Keto Krispy Kreme Donuts
Published August 1, 2020 • Updated February 1, 2026
Fried keto donuts with a tender cake like center
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Tasting just like a Krispy Kreme donut, these glazed keto donuts are cake based, fried and coated with a sweet vanilla glaze.
This is the BEST keto donut recipe. I’ve tried many donut recipes but this is by far the one that tastes the closest to an actual donut. They’re perfect in the morning paired with a cup of coffee.
The dough uses simple ingredients for a tender, cake like texture. Frying gives them a crispy crust similar to a yeast based donut. You can also bake them in the oven. It’s a sweet way to start off your morning.
The glaze is sugar-free and looks just like the glaze on a Krispy Kreme donut. But if you’re more of a chocolate glazed donut fan like Homer Simpson, try coating them in a sugar free chocolate glaze. Both are easy to make and will satisfy your donut cravings!
How to make keto donuts
- Whisk together dry ingredients – almond flour, protein powder, sugar free sweetener (like monk fruit or erythritol), baking powder, xanthan gum and salt.
- Mix in remaining ingredients – melted butter, sour cream and hot water.
- Mold into a donut shape or press into a donut pan.
- Fry in lard or avocado oil until golden brown or bake in the oven.
- Make sugar free Krispy Kreme glaze, chocolate glaze or cinnamon sugar powder and dip or dust your donuts.
Loving pastries?? Try making keto cinnamon rolls or low-carb apple fritters.
Key ingredients & substitutions
For this recipe, I like using the combination of almond flour and protein powder. It produces a texture and flavor closest to a traditional cake donut. However, I understand some don’t have access to the ingredients required or are allergic to nuts. Here are some ingredient substitutions you can make for this recipe:
- Almond flour – Gives our donuts substance. Coconut flour works instead, but you need to decrease the amount. Use 2/3 cups coconut flour as a substitute. Sunflower seed flour also works if you’re allergic to nuts. It measures cup for cup with almond flour so use the same amount here.
- Protein powder – Creates a protein matrix and acts similar to gluten in all-purpose flour. Forms a spongy texture in these donuts. Look for low-carb or zero carb protein powder. Unflavored or vanilla flavor.
- Sugar free sweetener – Can use monk fruit/erythritol blend like Stevia, Lakanto or even Truvia Sweet Complete. Any will work as long as it measures cup for cup with sugar.
- Xanthan gum – Since this recipe is egg-free, we use xanthan gum as a “glue” to hold the donut together as it bakes or fries. Don’t want to use xanthan gum? You can add a whole egg. Just omit the hot water as well.
- Melted butter – Gives flavor; however melted coconut oil can be used if dairy free.
- Sour cream – Provides that slight tangy flavor that is iconic in traditional cake donuts.
Explore 680+ keto recipe videos with step-by-step instructions, tips, and tricks to make keto easy.
Keto Cake Donuts Ingredients
2 cup almond flour -
1/2 c unflavored or vanilla protein powder
-
2 tablespoons monkfruit sweetener or sweetener of choice
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2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
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2 teaspoon xanthan gum
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1 teaspoon salt
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1/2 cup butter, melted
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1/4 cup sour cream
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1/4 cup hot water
-
lard, for frying or avocado oil
Krispy Kreme Glaze Ingredients
-
1/2 cup confectioners Swerve or use sweetener of choice
-
2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
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2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Step by Step Instructions
Step by Step Instructions
Get a medium bowl
Add the almond flour, protein powder, sugar free sweetener, baking powder, xanthan gum and salt to a medium bowl. Mix until combined.
Shape the dough
Grab a handful of dough and roll it into a short snake shape. Mold the ends together to form a donut shape. Wet hands with a little bit of water or spray oil on your hands to keep the dough from sticking to your hands.
Heat the lard
Add lard to a small non-stick skillet and heat to low – medium heat. Add enough lard to cover the donut almost halfway. Add a couple of donuts to the skillet and fry on each side until golden brown. Can swirl the oil in the pan to help coat the donuts as they cook. DO NOT get your oil too hot – it will cause your donuts to crumble.
Remove it
Remove from skillet and place on a wire rack to cool.
Krispy Kreme
To make the Krispy Kreme glaze, add confectioner’s Swerve, heavy cream and vanilla to a small bowl. Mix to combine. Microwave for 20 seconds to get a thin consistency.
Nutrition disclaimer
The nutrition information provided is an estimate and is for informational purposes only. I am a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.); however, this content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or other qualified health provider before making any lifestyle changes or beginning a new nutrition program.
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Get My Macros (Free) →Frequently Asked Questions
How many carbs are in a donut?
It depends on the type of donut, but generally a plain donut has around 22-25 grams of carbohydrate.
My donuts fell apart when frying. What happened?
If your donut starts to fall apart or flake off when frying, your oil is too hot. The best temperature to fry is at low-medium to medium heat.
My donut isn't cooked all the way in the center. What happened?
You didn't let the donut cook long enough if it is still doughy in the center; however, these donuts will continue to dry as they sit out - especially the next day.
As good as any all purpose flour donut but I found it too crumbly I added an egg and that took care of it plus I made mine in a circle like a biscuit and stuck my finger in the middle and used my thumb and fingers to make hole worked great
Omg… im so angry at idk what! I followed every step to the tieee and the donuts dissolved in the pan when frying them. I used the exact same ingredients but idk what went wrong. I also felt the dough was a bit too sandy and hard to work with..
