Pigs in a Donut Hole

Maple donut holes have been rolling through my head since last weekend's donut coma.  I literally ate a donut every day of the weekend.  No bueno.  But oh so good!  What is it about gluten filled sugary bread fried in oil that makes us swoon?

 

 

So I've been wanting to make a slightly healthier donut, but with a little protein gem hidden inside.  After a batch of 24, I was able to enjoy 2 whole donut holes and 2 half eaten donut holes.  Sounds like this one was a family hit right?

 

 

 

Pigs in a Maple Oat Donut Hole

 

Donut ingredients:

1 cup, plus 3 Tb flour

1/3 cup oat flour

3/4 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp baking soda

pinch salt

1 egg, slightly beaten

3/4 cup vanilla yogurt

1 Tb canola oil

2 tsp white vinegar or lemon juice

2 Tb maple syrup

8 oz package maple sausage links (I used Farmer John)

cooking spray

 

Icing ingredients:

2/3 cup powdered sugar

2 tsp water

1 tsp maple syrup

 

Powdered sugar for dusting

 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400F.

 

Brown sausage links in skillet over medium heat, evenly on all sides until done, about 8 minutes.

 

Meanwhile, combine dry donut ingredients in large bowl and whisk to combine.  Add egg, yogurt, oil, vinegar and maple syrup.  Mix until just combined.

 

Allow batter to rest a few minutes for a fluffier donut.

 

 

Drain sausages and cut each link into 3 pieces, yielding 24 sausage bites.

 

 

Spray 24 cup mini muffin tin or donut hole pan with cooking spray.  Fill each cup 2/3 full of batter.  Insert a sausage piece into each batter filled muffin cup, pressing lightly.  Finish with a bit more batter to seal in the sausage.

 

Place in oven and bake 10 minutes, until lightly browned.

Remove to wire rack. 

 

Combine icing ingredients well and drizzle over donut holes.

 

 

Dust with powdered sugar and serve.

 

Serves 6, four donut holes each.  Prep 10 min.  Total cook/bake time 20 min.

 

Now don't you want to bite into that maple goodness?  As my two year-old is watching me write this, he keeps telling me he wants more "of those ones", but unfortunately, the family polished them all off.  Looks like I'll need to make a trip to the store for more sausages!  I hope you enjoy these as much as we all did.  And I'd consider these...semi-healthy.  I mean, they are full of sugar ;-)

 

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