There’s always jokes about cops and doughnuts, but never dietitians and doughnuts. Well, I confess…I LOVE the suckers. What’s not to love about deep fried sugary dough?! Ummm…nothing! Other than that lack of nutrition, that is. There’s no denying it, doughnuts are empty calories offering no nutritional value. Rather, they’re packed with lots calories and day’s worth of saturated fat and sugar. Boo 🙁
But…I love them. And I love to make my favorites healthier.
Enter: baked doughnuts!
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Baked Sugared Gingerbread Doughnuts slightly adapted from Healthy Food for Living
canola oil cooking spray
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/8 tsp allspice
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 Tbsp unsulfured molasses
3 Tbsp skim milk
3 Tbsp nonfat or low-fat plain yogurt
1 1/2 Tbsp canola oil
1/2 cup evaporated cane juice or granulated sugar
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350° F. Lightly coat molds of a mini doughnut pan with cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour through allspice; set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together egg, brown sugar, applesauce, molasses, milk, yogurt and oil.
Add dry ingredients to wet, and stir just until moistened. Divide batter among the prepared molds, filling each 1/2 full. Bake until the tops spring back when touched lightly, about 10-11 minutes. Carefully remove doughnuts from pan and let cool for a few minutes on a wire rack.
Lightly coat doughnuts with canola oil cooking spray. Sprinkle with or dunk into sugar; shake off excess. Makes 14 doughnuts, 3-3 1/2-inch diameter each.
Nutrition Information (per doughnut): 85 calories; 1.9 g. fat; 16 mg. cholesterol; 144 mg. sodium; 16 g. carbohydrate; 0.1 g. fiber; 1.6 g. protein
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Result: We made these this weekend at my parents and we gobbled these up…no guilt! These baked doughnuts are the perfect weekend treat without all the fat, losing none of the flavor! Double the recipe 😉 And if you don’t own a doughnut pan, I highly recommend splurging on one…such fun!
On the home front, things in Chicago have been a blast! Yesterday, the whole family went to workout together. It made me VERY happy to see both of my parents working out together. I don’t know of any other activity that can benefit the health of a whole family all at once! 😀 After a forced few days off from workouts due to work, I pounded out two great workouts while home. On Friday I did 30 minutes on the stairmaster and a 2 mile run. Today I ran 5.3 miles at a 10:10 min/mile pace including a warm-up, one 1-minute walk break, and a cool-down, I was ecstatic with my pace 😀
We dined at the restaurant where my little brother is now working. We had a life-changing appetizer of tenderloin sliders with an onion confit. I am bound and determined to recreate these amazing sliders…delicious!
I went to the engagement party of one of my best friends who is getting married in October. I’m in the wedding 😀 I remember how exciting and busy wedding engagements can be. They are the perfect couple and I wish them nothing but the best! Let the wedding festivities begin! And even cooler, they’re using the same photographer Mr. P and I used at our wedding! 🙂
In other news, Prevention RD is undergoing a make-over…please be patient as things come together in the coming days. I hope a blog face lift will create a site you and I both love lots!
Question: Are you a doughnut lover, too?
Love from Chicago,
You’re telling me these doughnuts are healthy, too? Pass 5 then because they look delicious!
I’m not sure how much more remodeling you’re doing but already with the new background it looks great!
These donuts really grabbed my attention – they sound delicious and the nutrition stats are great! (I think there is a type though, there can’t be 19g of fat in one!) I’m also loving the makeover too 🙂
LOVE donuts. Mostly filled. I think they worse they are health-wise, the more I love them.
These looks awesome. I love donuts too. The Portuguese donuts here are really good. I love going to local fairs here and the little old ladies are making the dough right in front of you and then frying it and sugaring it and it comes out so nice and warm.
Those doughnuts look so good! 🙂
Wow–this is the best news I’ve heard in awhile! Healthy donuts? Yes please! Have you ever heard of Holey Donuts? They are actually pretty delicious for being a “better for you” donut!
I love doughnuts – I have a doughnut pan but haven’t found a recipe I love.
Perhaps I can tweak this one a little bit – I’m not the biggest fan of gingerbread.
Enjoy your time in Chicago – and I love the new layout!
I really don’t like doughnuts at all but these are changing my mind! They look delicious!
Oooh – your website looks SO good! I love it!
I’m actually not a *huge* doughnut person – I’d rather have cookies or ice cream, I guess. 😉
Nice job on all the running! I can’t wait to start logging some longer runs in training again…
And enjoy the rest of your weekend! I’m glad family time is going well! 🙂
I have such a weakness for doughnuts! I might have to break down and buy the ingredients!
oh WOW! these look INCREDIBLE!!!
Ah yes, I am a donut lover too! (LOVE the baked variety ever since I bought my donut pan!) Gingerbread sounds like a great flavor, Nicole! Your blog is looking fantastic, girl! Can’t wait to see the other changes you make!
The doughnuts sound great! Thanks for sharing!
Glad you are having a great time in Chicago!
Healthy donuts?!?! Umm…yes please!! Nicole, I recently discovered your blog and I’ve had a great time trying some of your recipes! I am currently enrolled in a Nutrition/Dietetics program so it’s great to get some insight from someone who has some experience in the field!
Oh, and I just tried pulling up one of your recipes and it keeps saying “Page not found”. I tried it w/ some others too, and got the same message. Not sure if you’re aware of this or not!
These doughnuts look incredible. Glad you are having a great time in Chicago (I love the words “life changing appetizer”!) Have a great week.
OMG those look delicious! I’ve been wanting to try a homemade donut recipe 🙂
Liking the blog facelift so far!!
LOVE doughnuts…I have actually been on the lookout for one of those pans…going to mentally bookmark your recipe for when i actually find one! What can I say? I love my sweets! lol
Love the new website Nicole! Looks awesome!
Okay, so now I need a doughnut pan.
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