(BAKED) BITE-SIZE APPLE DONUTS WITH HONEY GLAZE

Free time has been pretty sparse around here lately -- days have been filled with work and evenings with studying, leaving very little time for the fun stuff. I'm sneaking in family time and friend time as best I can, but things will continue to stay a little quiet around here until November.

That being said, this weekend's unexpected trip to the Abbey to go apple picking was just what I needed: fresh 'autumn is coming' cottage air, a summery sky, and all the apples a girl could dream of. It was perfect. When we arrived home with a 10 lb bag of apples, apples and honey seemed like the only solution (considering I didn't get around to baking last week for Jewish New Year). Last year's apple chips and apple sauce are totally happening this week too.

Happy almost first day of Fall, and Gmar Chatima Tova to those celebrating.

BAKED CINNAMON + SUGAR DONUTS

Did you hear? Its National Donut Day! Seeing as I'd never miss any opportunity to make donuts, I had to join in on the fun!

We are big fans of sweets in our house, especially when covered with cinnamon and sugar. I haven't yet mustered up the courage to try making cinnamon buns, so these donuts seems like the perfect compromise. Perfectly fluffy dough speckled with nutmeg, then doused in a hearty serving of cinnamon sugar. These are by no means gluten-free, or refined sugar-free, but they are damn good. Trust.

CHOCOLATE DONUTS WITH TOASTED COCONUT (DF + GF)

With February 14th just around the corner, I figured it was time for a Valentines Day post. Turns out though, that Valentines Day is rather atypical around here -- no fancy dinners, no gifts, and no flowers. Two years ago, there was skiing and sugar cookies. Last year, skiing and nutella granola. This year, more skiing, and more chocolatey treats. I'm beginning to notice a trend...

I've never been a fan of changing up your 'normal' just because its valentines day. Instead, remind the people close to your heart how much you care for them, and value them as people. An added bonus would be to pamper them with baked goods, and for that, I give you these chocolate-y, coconut-y, gluten free, baked donuts. Pretty much ideal for anyone and everyone!

Sending you much love, hugs and gratitude  xx

VEGAN + GF DOUBLE CHOCOLATE DONUTS

Growing up, birthdays were always a big deal. There were streamers, presents at breakfast, and a really fabulous birthday cake. My mom was brilliant when it came to making birthday cakes - simple vanilla butter cake, cut and shaped into the most elaborate creations: disney characters, paint palettes, type-writers, trains, anything you could think of really. Since I began baking, I've always tried to make the extra effort on birthdays; make the cake that much bigger, that much more delicious, and that much more creative. For Nigel's birthday last August, I tackled baked donuts for the first time. Since then, I've acquired a rather incredible cookbook - Baked Donuts for Everyone. Not only was this recipe gluten free, but it catered to the vegan birthday girl as well. I couldn't believe how delicious and 'real' they tasted, nom nom, I love birthdays!

VEGAN + GF DOUBLE CHOCOLATE DONUTS // makes 8-10

Adapted from Ashley McLaughlin's Baked Donuts for Everyone.

Note: The recipe calls for a variety of flours that you probably won't have in the house. If you're not gluten-free, you'll be tempted to replace then with white flour. Resist the urge, walk to the store, and buy the proper ingredients. Trust. Also, if you're not aiming for a vegan donut, feel free to use regular butter, milk and chocolate chips.

Preheat oven to 350.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup oat flour
1/2 cup rice flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup cocoa powder
2 tbsp almond meal
2 tbsp ground flax meal
2 tbsp coconut flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup unsweetened milk (soy or almond)
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
3 tbsp canola or grapeseed oil
1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips

For the frosting...
2 tbsp milk (soy or almond)
2/3 cup powdered sugar
2 tbsp vegan butter, room temperature
1/4 cup cocoa powder

coloured sprinkles, for decorating

What to do:

In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients and mix to eliminate any lumps.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, apple sauce and oil.

Pour the wet mixture over the dry and stir with a wooden spoon until just combined, stop when you no longer see any dry flour. Let the batter sit for 5 minutes. The batter will firm up, don't worry.

While the batter is sitting, grease the donut pan with butter.

Spoon the batter into the donut tray, filling to just below the top of each mold (these donuts don't rise very much). Smooth out the top of the donuts and transfer to the pre-heated oven.

Bake for 18-22 minutes, until lightly golden and a toothpick comes out clean. Let the pan sit for 5 minutes before gently removing the donuts and transferring to a wire rack.

To make the frosting, combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well to combine.

You can either choose to frost and sprinkle each donut individually, or create a donut tower. For the tower, frost the side of one donut and sprinkle, set on a plate. Continue with the rest of the donuts, stacking as you go. For the top layer of donuts, frost and sprinkle the tops as well.

BIRTHDAY DONUTS

Nigel's 31st birthday seemed like a perfect excuse to attempt to make donuts at home. I had previously heard that the only way to achieve DIY donuts was with a deep fryer. I do not own a deep fryer, nor do I have any intention of ever buying one. Perusing one of my go-to kitchen stores, I stumbled onto this, and knew that donut making was in the cards. 

The finished product was a smashing success and a fabulous birthday treat!

BIRTHDAY DONUTS // makes 12 full size donuts

Make sure to stock up on sprinkles before hand, and do your best to control having them all over your kitchen by the end of it. I followed this recipe almost to the T, and was beyond pleased with the results!

Preheat the oven to 350.

Ingredients / What to do:

Whisk together

2 cups flour
3/4 cups sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp nutmeg

Mix together wet ingredients

1 cup buttermilk
2 tbsp butter, melted
2 large eggs, beated
1 tsp vanilla

Mix all together and add

1/3 cup sprinkles, plus more for decorating

What to do next:


Fill the pan holes about 3/4 of the way full. Bake for about 12-14 minutes until the donuts are dry on top and spring back when lightly touched. Let cool for a few minutes before transferring from pan to drying rack.

Let donuts cool completely before dipping top down into glaze and then sprinkles.

For the glaze

1 1/4 cups icing sugar
2 tbsp milk
1/2 tsp vanilla