'm definitely trying these!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
They are fun to make!
lacey@fairytalesandfitness
These look so delicious. The only thing you need with this would be a cup of coffee.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Got that right! Perfect breakfast!
Marye
Dark chocolate and walnuts? These look amazing!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Mmhmm 😉 Thanks Marye!
Kennedy
This looks so delicious! I really want to try this out 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you Kennedy!
Chrystal @ Gluten-Free Palate
You already know how I fell about donuts 😉 And I love that there are only 8 ingredients in these.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, yes 😉 And chocolate doughnuts at that 😉
Tara
These look amazing! I love that crust. It has been too long since I have pulled out my doughnut pans (I may have an obsession- I have 3) too. Probably since around fall. This looks like a great reason to bring them out of hiding!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Hahaha! I only have the one, but I do want to buy the mini doughnut pan soon 😛
Cynthia L
I love this recipe and have to get out my donut pan soon! I did drink chocolate milk as a kid - it was a special treat in our house. Using dark chocolate is a great idea.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yes! Get that pan out!
Haha, chocolate is always a treat as a kid!
Laura
You've seen how much I love doughnuts, and the chocolate walnut combo is ALWAYS a win! These look delicious Rebecca:)
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I think it's a new favorite combo of mine 😉
Gloria Duggan
These look so good. I have just been experimenting with donuts....they are such fun!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yes they are!!! Anything you can imagine can be made into a doughnut flavor!
Amanda
Yum! I could use some of these this morning! It would be a great pick me up!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
That it would 😉
safira
Can't believe how healthy and good these sound. Love plantain!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you so much Safira!
rachel @ Athletic Avocado
Can't believe these are made with plantains! You are SOOOO creative Rebecca! I want one right now with some coffee 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Coffee and doughnuts <3
Emily @ Life on Food
Yes please! A good doughnut is necessary every now and then.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
More like all the time!
Farrah
Sigh, this just begs the question--where the hecks did my donut pan go!? I need to make these! ;_;
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Maybe I should send you one as a graduation gift 😉