Baked Chocolate Doughnuts

/ Chocolate, Dessert, Other Dessert, Recipe, Whole Grains / 31 Comments

Edited to add: I forgot to mention that you can make these in a muffin (or mini muffin) tin if you don’t have a doughnut pan. Everyone can enjoy an almost healthy doughnut!

…Yes, you read that title right. These chocolate doughnuts are practically good for you (especially compared to a regular doughnut). They’re baked (not fried) and made with whole wheat flour, a reasonable amount of sugar and no butter, just a little coconut oil. This means no trans fat, only 2 grams of saturated fat, 6 grams of sugar, plus they have whole grains, fiber and come in under 100 calories each!

Of course, none of that really matters if they taste like cardboard. But they don’t! I’ve been exploring different flours lately, in an effort to make my excessive baking not quite so unhealthy, and bought white whole wheat flour. It has the same nutritional benefits of whole wheat flour, without the “healthy” taste or texture. So these doughnuts actually just taste like chocolate cake doughnuts. I made a simple sugar glaze to go on top, but they don’t even need it. It did make them a little more moist, but really I just wanted it to stick some sprinkles on them.

I couldn’t resist going to Target the day after Valentine’s Day and checking out the 50% off sale. I scored a heart doughnut pan for $5! These doughnuts are actually kind of heart healthy, so it seems pretty apropros. Plus, I got to use my leftover sprinkles from my heart shaped sugar cookies.

 I can’t wait to make more doughnuts in my new pan! What other doughnut flavors should I try? 

P.S. Looking for more recipes like this? Check out my recipe index for almost healthy desserts!


Recipe:

Almost Healthy Chocolate Doughnuts

Adapted from Lara Ferroni

Makes 12-15 small doughnuts

  • 130 grams white whole wheat flour  (a little more than 1 cup)
  • 2 tablespoons natural cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 75 grams sugar (a little less than 1/2 cup)
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg*
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 1/4 cup buttermilk (I used 1/4 cup 1% milk mixed with 1 teaspoon of lemon juice)
  • 1/4 cup low-fat yogurt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg
  • Optional: glaze (see below), powdered sugar or your favorite frosting, sprinkles
Lightly coat a doughnut tin (or muffin tin) with non-stick spray. Preheat oven to 350℉.
In a large bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda. Whisk in sugar, nutmeg and salt. Add in the coconut oil and use your fingers to rub it into the dry ingredients until it becomes coarse crumbs.

In a separate bowl, mix together buttermilk, yogurt, vanilla and egg. Pour the wet ingredients into the flour mixture and mix until just combined (be careful not to overmix). Use a spoon or piping bag (an easy cheat: use a small ziplock bag and cut a hole in the corner for a makeshift piping bag) to fill each doughnut cup 1/2 to 3/4 full.

Bake until doughnuts spring back when touched (between 6-10 minutes, depending on the size of your doughnut pan). Let cool before frosting.

*Nutmeg is the key to a recognizable doughnut flavor. You can leave it out, but your doughnuts may taste more like chocolate cake.

 

Simple Glaze

  • Powdered sugar
  • Milk
In a small bowl, add around 1 cup of powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon of milk. Mix with a spoon until it becomes a thick paste. Add 1/4 teaspoon of milk at a time, breaking up any clumps with the back of the spoon, until it reaches the consistency of a thin glaze. (If you add a lot of milk all at once, it will be hard to break up the clumps.)


31 Comments on Baked Chocolate Doughnuts

    • Stephanie
      March 1, 2012 at 3:00 pm (13 years ago)

      @Lauren – love all your flavor ideas! I will be sure to have you taste test the next batch 🙂

  2. Liz
    March 2, 2012 at 7:49 am (13 years ago)

    Love the idea of baked donuts! I haven’t had a donut in years because the fat makes me ill. I think I will try to make these donuts. Since I am trying out all kinds of sugar free recipes I will try to replace the sugar with Splenda. Thanks.
    Liz recently posted 4th Annual National Capital Area Cake Show (NCACS)

    Reply
    • Stephanie
      March 2, 2012 at 2:36 pm (13 years ago)

      @Liz – I hope this recipe works for you and doesn’t make you fill ill. Enjoy!

  3. Trudi
    March 2, 2012 at 2:25 pm (13 years ago)

    These look great Steph! Two questions-where did you get the while whole wheat flour and do you think I could use a doughnut maker? We recently acquired one and I would love to use it to make reasonably healthy treats for them (they don’t have to know about the healthy part.)

