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These churro dulce de leche filled donut holes are a decadent and delicious treat! They’re free of dairy, refined sugar, and gluten.

 

Churro Dulce De Leche Donut Holes

Have you ever had churros? They’re a popular Latin dessert fried dough pastry that’s coated with cinnamon sugar. They’re perfect to pair with dulce de leche, which is similar to a caramel made with sweetened condensed milk. So, I decided to pair them together and create these churro dulce de leche filled donut holes!

These donut holes are extremely decadent but are totally gluten-free, dairy-free, and free of refined sugar! Heck, yes.

The Ingredients for the Donut Holes

Tigernut flour, tapioca starch, and coconut flour

This is the flour mixture that makes the grain-free donut holes. I haven’t tried swapping any of the flours.

Palm shortening

This is the fat source in the donut holes that make them extra cakey! I haven’t tried any swaps like coconut oil.

Cinnamon and coconut sugar

This is what gives the donut holes the signature churro taste!

Dulce de leche

I have this homemade dairy-free version.

How to make the Churro Dulce De Leche Donut Holes

  • Prep the donut holes: Mix the cinnamon and sugar together and set aside. In a medium bowl, stir together the dry ingredients until fully combined. Pour in the maple syrup and lightly mix. Fold in the palm shortening until the mixture is creamy. Form the dough into eight or nine doughnut holes. Roll each one of the donut holes in the cinnamon sugar coating and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
  • Bake: Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the doughnut holes are hardened on the outside. Remove and allow to cool completely.
  • Fill: Add about 3-4 tbsp of dulce de leche to a piping bag (or plastic bag with the tip cut off) with a round tip. Push a small hole into the donut hole with the frosting tip (or the handle of a fork or spoon) and fill with dulce de leche. Carefully pull the tip back. Repeat for all donut holes. Chill in the fridge for 10-15 minutes to allow the dulce de leche to set.

Can you make these without the filling?

Yes! You can easily make it without and just have cinnamon sugar donut holes.

Can you drizzle the dulce de leche instead of filling it?

For sure! The filling is fun and delicious, but you can just drizzle or dip if you’d rather skip this step.

Can you sub any flours in the donut holes?

I have several versions of these donut holes and have not found a flour blend that works quite as well as this one.

Can you use something other than palm shortening?

Palm shortening makes this recipe extra cakey. I haven’t tried coconut oil.

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Churro Dulce De Leche Filled Donut Holes

  • Author: Michelle
  • Yield: 8-9 donut holes 1x
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Ingredients

Scale

For the cinnamon sugar coating

  • 2 tsp coconut sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon

For the donut holes

  • 1/3 cup +1 tbsp tigernut flour
  • 1/4 cup coconut flour
  • 1/4 cup tapioca starch
  • 1 tbsp gelatin (I use Vital Proteins. Do not sub collagen)
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/3 cup palm shortening
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup

For the filling/ dip

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
  2. Mix the cinnamon and sugar together and set aside.
  3. In a medium bowl, stir together the tigernut and coconut flour, tapioca starch, gelatin, and baking soda until fully combined.
  4. Pour in the maple syrup and lightly mix. Fold in the palm shortening until the mixture is creamy. Form the dough into eight or nine doughnut holes.
  5. Roll each one of the donut holes in the cinnamon sugar coating and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
  6. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the doughnut holes are hardened on the outside. Remove and allow to cool completly.
  7. Add about 3-4 tbsp of dulce de leche to a piping bag (or plastic bag with the tip cut off) with a round tip . Push a small hole into the donut hole with the frosting tip (or the handle of a fork or spoon) and fill with dulce de leche. Carefully pull the tip back. Repeat for all donut holes. Chill in the fridge for 10-15 minutes to allow the dulce de leche to set.
  8. Serve with a side of the remainder of the dulce de leche as an optional dip

Notes

All nutritional information are estimations and will vary. Estimations do not include optional ingredients.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 donut hole
  • Calories: 59
  • Fat: 1.2g
  • Carbohydrates: 6.9g
  • Fiber: 1.4g
  • Protein: 2g