My older daughter absolutely LOVES donuts so one day, on a whim, I saw this “Mini Donut Maker” at Target and decided to try it out. It’s a plug-in machine (similar to a waffle maker) and comes with a booklet of recipes that I tweaked to make mini donuts with whole wheat flour and no refined sugars.
Easy Whole Wheat Mini Donut Maker Recipe
This discovery is nothing new (I’ve shared this maker within a post or two on the blog before), but we’ve been getting so many questions about it lately it so I’ve decided to give it a post all of its own today! So without further ado, here are two whole-grain donut recipes that work great in this little donut maker, and if you know if any other variations of your own please share them with us in the comments below!
And FYI – These obviously don’t have the same consistency as deep-fried donuts, but regardless both of my daughters LOVE these things as a special treat! In fact, I think we’ll have to make a batch today.
Are These Donuts Baked, Cake, or Fried?
Fried donuts are usually made with yeast, and they require unhealthy deep frying to cook. Cake donuts are also usually deep fried, but instead are made with baking powder and more closely resemble a cake in texture.
Donuts made in a mini donut maker are generally considered to be “baked” donuts, so you can’t replicate cake or fried donuts in one. Thankfully baked whole wheat donuts are also the best choice if you want a healthier treat!
Tips for Using a Mini Donut Mater
- Cook at the right temperature. Most mini donut makers have a light to indicate when it’s heated. Make sure you preheat the mini donut maker until the light comes on and let it heat back up between batches.
- Don’t overfill. Like with a waffle maker, the batter added to mini donut makers will expand as it cooks. You may have to do some trial and error to figure out exactly how much batter to use with your machine.
- Avoid scratching the non-stick surface. Don’t use metal tools to remove mini donuts; a toothpick or chopsticks works best.
Are Mini Donut Makers Worth it?
I know what you’re thinking … really, another appliance for the kitchen? But here’s my opinion: First of all, fun appliances like mini donut makers are a great way to let the kids help with meals and snacks. That is one of the best ways to teach them about food (and healthy food choices)!
Second, it’s convenient. Whole wheat mini donuts are great for the occasional treat and I love how quickly you can make a batch when you’re in the mood to indulge. Having a fast option can keep you from turning to processed, sugary convenience foods instead.
Can You Bake These Whole Wheat Donuts in the Oven?
Yes, these can be made in a silicone mini donut pan or a regular mini donut baking pan. Add batter to a greased mini donut pan then bake for 7-10 minutes at 425 F.
More Whole Wheat Mini Donut Recipes
Unlike the recipes that came with the mini donut maker, these mini donut recipes have real food ingredients such as whole wheat flour and no refined sugar. You can use these vanilla and chocolate recipes as a base for other mini donuts, too. Here are some ideas:
Vanilla Cinnamon
Add ½ tsp of cinnamon to the vanilla donut recipe.
Pumpkin Spiced
You can add ½ tsp of pumpkin pie seasoning or try this recipe for pumpkin spiced waffles (it works in the mini donut maker too).
Banana Chocolate
Replace the egg in the chocolate donut recipe with 1 mashed ripe banana.
Healthy Toppings for Whole Wheat Mini Donuts
Skip the sugar or frosting and try some of these healthy (or healthier) mini donut toppings instead. Tip: Make sure donuts are cooled before adding toppings or else they won’t stick.
- A drizzle of honey or maple syrup
- Homemade jam or fruit puree
- Unsweetened Greek yogurt
- Brush with melted butter and sprinkle cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
- Cream cheese
- Chopped nuts
How to Store and Freeze Homemade Mini Donuts
Let the whole wheat mini donuts cool completely before storing them. They can be stored in the fridge up to a week, and frozen for up to 3 months. Don’t put toppings on mini donuts you plan to freeze.
To thaw, let mini donuts warm up to room temperature on the counter or microwave for 10-15 seconds.
Whole Wheat Donuts (for the Mini Donut-Maker)
Ingredients
Original Flavor
- 1 cup whole-wheat flour
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 4 tablespoons coconut oil (melted)
Chocolate Flavor
- 1 cup whole-wheat flour
- 3 tsp baking powder
- 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder (we prefer “special dark” 100% cacao)
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 4 tablespoons coconut oil (melted)
Instructions
- Whisk together the dry ingredients.
