Need a sweet treat for your honey this Valentine's Day? You'll win big if you make these Chocolate Donut Holes with Pomegranate Cream Filling. They are sweet, fluffy and filled with creamy goodness. {gluten free}
Love is in the air peeps! And football, but love is more important which is why I made something extra special today. These are the yummiest, you'll never know they are gluten free treats ever. Imagine a fluffy chocolate donut hole rolled in powdered sugar and filled with a pomegranate buttercream...so good! I promise they are worth all the extra work and will impress your family.
I have had this awesome donut hole pan for about a month and I've been dreaming of all the delicious goodies I can make with it. Trust me, this is just the beginning. I'm thinking short cut cake batter donut holes, protein powder donut holes, and paleo donut holes with almond and coconut flour. Stay tuned.
I've been making gluten-free donuts forever and my most popular recipe on the blog is my Gluten Free Doughnuts (Krispy Kreme Copycat). It took me three tries to get these Chocolate Donut Holes with Pomegranate Cream Filling right. My kids didn't mind eating all the rejects. I mean it's still a donut so how bad can it be?
The chocolate donut holes are just like a gluten free cupcake batter. The cream filling is made a bit stiffer with some shortening and flavored with pomegranate jelly. If you can't find pomegranate jelly just use raspberry or strawberry preserves.
I really wanted a pink icing so I had to use a bit of food coloring. I like using Wilton Icing Colors because you only have to use the tiniest amount to get a lot of gorgeous color.
There is a magic to filling this donut hole pan. Fill it ¾ full, not ¼ or ⅓ full, but ¾. If you don't, you will end up with turtle shells and not circles. Trust me, if you look closely, you'll see a few turtle shell shaped donut holes. I put the icing in a piping bag and filled the donuts after rolling them in powdered sugar. Fill those babies up! The filling is heavenly.
These Chocolate Donut Holes with Pomegranate Cream Filling are...
- gluten free (but you'll never know)
- sweet
- fluffy and moist
- chocolatey
- cute as can be
Cheers and Happy Valentine's Day baking!
Chocolate Donut Holes with Pomegranate Cream Filling
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups Bob's Red Mill 1 To 1 Gluten Free Flour
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅔ cup sugar
- 4 tablespoon unsalted butter melted and cooled
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup powdered sugar for rolling in.
- For Filling:
- 1 stick unsalted butter room temperature
- ¼ cup shortening
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3 tablespoon pomegranate jelly
- drop or two of Icing Food Coloring I used Wilton
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º F. Spray donut hole pan with cooking spray.
- Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, soda, baking powder, salt and sugar in a large bowl.
- In another small bowl whisk the remaining ingredients.
- Add wet ingredients to dry and mix gently.
- Fill each donut hole ¾ full.
- Bake for about 8-10 minutes.
- Let cool.
- Roll in powdered sugar.
- For Filling:
- Using a stand mixer, beat butter, shortening and salt for a minute.
- Add sugar one cup at a time and mix well.
- Add jelly and vanilla, mix.
- Add food coloring a little bit at a time until you get desired color.
- Put filling into a piping bag and fill donut holes.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
All nutritional information provided is an estimate. For specific dietary needs or concerns, we recommend consulting a nutrition calculator or a qualified expert.
Adapted from my Gluten Free Chocolate Donuts.
Dawn @ Girl Heart Food says
I'm sure your kids didn't mind at all while you were practicing these donut holes! I haven't had much luck with gluten free baking, but these look like the perfect place to start again! Love the pomegranate cream filling - the colour is just so pretty! Can't wait to see what more recipes you come up with. A protein powder version really interests me. Plus, protein powder so healthy, right 😉 Pinned! Happy Valentine's Day!!
Karen Kelly says
Thanks Dawn!
Mary Ann @ thebeachhousekitchen says
OMGee Karen! These are sooo pretty! I love the pink color of the filling. And I bet these taste amazing! Perfect to treat your special Valentine!
Karen Kelly says
Thanks Mary Ann!
annie@ciaochowbambina says
I don't know the last time I had a donut hole but this is about to change everything! These are so stinkin' pretty! Love the pink!
