Random Things That I Have in My Kitchen: Donut Making Equipment

Donuts and Dietitians.  Those are two words that often don't go together, until today!

Traditional donuts are fried, full of sugar and one of the least healthy breakfast options out there but with a few changes they can be part of Everyday Nutrition!

Like in every recipe there are two main ways to healthify the final product, change the cooking method and alter the ingredients.

In this case the cooking method has changed  from frying to baking.  

In my cabinet of magic kitchen products I have a Babycakes Mini Donut Maker 

as well as a Wilton Donut Pan.

One makes small baked donuts and the other makes large baked donuts, you know how I  I like variety!

http://everydaynutrition-thelast5pounds.blogspot.com/2012/09/sunday-funday-ice-cream.html

http://everydaynutrition-thelast5pounds.blogspot.com/2011/01/12-days-of-holiday-baking.html

http://everydaynutrition-thelast5pounds.blogspot.com/2012/04/sunday-funday-trio-of-cupcakes.html

OK, back to the donuts.  Next comes the ingredients.  Traditional donuts are fried in oil, baking them takes that step out which greatly decreases the fat and calories and ups the nutritional value.  The rest is up to the individual recipe and and ingredient substitutions.

Mini Cherry Coconut Almond Donuts 

(Adapted from http://www.kitchenmeetsgirl.com)

1 cup flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

3/4 cup sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup sugar-free coconut syrup

1/4 cup sugar-free almond syrup

2 eggs

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 cup cherry pie filling

For the icing:

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

2 tablespoons soymilk

Coconut and Cherries to garnish

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients and bake in mini donut maker or donut pan according to instructions.  You can also make these in a muffin tin and either eat hole-less or cut the center out using an apple corer if you don't have an actual donut making apparatus.

Icing:

Whisk together all icing ingredients; dip the tops of the donuts into the icing, sprinkle with coconut and top with a cherry.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Donuts:

(Adapted from: http://www.edibleperspective.com/)

1/2c ground oats  

1/2c flour

1/4c creamy peanut butter, melted 

1/3c sugar

2 large eggs

2T unsweetened applesauce

1/2c soy milk

2t vanilla

1/2t salt

1t baking powder

Instructions

Combine all ingredients and bake in mini donut maker or donut pan according to instructions.  You can also make these in a muffin tin and either eat hole-less or cut the center out using an apple corer if you don't have an actual donut making apparatus.

Icing:

Melt chocolate chips, dip donuts, sprinkle with crushed peanuts and if desired drizzle with a little more chocolate.

As you can see both recipes still include sugar, frosting and garnish.  Baking instead of frying, using a few sugar and fat ingredient substitutions and making smaller portions allows us to splurge a little on the topping while still keeping the overall product healthier than your local donut shop.

Now that's a good morning :)