15 Healthy Donut Recipes For National Donut Day. But Seriously. (2024)

FAQs

What is a healthy alternative to doughnut? ›

A favorite, especially among the New Englanders (well-known Dunkin' fans) in the fall, an apple crumb donut is definitely one of the healthier ones you could select off the menu. Each donut contains 290 calories, no cholesterol, and 44 grams of carbs.

Freshness is a prerequisite for the remaining qualities — without it, all hope of a perfect doughnut is lost. If effort is required to bite into a doughnut and remove the bite from the remainder of the pastry, then a problem has occurred. If icing falls off in a mess of dried flakes, then a problem has occurred.

To create your makeshift donut pan, start by taking a 5"x5" square piece of foil and place it over your fingers. Fold the foil around your fingers and carefully fold the sides up to create a mold. Fit the mold into a cup of your muffin pan and press into place.

The good news is that unless you eat doughnuts every day or go through a dozen in one sitting, they're not necessarily a huge diet-buster.

Why is that difference important? Eat a banana and you'll get a good hit of fiber and potassium, as well as other key vitamins and minerals. A donut contains what we call “empty calories”—there's not much in the way of nutritional value.

(You can also see that other treats, like muffins, aren't necessarily the healthy alternative many people think they are.) Dunkin's classic French Cruller and Krispy Kreme's Original Glazed, for example, are two healthier doughnut options under 300 calories and 11 grams of sugar.

Unhealthiest Doughnut: Blueberry Butternut Donut, Bismark, or Glazed Jelly Stick. Why it's bad: Imagine eating eight teaspoons of sugar.

It's fine to enjoy a glazed doughnut every once in a while, but for your health, it's best not to make it a habit. Glazed doughnuts are not healthy, although you can certainly enjoy one every now and again. Eating too many of them may lead to weight gain and increase your risk of diabetes and heart disease over time.

Use real cake flour – not DIY cake flour!

DIY substitutions don't really cut it, and AP flour will not create doughnuts with that same soft texture. Also, bleached cake flour will work best. Unbleached (like King Arthur Baking) won't absorb as much moisture, and you may end up with doughnuts that crumble while frying.

Can I bake my doughnut instead of frying it? ›

If I made a donut dough that was put in the recipe as fried, is it okay to bake it instead? You can but the texture and taste will be different. Frying in oil is hotter because there is direct contact with the food, unlike baking, where the air is heated.

Jelly Doughnut

These classic doughnuts are typically round without a hole in the middle, and generally leavened with yeast. The center is stuffed with jelly, jam, or preserves (and sometimes chocolate!), giving you a burst of flavor with each bite.

Homemade muffins? They're still a treat but a heck of a lot better than donuts, especially if you use a low sugar recipe with whole wheat flour. and natural applesauce instead of oil! You can add blueberries, and replace your eggs with ground flaxseed, and your oil with applesauce or bananas.

We've got donuts on the brain. But sometimes you just don't want to leave the house, even if it is for a perfect, sugary treat. Thank goodness for this recipe from Cook's Country. You just pop the dough in a muffin tin -- no special equipment needed for these fantastic crowd-pleasers.

Key Takeaways. Bagels tend to be lower in calories, fat, and sugar compared to donuts, making them a healthier option. Bagels have more carbohydrates and fiber than donuts, providing more sustained energy and promoting a feeling of fullness. Bagels generally contain more protein than donuts.