Karen Kelly says
You need donut holes in your life Annie!
Cathy says
you can send all the rejects our way Karen. there's no doubt we would gobble them up! these are the sweetest, most adorable Valentine's Day treats!! and they're small enough that I can definitely have 2 or 3 or 4....right?!
Karen Kelly says
Absolutely Cathy, at least half a dozen!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
Hahaha. Love is definitely more important than football!! And FOOD totally trumps ALL. 😉 Especially donut holes! These are just adorable, Karen! The pomegranate cream filling is so unique and I'm willing to bet it's so delicious!!! I'm going to make a double batch so I can eat it with a spoon! So fun participating in this valentines day round up with you! Too bad it's not in person, because I wish I could gobble up ALL these donuts... so maybe it's better for you that this is virtual? Ha. Pinned! Cheers!
Karen Kelly says
Thanks Chey! So much fun!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers says
Beautiful and that pink colour of the filling is absolutely perfect 🙂 I had no idea there was a donut hole pan! Seeking that out, so I can try these. Happy Valentine's!
Karen Kelly says
Jennifer, you will love that donut hole pan!
Jessy @ The Life Jolie says
These look amazing- I totally would not be sharing this! Yum!
Karen Kelly says
Thanks Jessy!
christinegalvani says
I love donuts and those donut holes looks scrumptious! Love that they are easy to make in the donut hole pan.
Karen Kelly says
Thanks Christine!
Tamara Andersen says
Eating (and drinking) the rejects is half the fun of being a food blogger, right? Seriously, though, I'm late getting breakfast, and your donut holes look so amazing! I'd love a few (or more!) with my coffee right now. The pomegranate pink filling makes them extra special for Valentine's Day! Pinned of course! Happy Valentine's Day to you <3
Karen Kelly says
Yes but eating the rejects can be a problem. I'm around food all day! Thanks Tamara.
Veena Azmanov says
These are so pretty and cute..I love the idea of Pomegranate cream filling. Yum.
Karen Kelly says
Yes Veena the filling is dangerously good!
Kristina says
How perfect for Valentine's Day! That pomegranate filling looks divine!
Karen Kelly says
Thanks Kristina!
Julia @ HappyFoods Tube says
These look so perfect and cute! I like the pomegranate filling.
Karen Kelly says
Thanks Julia!
Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks says
Turtle shell donut holes? LOL! That's hilarious. I went crazy when I first got a donut pan, so I can only imagine how much fun you have been having! These look like they turned out perfect!
Karen Kelly says
Yes, I'm going crazy with my new pan! Thanks!
Cindy says
These are awesome. I am literally in love with donuts right now and I love the links your provided. I need to get that pan. Is it easy to use? I wonder if I can use that for cake pops? Does it bake round? Sorry to ask away but this is an awesome find. I am a sucker for pink and chocolate. You nailed it! And pomegranate? STOP this awesomeness at once!
Karen Kelly says
Hey Cindy, yes it's easy to use and yes they bake round. Cake pops might be too big but not sure. Glad you like them! I use my donut pans all the time!
Izzy @ She Likes Food says
Oohhhh, I need these! I could eat them for the superbowl and vday haha! I love the color of hte pomegranate filling too 🙂
Karen Kelly says
Thanks Izzy! They are definitely super bowl worthy.
Lynn | The Road to Honey says
Oh. . .I am in trouble now. You just gave me the clue that I want, need, gotta have a donut hole pan. I didn't even know there was such a thing (I have donut pans. . .but not donut HOLE pans). BTW. . . I can't wait for you to bring us those paleo and almond & coconut flour donuts. . .too good.
As for these beauties, I absolutely adore the pink on chocolate. It's so pretty. And I bet the kiddos did not mind helping you get rid of the "reject" batches. As a matter of fact, I could see an intentional sabotage just to eeek out yet another batch of these beauties. ?
Kate @ Framed Cooks says
These are just plain Valentine-adorable!
ukuze says
Oh wow!! This looks absolutely delicious!! My family would really enjoy it!!