Homemade Healthy Donuts and Donut Holes

Making Donuts

My next adventure into cooking is trying to make homemade donuts with natural glaze! These encompass all the ingredients that I like. I like the combination of the almond and coconut flour, but I need to get the right consistency, so they aren't too dry. This should work fine. I will do a critique after making these. Stay tuned, and I will let you know how they turned out!  

Yields: Approximately 12 donuts and 24 donut holes

Prep time: 30 minutes

Rise time: 1 hour

Cook time: 12-15 minutes

Total time: 1 hour 45 minutes

Description: These donuts and donut holes are made with healthy ingredients, naturally sweetened with honey, maple syrup, or coconut sugar, and offer a lower-carb option. The glazes are made with natural fruits for added flavor and nutrition.

Ingredients:

For the Donuts:

* 1 ½ cups almond flour (168g, 960 calories, 60g fat, 24g carbs, 12g fiber, 36g protein)

* ¼ cup coconut flour (32g, 120 calories, 8g fat, 16g carbs, 10g fiber, 4g protein)

* 2 teaspoons baking powder

* ½ teaspoon salt

* ¼ cup coconut sugar (48g, 180 calories, 0g fat, 48g carbs, 0g fiber, 0g protein) or maple syrup (60ml, 240 calories, 0g fat, 60g carbs, 0g fiber, 0g protein) or honey (85g, 258 calories, 0g fat, 64g carbs, 0g fiber, 0.6g protein)

* 2 large eggs (100g, 140 calories, 10g fat, 1g carbs, 0g fiber, 12g protein)

* ½ cup unsweetened applesauce (122g, 60 calories, 0g fat, 15g carbs, 2g fiber, 0g protein)

* 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil (28g, 240 calories, 28g fat, 0g carbs, 0g fiber, 0g protein)

* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Fruit Glazes (choose one or more):

* Strawberry Glaze: ½ cup fresh strawberries, pureed (150g, 49 calories, 0.5g fat, 11.6g carbs, 3.9g fiber, 1g protein) + 1-2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup (optional, to taste)

* Blueberry Glaze: ½ cup fresh blueberries, pureed (74g, 42 calories, 0.3g fat, 10.7g carbs, 1.7g fiber, 0.5g protein) + 1-2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup (optional, to taste)

* Raspberry Glaze: ½ cup fresh raspberries, pureed (62g, 32 calories, 0.4g fat, 7.4g carbs, 4.4g fiber, 0.7g protein) + 1-2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup (optional, to taste)

* Lemon Glaze: 2 tablespoons lemon juice (30g, 8 calories, 0.1g fat, 2.5g carbs, 0g fiber, 0.1g protein) + ½ cup powdered coconut sugar (60g, 240 calories, 0g fat, 60g carbs, 0g fiber, 0g protein)

* Chocolate Glaze: ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder + ¼ cup melted coconut oil + 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup + 1 tablespoon unsweetened almond milk (or water)

OR you can simply glaze them with honey or maple syrup on top!

Instructions:

1. Get Started, Partner: Prepare the Donut Dough:

* Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a donut pan or line a baking sheet with parchment paper for donut holes.

* In a large bowl, whisk together the almond flour, coconut flour, baking powder, and salt.

* In a separate bowl, whisk together the coconut sugar (or maple syrup/honey), eggs, applesauce, melted coconut oil, and vanilla extract.

* Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Do not overmix.

2. Shape the Donuts and Donut Holes:

* For Donuts: Transfer the batter to a piping bag or a large zip-top bag with a corner snipped off. Pipe the batter into the greased donut pan, filling each cavity about ¾ full.

* For Donut Holes: Roll the dough into small balls (about 1 inch in diameter) and place them on the prepared baking sheet.

3. Bake:

* Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

* Let the donuts and donut holes cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

4. Prepare the Glaze:

* Fruit Glazes: In a blender or food processor, puree the chosen fruit until smooth. Strain the puree through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any seeds (optional). Stir in honey or maple syrup to taste, if desired.

* Lemon Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice and powdered coconut sugar until smooth.

5. Glaze the Donuts and Donut Holes:

* Dip the cooled donuts and donut holes into the prepared glaze, coating them evenly.

* Place the glazed donuts and donut holes back on the wire rack to allow the glaze to set.

6. Serve:

* Serve immediately or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.

Nutritional Information (per donut, without glaze, estimated):

* Calories: Approximately 180-200

* Carbohydrates: 10-12g

* Fiber: 2-3g

* Net Carbs: 7-9g

* Protein: 5-6g

* Fat: 14-16g

Note: Nutritional information is an estimate and may vary based on specific ingredients and portion sizes.

Serving Suggestions:

* Enjoy with a cup of coffee or tea.

* Serve as a healthy dessert or snack.

* Garnish with fresh fruit, shredded coconut, or chopped nuts.

* For a festive touch, add sprinkles made from natural food coloring.

Notes from the Kitchen:

• Flour Blend: Experiment with different ratios of almond and coconut flour to find your favorite texture. Too much coconut flour can make the donuts dry.

• Sweetener: If using coconut sugar, you might need to add a tablespoon or two of almond milk to the batter to achieve the right consistency.

• Storage: Store leftover donuts in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

• Baking Donut Holes: Baking time for donut holes may be slightly shorter, so keep a close watch.

• Spice it up: Add cinnamon, cardamom, or ginger to the donut batter for a warm, comforting flavor.

• Nuts: Sprinkle chopped nuts on top of the glaze before it sets for added crunch and flavor.

• Make it Vegan: Substitute the eggs with flax eggs (1 tablespoon flaxseed meal + 3 tablespoons water per egg).

Enjoy these homemade donuts and donut holes, y'all! They're a little bit of heaven with a whole lotta healthy!