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Old Fashioned Gluten-Free Doughnut coated with granulated sugar.

Old Fashioned Gluten-Free Doughnuts

Roll these doughnuts in cinnamon-sugar or leave them plain. They are great either way.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 12
Author GlutenFreeBaking.com

Ingredients

For Cinnamon-Sugar

  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

For the Doughnuts

  • 2 1/2 cups white rice flour (10 ounces; 283 grams)
  • 1/2 cup potato starch (2 ounces; 56 grams)
  • 1/2 cup tapioca starch (2 ounces; 56 grams)
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar (3 1/2 ounces; 100 grams)
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon xanthan gum
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg or 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 large egg (about 1 3/4 ounces; 50 grams)
  • 1 cup buttermilk (8 ounces; 226 grams)
  • 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil (about 1 ounce; 24 grams)
  • Oil for frying

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Topping: In a small bowl, combine the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon for rolling. Set aside.

  2. Make the Doughnuts: Whisk together white rice flour, potato starch, tapioca starch, granulated sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, xanthan gum, and nutmeg. 

  3. Add egg and buttermilk. Mix until a dough forms. (Use medium-high speed on a handheld mixer and medium speed on a stand mixer.) Dough will be thick and sticky.

  4. Generously white rice flour your counter. This dough is sticky. So, you need a good amount of white rice flour on the counter to prevent it from sticking.
  5. Turn half the dough out onto your floured countertop. Generously white rice flour the top of the dough. Pat the dough into a rectangle. Roll out, using a rolling pin, to about 1/2-inch thick using a doughnut cutter. (Or you can use two round cutters. First cut the large round, then cut the small center hole. This center hole, believe it or not, is important. It helps the doughnut to fry evenly.)
  6. Repeat with remaining dough.
  7. Place cut doughnuts on a lightly white rice floured baking sheet.
  8. Fill a fryer according to manufacturer's directions. Heat oil to 375 degrees.
  9. Depending on the size of your fryer, fry one to three doughnuts at a time. It is better to err on the side of frying fewer doughnuts. This will keep your oil hot and your doughnuts won't get greasy.
  10. After one minute, flip doughnuts over and fry until each side is golden brown.
  11. Using a heat-safe spatula, remove doughnuts from the hot oil. Drain on paper towels and toss into cinnamon sugar mixture.

  12. Repeat. And be sure to use the doughnut dough scrapes for doughnut holes! Don't let it go to waste.