Baked Cinnamon Applesauce Donuts

Love donuts, but not the fat? These yummy treats are baked and lower in fat than the bakery variety... super easy to make too! Rolled in cinnamon sugar makes them irresistible! Can make them gluten free too...

Baked Cinnamon Applesauce Donuts

Yield: 12 donuts

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour (2 1⁄4 cups gluten free rice flour)
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup low fat milk
1 extra-large or large egg
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Baking, vegetable spray or melted butter

Topping:

4 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Equipment needed:

Medium mixing bowl
2 cup liquid measuring cup or small mixing bowl
Measuring spoons
Dry measuring cups
Sifter or strainer
Wire whisk
Rubber spatula
2 6-hole Donut pans
Serving spoon or small dipper
Butter knife
Small bowl for melting
Small mixing bowl for topping sugar
Pastry brush

Don’t you just love the smell of cinnamon and the smell of a bakery? Growing up my family owned a bakery and the smell of fresh donuts, cinnamon and all the other goodies was addictive! Customers would open the door and the smell would grab them and pull them in. So many choices, but when apple cinnamon donuts are a choice... the decision is an easy one. Unfortunately, donuts are fried and high in fat. I figured there had to be a way to make them baked and set out on a challenge to bake donuts. My foods students were the guinea pigs and we tried a few recipes... thus this recipe was born! Hope you enjoy them as much as I do... they are the best! Grab your mixing bowl and let’s bake some donuts!

Preheat oven to 350 F.

This recipe is pretty easy and the preparation the same as a basic quick bread. Using either a large sifter or a large strainer, sift together all the dry ingredients; flour, sugar, baking powder, spices and salt into a medium mixing bowl. This will ensure all ingredients start thoroughly mixed. Combine all the liquids; milk, egg, applesauce, 2 tablespoons melted butter and vanilla, in a 2-cup liquid measuring cup or small mixing bowl. Blend well using a wire whisk or fork.

Now to mix! Remember that quick breads require little mixing and the batter will be a bit lumpy. You want the final product to be light and fluffy, not dense and full of tunnels. Begin by making a well in the dry ingredients and pour in the wet to fill the hole. Using a rubber spatula, fold and stir ingredients together to create a lumpy batter. Mixing no more than 30 seconds to 1 minute max!

Remember these donuts are baked, so the pans need to be liberally sprayed with vegetable spray or brushed with butter. Fill each of the donut wells about 2/3 full or at the lip of the center hole. Using a larger soup/serving spoon or medium dipper works best. Wipe batter spills on the pan to make clean up easier before baking. Place pans on the center rack of a preheated 350 F oven and bake for 16 – 18 minutes. Donuts are finished when a finger depressed on top bounces back or a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Don’t be tempted to over bake. They will continue to bake a bit after removal from the oven. Allow to sit and rest in the pans for 5 minutes prior to removing donuts.

While donuts are resting, melt butter and combine sugar and cinnamon for topping. To remove donuts from the pan, carefully insert a knife or fork along the sides to loosen and gently remove donuts to a baking sheet or clean dish towel covered counter. Now to finish the donuts, brush lightly with melted butter on all sides and roll in cinnamon sugar topping. Shake off excess and place back on counter/ pan. Repeat the process with the whole dozen and you’re done!

Don’t they look and smell amazing? Go ahead and take a bite or two! Bet you won’t eat the whole thing... Enjoy!