recipe: buttermilk donuts

a few weeks ago, i ordered a couple donut pans with visions of baking donuts on lazy saturday mornings and holidays. we love donuts around here, and in my cut-down-on-processed-foods-and-make-it-from-scratch quest i figured donuts were no exception to the rule. either i make 'em or we don't eat 'em (unless, of course, my husband brings one home from that cute little donut shop right next to his work and it just sits there and taunts me. then i might have to have a bite...or two :). a few days ago i decided it was time i gave those donut pans a whirl, and the result was a fun, delicious treat. i'm so excited to make these again, as well as try different recipes and toppings.

these buttermilk donuts have a muffin-like texture and are topped with a tiny bit of melted butter and rolled in a cinnamon-sugar mixture. they are reeeeeally good, and something about the cute little donut shape made them extra special. i can see this being a really fun after-school snack someday. 

ingredients:

1 cup whole-wheat flour

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup low-fat buttermilk (1%)

2 large eggs

1/4 cup honey

2 tablespoons melted butter

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

directions:

1. combine flours, sugar, baking powder, nutmeg, (i substituted cinnamon for the nutmeg), and salt in a bowl.

2. in a second bowl, whisk together buttermilk, eggs, honey, butter, and vanilla. add buttermilk mixture to flour mixture, stir until combined.

3. spray donut pan with oil or cooking spray, then fill donut pans (i used a ziploc bag to pipe the batter in, it was so easy and there was zero mess!) making sure each little donut is only half-full.

4. bake for 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees or until donuts are cooked through.

5. brush a little butter on top and dip in a cinnamon-sugar mixture and serve immediately!

i halved the recipe and was able to make about 20 mini donuts.

tips:

+ here is a substitute that i always use for buttermilk, it works like a charm.

+ like i mentioned, it is so much easier to fill the pans if you put the batter in a ziploc bag, cut one corner off, and pipe it in like frosting.

+ don't fill donuts much higher than half-full, they lose their cute little hole in the center if they are too full.

+ if the donuts don't want to come out of the pan let them cool for a few minutes and then they should pop right out.

+ i found my large donut pan at target and got the mini pan here. online, target also has a heart donut pan! so cute.

*recipe adapted and slightly changed from health.com.