7 Healthier Doughnut Recipes to Light Up Your Hanukkah

You'll enjoy these healthier doughnuts without steering away from your nutritional goals too much.
Image Credit: Drazen Zigic/iStock/GettyImages

If you celebrate Hanukkah, you know that sufganiyot (aka jelly-filled doughnuts) are both delicious and quintessential to the Jewish holiday. In fact, the delicious dessert was declared the official food of Hanukkah by the Israeli Labor Federation in the 1920s.

Advertisement

Whether you're observing the Festival of Lights with your immediate family, a few friends or solo this year, we've rounded up seven flavor-packed doughnut recipes so you can enjoy all that baked goodness in your own kitchen. Even if you're not the biggest fan of jelly doughnuts, we've got delicious alternatives you'll want to make this Hanukkah (and, really, all year round).

Video of the Day

Video of the Day

Try your hand at these healthy doughnut recipes — all under 400 calories each — to bring some sweetness to your Hanukkah table.

1. Baked Donuts Filled With Jelly

These baked doughnuts are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside — and you don't even need to fry them.
  • 211 calories

Advertisement

If you're making sufganiyot at home but want to avoid deep-frying them, you'll love this lightened-up, baked recipe.

"Oven-baked doughnuts are lower in calories than traditional ones," says plant-based dietitian Amy Gorin, RDN and owner of Plant-Based Eats. Plus, it's easy to customize by swapping the jelly or jam to any flavor you please.

Advertisement

Get the Baked Donut Filled With Jelly recipe and nutrition info from Natasha's Kitchen.

2. Lemon Almond Chai Doughnuts

These doughnuts are full of rich, deep flavor thanks to the Indian tea blend.
Image Credit: Maggie Moon/LIVESTRONG.com
  • 377 calories

Advertisement

Doughnuts don't have to be full of sugary fillings and toppings if that's not your thing. This keto-friendly doughnut recipe contains almond butter and pistachios for heart-healthy fats, Gorin says.

Though Gorin does warn that even though the addition of an alternative sweetener lowers the overall sugar content, this recipe does contain sugar alcohols that can cause gastrointestinal upset for people with sensitive stomachs.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Get the Lemon Almond Chai Doughnuts recipe and nutrition info here.

3. High-Protein Chocolate Doughnuts

You'll get 4 grams of satiating fiber in each chocolatey doughnut.
Image Credit: Ariane Resnick/LIVESTRONG.com
  • 358 calories

Advertisement

The three powerhouse ingredients in this recipe are black beans, protein powder and eggs. With 12 grams of protein from the beans and eggs, these doughnuts just might be the most satiating treat you've ever tried.

Get the High-Protein Chocolate Doughnuts recipe and nutrition info here.

4. Easy Jelly Donuts

These sugar-frosted, jelly-filled doughnuts are just as delicious as the bakery version.
  • 230 calories

Advertisement

There's so much to love about these jelly doughnuts. They're filled with a sweet raspberry jam that oozes out of the sides and looks so scrumptious. Each doughnut contains 6 grams of protein, which will help keep you fuller for longer. If you're looking to limit your sugar intake or reduce calories, consider skipping or limiting the amount of powdered sugar you use in the coating, Gorin says.

Get the Easy Jelly Donuts recipe and nutrition info from A Farm Girl's Kitchen.

5. Baked Gingerbread Donuts With Maple Glaze

You can use either unsalted butter or coconut oil to make these, depending on what's in your pantry.
  • 104 calories

Advertisement

"These doughnuts are a calorie-controlled treat, with each one containing just a little over 100 calories," Gorin says. Not to mention, they're full of seasonal flavors like spiced gingerbread and sweet maple that are cozy and comforting come winter. Bonus: The addition of ginger and cinnamon adds rich antioxidants to the recipe.

Get the Baked Gingerbread Donuts With Maple Glaze recipe and nutrition info from Amy's Healthy Baking.

6. Paleo Blueberry Doughnuts

Whether you're on a paleo diet or not, you'll love the sweet and tart flavor of these fruity doughnuts.
Image Credit: Ariane Resnick/LIVESTRONG.com
  • 369 calories

Calling all blueberry cake doughnut lovers: These fruity treats have all the flavor of your favorite doughnut, without the extra calories and processed ingredients. "These doughnuts fit into a gluten-free diet because they use a base of almond and coconut flours," Gorin says. "Plus, using real raspberries and blueberries give this recipe fiber and antioxidants."

Get the Paleo Blueberry Doughnuts recipe and nutrition info here.

7. Vegan Maple Doughnuts

If you're vegan or have a dairy intolerance, these maple-infused doughnuts are the perfect recipe.
Image Credit: Ariane Resnick/LIVESTRONG.com
  • 358 calories

Don't let these vegan doughnuts fool you — they're crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside. And the cinnamon sugar coating makes them a sweet treat for breakfast or dessert.

"Since these doughnuts are both vegan and gluten-free, they work with a variety of dietary needs," Gorin says. And the addition of cinnamon helps to sweeten the doughnuts without loading up on added sugars.

Get the Vegan Maple Doughnuts recipe and nutrition info here.