This morning I woke up wanting to whip up something special with my little guy for breakfast and thought I'd bake a batch of my Double Chocolate Cake Donuts. That was, until I saw that we were out of cocoa powder and chocolate chips. 

So, like any resourceful baker, I perused the ingredients I DID have and came up with an alternative that my toddler was all too happy to gobble right up. Because what almost two year old doesn't like sugar, maple or donut shaped foods? I haven't met one yet. 

This donut starts with the same base as my Powdered Blueberry Donuts, minus the berries of course, and is then dipped in sweet confection of confectioner's sugar and maple syrup. This isn't one of my healthiest recipes, but it remains gluten-free and vegan. 

This is definitely a once in a while weekend treat and the perfect nosh for a traditional donut craving. 

A note* - The maple syrup in this glaze is SUBTLE due to using high quality maple syrup. If you're wanting a stronger, more traditional maple donut flavor you will need to add 1-3 drops of Maple Extract. I wanted to keep these more pure and didn't have the extract on hand when I decided to whip these up on a whim, but I may do so in the future if I were make these for a brunch or for others. 

Donut Ingredients:
Makes 12 Donuts

Dry: 
2  c. Gluten-Free Flour (I used Bob's Red MIll 1-to-1)
1 tsp. Cream of Tartar
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1/2  tsp. Sea Salt
2  tsp. Cinnamon

Wet: 
1/2 C. Maple Syrup
1/2 C. Dairy-Free Milk of Choice (I use unsweetened almond milk)
1 tsp. Apple Cider Vinegar
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
6 TBSP. Avocado Oil (Coconut or Grapeseed Oil would also work)

Maple Glaze Ingredients:
3 C. Confectioners Sugar (The brand I get is here) 
2 1/2 tsp. Maple Syrup
1-3 Drops Maple Extract
1/4 tsp. vanilla 
1/3 c. Water 

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease your donut pans with coconut oil lightly. 

In a small mixing bowl, mix together all wet ingredients. In a medium mixing bowl, mix together dry ingredients. Slowly mix wet ingredients into medium bowl with dry ingredients. 

Using a piping bag, ziploc bag or spoon, fill donut pan rings 3/4 of the way. 

Bake for 10-12 minutes. Allow to cool in pan for 5-10 minutes before transferring to wire rack. 

Prepare your maple glaze by mixing all ingredients in a bowl and set aside. 

Cool donuts completely before dipping in Maple Glaze. 

​gluten free - dairy free - vegan - nut free - yeast free - soy free - egg free

I've been thinking a lot about childhood lately. 

I love seeing the world through Grey's eyes. How he lights up at every little thing. How the simplest joys make him laugh those beautiful deep baby belly laughs. It all got me thinking about my childhood. Joy. Innocence. Peace. Playfulness. 

I adored my childhood. I was blessed to have attentive, loving parents, a mom who stayed home with us and a dad who worked so hard for us but then gave his all on evenings and weekends. I want to make a happy home for Grey to thrive and feel like his imagination can soar to heights greater than I could imagine. And I want to go on that incredible journey once again, this time, letting him take the reigns and just really let him be little and be uniquely him. 

(just took a quick break to let him chase me in his walker, emitting squeals of laughter)

See what I mean? Glorious. 

And reminiscing about my childhood got me thinking about the food of my childhood. 

Which got me thinking about comfort foods.

Which, of course, led to thinking about donuts. 

Which if you've hung around here since my pregnancy you can see it's become an obsession of mine to perfect the allergy-friendly donut. My Blueberry Powdered Sugar Donut, My Double Chocolate Donut and my Apple Cinnamon Glazed Pumpkin Donut are a few of my top recipes here at Nosh and Nurture, proving to me that other people have a love for the circular pastry as much as I do.

Have I told you lately that I love you?

One of my favorite donuts to get at the shoppe on weekend mornings with my dad was the Pink Frosted with Rainbow Sprinkles. Because it was colorful, girly, sweet and just made me happy. 

But, of course, loaded with yeast, gluten, sugar and dairy, (and God knows what else) these are no longer on my list of accessible morning breakfast items. So when weekends roll around and I find myself reminiscing of sweets of the past, I get my booty into the kitchen to try to create something that hints of days can by while meeting my nutrition seal of approval. 

And these babies (colored with freeze-dried strawberries) allowed me to visit a bygone era where sprinkles and pink stained confectioners sugar were the staples of a Saturday morning cartoon binge. 

I'm thinking of adding 10 or so more custom donut recipes to the blog (I have plans for an allergy-friendly Apple Fritter, A Maple Bar, a Cinnamon Roll and more) and then maybe turning them into a book. Not sure yet. Still feeling it out as I have another book on my 2017-2018 business plan that's been in the works for some time. That's all to say, enjoy them while they're here, as they may move into a little book home of their own one day. 

