Elizabeth Gregory Donut Holes

Originally I made this recipe as regular doughnuts, but they are actually better as doughnut holes. They are a rich batter so a smaller serving is perfect. I hope you enjoy them!

What is it like?

- A tender, caky doughnut hole

- A time warp to 1850’s New England

Doughnut Hole gluten free dairy free recipe


About 32 Servings, Prep 30 min

The title of this recipe is a reference to doughnut history. I talk about it in this episode. In a nutshell, no one knows where the doughnut hole came from, but Elizabeth Gregory did make an excellent doughnut, infused with spices for her son to take on voyages. However, if you want a classic/plain doughnut, simply omit the spices, nuts and zest and add 1 teaspoon vanilla.

3/4 cup Earth Balance Buttery Spread, at room temperature, 180g
1/2 cup sugar, 100g
2 egg
zest of 1 lemon (or 1 tsp vanilla if you prefer a classic flavor)

1 1/4 cup flour mix, 160g
1 1/4 cup almond four, 108g
2 tsp psyllium husk powder
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
optional spices: 1/4 tsp nutmeg + 1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup powdered sugar, or as needed


  1. Preheat your oven to 325F/165C. Whisk together the dry ingredients and put them through a sifter if you have one. If you’re using the optional ingredients (nuts or spices), whisk them into the dry ingredients.

  2. Whisk the sugar into the butter until it’s incorporated and creamy. Then whisk in one egg at a time. Lastly whisk in the zest.

  3. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients in three batches, being careful not to over mix.

  4. Fill a greased mini muffin tin with the batter. Fill each tin a little more than half way, leaving room for rise. Alternatively, you can make small 1 1/2 tbsp mounds on cookie trays and you will end up with “cookie doughnuts”—that taste delicious. Bake until they bounce back to the touch or a toothpick comes out clean. While they cool, prepare the topping by whisking together the sugar and cinnamon in a medium sized bowl.

  5. Once the doughnut holes are cooled, but still warm, roll them in powdered sugar or use a small sifter filled with powdered sugar for a lighter coating.

  6. The doughnut holes will keep for 2-3 days in an airtight container but they are best fresh.


Using room temperature butter is key. If your butter is melted these doughnut holes will end up being denser.

New England Ocean - Elizabeth Gregory was a New England ship captains mother


6-Ingredient No-Bake Honey Lemon Cheese Cake (vegan option)

What is it like?

- Lemon-y aroma

- Ultra-creamy

- Thick graham cracker crust (optional)

6-Ingredient No-Bake Honey Lemon Cheese Cake vegan gluten free dairy free recipe


6 Servings, Prep 15 min, chilling time is 1 hour for individual servings

Because this cheesecake is not baked, it is ultra-creamy. And without a crust it takes about 5 minutes to whip together. If you would like an extra thick crust, like the one photographed above, double the crust recipe.

Crust, Optional (You can make a beautiful cheesecake without a crust)
2/3 cup Gluten free graham cracker crumbs (or Lavender Oat Cookie crumbs - you can leave out the lavender if you prefer)
2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp sugar, or more to taste (optional)

1 lb vegan cream cheese spread, 453g
1/3 cup vegan butter or butter, 92g
1/3 cup honey (or agave for vegan), warmed 120g
Zest of one large lemon (1 tbsp lemon juice, optional)

Optional: If you would like a more full lemon flavor (but slightly softer filling) add 1 tbsp lemon juice


  1. Crust: If you are making a crust, place the graham cracker pieces in the food processor and pulse until crumbs begin to form. Measure 3/4 cup and reserve the rest for another use. Add the 3/4 cup crumbs, melted butter, and sugar to the food processor and pulse a few more times, until there are uniform crumbs. Divide and press the crust into the bottoms of six small ramekins (3 in / 7 cm in diameter). If you do not have ramekins, any small bowl or cups will do! Or if you prefer one dish, you can use a small bread pan.

  2. For the filling: Open the cream cheese. If there is any liquid on top, pour it off. Whip the cream cheese on low until it is homogenous and there are no lumps. Be careful not to over-mix. Add the warmed honey and stir. Next add the melted butter and stir in the zest. If you want to use the lemon juice as I do, it will make the cheesecake softer, but it will give it a fuller flavor. Personally, I don’t mind that it is softer, because as a no-bake cheesecake you get a softer, creamier texture than baked cheesecake anyway. However, if you’re going for a “harder” cheesecake, omit the juice and just use zest.

  3. Pour the filling into six individual ramekins or into a small bread pan. Place it in the fridge until it is cold. Overnight is best but two hours is generally enough time.

  4. Serve cold. The cheesecake is delicious with fresh, in season fruit.


  • For the ingredients I used: Trader Joes Vegan Cream Cheese Spread and Miyoko’s Organic Cultured Vegan Butter, also available at Trader Joe’s.

  • What is most important for the crust is that you use crumbs from cookies that are crispy or crunchy. Ginger snaps should also produce a nice crust in place of graham crackers, although I have not tested them (yet!).

  • If you’d like to make a larger recipe, without the individual serving tins, double the recipe and use a springform cake pan. Allow for 4 hours of chill time in the fridge.

