That first hiss from the cooker tells you something good is happening. You remember setting the doughnuts to cook and your ears catch that little float valve pop. It’s like a promise that you’re moments away from something tasty.
Even if you’ve made doughnuts before, this cooker way changes the game. You notice the steam filling the kitchen while your doughnuts rise up all tender and soft inside. It’s kinda satisfying to watch the pressure build and know it’s working for you.
Once you do the natural release, you spot your doughnuts ready with that perfect tender pull. No waiting forever like with slow oven baking. These baked doughnuts manage to be fluffy but still hold their shape nice. Heck, you're gonna wanna make these all the time.
Why Your Cooker Beats Every Other Pot
- Uses steam pressure to cook doughnuts evenly and fast
- Helps keep inside moist while making a soft crust outside
- Takes way less time than a normal oven bake
- Float valve shows when cooker’s working its magic
- Quick release option let’s you stop cooking exactly when you want
- Natural release keeps the doughnuts tender and not dried out
- It’s less heat in the kitchen so you won’t sweat while baking
With the float valve signaling when to cook, this method is smarter and quicker than traditional baking. For more clever cooking gear tips, check out best cooking gear for baking and steam cooking techniques.
All the Pieces for This Meal
- 1 ¼ cups unsweetened non-dairy milk
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup organic granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup vegan chocolate chips
- ¼ cup vegan butter for greasing and optional brushing
For the glaze you'll need:
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 cup organic powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened non-dairy milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup organic granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons vegan butter (melted)
- ½ cup organic powdered sugar (for dusting)
All these come together real nice for that cozy sweet doughnut vibe. You can tweak the cinnamon or chocolate chips as you like too. It’s pretty flexible so you don’t gotta sweat it if you’re missing one thing here or there.
Walking Through Every Single Move
First, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). You gotta get that oven ready to roll.
Next, grease up your doughnut pan real good with vegan butter or oil so none of those doughnuts stick. You want easy release when they’re done.
In one big bowl, whisk together the non-dairy milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract. This wet mix is what starts the whole thing off smooth.
Then, in another bowl, mix all your dry stuff—you know the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Give it a good stir so it’s nice and even.
Slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet and mix carefully just ‘til it’s all combined. Don’t overdo it or the doughnuts get tough instead of tender.
Last step for the batter is to fold in the vegan chocolate chips so they scatter through every bite.
Now spoon the batter into the doughnut pan molds. Fill each about ¾ full so they have room to rise but don’t spill over.
Bake those doughnuts for 15 to 20 minutes. You wanna check ‘em with a toothpick; if it comes out clean, you’re good.
Once done, pull ‘em out and let them cool in the pan for five minutes. This little break helps ‘em hold their shape.
Finally, move your doughnuts over to a wire rack so they can cool completely. Optional but you can brush melted vegan butter on top for extra yum.
See our detailed step-by-step baking guide for more baking tips and the best chocolate chip recipes to add that extra flavor in your treats.
Easy Tweaks That Make Life Simple
- If you’re in a hurry, use quick release after cooking but watch closely so doughnuts don’t shrink too much.
- Swap vanilla extract for a sprinkle of almond extract for a nutty twist.
- Mix in some chopped nuts or dried fruit instead of chocolate chips for variety.
- Make a simple glaze by mixing powdered sugar and non-dairy milk instead of the maple syrup option.
These little hacks save you time or switch up flavors without breaking a sweat. You can even halve the recipe if you just want a small batch for breakfast or snack.
What It Tastes Like Fresh From the Pot
Right out of the cooker your doughnuts got this soft, tender pull that almost melts in your mouth. It’s kinda like biting into a cloud but you know it's doughnut real good stuff.
You notice a subtle sweetness with that cinnamon whisper and the vanilla coming through to round out the flavor. It’s not overpowering so even the kids dig it.
Chocolate chips sneak through with little bursts of gooey richness you don’t expect but totally love. You remember why doughnuts are an all-time favorite treat.
That vegan butter glaze adds a gentle shine and a little extra moisture that keeps bringing you back. It’s a cozy comfort you didn’t know you needed till now.
How to Store This for Later
If you got leftovers don’t worry, these doughnuts keep pretty well. Just make sure they cool completely before storing.
Wrap them tight in plastic wrap or put in an airtight container to keep their tender pull intact. Store at room temp and eat within two days for best taste.
You can toss them in the fridge if you want to keep ‘em a bit longer but understand they might get a bit firmer. Reheat gently in the microwave to soften back up.
For longer storage, freeze the doughnuts in a zip-top bag. When you want a treat, thaw them overnight and warm lightly for that fresh-baked feel again.
The FAQ Section You Actually Need
Q1: Can I use any non-dairy milk for this recipe?
Totally! Almond, soy, oat, whatever you got works just fine. Just keep it unsweetened to control sugar.
Q2: What’s the natural release thing about?
Natural release means you let the cooker come down pressure on its own after cooking. It keeps things tender and stops sudden changes that might make doughnuts tough.
Q3: Why fold the chocolate chips instead of stirring?
Folding is gentler and stops you from smashing the chips or overworking the batter, keeping doughnuts soft.
Q4: Can I skip the cinnamon?
Absolutely. Cinnamon’s optional so if you’re not feeling it, just leave it out or swap out for another spice you like.
Q5: What’s the float valve do?
The float valve pops up when pressure is reached inside the cooker. It’s like a signal telling you it’s cookin’ good.
Q6: How do I know when to do quick release or natural release?
If you want really soft doughnuts, go natural release. Quick release works if you’re tight on time but might make doughnuts a bit denser.