- Make a well (hole) in the middle and drop in the egg, milk, syrup, vanilla, and coconut oil.
- Stir together with a fork until well combined.
- Follow manufacturer directions to make donuts using the batter.
- Serve donuts or freeze for another day! We love to add these as an occasional treat to school lunches.
I made these in my wiltons baked donut pan and they turned out great I baked them in my oven at 425°F for 10 minutes if you want to dip them in syrup (I used a chocolate syrup) if you are not dipping them 7 minutes is fine (I’m 15)
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Can you bake these instead? I have a donut pan.
We’ve not tried but, yes, I think it would work fine.
I have a mini donut pan – would I be able to bake them in there?
While we’ve not tried, I think it should work fine.
Just got a mini donut maker from Santa this past Christmas because I had to try this recipe with my daughter. It is fabulous!! We have made the original and chocolate several times and then have started to experiment. We have made spiced by switching out the cocoa with pumpkin pie spice. We have also made applesauce cinnamon and chocolate sour cream. All have been so delicious!! You can not go wrong with this recipe or donut maker. I got a babycakes mini donut maker off of amazon for $12. Best xmas present ever!
Love the chocolate! I doubled the coco powder and used 1/2 cup sugar. I also used half whole wheat pastry flour and half ap flour and added 1/8 t salt. Perfection! Thank you!
Hello,
I do not have a doughnut pan. Would baking them in the oven work?
Hi Sheena. Other readers have baked them.
Made some of these this morning – they are light, fluffy & yummy! Just because I like it, I added a 1/4 tsp of nutmeg. I don’t have a donut maker so used my donut pan & baked them for 8-10 minutes at 400F (200c)
Can this recipe be used with silicone donut pans? any idea how long they should bake for at what temp?? thanks!!
Hi Janelle. We’ve not tried but tyou might use this as a reference for baking: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/cinnamon-baked-doughnuts-recipe.html ~Amy
We were going to make a batch of whole wheat blueberry muffins but I saw my lonely donut maker and found this recipe. The kids LOVED them. They were so easy to whip up too.
I appreciate your work. Sure, I will try it on this valentine day for someone :)
Hi! I love this website so much, and I have been making the pancakes and whole wheat muffins for my kids for lunch almost every day this year! They are getting a little sick of muffins after all of this time, so I just tried the donuts yesterday and they were a huge hit! However, my picky little eaters did not like them the second day after being in the fridge overnight.
Do you know If it would work to make a batch (or double batch) of batter and keep the batter in the fridge for a few days, and then cook Some donuts each day? I don’t know if the rising power of the baking soda or eggs would go away if left uncooked!! It is my first time cooking from scratch using recipes from this website!
Thank you so much!!
Sarah
Hi there. No, this is a batter that should be used up fairly quickly. You might consider freezing as an option instead.
These are amazing!
Do you happen to know the nutritional value of the donuts for this particular original recipe? I would like to make them for my childcare, but we have strict guidelines that we must follow…..
Niki
Hi Nicole. Sorry but e do not provide nutrition information on our recipes since our focus is on helping people make the switch to real food and not so much on numbers. We practice portion control and find that real food is far more satisfying than chemical- laden, nutrient poor processed stuff. These posts help explain our philosophy: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/01/04/healthy-eating-defined/ and https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/01/23/portion-size-matters/. You can use online tools like My Fitness Pal to get all those details, though. ~Amy
So I bought a mini donut machine that was a display item and doesn’t have directions. Can someone tell me how long to cook them?
My kids absolutely love your pumpkin muffin recipe, and your donut recipe! Is there a way to combine the two?
I replaced the coconut oil with pumpkin (same tablespoon amount) and added cinnamon. They taste like a donut version of her pumpkin muffins. So these were a little more fluffier. I put a little cinnamon sugar atop them as well and we all loved them. I’m trying other fruits to replace the coconut oil tomorrow.
I put the pumpkin muffin batter into the donut maker with no revisions and they turned out delicious! I actually prefer them to the muffins themselves!
These were really good and easy! Light and simple. Not heavy like one would think they would be.
Would these recipes work in a traditional donut pan for the oven? Any idea of what temp and how long to cook?
Hi Andrina. You might use this as a reference for baking: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/cinnamon-baked-doughnuts-recipe.html ~Amy
So exciting!! My daughter has never had donuts, because white flour makes her sick. We are going to have to buy a mini donut maker and try these out!!