Would love your ideas on some others to recreate! What is YOUR favorite donut that you miss?

Ingredients: 

​Dry: 
1 c. Gluten-Free Flour (I used Bob's Red MIll 1-to-1)
1/2 tsp. Cream of Tartar
1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
1/4 tsp. Sea Salt
1 tsp. Cinnamon

Wet: 
1/4 C. Honey (Maple Syrup or Agave for vegan)
1/4 C. Dairy-Free Milk of Choice (I used Trader Joe's boxed Coconut Milk)
1 tsp. Apple Cider Vinegar
1/2 tsp. Vanilla Extract
3 1/2 TBSP. Avocado Oil (Coconut or Grapeseed Oil would also work)

Frosting: 
1 C. Confectioners Sugar
1/2 C. Freeze Dried Strawberries, ground to dust
1 TBSP. dairy-free milk
Dye-Free Rainbow Sprinkles (I use India Tree) 

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a donut pan with coconut oil lightly. (My donut pan makes 6 donuts, to make a full dozen you will need to double the mix)

In a small mixing bowl, mix together all wet ingredients.. In a medium mixing bowl, mix together dry ingredients. Slowly mix wet ingredients into medium bowl with dry ingredients. 

Using a piping bag, ziploc bag or spoon, fill donut pan rings 3/4 of the way. 

Bake for 10-12 minutes. Allow to cool in pan for 5-10 minutes before transferring to wire rack. 

While the donuts are cooling prepare your frosting. Mix all ingredients and microwave for 30 seconds. 

Once the donuts are cooled completely (10-20 minutes total) Dip 2-4 times per donut to get a good, thick glaze and top generously with sprinkles. 

So, you guys. I did a thing.

I've been feeling super under the weather. Me and the baby both have colds and I've been trying to come up with exciting ways to get my fruits and veggies in (and ok, I may have snuck a little chocolate into this one). I've also been looking for fun things to do in the house since we aren't going out in the cold right now so recipe planning was on the agenda in between naps today! 
​

I had won an amazing case of Zing Bars from them, and they were already my FAVORITE bar, so WIN for me! And I wanted to incorporate them in a bowl for a while. We also had bananas that needed to be used today and I always have an over abundance of gluten free oats in the house, so I started to brainstorm and my Banana Split Breakfast Oats were born. 

I used traditional Banana Split ingredients and put a healthy spin on it. No added sugar is used in the oats. The coconut cream is sugar free and aside from a little organic sugar in Zing Bars chocolate coating, the bars are sweetened with agave nectar. 
​

Energy these days is definitely fleeting. Last Friday I hit month 9 in my pregnancy and tomorrow we hit 37 weeks. Which means Baby P can make his or appearance any time between now and the next three weeks. 

We are trying to get everything wrapped to prep for babes arrival. The hospital bag is packed, all essentials have been purchased and the nursery is almost done. I'm working later in the day now as I wind down into my maternity leave next week and am soaking up the mornings sleeping in because I know they will soon be a distant memory. 

All worth it in the name of our little miracle. 

Today's doctor appointment made us super happy as my placenta has moved up further (praise Jesus!) and we got to see Baby P's chubby cheeks and HAIR!! My heart is just so happy and content.  

Yesterday I had a little burst of energy, so aside from cleaning the house up pretty good I got into the kitchen to whip up some baked goods and try out some new recipes that were floating around in my over- packed little mind. 

I have a few fruit-based donut recipes that I've been meaning to experiment with and I had a bunch of organic Farmers Market blueberries that needed to be used so I gave these Powdered Blueberry Donuts a go. And they came out SO scrumptious. The donuts don't contain any refined sugar in the mix, just a little honey (or maple syrup/agave if you are vegan) so I dusted them with a little corn-free confectioners sugar to add a little something as I didn't want a heavy or sugary glaze. 

These are great without the powdered sugar as well. More diet friendly and more Blueberry Muffin like. Which, if you throw the batter in a muffin pan, they can totally become! Light, fluffy and not overly oily or sweet, they were perfect with my morning pregnancy tea. 

These donuts take just minutes to mix up and just 10-12 minutes in the oven which make them a convenient brunch or weekday option. I baked them on a Wednesday so I could share them with Mr. Charming and while I was in the kitchen also made some yeast-free biscuits to serve with dinner last night. 

