80(ish)--- Baked Apple Donut Holes

My dad loves donut holes. And he gets to eat them occasionally because he eats a lot of vegetables and other good-for-you things. Yes... 80/20. My dad is retiring next week after forty years as an environmental engineer. I hope that his retirement is filled with hiking, canoeing, motorcycle riding, camping, hanging out with me, and donut holes.

These are a little bit healthier that your basic donut hole (so that dad can partake in a few more). Most of the fat has been eliminated and they are baked, not fried.

I cannot claim this recipe as my own. I have made a couple of health-ifications, but Erica at Sweet Tooth created these Baked Apple Cider Donut Holes. They are delicious and easy!

Baked Apple Donut Holes
Makes ~40
DONUTS:

Cooking Spray
3 Tbsp white sugar (for muffin pans)
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 egg
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/3 cup pure maple syrup
1/3 cup 100% apple juice
1/3 cup plain low fat yogurt
3 tbsp vegetable oil

TOPPING:

2/3 cup sugar

2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup butter

Donuts

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray mini muffin pans with cooking spray and sprinkle sugar on top, shaking out the excess.

In a bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice. In a separate bowl, mix together brown sugar, applesauce, maple syrup, egg, apple juice, yogurt, and vegetable oil.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet, and stir gently just until evenly blended. Spoon the batter into the muffin pan, filling the cavities only half way (important for the final shape of your donut holes). Bake for ~10 minutes

Topping (prepare while the donuts are baking)

Melt the butter in a bowl. In another bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon.

Remove donuts from the oven and when they are still hot, dip the tops in melted butter (such a 20!) and roll them in the cinnamon sugar mixture until evenly coated (bottoms will still be moist from cooking, therefore there is no need to dip them into the butter).

Nutrition Info per 1 donut hole: 70 calories, 1.8 g fat, 1 g protein, 12.5 g carbohydrates