I have been trying to swap over to all whole grain. My two teenagers are fine with that, but my youngest refuses to try anything that I make with whole wheat flour. I made these this morning and put two in her lunch for school. When she came home, she asked if I could please make some more donuts! I was so shocked, and normally wouldn’t have made this treat again so soon, but gladly plugged on the donut maker (especially since she said she would help me make them). This is a wonderful recipe! Thank you for helping me find a way to ease a picky eater into whole grain!
Found a mini donut maker at a thrift store for a dollar. Had not a clue what to do with it. Sooo cannot wait to make your recipes! My son is costing me way too much at the grocery store with his little donut cravings! Thank you!
I just made these. I added some PB2 (it’s peanut butter in powdered form) and I made them in a “baby cake”maker instead of the donut maker, so they are little cakeballs. My fiancé loves peanut butter and chocolate desserts so I topped them with some fresh organic peanut butter and a tiny drizzle of 100% organic maple syrup. They are delish! I think I may have had one too many! Ha. They’re small so it’s ok, right? I can’t wait for him to try them in the morning!
Thanks for sharing the recipe. It’s definitely a healthy alternative for people like me with a crazy sweet tooth!
Just made these and they are fantastic! Found the BabyCakes mini donut maker for $9.99 and this recipe is amazing. Trying chocolate next…..
There’s an error in the recipe.. you forgot the word butter for the listing?
-4 tablespoons melted?
-coconut oil
It’s 4 tablespoons melted coconut oil. That’s why there is no measurement for the coconut oil because it belongs with the line above. It shows it correctly in the second recipe.
I just made these and my kids love them. My husband is currently running some over to a neighbors to try.
Thank You
Reine
Just made these and I they were perfect. We have a coconut allergy (which is tragic b/c so many recipes call for it and I love it!), so I used one smashed, ripe banana for the oil. We baked them in the Wilton donut pans (not the mini, the full size) and my kids devoured them! I am going to make them on Sundays so my kids don’t have to say no to the church donuts without a yummy substitution :)
Oh yum, these are good. I just ate a few too many eeeekkk! I was making them for my little girl’s 100th day of school tomorrow. Since she has allergies I make it all from scratch and she has her own little snack that’s similar to the other kids in the class. Thanks for this recipe!!
Hi there. We usually would substitute butter for coconut oil. ~Amy
Hi Lisa,
We can’t use Coconut oil in our house due to a food allergy. Any suggestions on what to substitute?
While I’m working to transition our children to real food, I made the chocolate flavored donuts and iced them with Dark Chocolate Dreams peanut butter to add a little more sweetness. Thanks for the recipe!
The coconut oil is very high in fat. Has anyone tried something less fatty?
I substitute applesauce for the oil. You can’t tell the difference. My kids love these. thanks for sharing!
I love this recipie! I have used this recipie for almost a year now, and love it! Today I used 1/2 can of regular pumpkin, added the pumpkin spices and had pumpkin donuts. They were very good. I did cut down the maple syrup, but used. Vietnamese cinnamon instead which is a much sweeter cinnamon.
Hi. I just checked your ingredients and one of them just says “4 tablesppons melted.” What is that ingredient? 4 tablespoons of melted what?
Hi Stephon. Um, that would be coconut oil. We seem to have an extra bullet point. We’ll get rid of that. :) ~Amy
Hi! I was wondering if this recipe would work for a waffle maker? I don’t have a donut maker, yet, and am wanting to make these for breakfast in the morning.
Hmmm, Carey…I really don’t know. Let us know if you try. :) ~Amy
What can I add instead of maple syrup? Is honey okay? Thanks :)
Hi Milena. You should be able to exchange the maple syrup with honey though the consistency will be a little different. ~Amy
Just scored a mini donut maker at a garage sale…my kids are in heaven! Your page/site/blog has redefined the word food in my home. Many blessings and thanks to you!!!
How long do these stay good in the freezer and how do you recommend reheating them? I also was curious about the benefits of using coconut oil?
Hi Jessica. They should stay fresh in the freezer for up to three months. Defrost them over night and toss them in a toaster oven if you want them warm. Here is more information on cooking with coconut oil: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/02/07/how-to-cook-with-coconut-oil/. ~Amy