    Reply
    • Stephanie
      March 2, 2012 at 2:35 pm (13 years ago)

      @Trudi – I bought the flour at Target, but most grocery stores should have it too. I’ve never used a doughnut maker but I don’t see why not – it basically bakes the doughnuts so it’s sort of the same idea. Come back and let us know how it works!

  4. Jessica
    March 4, 2012 at 7:55 pm (13 years ago)

    These look fantastic! I don’t have a doughnut pan but I’ve been making baked “doughnut holes” (mini muffins) like mad – my favorite so far was apple cider. I second the salted caramel idea – that sounds delicious. A baked apple fritter type donut with a glaze would be awesome – or vanilla bean. I’m really tempted to just break down and buy a doughnut pan now!

    Reply
    • Stephanie
      March 4, 2012 at 8:06 pm (13 years ago)

      @Jessica – I meant to mention that you can bake these in a muffin tin if you don’t have a doughnut pan – thanks for the reminder! I love apple cider doughnuts so that would be a fun flavor to try next. Salted caramel, apple fritter, the ideas go on…I’ll just have to get started!
      I just ordered a regular mini doughnut pan that was on sale. Not to be an enabler, but I think you should get one too! I’m not big on unitasker pans and appliances, but this one I’m good with!

  5. Tya @ Note Etc.
    March 5, 2012 at 12:41 am (13 years ago)

    finally…!! healthy doughnuts, everyone love doughnuts, but many of them don’t realize, how bad that snack would it be for or health, for ppl who know it and conscious about health, they will stop to consume it (like me!) but sometime, the delight of doughnuts couldn’t resist, thank to you, because you can make it healthy!

    cheers
    Tya @ Note Etc. recently posted Dry Baked Brownies

    Reply
  9. Kiri W.
    March 6, 2012 at 3:11 am (13 years ago)

    Wow, what amazing stats! Hard to believe these are a smart treat 🙂 And I love the heart shape, adorable! Congrats on Top 9, very well deserved.

    Reply
    • Stephanie
      March 6, 2012 at 6:51 am (13 years ago)

      @Kiri W. – I know, it’s pretty unbelievable! I can’t wait to try more flavors of doughnuts and make them almost healthy. Thanks! 🙂

  10. Becky
    March 6, 2012 at 3:29 am (13 years ago)

    Your heart shaped donuts are adorable, and I love baking with yogurt. I don’t have a doughnut pan, yet:) I can make these in my mini muffin pan though.

    Congrats on the Top 9 today!
    Becky recently posted #Greenslove: Mini Spinach Arugula Quiches

    Reply
    • Stephanie
      March 6, 2012 at 6:52 am (13 years ago)

      @Becky – you should definitely try them in your mini muffin pan. I’m sure they’ll still taste great! Thanks 🙂

  11. Daisy@Nevertoosweet
    March 6, 2012 at 7:37 am (13 years ago)

    Congratulations for being Top 9 on Foodbuzz tonight 🙂 I’m bookmarking this recipe now! I can’t believe these are only about 100 calories perfect ~ Thanks for sharing!
    Daisy@Nevertoosweet recently posted Keeping Warm – Ah Kuan Hot Pot

    Reply
    • Stephanie
      March 6, 2012 at 7:41 am (13 years ago)

      @Daisy – thank you! Hope you enjoy the recipe 🙂

  12. Ali
    March 6, 2012 at 11:52 am (13 years ago)

    Congrats on top 9! Cute pic, they look delicious.
    Ali recently posted Ankle strengthening

    Reply
  14. kita
    March 8, 2012 at 6:00 pm (13 years ago)

    I am sooo excited (even though I saw your note at the top). I just bought my first doughnut pan and am itching like crazy to test it out! The idea of an almost healthy doughnut has me pumped!
    kita recently posted Thin Mint Trifles

    Reply
  15. Kitty
    April 26, 2012 at 8:54 pm (13 years ago)

    I am gonna try this recipe right now.where did you buy the muffin/donut pan?

    Reply
    • Stephanie
      April 29, 2012 at 2:44 pm (13 years ago)

      @Kitty – I got it at Target around Valentine’s Day. I think they have similar pans that are round instead of hearts year round.

  16. milkallergymom
    September 14, 2012 at 9:00 am (12 years ago)

    Thank you SO much! These are so wonderful for our dairy-allergy family. I posted them on my blog with a link back to you. 🙂

    Reply

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