Mandarin Glazed Doughnut Gems

Thank you to Fruits From Chile for generously sponsoring this delightful post. All opinions and culinary creations expressed herein are entirely my own.

There’s something irresistibly charming about donut holes, aren’t there? These bite-sized delights offer all the joy of a full-sized donut in a perfectly portioned package. But what if we told you they could be even better? Introducing our Mandarin Glazed Donut Holes – a truly special treat that’s not only incredibly delicious but also thoughtfully crafted to be paleo-friendly, gluten-free, dairy-free, and even AIP (Autoimmune Protocol) compliant. Forget heavy, sugar-laden desserts; these donut holes are naturally sweetened and burst with a vibrant citrus flavor that will awaken your taste buds.

At the heart of this recipe are fresh, juicy mandarins, and this time of year, we especially adore the ones from Chile. These little citrus gems are truly a marvel – easy to peel, bursting with sweet-tart flavor, and incredibly versatile. While they’re a perfect grab-and-go snack, their bright essence truly shines when incorporated into baked goods. The natural sweetness and aromatic zest of mandarins infuse these donut holes with an unparalleled freshness, creating a dessert that feels both indulgent and surprisingly light. Each bite offers a cakey texture, balanced sweetness, and that unmistakable zing of citrus.

Why Mandarins from Chile are Special

Mandarins are not just tasty; they’re packed with nutritional benefits, making them a fantastic addition to any diet. This time of year, as the seasons shift in the Northern Hemisphere, many of us crave fresh, vibrant produce. This is where mandarins from Chile become a culinary lifesaver! Due to their opposite growing seasons, Chile provides a continuous supply of fresh, high-quality mandarins during our summer and fall months when local citrus might be out of season. These small but mighty fruits are renowned for being incredibly easy to peel, making them a convenient snack for busy schedules or a quick vitamin boost.

Beyond their convenience, mandarins are nutritional powerhouses. Just two mandarins can provide a remarkable 120% of your daily Vitamin C intake, essential for immune support and skin health, along with 12% of your daily fiber, which aids in digestion. For anyone navigating dietary sensitivities or simply seeking nutrient-dense foods, mandarins offer a naturally sweet and refreshing option. Their bright, slightly tangy flavor is a wonderful antidote to heavier ingredients, providing a perfect counterpoint in baked goods. In this recipe, we harness both the fresh juice for moisture and flavor, and the aromatic zest for an intense burst of citrus, ensuring every donut hole is infused with mandarin goodness. It’s a delightful experience, and you might even find yourself snacking on a few while the donut holes bake!

Crafting the Perfect Mandarin Glazed Donut Holes

Creating these delightful donut holes involves two main stages: preparing the tender, cakey donut base and then coating them in a vibrant mandarin glaze. Don’t be intimidated by the “gluten-free” or “AIP” labels; this recipe is straightforward and designed for success.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Preheat and Prepare: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly grease it to prevent sticking. This ensures your donut holes bake perfectly and release easily.
2. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, sift together the tigernut flour, coconut flour, gelatin, and baking soda. Sifting is crucial for gluten-free flours as it helps remove lumps and ensures an even distribution, leading to a lighter, more consistent texture in your donut holes. Mix until thoroughly combined.
3. Add Wet Ingredients to Form Dough: Pour in the maple syrup and fresh mandarin juice into the dry mixture. Stir well. Next, fold in the palm shortening. Continue stirring until all ingredients are fully incorporated and a cohesive dough forms. This dough will be slightly thick and easy to handle.
4. Chill the Dough: Transfer the dough mixture to the refrigerator and allow it to chill for 5-10 minutes. This chilling period helps the dough firm up slightly, making it easier to form into uniform donut holes and preventing it from spreading too much during baking.
5. Form and Bake: Remove the chilled dough from the fridge. Using your hands, gently roll the dough into 6-8 small, uniform donut holes. Place them evenly spaced on your prepared parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 12-14 minutes, or until the donut holes appear golden brown and are firm to the touch on the outside.
6. Cool Before Glazing: Once baked, carefully transfer the donut holes from the baking sheet to a wire cooling rack. Allow them to cool completely. This step is important; attempting to glaze warm donut holes will result in the glaze melting and sliding off, rather than setting properly.
7. Prepare the Mandarin Glaze: While the donut holes are cooling, prepare your double boiler for the glaze. Fill a medium-sized pot with about two-thirds water and bring it to a medium simmer or low boil. Place a heat-safe bowl over the pot, ensuring the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. Add the coconut butter and coconut oil to the bowl. Stir continuously until both are fully melted and smooth.
8. Finish the Glaze: Carefully remove the bowl from the double boiler (use oven mitts!). Stir in the fresh mandarin juice and half of the mandarin zest. The zest adds a concentrated burst of flavor and visual appeal. Mix well until the glaze is smooth and uniform.
9. Glaze the Donut Holes: Once the donut holes are completely cool, add them one at a time to the warm glaze. Use a spoon to gently coat each donut hole thoroughly with the glaze. Place the glazed donut holes back on the cooling rack, allowing any excess glaze to drip off.
10. Set the Glaze and Serve: For an extra touch of beauty and flavor, sprinkle the remaining mandarin zest over the glazed donut holes. Transfer them to the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes to allow the glaze to firm up and harden. Enjoy these delightful mandarin glazed donut holes immediately, or store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.

Key Ingredients for a Deliciously Healthy Treat

Each ingredient in these Mandarin Glazed Donut Holes is chosen not only for its flavor but also for its specific dietary benefits, ensuring a treat that everyone can enjoy without compromise.

