MINI MAPLE SPICED DOUGHNUTS WITH MOLASSES GLAZE (Gluten & dairy-free)

I think it’s safe to say Summer is officially over.  It’s  just a little too cold at night for a t-shirt & naturally I’m craving anything spiced. These mini doughnuts are my first transitional treat into the flavors of Fall.  Now that we can all use our ovens happily without resenting it, I think it's time to get baking.  Most of my Summer was spent off-the-oven-grid, making simple salads and avoiding overheating my tiny apartment.  I'm easing into it this time as I know we'll have many (MANY!) months of roasted vegetables, winter squash and soups.  So, for now, something a little spiced for the changing of seasons.

Maple SPICED Doughnuts WITH MOLASSES GLAZE (gluten-free, dairy-free) makes 12 mini doughnuts

  • 1 cup almond flour
  • 1/2 cup sorghum flour 
  • 1/2 cup oat flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon cardamom
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 6 tablespoons extra-virgin coconut oil (liquified)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3 tablespoons freshly grated ginger or 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 3 large eggs

Maple Molasses Glaze:

  • 1 cup confectioners sugar
  • 2 tablespoons almond milk (or other non-dairy milk)
  • 2 tablespoons molasses
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • A sprinkle of cinnamon

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  In a large mixing bowl, whisk together first 8 ingredients.  In a separate mixing bowl, mix together maple syrup, eggs, vanilla, ginger & coconut oil.  Using a spatula, fold wet ingredients into the dry until well-combined.  

Carefully add the batter to a large ziplock bag & snip a 1/2 inch hole in the corner.  Use this to pipe the batter into a greased doughnut pan (I used this one).  Fill each one until it’s flush with the top of the pan, but does not come above it (they will rise!).  Bake for exactly 10 minutes & then cool for 5 minutes.  Continue until all the batter is gone.  It will make two batches of mini doughnuts.

To make the glaze: add confectioners sugar to a small mixing bowl & whisk until smooth without lumps.  Then, add almond milk, molasses, maple, vanilla & cinnamon.  Whisk until smooth & thick.  If the glaze is too thin, add more sugar & if too thick, add more milk.  Once desired consistency, dip each doughnut in and let the excess drip off.  Continue until all doughnuts are glazed.  Serve & eat immediately!

MINI ALMOND CLEMENTINE BUNDT CAKES WITH CREME FRAICHE GLAZE

I'm a big fan of cakes – specifically tea and breakfast cakes that are easy to make and don't involve tiers or frosting.  They feel like the perfect everyday treat & something you could throw together on a slow afternoon with almost no planning.   That's my favorite way to bake - on a whim when I miraculously have all the ingredients I need.

It's been a long Winter, and as much as I've had a complete love affair with citrus, I'm so looking forward to the Spring/Summer produce ahead.  (I mean, remember red currants?) The weather is finally starting to reflect that it's straight-up Springtime and I'm ready for some real fruit.  Rhubarb, I'm comin for you...

Mini Almond Clementine Bundt Cakes (Makes 6 mini bundts) Gluten-free

  • 1 3/4 cup almond flour
  • 1/4 cup sorghum flour
  • 1 tablespoon tapioca flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 6 tablespoons coconut oil or butter (melted and cooled)
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 
  • Zest of 3 clementines/mandarins

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  In a large mixing bowl, whisk together almond flour, brown rice flour, tapioca flour, baking soda and salt.

In another small bowl, whisk together maple syrup, eggs, vanilla, zest and coconut oil or butter.  Slowly combine wet with dry, folding batter to combine well.

Add batter to well-greased bundt pan, making sure each is three-quarters full.  Bake for 20-25 minutes or until browned around the edges.  Let cool in pan for 10-15 minutes, then carefully remove cakes from the pan.  Cool on a wire rack before glazing.

Creme Fraiche Glaze

  • 1 cup confectioners sugar, sifted
  • 1/3 cup creme fraiche
  • 2 tablespoons clementine juice

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together sugar, creme fruit and mandarin juice.

NOTES: I used a mini bundt pan, but you can use any cake pan or even a muffin tin to make “mini cakes”.  Also, feel free to use any citrus here - any mandarin, navel orange or meyer lemon would be great.  Creme Fraiche can also be subbed for mascarpone or cream cheese.

THIS POST WAS ORIGINALLY SHOT FOR H&M !