Vegan Baked Lemon & Thyme Doughnuts! Bursting with tangy lemon and savory thyme. You're going to love this combination of flavors.
If you love lemon, and doughnuts, and baking, then you’re going to LOVE these scrumptious baked vegan doughnuts. If I said that I was slightly obsessed with the mouth-puckering flavor of these confectionary breakfast treats, I’d be lying, because I’m over the moon obsessed with them.
There is so much bright and tangy lemon in these vegan baked doughnuts that you won’t believe that there isn’t a drop of lemon extract in them. True. There’s no need to add any, because I cracked the secret code for how much lemon juice to add to make these beauties all kinds of tart and wonderful. Then, to make them even more summery and fun, I added a few tablespoons of fresh thyme. This delicate little herb balances the citrus in the lemon and creates the most amazing tasting doughnuts that you’ll ever eat. This is not an exaggeration!
The inspiration for the unique flavor combination came from doughnuts that Alex tried when she was in Berlin, Germany last month. She had lemon & thyme doughnuts and strawberry & basil doughnuts at a vegan shop. She raved about them both, but she and her fiancée really loved the lemon & thyme combination, so I decided that I’d attempt to make them first. The others will be coming up next month.
I absolutely love the idea of adding herbs to things that you don’t usually see herbs in, like doughnuts. They’re usually saved for savory dishes, but they work so well with sweet dishes too, and add so much depth and interest to the flavor profile of sweet recipes. If you’re feeling a bit skeptical about putting fresh thyme in doughnuts, toss that thought away, because this vegan doughnut recipe will win you over and convince you to add herbs to things you’d never thought you could.
HOW TO MAKE PERFECT BAKED VEGAN DOUGHNUTS
The secret to chewy, not dry, and tender baked doughnuts is using aquafaba (the liquid in a can of chickpeas) for the egg replacer. It’s truly a magical ingredient that will transform your vegan baking. I’ve used other egg replacers, such as flax eggs, applesauce, chia seeds, and bananas to make vegan doughnuts, and they work fine, but aquafaba yields a better result.
Another key ingredient for getting the perfect bite in a baked doughnut is cake flour. For whatever reason, cake flour always makes a better doughnut than all-purpose flour. Since I’m not a scientist, I can’t tell you why, all I can say is that it works.
Finally, you'll want to make sure not to overwork the batter. Don’t use your mixer to blend the flour and thyme into the wet ingredients. Use a wooden spoon and gently stir the wet and dry ingredients together until just combined. If you overdo it you’ll end up with tough doughnuts.
Stick to these three tips and you’ll make the most delicious baked lemon & thyme vegan doughnuts ever.
Make these and let me know what you think. I hope you’ll love them as much as I did.
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Vegan Baked Lemon & Thyme Doughnuts
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups cake flour
- 2 tsp baking powder aluminum free
- ½ tsp finely ground sea salt
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup aquafaba liquid from chickpeas
- ½ cup lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3 tbsp lemon zest divided
- 3 tbsp minced thyme
- FOR THE GLAZE
- 1/3 cup confectioners sugar
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° and lightly grease your doughnut pan if it’s not a non-stick pan.
- Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt until completely combined.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the sugars, olive oil, aquafaba, lemon juice, 2 tbsp lemon zest, and vanilla until the sugar is mostly dissolved. Add the flour mixture and thyme to the sugar mixture and stir until just combined. Spoon the batter into the doughnut pans, approximately ¾ of the way full. Bake for 15 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center of the doughnuts. Let cool for 5 minutes and then invert onto a wire cooling rack until completely cool. Dip the tops of the cooled doughnuts in the glaze and add lemon zest and a sprig of thyme.
- FOR THE GLAZE
- Mix the confectioners sugar and lemon juice until it’s smooth and creamy.
- Enjoy!
Christine @ Run Plant Based says
Yum, these look wonderful for a fun treat, thanks!
Linda Meyer says
Thank you! They're really good, so much so that my husband and I polished off a dozen over the weekend.
Kristina says
OH MY... I am all about lemon flavors. these sound PERFECT.
Linda Meyer says
Then you're going to love these, Kristina! Thanks so much. 🙂
Becky says
If you need me, I'll be raiding the thyme plant in my garden for this recipe!
Linda Meyer says
Fresh picked thyme, or any herb is always the best option. I picked mine from my garden when I made these doughnuts and it made all the difference. Let me know what you think!
Dianne says
These look so good! I can see why you're obsessed with them!
Linda Meyer says
They're so lemony! I'd make another batch, but that would be a bad idea since I had no willpower when it came to them. 😉
Ginny McMeans says
You've made me very happy. I love lemon flavored treats and these sound perfect.
Linda Meyer says
Yay! I'm so happy you love lemon. Let me know if you try these.
Amy Katz from Veggies Save The Day says
These donuts look amazing! I love anything lemon, and the thyme is a great addition.
Linda Meyer says
Thanks Amy! 🙂
Jasmine says
Anything lemon and Im sold. Combined with donuts, I think I NEED these!
Linda Meyer says
Then these are for you, Jasmine! 🙂
Sarah McMinn says
Those doughnuts look INCREDIBLE. I love the lemon thyme combination here.
Linda Meyer says
Thanks, Sarah! 🙂
Marlena | Where you get your protein says
These lemon donuts are calling to me!! And the addition of thyme sounds amazing!!
Linda Meyer says
Thank you, Marlena!
Trinity says
Wow - this is a real delight for my senses. A bit of culinary genius in there!
Absolutely love seeing how you marry herbs with sweet stuff - and a hint of lemon.
Hi fives!!!
Trinity
x
Linda Meyer says
Thank you so much, Trinity! I love herbs and I'm always trying to find fun ways to use them. When Alex told me about the doughnuts she had in Berlin I got very excited. 🙂
Strength and Sunshine says
Pairing fruity tastes with fresh herbs is always a lovely combo!
Linda Meyer says
Yes it is. Thanks!
Jenn says
Oh, these are gorgeous! Love the idea of adding herbs to the lemon. So bright and summery!
Linda Meyer says
Thank you, Jenn! I love using fresh herbs in unexpected ways. They add so much depth to recipes.
veggiesdontbite says
I am SO into herbs with fruit right now! I've been creating a ton of cocktails with the fruit/herb mixture. These sound delicious!
Linda Meyer says
I'll bring the doughnuts and you bring the cocktails. 😉
Alisa Fleming says
What a lovely, summery flavor combination! I haven't tried aquafaba in donuts yet - this may need to happen soon.
Linda Meyer says
Thanks, Alisa! As you know, aquafaba is amazing stuff.
The Vegan 8 says
These seriously look and sound like some of the yummiest donuts ever! I absolutely love lemon in baked goods and then you threw in some fresh thyme, oh yes! With that glaze on top. I'm so eager to try these!
Linda Meyer says
Thanks lady! I'm so happy they look good to you. 🙂
nicoleanndawson says
These sound like the perfect donut to go with tea :). What a delicious treat.
Linda Meyer says
Thanks Nicole!
Dani Carbery says
Could I use Self Raising flour (I'm I the UK) instead of cake flour + baking powder?
Linda Meyer says
Hi Dani, I think that would work, but I can't be positive. Please let me know how they turn out. 🙂