Baking doughnuts in January is risky when the words “diet” and “detox” abound, but I’m hoping you’ll forgive me since these are mini baked doughnuts. I topped these tender one-bite wonders with a glossy cocoa glaze and toasted coconut for crunch. You could argue that these are guilt-free given the petite size and the cooking technique: baked versus fried.
I picked up my mini doughnut pan at Sur La Table. This recipe is part of January’s Chocolate Party; scroll down below for more chocolate and coconut creations.
Toasted Coconut & Chocolate Mini Doughnuts
1 1/2 Tbsp unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups cake flour*
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
Glaze & Topping
6 Tbsp sweetened shredded coconut
2 Tbsp unsalted butter
3 Tbsp low-fat milk
1 1/2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa
3/4 cup powdered sugar, sifted
Preheat oven to 425°F and spray mini doughnut pan with nonstick spray. Cook butter in a heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly until it foams, turns clear, and then turns a deep brown, about 6 minutes. Remove from heat to cool slightly.
Whisk together cake flour, sugar, baking power, and salt in a large bowl. Add buttermilk, egg, vanilla, and brown butter; stir just until combined. Spoon batter into a pastry bag fitted with a large round tip and fill each doughnut cup just over half full. Bake about 5 minutes, until the tops spring back when touched. Let cool in pan 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with remaining batter, spraying pan with nonstick spray in between batches.
Place coconut in a rimmed baking sheet; toast 2 minutes. Toss with spatula and toast 1 minute more, until golden. Immediately place into a small bowl to cool. For the glaze, combine butter, milk, and cocoa in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring to combine as the butter melts. Whisk in powdered sugar until smooth. Remove from heat and let stand 15-20 minutes (glaze will thicken as it cools).
Set rack with doughnuts over a piece of wax paper. Dip doughnut tops into glaze and set on rack; sprinkle with toasted coconut. Store leftovers in a single layer in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 day.
*Make your own cake flour: place 2 tablespoons cornstarch in an empty 1-cup measure, then top up with flour. Sift the mixture several times to evenly distribute the cornstarch.
Yield – 32 doughnuts (serving size: 2 mini doughnuts)
Calories – 130
Carbs – 22
I think these are quite legal ……. along with being beautiful and very delicious looking/sounding!
Lovely! These look so tasty. Happily, I’ve recently gotten a mini doughnut pan over the holidays, so I will definitely be making this!
Um these are seriously so freaking cute.
These are adorable! I need to get my hands on a mini doughnut pan!
Indulgent and adorable! A wee bit of irresistible is a perfect antidote for the after holiday “return to normal” pace of the life. You’ve added a bit of sparkle to my Monday!
These are adorable, Laura!
Those look awesome!!!!
I am freaking out. These are amazing. My hubby is a donut fanatic and lover of coconut so I am definitely making these for him!
You are most definitely forgiven! I really need to buy a donut pan right away!
So cute. And, how could you not adore a chocolate coconut combo? Esp on a mini doughnut? Love it!
These are down right adorable! And all that chocolate and coconut?! Swoon!
These look so cute and tasty, I’m trying to eat better but I think the word mini sold me!
Hi Laura! I don’t believe in depriving myself when I’m “dieting”, a sweet treat now and then is okay. Your mini and baked doughnuts are perfect! Thanks for sharing:)
Oh, I’m bookmarking this recipe- I need to dust off my mini doughnut pan!! These look wonderful!! I’m not dieting or detoxing. :D
These are adorable and since they are mini, I definitely won’t feel so bad about eating them. I love these, Laura!
What delicious bites of pure yumminess! I know I couldn’t stop after just one!!! Perfect for the Chocolate Party!
Oh Laura….I LOVE mini donuts! Though they look soooo good, I doubt I’d stop at one! Sur La Table is one of my favorite stores. And baking the donuts is just as good as frying to me! These look scrumptious! : )
These are so cute!! I love anything mini and these are perfect with the toasted coconut sprinkled on top!
They are simply adorable! I could eat tons of these and especially with the coconut addition. These are perfect for a party – and even more perfect for this month’s chocolate party!!!
These look perfect for curbing a craving for a snack without having a whole doughnut! So cute.
I would have forgiven you if you would have made regular sized donuts. (Cause let’s face it, I’m eating about 7 of these.) Happy Chocolate Party!
I tried baking doughnuts the other day and it was a complete failure! These looks so cute and I love mini treats any day. Got to buy than pan soon.
I’m not one that goes on a diet in January, so I’ll gladly take your donuts! I love baked donuts, but only have a regular size, not the mini. I’m convinced now, though, that I need the mini pan – these are too cute!
Oh I totally see the logic in this Laura! In fact the idea of baking donuts is just so clever :D
I know everyone talks about diets at this time of year, but really, who can say no to one of these adorable doughnuts? I’ll have three :D
I totally forgive you, a little sweet treat once in awhile never hurts anyone:-) They are adorable too, Hugs, Terra
Forgiven! These are sooo cute, Laura…and toasted coconut is a favorite of mine!!
Sweet mini doughnuts, I think we can forgive you for sharing these in January;-) Great addition to the chocolate party!
I absolutely love chocolate and coconut! These are so adorable!
No it’s not. For sweet treats like this one the timing is always perfect :)
So cute!! Love mini donuts!
Now that’s a party I want to be invited to! They look incredible and so cute. Mini food tastes better!
OMG. These are the cutest little doughnut orbs!!! I want a whole bunch of them right now. Seriously, detox and diet?? Out the window…! Pleasure and Sweetness are more my key words!
You’re right, diet and detox are all over the internet and I am glad to see someone is not doing it, so good for you. It should be more about a balanced lifestyle not all or nothing.
Mini is the key word here…everything in moderation. The doughnuts sound great.
I’ll agree with the guilt-free argument! These have got to be crazy yummy!!
They are adorable, I’ve been itching to get a doughnut pan!
I’m trying hard to do the “clean eating” thing (definitely not a diet!) but clean eating involves these donuts too, right? :)
I’ve had a hard time “detoxing” so this works quite well for my current diet. Besides, you KNOW my daughter will go gaga over these. She just loves her coconut!
anything mini and i am in ;)
these donuts are super cute laura!
These are so cute! Love the chocolate/coconut combo!
I adore minis and these are seriously adorable!
I’ve already thrown out the idea of dieting in January–it’s hopeless. I’d rather enjoy these doughnuts instead. :)
Laura, dear! You are my type of gal!!! As you, I am passionate for Jesus and love both baking and Italy!!! (Brazil, my home country, has been influenced a lot by Italian cuisine – especially in Southern Brazil that has the largest number of Italians outside Italy). Your coconut-chocolate mini doughnuts made me drool like a baby. I love this combination of flavors, which we call prestígio in Brazil. Thanks for sharing so many great recipes. xx
These sound perfectly acceptable any time of year ;) I can’t quite bring myself to get a doughnut pan but there is a mini-muffin pan just calling out for this recipe!
Hey, they’re mini. Totally diet food! And the coconut is a vegetable…right? Your photos are gorgeous!
Baked mini donuts? Total health food. These are adorable – I need to get a donut pan so that I can make this recipe, stat!
I have a mini donuts pan and rarely use it. Looking at these donuts I think I have to dust it off. Love the shredded coconut on top, a great change of texture and flavor. Thanks for bringing them to this month chocolate party