These donuts aren’t just gorgeous, tasty, and easy to make—they’re also good for you! The adaptogenic herbs can boost your immune system and reduce stress (among many other benefits). Whip some up and nosh your way to zen.
You know what coconuts are. You know what limes are. But do you know what adaptogens are? If you’re scratching your head right now, let me fill you in.
Adaptogens are natural substances (think herbs roots,, fungus) traditionally used in holistic medicine to improve your body’s ability to adapt to stress by regulating hormones. Basically, an all-natural form of Xanax. Cool, huh? In addition to their calming effects, adaptogenic herbs have a laundry list of other mental and physical health benefits.
I teamed up with Kaylie Hopper, a licensed herbalist and acupuncturist practicing out of Highland Park in Los Angeles, to create the most delicious, healthy, and easy to make donuts using these amazing herbs. Hopper introduced me to adaptogens when I was looking for a natural anxiety remedy and I fell in love with them. I really noticed a difference in in the way I reacted to stressful situations.
Side Note: If you’re someone who deals with chronic stress, anxiety, or mood swings and Big Pharma ain’t yo thang—I highly recommend looking into adaptogenic supplements. They’re miracle workers!
For this recipe, Hopper has handpicked two of her favorite adaptogenic herbs—Reishi and Cordyceps. Both are derived from mushrooms and contain compounds that can help balance hormones, reduce stress, detoxify your liver, and boost your immune system. Cordyceps can even improve respiratory issues such as asthma and chronic bronchitis, as well as boost low energy and fight fatigue.
Hopper gets her herbs online from Root & Bones Holistic Herb Company. The website gives plenty of information about the herbs and their benefits. I will admit, they are a little expensive—I mean, you are paying for the elixir of life and immortality, after all. But, if you’re looking to make this donut a little more pocket friendly, you can always nix the adaptogens or just opt for cheaper ones.
You may recall me using Maca powder in my Superfood smoothie bowl recipe. Maca is a less expensive adaptogen with similar benefits to Reishi and Cordyceps. It’s most often used to increase energy, reduce stress, and boost libido. I think I got a one-pound bag on Amazon for less than $20.
According to Hopper, you can use any adaptogens that come in powder form, so choose the ones that best suit your health needs and your wallet.
Alright, so now we know these donuts are packed with a healthy punch, but how do they taste?? The answer is f*ing delicious.
Any earthy notes from the mushrooms are completely hidden by the other ingredients. The coconut sugar has a mellow, caramelly flavor that sweetens the donut without sending you to the dentist. You can taste a subtle hint of coconut from the milk and oil, as well as from the toasted flakes on top, which give a little added texture and nuttiness. I like to use Trader Joe’s organic virgin coconut oil—it has a pretty bold coconut flavor compared to other ones. And the fresh lime juice and zest give the donuts a vibrant look and citrusy kick you can taste in every bite!
Plus, they are so quick and easy to make, only about 30 minutes total. If you give these a go, comment below and let me know what you think and what kind of adaptogens you use!
Enjoy.
COCONUT LIME DONUTS WITH ADAPTOGENS
Makes 12 donuts
*You’ll need approx. 6 limes for the zest in this recipe.
INGREDIENTS
For the donuts
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp Reishi powder
- 1 tsp Cordyceps powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup coconut sugar
- 4 tsp lime zest*
- 5 tbsp coconut oil, melted
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup coconut milk
For the glaze + toppings
- 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 3 tbsp lime juice*
- 5-6 tsp lime zest*
- splash of coconut milk (to thin)
- 2 cups coconut flakes, toasted (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
First, zest your limes. About 5-6 limes should give you the 10 tsp of zest you need.
In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, Reishi, Cordyceps, and salt.
In a large mixing bowl, mix coconut sugar and 4 tsp lime zest until evenly incorporated. Add coconut oil, vanilla, eggs, and coconut milk and whisk until everything is well combined. Add the dry ingredients and gently fold mixture with a spatula until just combined.
Grease two donut pans (12 molds) and fill each mold with the batter about 2/3 of the way up. Bake for 10-12 minutes until firm. Let cool in the pan for a bit before popping them onto a cooling rack.
While donuts bake, toast your coconut flakes in a dry pan over low heat until golden brown—watch carefully! Combine toasted coconut with 3-4 tsp lime zest and set aside. Sift powdered sugar to make the glaze. Whisk powdered sugar, lime juice and 2 tsp of lime zest in a wide, shallow dish. Add a splash of coconut milk if you need to thin out the glaze.
Once donuts are completely cooled, dip each one into the glaze followed by the toasted coconut lime mixture (or not) and let them set before eating.