  • These cheesecakes are served in the ramekins for a simpler preparation. However, if you’d like them be able to pop out of the dishes you’ll have to use small individual cake rings.

7-Ingredient Coconut Lime Cheesecake

What is it like?

- Gentle Lime Flavor

- Cool & Refreshing

7-Ingredient Coconut Lime Cheesecake vegan gluten free dairy free recipe


About 6 servings, prep 20 minutes, cool time: 2 hours

10 small pitted dates, 60g, diced
1/2 cup walnuts or pecans

1 lb cream cheese,
1/4 cup coconut cream, 70g
1/2 cup sugar, 100g
3 eggs
1 1/2 tbsp lime juice, plus the zest of one lime
optional: 1/2 tsp coconut extract


  1. Preheat your oven to 325F/165C.

  2. Cheesecakes without crusts are still delicious, especially paired with your favorite in-season, ripe fruit. However, if you’d like to make the crust, dice the dates and add them to the food processor. Blend until a past forms. Next add the walnuts or pecans and pulse until some of the nuts are ground and some are small pieces (the small pieces add a nice crunch). You should be able to squeeze the mixture and it will feel like a dough. If needed, you can add more date pieces.

  3. To make the filling, use a whisk or handheld mixer and whip the cream cheese on low until it is homogenous, being careful not to over mix. Add the coconut cream and sugar and whip until combined. Mix in the eggs one at a time. Stir in the rest of the ingredients.

  4. Optional water bath: usually cheesecake is baked in a water bath so that you end up with gentler cooking to produce a creamier, more consistent texture. However, this is not absolutely necessary. If you’d like to use a water bath boil 1.5 quarts of water. Place your cheesecake in a larger pyrex or pan with sides that are tall, ideally 2 in / 5 cm high. Pour enough boiling water into the empty pan so that the water is about .75 inch / 2 cm high.

  5. Put the cheesecake into the oven (with the water bath) and bake until the top turns a rich golden color. The middle will still be pale. This cheesecake will bake past the point that you would bake a dairy cheesecake.

  6. Allow the cheesecake to cool. Then place it in the fridge until it is cold, at least two hours. Serve cold with fresh fruit or whipped coconut cream.

Peanut Butter Milkshake (vegan)

What is it like?

- Thick & Peanut Butter-y

- Cool & Refreshing

vegan peanut butter milkshake gluten free dairy free recipe


I love this recipe. It isn’t too sweet, and since it’s vegan and it doesn’t call for ice cream, it is kind of like a thick refreshing nog.

About 6 servings, prep 7 minutes, cool time: 2 hours

3 tbsp peanut butter, 58g
1/4 cup sugar, 50g (or too taste)
9.5 oz oz coconut milk (runny part), 270g
12 oz silk tofu, 225g

Optional: 1 tsp vanilla, dash of salt


  1. Heat the coconut milk and tofu in the microwave until warm. Then add all of the ingredients to the blender and blend for about one minute.

  2. Pour the mixture into an airtight container and store in the fridge. It can be served once it is cold. It will keep for 3 days in the fridge.

3-Ingredient Chocolate Pudding

What is it like?

- Silky smooth

- Rich & Chocolaty

3 ingredient chocolate pudding gluten free dairy free recipe


This recipe is super simple and incredibly delicious. It’s the perfect dish to prepare when you don’t have time to cook/bake or when it’s too hot to turn the oven on.

About 6 servings, prep 5 minutes, set time: 2 hours

12 oz chocolate chips, 340g (be sure to use vegan chocolate if you are vegan)
1 cup coconut milk, 228g (see note)
15 oz silk tofu, 425g
1/8 tsp salt, optional

Smaller recipe, serves 2:
3 oz or 1/2 cup chocolate chips, 85g
1/4 cup coconut milk, 57g
4 oz silk tofu, 113g
Dash of salt, or to taste


  1. Place the chocolate chips in a large bowl. Pour the coconut milk over the chocolate chips.

  2. Microwave for one minute. Stir the chocolate mixture. Microwave for another 30-seconds and stir afterward. Repeat if the chocolate is not melted.

  3. Put the milk tofu in a microwave safe bowl and microwave until warm, for about one minute. Blend the silk tofu in blender for 30 seconds. Then pour it into the chocolate mixture and whisk until the mixture is completely smooth. Put plastic wrap or a reusable waxed cloth over the bowl and refrigerate until the pudding is cold. If you need the pudding to firm up within an hour or two, pour it into individual serving dishes.

This pudding keeps in the fridge for three days. It is delicious as is or with fresh berries.

This pudding ends up tasting very creamy and rich with the lower fat part of the coconut milk. I pour out the runny part of the coconut milk and then reserve the harder cream that is on top for another use, like whipped coconut cream.

I also prefer to use to Thai Kitchen coconut milk. Coconut milk varies a lot across brands and at this point in time, I think it’s a decent product.

You can also use any kind of chocolate that you like. Just keep in mind that the type of chocolate will change the flavor and consistency some. I first tested this recipe with Trader Joe’s gluten free chocolate chips and it was excellent, but for a higher quality chocolate you may want to choose a different brand.