Memorial Day Donuts
Growing up I spent Memorial Day celebrating and remembering my grandfather's for their years dedicated to the service. My dad told me that when I was two my neighborhood had a block party, but that was only a one time thing. Since then we haven’t had any elaborate BBQ’s or huge parties, and honestly, the past five years I have spent Memorial Day working in a restaurant. I always got offended when I would see people getting completely trashed on this holiday, but I guess here in America we chose to only celebrate holidays by pounding Coors Light and cheap tequila. Not to say those days weren’t memorable at all, but there comes a time when you’ll realize the true reason to why we celebrate a holiday.
Being in a relationship with someone in the military really puts things in perspective. Now, I may not fully agree with the military and some of choices they have made, but I entirely respect their sacrifice that they make for their country. It takes true guts and glory to do what these amazing women and men do, something that a lot of civilians would never do. They give up part of their lives for their country, and devote their entire time to protecting it for their loved ones back home.
Okay, I got the serious stuff over. Now let’s talk about these donuts! Ever since I got my donut pans, I have been using and abusing them. It is also so easy to make baked donuts, and a lot easier to make healthy than you would think.
Flash back to eight months ago, you would find me on my best friends couch munching down on donuts. You know that one brand with the white box and blue writing, came with chocolate, powdered sugar, and crunch; figure out the brand yet? Those were my vice, my instant weakness. Set down a box of those in front of me, and in seconds they would be almost gone. I didn’t start to truly take this healthy lifestyle seriously until January, I kind of had one of those, “new year, new me,” moments embarrassingly enough.
I knew I wanted to make something a little patriotic, even though I’m not the most patriotic person out there, but I wanted to keep it has healthy as I can. I wanted to incorporate red and blue colors but I didn’t want to add anything artificial. Instantly my mind went to berries, not only do they provide the color I would need but also add a natural sweetness without having to add an overwhelming amount of sugar. Lately, I have also been on a berry kick (my Instagram followers would know just by even looking at my page) so I knew I had to use them. Also, berries are the essence of summer time, and not going to lie I am ready for summer.
I added in a lot of really good ingredients, making sure that not only did they taste amazing but they were actually really good for you. So you don’t feel so bad for eating two or maybe six. I used oat flour, chickpea flour (high in protein and fiber), and cassava flour to keep them gluten free. I then add in ground flax, chia seeds, and hemp hearts, that way I’m getting in extra protein and healthy fats. With desserts, it is really easy to sneak in good for you foods; like spinach and kale in smoothies, hemp and flax ground in banana bread, or zucchini grated into thick oatmeal. The options are simply endless! Next I plan on adding in spinach in matcha donuts or bread, can’t decide which one yet.
I chose to double this batter, simply because my family eats my donuts so quickly and not going to deny it, I do too. I also did this since I was using two different colors. I made a blueberry jam to represent “blue” and a raspberry jam to make “red.” You can simply make only one standard yield by only making one batch and splitting it in half. Totally up to you, but I highly suggest making the double, you won’t regret it if you do!
Yield: about 30 donuts
Vegan and Gluten Free
Category: Breakfast
Prep time: 10 minutes Total time: about 80 minutes
Ingredients: **For one batter**
Dry
1 cup oat flour (I used Coach’s Oats blended up)
½ cup chickpea flour
½ cup cassava flour
2 tsp baking powder (preferably aluminum free)
1 tsp baking soda
2 tbsp ground flax
1 tbsp ground hemp hearts
Wet:
¾ cup almond milk or any other nut milk
¼ tsp apple cider vinegar (I use raw and unfiltered, has more beneficial properties)
2 tbsp unsweetened applesauce (look for one that is organic and has only apples in it, no other fillers)
2 tbsp coconut oil (heated and then slightly cooled)
½ tsp vanilla extract
Raspberry jam:
1 ½ cup fresh raspberries
1 tbsp chia seeds
½ tbsp water
Blueberry jam:
1 ½ cup fresh blueberries
1 tbsp chia seeds
1/s tbsp water
Glaze:
1 cup unrefined powdered sugar (1 cup coconut sugar blended with 1 tsp cornstarch until smooth and powdery)
1 tbsp almond milk (may need to add more depending on desired thickness)
Directions: **For one batter
Preheat oven to 350 F
Before anything combine almond milk and apple cider vinegar. This will make a “buttermilk” without having to use actual buttermilk. It also makes the donuts moist.
First start by making the jam. Add ingredients into a saucepan for 10-15 minutes or until nice and thick. Let cool before combining with other ingredients.
While the jam is heating, combine all dry ingredients well. Make sure to take your time combing to ensure that everything is completely mixed well.
In a separate bowl combine all wet ingredients, adding in the set aside almond milk mixture and jam.
Once fully mixed together, pour wet ingredients into dry.
Grease a donut pan with coconut oil
Fill up a piping bag or ziploc with tip cut off with the dough
Squeeze out enough to fill ¾ of the way full
Bake for 12-15 minutes
Transfer to wire cooling rack when almost cooled down
To make glaze: combine everything together until a smooth glaze is formed
Pour glaze over donuts using as much or as little as you like. Garnish with little bits of blueberries and raspberries
Repeat with the other jam flavor. I poured to two batters side by side in my ziploc bag to make a tie-dyed design. Feel free to just spoon them out, or make one red and one blue, whatever you are feeling just go with it.
I have some multitasking tips for you, because if you are not organized and ready to go, this may take a little while.
Stay organized, have everything you need right in front of you. Place your wet ingredients together, and then your dry. Make sure you have everything you know so to not waste time later having to go back for missing items.
Make both jams at the same time, place the two pans together so that you can easily maintain them.
While making the jams, combine all dry and then wet ingredients. This way you will be two jobs done at once without having to wait for the other to be done.
I say this will take roughly 80 minutes due to making all the donuts. If you make only one batch it will take you about half the time.
That’s it! Took me a little while to explain how you do everything, but once you get it down it is very simple to make these. I wish you all a safe and happy Memorials Day!
Let me know if you try this recipe!