I've been craving doughnuts. Big Time. As a rule, I usually don't eat them. I Love them. Who doesn't? But there is too much guilt involved. I always have regret afterwards. Did I really need that doughnut? Was it worth it? It's sitting on me. Now I feel awful. I have read that there are less calories in a plain doughnut than a bagel, but it does not matter, I still feel guilty. Even with all that cream cheese, I eat bagels all the time. Crazy.
When I heard about baked doughnuts (what?!) I was intrigued. A doughnut that is baked and not fried. Tell me more. Could they be just as good? Let me tell you, the answer is YES!
I have been seeing recipes for baked doughnuts on the blogs for the past few months and have been on the hunt for a doughnut pan. I hated the thought of buying a special pan to make just one thing. It's not very practical. But then I came across this Nordic Ware one at Target for under $10. I made the splurge and I'm so glad I did! I will be using this pan very often!
It just so happens that the day after I bought the pan one of my favorite blogs - Shutterbean- posted a recipe for Ina Garten's Cinnamon Sugar Baked Doughnuts. It was meant to be!
Sunday morning I created my own little doughnut shop in the kitchen. I had fun making them, but not as much fun as my family had eating them. There is nothing like a warm doughnut right out of the oven, freshly dipped in cinnamon & sugar. Oooh Yaaaa!
This is pure Happiness....
recipe from shutterbean.com
1 cup flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 tbs unsalted butter, melted
1 tsp vanilla extract
for topping:
4 tbs (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a mixing bowl.
Whisk together the egg, buttermilk, melted butter, and vanilla in a medium bowl. Pour into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
Spray the doughnut pan with non-stick spray. Fill the wells a bit more than three-quarters full with the batter.
Bake for 15-17 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the wall of a doughnut comes out clean. The doughnuts will be puffed and lightly browned. Let them cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then gently invert the doughnuts onto a rimmed baking sheet.
For the topping, whisk together the sugar and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Brush the warm doughnuts with the melted butter, then dip them into the cinnamon-sugar mixture on one or both sides.
I did both sides : )
This recipe makes six doughnuts, but you can certainly double it for a full dozen.
When the mess was all cleaned up I found some quiet time to enjoy a doughnut (or two...please don't judge...they are baked for heaven's sake...), my coffee, and a magazine full of Spring inspiration! With all the snow we've had lately I was in need of something bright and cheery. It worked! I felt so happy afterwards, and not one bit of guilt.
Ok, half the guilt, but that's better than before...xo
