These maple apple donuts are baked rather than fried and made with oat bran, yogurt and real apple so are relatively healthy, but still incredibly delicious.
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I suspect there aren't that many people who start thinking about what to do for their toddler's birthday party and then end up ordering a fish-shaped cutter and a donut tin, but that's exactly what I did a couple weeks ago. I had been thinking about making donuts for a while, as my son had tried one for the first time when we were in Malaysia (I know, seems odd to have something that feels very American while so far away but that's how it happened) and had really liked it.
I was trying to ration him slightly, but found I could hardly eat it, it was so sweet. I suspect it was partly the glaze that he liked, as he has definitely got more into that kind of thing recently, but either way, it had stuck in my mind to try to make a healthier version that we might all like.
These maple apple donuts definitely hit the mark - they are moist, have a delicious maple flavor and being made with oat bran, yogurt, coconut oil and applesauce and maple syrup rather than refined sugar, plus baked rather than fried, they are relatively healthy for donuts too.
I made mini donuts, as I figured they would work best for small hands, but the mixture would work just as well in a regular size as well. I made my own applesauce to add in to the mixture, but you could use store-bought as well - it will probably be a little more liquidy than what I made, so you may want to hold back a little milk until the end to see if it seems too runny, though I doubt it will make too much difference.
The mixture is really easy to make, just mix up the wet ingredients then add the dry and mix. I came across a really handy tip for transferring the mixture into the tins - put the mixture into a ziplock bag, cut off a corner and squeeze it as you would a piping bag into the tin. It really helps avoid getting the mixture all over the place and is a lot quicker than spooning it in as well. It might look a little lumpy as you pour, but just level off the mixture before you bake it.
I debated on whether to glaze these or not, since I was going for a bit healthier, but decided I still would since it was for a birthday party, after all. I am glad I did as the maple frosting definitely made for a delicious flavor to top the apple donuts. The amount of frosting is relatively small so I didn't feel that bad. And it did make me think that with the frosting, I could probably reduce the sweetness of the actual donut as a result, but that's one to experiment on a bit more in due course (I had over-reduced on my last baking project so was wary not to do the same this time when it was for his party).
The donuts will still taste good a few days after you make them, although as with all baked goods they are best fresh. However the frosting will kind of melt into the donut after the first day, so you'll get the taste but they won't look as good.
Overall these are delicious, easy and as I said relatively healthy and definitely something I'll be making again.
Try more fall flavored treats:
- Apple snack cake
- Pumpkin cinnamon rolls with maple apple filling
- Apple and bacon cornmeal scones
- Plus get more snack recipes and fall recipes in the archives.
Maple apple donuts
Ingredients
- 1 egg
- ½ cup applesauce see note at end, below, on making own
- ¼ cup maple syrup 4tbsp/60ml
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup plain yogurt 60ml
- ¼ cup milk 60ml
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil melted and allowed to cool
- ½ cup all purpose flour 70g plain flour
- ½ cup oat bran 55g
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda bicarbonate of soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
For the glaze
- 1 tablespoon butter 10g
- 1 ½ tablespoon maple syrup
- ¼ cup confectioners sugar 4tbsp icing sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F/175C and lightly oil/spray a donut or mini-donut tin.
- Place the egg, applesauce, maple syrup, vanilla, yogurt, milk and coconut oil in a bowl and whisk together.
- Add the flour, oatbran, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and mix until combined but try to avoid over-mixing.
- Transfer the mixture to a ziplock bag, seal then cut off one corner and use this to fill your donut tin. You want to fill them to near the top but with a little space left. Flatten out the mixture if it looks lumpy then bake for around 15mins for mini donuts (probably around 20 for regular sized) until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool before glazing.
For the glaze
- To make the glaze, melt the butter in a small pan, mix in the maple syrup and confectioners sugar until smooth then dip one side of each donut in the glaze, turn over and allow to dry. This recipe gives enough for a light dip rather than lots of glaze, so increase quantities if you want more.
Notes
Nutrition
See some of my favorite cooking tools and ingredients in the Caroline's Cooking Amazon store.
Hirra Pervaiz
I love baked donuts and these with maple syrup look absolutely delicious!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, Hirra
michaela An Affair from the Heart
Healthier donuts?!? Sign me up! YUM!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, Michaela, it's always a lucky bonus!
Kristen @ A Mind Full Mom
Nothing beats a homemade donut---especially apple!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, Kristen. I've actually not made them before but will definitely have to make more now, these were so good!
Christine
You've pretty much done me in here, woman! I don't even love donuts. But that glaze is calling my name. Thanks for linking up to #SaucySaturdays.
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, Christine. I'm not usually a donut fan either, but I do love these!
swayam
What a lovely idea!!! Apple donuts... YUM!! And who can resist maple syrup?? Thanks for linking up at #SaucySaturdays 🙂
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, Swayam, you can't go wrong with maple syrup!
Judi Graber
Two of my favorite baking ingredients; maple syrup and applesauce. I can a bunch (sugar-free) every Fall. They sound delicious but healthy and I even have the pan already!
Caroline's Cooking
Great, I hope you manage to try making them, Judi, they're really tasty!
NancyC
These donuts look wonderful! I love the maple-apple combination! 🙂
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, Nancy, they are definitely great together!
Dini @ The Flavor Bender
These look delicious Caroline!! 😀 I love it! I always feel guilty for having fried doughnuts, but with these baked doughnuts, I can have them and not even feel guilty about it! Happy FF!!
Caroline's Cooking
I know, it's great isn't it! And these are really tasty as well.
Michelle @ Giraffes Can Bake
These looks awesome, so yummy - love that they're a bit healthier too 🙂
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, Michelle, they are really tasty! And being a bit healthier is a great excuse to have another 🙂
lili
Nice to see healthier doughnuts Caroline! And lovely flavours too. Almost tempted to make doughnuts for the first time ever... Thank you! 🙂
Caroline's Cooking
Well I'll admit these were my first attempt at donuts but I'll definitely be making them again, they were delicious!
MB@Bourbon and Brown Sugar
Oh wow, maple donuts... these look amazing!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, MB - maple-flavored is always good and delicious here!
Sarah
Maple apple donuts? Yes please! They look & sound amazing! Happy FF!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, Sarah - they are really tasty! Happy FF to you too.
Sridevi Ravi
Maple apple donuts have all my fave flavors coming together. Drool worthy pictures! I have never heard or seen such healthy doughnuts! Sweet job!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, Sridevi, they are so delicious but nice they are relatively healthy too.
Julie is Hostess At Heart
These donuts look delicious and you did a great job making them healthier. Way to go mom! We used to eat a lot of commercially made donuts and now can't stomach them. They are terribly sweet as you state. Happy birthday to the birthday boy!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, Julie! He had a great time, and loved the food too. Definitely spoiled!
Loretta
Indeed we'll be back for more Caroline, so I hope you've made a few dozen :). Welcome to Fiesta Friday and thanks so much for bringing these maple apple donuts. I'm always intrigued by the donut pan, I'm sure when they came out, Dunkin Donuts suffered lower sales :). The fact that you've baked them makes it even more enticing, and I've checked out the ingredients, pretty healthy I'd say. Yummm to the maple flavor. Enjoy your weekend 🙂
Caroline's Cooking
Well they are easy so I can easily bake more 🙂 Thanks, Loretta, and thanks for co-hosting FF this week.
Hilda
Those do look so good. I like the idea of baking them, and of course maple syrup makes everything so good!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, Hilda. Maple syrup does have such a great flavor!