These key lime donuts are so fun and full of bright citrus flavor! We're topping them off with a classic glaze plus gluten free graham cracker crumbs.
Okay you guys. This one is a must-bake for anyone who loves key lime pie! These donuts are so fun to make and seriously taste like the classic pie we all know and love. If you are a fan of my key lime pie then you really will love these.
Somehow every time I find myself with a few too many limes that I want to use up, into dessert they go. I feel like some people can't wrap their minds around lime flavored dessert (my husband being one of those people) but personally I think this is such a bright flavor and perfect for Summer!
Why You'll Love These Donuts...
- As the name would suggest, these donuts are similar in flavor to key lime pie. So if that's your jam, then you need this recipe in your life.
- The texture! Like all of my baked donuts, these guys are cakey, soft, and oh-so-good.
- I love the glaze and graham cracker topping. We are adding just a bit of lime juice in the glaze, to amp up that flavor. The honey graham cracker crumbs complement it all so perfectly.
What You'll Need...
- The dry ingredients: flour (my favorite GF blend is Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1) + baking powder + baking soda + salt.
- The fat: a bit of melted butter.
- The flavor: sugar + lime juice + lime zest.
- For added moisture: plain Greek yogurt (any milk fat should be fine, I usually go with 0% or 2%) + milk.
- For the glaze: powdered sugar + lime juice + crushed up GF graham crackers.
Can I Use Regular Limes Instead Of Key Limes?
I think this question must come up more than any other when it comes to baking key lime anything. Key limes come from the Florida Keys while "regular" limes are Persian limes.
The primary difference between key limes and regular limes is that key limes are slightly sweeter and not as tart as regular limes. They're also smaller in size.
If you can't find key limes at your local grocery store, you can go ahead and use regular limes. We're not using a ton of lime juice in this recipe and I would honestly be surprised if anyone could really tell the difference. But! If you do have access to key limes, that is the way to go.
How To Make...
To make my gluten free donuts, we'll start by mixing the dry ingredients up in one bowl and the wet ingredients (that includes the sugar and zest) in a separate, larger bowl.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until just combined. The batter should be light and almost have a mousse-like texture.
Pipe or spoon the batter into your greased donut pans. And that's it! Bake them on 350ºF for around 12 minutes. Make sure the donuts have cooled completely before you attempt to glaze.
The glaze really could not be any simpler. You will just mix up some powdered sugar with lime juice until you have the right consistency. If it's too thick, add more lime juice, but only work one tablespoon at a time to avoid adding too much.
This final step is optional but I'd really recommend against skipping it 🙂 sprinkle gluten free graham cracker crumbs on top before the glaze sets. These are my favorite gluten free graham crackers to use in baking.
Tips For Making The Best Key Lime Donuts...
- As with all of my recipes, I recommend using a kitchen scale to weigh your flour rather than measuring it in cups. This is the best way to ensure accuracy and even a little too much flour will change the texture! You will need 222 grams of flour for this recipe.
- My mother-in-law gave us a lime juicer and honestly, I use this little gadget more than I ever thought I would! I highly recommend grabbing one for all of your lime (and lemon!) juicing needs. It definitely makes things easier.
- To zest the lime, use a fine grater. Try to avoid getting the white part of the peel, as it's more bitter and not something you really want in your donut batter.
- You may be able to get away with not sifting your powdered sugar for the glaze, it all just kind of depends on how clumpy your sugar is.
Key Lime Donut Ingredient Substitutions...
- To make these lime donuts vegan, you will have to substitute your favorite non-dairy butter, yogurt, and milk. I haven't tested this myself but it's important to grab non-dairy Greek yogurt that is similar to consistency and fat content as regular Greek yogurt. It needs to be thick and rich.
- As mentioned above, you can use regular limes if you are having trouble finding key limes. No need to make any adjustments to the measurements.
Did you try my key lime donuts? Leave me a comment below or tag me on Instagram @justastastyblog and #justastastyblog!
For More Gluten Free Donut Recipes, Check Out My...
📖 Recipe
Homemade Key Lime Donuts
Ingredients
For the donuts:
- 1 ½ cups (222g) gluten free flour blend
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup (67g) granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons (42g) unsalted butter melted and cooled
- 1 cup (225g) plain Greek yogurt room temperature
- ¼ cup (60ml) milk room temperature
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 teaspoon lime zest
For the glaze:
- 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar sifted
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- gluten free graham cracker crumbs optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease donut pans and set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, mix the sugar with the melted butter. Add the yogurt, milk, lime juice, and lime zest and mix to combine. Add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and stir until just combined.
- Pipe or spoon the batter into the prepared donut pants. Bake for 12-14 minutes. Allow donuts to cool in the pan before removing and glazing.
To make the glaze:
- Stir together the powdered sugar and lime juice. If the mixture is too thick, add more lime juice (one tablespoon at a time).
- Gently dip each donut into the glaze and immediately top with graham cracker crumbs, if using. Allow glaze to set before serving.
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