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These 3 ingredient Donut Holes are made with Greek yogurt and flour, in the oven or in the air fryer. Soft, fluffy and full of flavor, they’re perfect as a healthy snack or dessert with protein.
Looking for more Greek yogurt doughts with no yeast? Then you should also try my protein bagels, protein bread, and fluffy Greek yogurt cake.
If you like donuts but care about your diet, these yogurt bites are the solution. They’re soft on the inside, lightly crispy on the outside, and packed with protein from the Greek yogurt. Plus, you can bake them in both the oven or air fryer, no deep frying.
Why you will love this recipe
- Quick and easy – This recipe makes donut holes with no yeast, meaning that you won’t have to deal with long raising times and complex preparations.
- Rich and fluffy – They come out so soft and delicious that you won’t ever guess they are baked and not deep fried.
- Healthy and high protein – Made with just wholewheat flour and Greek yogurt, these donut holes are healthy, low calorie, and packed with protein.
- Diet-friendly – From adding protein powder to using dairy-free yogurt, it’s so easy to adapt this recipe to your diet. Low carb and keto included!
Ingredients and replacements
- Whole wheat flour. White whole wheat flour is my preferred option, as it keeps the donut holes soft and fluffy without using refined flours. If needed, you can substitute with all-purpose, spelt flour or also self-rising flour, but remember to omit the baking powder. Almond flour can also work, but you may need to add an egg to give structure to the dough.
- Greek yogurt. A thick, full-fat Greek yogurt (at least 5% fat) is best for a rich flavor and soft texture. Plain and vanilla are both great. If using nonfat yogurt, the dough might be drier — simply add a splash of milk or water if needed. Avoid runny yogurts, as they’ll make the dough too sticky and hard to work with.
- Baking powder. This is key to help the dough rise and the donut holes turn out soft and fluffy. If using self-rising flour, you can skip the baking powder.
For more sweetness, add a granulated sweetener of your choice such as coconut sugar, brown sugar, or a sugar-free alternatives like monk fruit or erythritol. You can also dust the donut holes with a bit of powdered sweetener right after baking.
How to make 3 ingredient donut holes
Step 1 – Prepare. Heat your oven to 350°F (180°C) or preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, if you plan to bake them in the oven.
Step 2 – Mix. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the Greek yogurt and mix until the dough starts to come together. The dough should be soft but manageable. If it feels sticky, sprinkle in a little more flour; if it’s too dry, add a spoonful of Greek yogurt and mix again.
Step 3 – Knead and roll. Transfer the dough to a clean, floured surface and knead quickly until it’s smooth. Once done, lightly flour your hands, roll the dough into small balls, and place them on the baking sheet or in the air fryer basket.
Step 4– Bake or air fry. Bake in hot oven for 10 to 12 minutes or air fry for 8 to 10 minutes; they are ready when lightly golden.
Step 6 – Coat. Roll in a granulated sweetener while still warm for extra sweetness, if desired. Let cool for at least 10 minutes before eating.
Dietary variations
- High-protein. Replace ¼ cup (25 grams) of flour with vanilla or unflavored protein powder; for fluffy protein donut holes I recommend vegan protein powder or casein.
- Low carb & keto. Substitute the wheat flour with blanched almond flour and, if the dough is dry and crumbly, add one egg as a binder.
- Dairy-free & vegan. Use dairy-free Greek-style yogurt, such as coconut-based yogurt or Greek-style soy yogurt.
- Gluten-free. Swap the flour with gluten-free all-purpose flour, gluten-free pastry flour or almond flour (plus one egg if necessary).
Recipe tips
- Use thick, full-fat Greek yogurt. Both texture and fat content of your yogurt matters — choose a thick, firm Greek yogurt with at least 5% fat; unsweetened and plain or vanilla flavored. A thin, liquid yogurt will make the dough too sticky and hard to shape.
- Adjust dough if necessary. Depending on the brand of Greek yogurt and flour used, the dough might get slightly too dry or sticky. If it’s dry and crumbly, add a teaspoon of milk or water at a time until it holds together. If it’s too sticky instead, sprinkle in a little extra flour, but avoid adding too much.
- Do not overbake or overcook. Since these donut holes contain little fat, they can dry out quickly if overcooked. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick – it should come out with just a few moist crumbs. If air frying them, cook in small batches to ensure even cooking.
- Customize the sweetness. These 3 ingredient donut holes are lightly sweet on their own thanks to the yogurt, but you can make them sweeter with a couple tablespoons of granulated sweetener. For a healthy Dunkin’ Donuts experience, coat them in a cinnamon-sugar mix after baking, when they are still warm.
- Experiment with flavors and toppings. While simple cinnamon sugar is a classic, you can also dip them in melted chocolate, drizzle with honey, or roll in shredded coconut. For a more delicious snack, fill them with jam or nut butter in the center.
Storage directions
To keep Greek yogurt donut holes fresh, allow them to cool completely after baking or air frying. Once cooled, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days. For the best taste and texture, warm them briefly in the microwave or oven before serving.
To freeze, place leftovers in a freezer-safe bag or container, separating each layer with parchment paper to prevent sticking. They can be frozen for up to 3 months. To reheat, thaw overnight in the fridge or warm directly from frozen — either in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 5-7 minutes or in the microwave for 15-30 seconds.
More easy healthy snacks
- Peanut butter protein balls
- Homemade protein bars
- Protein granola bars
- Apple oatmeal bars
- Chocolate protein balls
- Single serving protein cookie
- Banana oatmeal cookies
- Sugar free muffins
3 Ingredient Donut Holes
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup (200 g) whole-wheat flour, or all purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- ⅔ cup (200 g) Greek yogurt, minimum 5% fat recommended
- granulated sweetener, monk fruit, erythritol, coconut sugar or brown sugar (optional for sweeter donuts)
Cinnamon Sugar Coating (optional)
- ground cinnamon
- granulated sweetener, monk fruit, erythritol, coconut sugar or brown sugar
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°F (180°C) or preheat air fryer to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, if you plan to bake them in the oven.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the Greek yogurt and mix until the dough starts to come together. The dough should be soft but manageable. If it feels sticky, sprinkle in a little more flour; if it’s too dry, add a spoonful of Greek yogurt and mix again.
- Transfer the dough to a clean, floured surface and knead quickly until it’s smooth.
- Lightly flour your hands, roll the dough into small balls, and place them on the baking sheet or in the air fryer basket.
- Bake in hot oven for 10 to 12 minutes or air fry for 8 to10 minutes; they are ready when lightly golden.
- Roll in a granulated sweetener while warm for extra sweetness, if desired. Let cool for at least 10 minutes before eating.