I'm sorry for your frustration. The problem your having is from the temperature of your oil. Your oil was too hot. It needs to be a medium heat, maybe even low medium depending on your source of heat. But if the dough dissolves, the oil is too hot. The dough is sticky, but shouldn't be gritty unless your almond flour is too coarse. They fry into a perfect cake texture.
I clicked on the print, and it doesn't work. I'd like to make these donuts.
Can someone send me the printable copy please.
If you are directed to the website from Facebook, it won't let you print. It's something Facebook blocks, you have to open the web page in a browser like crome or internet explorer.
I have made these many times, and even shared the recipe with my brother and sister-in-law who are doing keto. We eat them almost every week. I have perfected the recipe with other add ins, like ooo donut flavor extract and a dash of nutmeg. I also use egg white protein powder instead of whey protein powder. My relatives have offered to pay me to continue to make these for them.
However, if I wanted to make these pumpkin flavored, how would you recommend adding a little pumpkin purée? And would that change any of their other liquid ingredients? I know you have a pumpkin donut recipe, but I want to stick with this base recipe because it works so well:)
THANK YOU!!!! I love recipes that are not just almond flour only. Almond flour only is just bleh.
I would omit the water and use 1/4 cup pumpkin instead. Maybe even drop the butter down to 1/3 cup and use 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
Thank you very good. I even added apple cider flavoring seasonings too a few so delicious especial when it cooled!!!!
These look SO amazing, I definitely have to try them! I was just wondering, is there a different oil that works well for frying these donuts?
You can use anything that has a high smoke point - avocado oil would work too
These donuts were phenomenal!! They were so easy to make and tastes amazing! The entire family loved them, including my non keto 16 year old son. These will forever be my go to donut recipe. Here’s the finished product. I actually baked them in a donut pan for 15 mins and also deep fried them in lard for a few seconds to get a little deep fried crispness. I used Lily’s white choc chips and added a little maple extract to it before dipping them into the icing . I added some pecans and cinnamon sprinkle to some , used some sugar free sprinkles on a few and then switched it up to Lily’s milk choc chips for the rest. https://photos.app.goo.gl/6km5f5wAerKZYBRw5.
The taste of the one that didn't burn was good, the donuts were quite oily. My oil was too hot at the beginning. I started frying them at 180°F but they got burned within a minute. I know you said to fry on medium heat but what temperature should the oil be at when using a cooking thermometer?
Thanks for sharing your recipes!
I don't know the exact temperature. Just like with anything that you fry, the first donut is usually a test to see how hot the oil is. If it looks like it starts to burn, then turn it down.
This was AMAZING!!!!!! This recipe was exactly what I was looking for!!!!!
I divided each ingredient by 4 and it yielded 2 donuts. I used why isolated protein and air fryer.
I loved the moist, buttery texture and my sour cream donuts craving were instantly fulfilled without any guilty!!!!!!!!!
I usually don't comment on anything, but I just wanted to show how much I appreciate you, Annie! This is super easy, quick, healthy, just perfect recipe!
Thank you!
How long did you air fry and did you turn them?
These are amazing. My batter/dough was the perfect consistency to fill a piping bag and pipe to fill a 7 donut mould tray then baked for 14mins. Perfect. Also love that they don’t contain eggs.
Sounds wonderful. Why only post NET CARBS?
Could you please start posting the TOTAL CARB count for those of us that count total carbs?
Yes, I am working on this. Total carbs for one donut is 7.3 g
Cool, there are no eggs so this recipe can be easily scaled to make fewer than 8 donuts! Saving them for weekend treats, I'm not sure they would keep long enough to eat them all. I can hardly wait to make them.
I don’t know what went wrong. I followed the directions, using the coconut flour because I didn’t have protein powder. It stayed crumbly and fell apart when I tried rolling it and forming a ring. I even added more water and it didn’t work. I have the worst luck with coconut flour, lol.
Sorry about that. I haven't heard that happening before. It's almost like it needed more fat.
I did them this morning, they turned out fabulous!!! I used a fry daddy and wow, I will never want a carb loaded one again. This tops them all! Here's a picture f the finished product:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/1SVZuuUmLQciDpyd8
Thank you for this delight! Just made my keto journey much easier!!!!??????
Wow..your doughnuts look amazing. Did you follow the recipe exactly? I am curious about what protein powder you used. I grew up making the fried cake doughnuts so I am very very interested in making these since I am a keto gal now.
I was SO excited to try this recipe and followed it to a T. Unfortunately, my dough was super soft and didn't cook on the inside by either frying in lard, or by baking in the oven. After the lard failed, I tried the oven and baked for 10 minutes. Nothing. I added 6 minutes. Nothing. I added an additional 10 minutes and the outside browned but the inside was raw. I had thermostats in my oven, so I know it wasn't my oven temperature that failed. Do you have any suggestions as to what might have gone wrong? I'm a long-time baker who regularly tries new recipes. What might have gone wrong?
I'm sorry you are having trouble with this recipe. Maybe the donut is too big or thick? These donuts do continue to cook and solidify after they sit and cool for a while. By the next day, they should be set.
JP Momma, you could have had your oil at too high of a temp, I am also a passionate cook and I have found when something turns golden but still uncooked in the middle, the oil needs to be turned down. I am trying these tonight and I will let you know how I do. Oh yes, your living location (altitude) plays a big part. Hope this helps.
M
I wanted to mention I added 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese and additional sweetener, as I tasted a pinch and felt it needed it. I baked mine first, then fried it in avocado oil and it came out perfect. I was able to make ten using my donut mold. Used the glaze for a few and chocolate iced several then used Cinnamon sugar for the last two, my hubbys fave.
Very rich.