These easy healthy chocolate donut holes are gluten free, high protein, low sugar, low carb, and clean eating, can be dairy free. On a sheet of parchment paper are freshly baked medium donut holes. Each is a dark brown chocolate color with a thin white glaze on top like a glazed donut. The inside texture is shown to be soft, fluffy, moist, and the outside has a slight crisp.

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These Healthy Chocolate Donut Holes are gluten free, lower sugar, and higher protein. They’re made with only a few simple ingredients and can be made in either the air fryer or the oven – take your pick! Either way, you’ll get to enjoy fluffy soft, chocolatey donut holes that melt in your mouth with every bite.

One of the first popular recipes I shared on here was for my Healthy Baked Donuts. They’re gluten free, dairy free, and low sugar which for a donut is a lot to ask if you still want it to taste good! But this OG recipe shocked me and everyone else because it tastes just like a freshly baked cake donut from a shop. So of course I had to make other flavors of my favorites like my Healthier Pumpkin Donuts, and now THESE donut holes! I can’t tell you why it’s taken so long for me to make a donut hole recipe but now that I have, it might be a bit before I go back to a regular donut again 🙈

If you’ve ever had Timbits or similar donut holes, then you’re going to LOVE these. I’m a huge cake donut girl and honestly, what’s better than having them in bite size form? The secret to making these so good is using the air fryer! Not only does it take less time, but it also gives the donut holes a slightly crisp outside while still keeping the inside soft, fluffy, and moist. You can always bake these in the oven if you don’t have an air fryer, I include that in the instructions below too. They’ll be just as delicious but might not have that same satisfying crisp on the outside.

Overall, these are one of the easiest ways to satisfy any donut cravings or a nice way to switch things up if you’re looking for a healthier alternative! You can choose to leave them as is or add the frosting glaze for a glazed donut effect. Which I HIGHLY recommend and it’s what takes these to another level.

This Why You’ll Love These

Enjoy warm or cold – These are delicious either warmed or cold! Store them in an air-tight container in the fridge for two to three days or longer in the freezer. I’d be surprised if they last long enough to reheat though.
No time – Start to finish, these come together in twenty minutes or less!
Balanced bites – We have a nice balance of macros which make these a balanced snack or treat compared to traditional donuts. There’s healthy fats and protein from the Greek yogurt and egg, protein boost from the protein powder, and carbs from the flour and coconut sugar.
Dietary friendly – These donut holes are gluten free, higher protein, lower sugar, and lower carb. They can be made dairy free with a few swaps listed below.

What You’ll Need

Gluten free flour – I use this 1:1 flour from Bob’s Red Mill but any 1:1 gluten free flour will work. If you don’t need these to be gluten free, you can use regular all-purpose flour.
Coconut sugar – I love this as a lower sugar option, it’s lower glycemic than other sweeteners but tastes just as delicious. Any granulated sweetener will work.
Plain Greek yogurt – This adds to the fluffy bake and gives a boost of protein! You can also try a thick dairy free yogurt like Cocojune or Culina.
Chocolate protein powder – My favorite right now is from Flavcity (code: CALLA) , they have both whey and plant based options. Any chocolate protein powder you like will work!
Cocoa powder – You can also use cacao powder but might need a little more sweetener to hide the bitterness.
Egg – I haven’t tried this with an egg replacement yet so I can’t say for sure if it would work. The egg in this recipe is what helps give the rise and fluffy texture!

Frosting Glaze

Organic powdered sugar – If I use powdered sugar, I always try to use organic because of the quality of ingredients. If you want to keep this a lower sugar option, you can use powdered monkfruit or other powdered alternative.
Milk – Just a splash or two to get the right consistency. Can be dairy milk or non-dairy if you’re using those substitutions for this.

How To Make

Preheat the air fryer to 350F and line the basket with parchment paper. If you’re using the oven, preheat the oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, mix all donut ingredients well until a thick, sticky dough forms. (Tip: For sticky doughs like this, a silicone spatula comes in handy!)
Roll the dough into balls and place in the air fryer basket or on the baking sheet, keeping an inch or two between each. (Tip: To help keep the dough from sticking to your hands too much, get your hands a little wet first.)
Air fry for eight to ten minutes, or if you’re using the oven bake for twelve to fifteen minutes and check at the ten minute mark.
To make the frosting glaze, combine the powdered sugar and a splash of milk in a small bowl. Mix until you reach a glaze consistency. Add splashes of milk until you’ve reached your desired consistency!
Place the baked donut holes in a bowl and pour the glaze on top. Gently stir until they’re evenly coated.
Let the glaze set for a few minutes and enjoy!

Recommended Tools

Air fryer or baking sheet – You can make these in either the air fryer or the oven!
Parchment paper
Stainless steel measuring cups and spoons
Glass mixing bowls
Silicone spatula
Glass food storage container – Store these in the fridge for two to three days or in the freezer for longer.

For Your Next Chocolate Fix

Greek Yogurt Brownies (Gluten Free, High Protein)

Double Chocolate Fudge Cookies (Gluten Free, Dairy Free)

Cottage Cheese Chocolate Mousse (Gluten Free, High Protein)

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