The Flour Blend: Tigernut, Coconut, and Tapioca Starch

Creating a truly satisfying gluten-free and AIP-friendly baked good often relies on a carefully selected blend of flours. For these donut holes, we combine tigernut flour, coconut flour, and tapioca starch (which can be substituted with arrowroot flour). This unique trio is the secret to their wonderfully cakey texture. Tigernut flour, despite its name, is not a nut but a small root vegetable. It’s naturally sweet, high in fiber, and contributes a pleasant, slightly earthy flavor. Coconut flour is highly absorbent, helping to create a dense yet tender crumb, while tapioca starch (or arrowroot) acts as a binder, giving the donut holes that desirable chewiness and structure often missing in gluten-free recipes. I haven’t experimented with other flour substitutions, so sticking to this blend, or the arrowroot alternative, is recommended for the best results.

The Magic of Mandarins

As mentioned, mandarins are the star here, and for good reason! Their bright, sweet-tart flavor is irreplaceable. Using both the fresh juice and the zest ensures a multi-layered mandarin experience. The juice provides natural sweetness and moisture to the dough and adds a lovely tang to the glaze, while the zest contains potent essential oils that deliver an intense burst of citrus aroma and flavor. This combination lifts the entire recipe, making it truly memorable. Mandarins are a fantastic source of Vitamin C and dietary fiber, making these donut holes a treat you can feel good about enjoying. If you’re intrigued to learn more about this versatile fruit and its benefits, you can find additional information here.

Fats for Texture and Glaze: Palm Shortening, Coconut Butter & Coconut Oil

Palm Shortening: This ingredient plays a crucial role in achieving the desired cakey texture of the donut holes. Palm shortening is a solid fat at room temperature, which helps create a tender crumb and prevents the donut holes from becoming too crumbly, a common issue in gluten-free baking. It’s also an excellent AIP-friendly fat. While some might consider substituting with coconut oil, I’ve found that palm shortening yields the best, most consistent cakey result for this particular recipe.

Coconut Butter & Coconut Oil (for the glaze): These two ingredients are fundamental for creating the smooth, glossy, and firm glaze that elevates these donut holes. Coconut butter, made from the whole coconut flesh, adds a rich, creamy texture and a subtle coconut flavor that complements the mandarin beautifully. Coconut oil helps the glaze melt smoothly and then set firmly once chilled, giving the donut holes that satisfying snap. While the donut holes are delicious on their own, the mandarin glaze truly takes them from a simple baked good to an extraordinary, irresistible dessert experience.

Tips for Success & Variations

• Storage: These donut holes are best enjoyed fresh, but they can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. The glaze will remain firm when chilled.
• Even Donut Holes: For consistent baking, try to make your donut holes as uniform in size as possible. A small cookie scoop can help with this.
• Glaze Consistency: If your glaze thickens too much while you’re working, you can gently warm it again over the double boiler for a few moments until it’s spoonable.
• Flavor Boost: For an even more intense mandarin flavor, consider adding a tiny pinch of ground ginger or cardamom to the dough.
• Make it Your Own: While this recipe is designed to be AIP-friendly, if you don’t follow that protocol, feel free to experiment with other citrus fruits for the glaze, such as lemon or lime, for a different twist.

These Mandarin Glazed Donut Holes are more than just a sweet treat; they’re a testament to how delicious and satisfying healthy eating can be. With their vibrant citrus flavor, tender cakey texture, and thoughtful dietary considerations, they are sure to become a beloved recipe in your household.

Mandarin Glazed Donut Holes Recipe

Mandarin Glazed Donut Holes

Ingredients

• ⅓ cup tigernut flour
• ¼ cup coconut flour
• ¼ cup tapioca starch (or arrowroot starch)
• 1 tbsp gelatin
• ¼ tsp baking soda
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• 1 tbsp fresh juice of a mandarin
• ¼ cup palm shortening
• For the glaze:
• 3 tbsp coconut butter
• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• Juice and zest of one mandarin

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a baking sheet lined with lightly greased parchment paper.
2. Sift together the tigernut flour, coconut flour, tapioca starch, gelatin, and baking soda in a medium-sized bowl until evenly combined.
3. Stir in the maple syrup and fresh mandarin juice. Fold in the palm shortening and stir until the mixture is fully combined and forms a cohesive dough. Transfer the mixture to the fridge and allow to chill for 5-10 minutes.
4. Form the dough into 6-8 uniform donut holes and place them on the parchment-lined baking sheet.
5. Bake for 12-14 minutes, or until the donut holes are hardened and lightly golden on the outside. Carefully transfer to a cooling rack and allow to cool completely.
6. Prepare the glaze by assembling a double boiler: use a medium pot filled two-thirds of the way with water and bring to a medium simmer/low boil. Place a heat-safe bowl over the pot and add the coconut butter and coconut oil. Stir continuously to melt evenly.
7. Carefully remove the bowl from the double boiler and mix in the mandarin juice and half of the mandarin zest.
8. Add the cooled donut holes one at a time to the glaze. Use a spoon to coat each donut hole well with the glaze.
9. Top with additional mandarin zest, if desired, and transfer to the fridge for 15-20 minutes to allow the glaze to harden. Enjoy immediately or store in the fridge in an airtight container for 2-3 days.

Notes

All nutritional information is an estimation and will vary based on ingredients used. Nutritional information does not include optional ingredients.

All nutrition facts are estimated and will vary.