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    Home » Snack recipes

    Maple apple donuts

    July 31, 2015 by Caroline's Cooking

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    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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    maple apple donuts

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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.

    maple apple donuts

    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.

    making maple apple donuts

    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.

    maple apple donuts before glaze

    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.

    maple apple donuts

    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
    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Maple apple donuts

    These mini donuts have a few healthy ingredients including oat bran and apple to balance out the delicious maple-flavored sweetness. Addictively good!
    Prep Time15 mins
    Cook Time15 mins
    Total Time30 mins
    Course: Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 24 mini
    Calories: 51kcal
    Author: Caroline's Cooking
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    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

    Note - for homemade applesauce I used 1 ½ medium apples, cored and peeled and cut into chunks, 4tbsp water and a squeeze of lemon heated over a medium-low heat and stirred occasionally until the apples were tender. Then pureed and allowed to cool. Will keep a few days refrigerated.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 51kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 47mg | Potassium: 61mg | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 30IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 0.3mg

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    Remember to pin for later!

    These maple apple donuts are baked rather than fried and made with oatbran, yogurt and real apple so are relatively healthy, but still incredibly delicious. A great fall flavored treat.

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    1. Hirra Pervaiz

      August 06, 2015 at 1:56 am

      I love baked donuts and these with maple syrup look absolutely delicious!

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        August 06, 2015 at 5:08 pm

        Thanks, Hirra

        Reply
    2. michaela An Affair from the Heart

      August 05, 2015 at 7:39 pm

      5 stars
      Healthier donuts?!? Sign me up! YUM!

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        August 06, 2015 at 5:08 pm

        Thanks, Michaela, it's always a lucky bonus!

        Reply
    3. Kristen @ A Mind Full Mom

      August 05, 2015 at 12:37 pm

      Nothing beats a homemade donut---especially apple!

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        August 06, 2015 at 5:08 pm

        Thanks, Kristen. I've actually not made them before but will definitely have to make more now, these were so good!

        Reply
    4. Christine

      August 03, 2015 at 3:41 pm

      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.

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        August 06, 2015 at 5:06 pm

        Thanks, Christine. I'm not usually a donut fan either, but I do love these!

        Reply
    5. swayam

      August 02, 2015 at 10:38 am

      What a lovely idea!!! Apple donuts... YUM!! And who can resist maple syrup?? Thanks for linking up at #SaucySaturdays 🙂

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        August 02, 2015 at 8:19 pm

        Thanks, Swayam, you can't go wrong with maple syrup!

        Reply
    6. Judi Graber

      August 02, 2015 at 7:08 am

      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!

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        August 02, 2015 at 8:17 pm

        Great, I hope you manage to try making them, Judi, they're really tasty!

        Reply
    7. NancyC

      August 01, 2015 at 1:30 pm

      These donuts look wonderful! I love the maple-apple combination! 🙂

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        August 02, 2015 at 8:16 pm

        Thanks, Nancy, they are definitely great together!

        Reply
    8. Dini @ The Flavor Bender

      August 01, 2015 at 6:50 am

      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!!

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        August 01, 2015 at 7:22 am

        I know, it's great isn't it! And these are really tasty as well.

        Reply
    9. Michelle @ Giraffes Can Bake

      July 31, 2015 at 5:09 pm

      These looks awesome, so yummy - love that they're a bit healthier too 🙂

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        August 01, 2015 at 7:21 am

        Thanks, Michelle, they are really tasty! And being a bit healthier is a great excuse to have another 🙂

        Reply
    10. lili

      July 31, 2015 at 3:11 pm

      Nice to see healthier doughnuts Caroline! And lovely flavours too. Almost tempted to make doughnuts for the first time ever... Thank you! 🙂

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        August 01, 2015 at 7:20 am

        Well I'll admit these were my first attempt at donuts but I'll definitely be making them again, they were delicious!

        Reply
    11. MB@Bourbon and Brown Sugar

      July 31, 2015 at 12:13 pm

      Oh wow, maple donuts... these look amazing!

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        August 01, 2015 at 7:19 am

        Thanks, MB - maple-flavored is always good and delicious here!

        Reply
    12. Sarah

      July 31, 2015 at 10:12 am

      Maple apple donuts? Yes please! They look & sound amazing! Happy FF!

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        August 01, 2015 at 7:25 am

        Thanks, Sarah - they are really tasty! Happy FF to you too.

        Reply
    13. Sridevi Ravi

      July 31, 2015 at 10:04 am

      Maple apple donuts have all my fave flavors coming together. Drool worthy pictures! I have never heard or seen such healthy doughnuts! Sweet job!

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        August 01, 2015 at 7:19 am

        Thanks, Sridevi, they are so delicious but nice they are relatively healthy too.

        Reply
    14. Julie is Hostess At Heart

      July 31, 2015 at 8:30 am

      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!

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        August 01, 2015 at 7:18 am

        Thanks, Julie! He had a great time, and loved the food too. Definitely spoiled!

        Reply
    15. Loretta

      July 31, 2015 at 7:33 am

      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 🙂

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        August 01, 2015 at 7:16 am

        Well they are easy so I can easily bake more 🙂 Thanks, Loretta, and thanks for co-hosting FF this week.

        Reply
    16. Hilda

      July 31, 2015 at 7:27 am

      Those do look so good. I like the idea of baking them, and of course maple syrup makes everything so good!

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        August 01, 2015 at 7:15 am

        Thanks, Hilda. Maple syrup does have such a great flavor!

        Reply

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