HO HO HO! COCONUT VANILLA DONUTS
TIME TO MAKE THE CHRISTMAS DONUTS
The holidays are a time of indulgence. A time of over-doing and Santa Claus-sized bellies. We all know and love the quintessential Christmas Sugar Cookie but what about the perfect Christmas coconut vanilla donuts? I’m not going to say no.
For first-time donut makers (like myself until about 2 hours ago)- do not be intimidated if you have never ventured to bake up a batch of these little delectable cakes with holes in the middle. Not equipped? Click here for an aluminized steel doughnut pan from Amazon Prime. You can be making donuts in about 48 hours with two day shipping. Nota bene: Amazon Prime is a MUST for holiday shopping and baking. You literally do not have to leave the house which will give you ample time for donut making.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose organic white flour
- 1 cup raw cane sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- 1/3 cup coconut oil plus 2 tablespoons, at room temperature (translucent)
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- 1/2 cup agave
- 1/2 cup - 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes (for topping)
- natural vegetable colorants + 2 tablespoons raw cane sugar (for decoration)*
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 6 well donut pan.
- In a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In a medium saucepan, warm the coconut milk and 1/3 cup of coconut oil over low heat until the oil melts (do not allow to boil), mixing gently with a spoon. Remove from the heat, and stir in the applesauce and vanilla.
- Pour the liquid mixture into the dry ingredients, and mix gently until very smooth. Stir in 1/2 cup of the coconut flakes. Pour the batter into the doughnut pan, filling about 3/4 of the way to allow for rising.
- Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 15 to 30 minutes. Gently scrape the sides of each well and flip the pan to turn the doughnuts out. Use a toothpick to help them fill out, if needed.
- In a small bowl, mix the agave and the 2 tablespoons of melted coconut oil together until well combined. Coat the donuts thinly with the icing and press onto the remaining coconut flakes to coat all over. Whip up some colored sugar and decorate-away.
*I refused to succumb to the regular store-bought colored sugar crystals for my donut decoration. How could I in good conscience use food-like substances made in a lab (and banned in most European countries)? Not possible. I almost gave up and then found India Tree Decorating Set. In 30 seconds, I had donuts worthy of Santa – naughty or nice.