Ingredients:
Dry: 
1 c. Gluten-Free Flour (I used Bob's Red MIll 1-to-1)
1/2 tsp. Cream of Tartar
1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
1/4 tsp. Sea Salt
1 tsp. Cinnamon

Wet: 
1/4 C. Honey (Maple Syrup or Agave for vegan)
1/4 C. Dairy-Free Milk of Choice (I used Trader Joe's boxed Coconut Milk)
1 tsp. Apple Cider Vinegar
1/2 tsp. Vanilla Extract
3 1/2 TBSP. Avocado Oil (Coconut or Grapeseed Oil would also work)
1/3 c. Fresh or Frozen Blueberries

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a donut pan with coconut oil lightly. (My donut pan makes 6 donuts, to make a full dozen you will need to double the mix)

In a small mixing bowl, mix together all wet ingredients except for the berries. In a medium mixing bowl, mix together dry ingredients. Slowly mix wet ingredients into medium bowl with dry ingredients. Fold in berries. 

Using a piping bag, ziploc bag or spoon, fill donut pan rings 3/4 of the way. 

Bake for 10-12 minutes. Allow to cool in pan for 5-10 minutes before transferring to wire rack. 

Cool for an additional 5-10 minutes. Enjoy plain, dust with powdered sugar or use a for a sweeter donut. 

There are many flaws in our food system today and I believe a large part of the way we think about and view food is broken. Not to call out any one company intentionally, but there is a motto that's been sticking out in my mind lately. 

"America Runs on Dunkin'"

And it got me thinking. A lot of our population does run on fast food fuel. Our society is largely dependent on the convenience of fast-foods, and short on food knowledge. Dependent on caffeine, sugar binges and eating what they grew up on or what surrounds them. And again, short on nutrients, taking the time to do the research on our food industry, labels and ingredient sources and true nourishment. 

One of the reasons I became a nutritionist wasn't just to help people navigate their food intolerances, lose weight or improve nutrition overall. It was to change the mindset that you must eat what's there. I love showing people that they can make a meal for the same price or cheaper that's healthier. I love helping people fall in love with cooking again and appreciate where our food comes from and I LOVE taking "traditional" comfort food and revamping it into something that can feed us more and harm us less. 

When I had to cut out pretty much EVERYTHING I was eating in 2011, it hit me hard. And I know it hits hard with a lot of clients who have yo go gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, nightshade-free, low histamine, low-sodium, no sugar.... etc. overnight. The list is endless to the changes that could arise. The beauty is, there is hope and healing in it. God put beautiful, natural, clean food to nurture, nourish and heal our bodies. Slowly navigating back to that when you've healed can be such a fun experience. 

For me I did Whole 30 and lean meats and veggies for months and I was missing traditional "comfort foods". Knowing I didn't want the processed packaged foods, food dyes, chemicals, GMO's, preservatives and white sugar I started experimenting. A large part of our health depends on psychology as well. So, while I shunned all "comfort treats" in the beginning, I've been in many conversations with Naturopaths and nutritionists, therapists and fitness minds that agree, that when done healthier, instead of cut all-together, its better for not only our minds, but our bodies as well. (However, if you do suffer from an eating disorder, or are unable to control portions when enjoying these "comfort" options, please speak to your doctor.) 
​

Some of my examples of "comfort food made healthier" recipes I've made in the past include my Burger, Fries and Shake combo, my dairy-free Lasagna and my Banana Bread French Toast. All gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free and made with organic, whole food ingredients that nourish the body. 

Do note, these are not the staples or mainstays of our diet at home. For breakfast we primarily eat eggs, lean meats, fruits, vegetables, green smoothies and oatmeal throughout the week. Lunches are usually Paleo wraps and salads, while dinners are lean meats on the grill with vegetables. These recipes are reserved for leisurely weekend brunches, dinner with friends and special occasions, but it's nice to have them as options. Life is about balance, experiences, joy and tastes that can be enjoyed by many. 

INGREDIENTS: 
Donut
1 1/4 C. Gluten-Free All Purpose Flour 
3/4 tsp. Corn-Free Baking Soda
1/4 tsp. Cream of Tartar
1/4 Cocoa Powder
1/4 c. Coconut Sugar (add more to up sweetness, I prefer less sugar)
1/4 tsp Sea Salt
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1 tsp. Apple Cider Vinegar
1 C. Almond Milk (or other non-dairy milk for nut-free) 
1/4 C. Avocado Oil (olive oil or coconut oil also work) 

Frosting
2/3 C. Dairy-Free Chocolate Chips
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/2 tsp Coconut Oil
1 tsp Maple Syrup (optional but adds complexity to the flavor) 
1/8 C. Almond Milk 

​DIRECTIONS: 
Donuts
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and grease your donut pan or pans lightly with coconut oil. 

I use one regular size donut pan for 6 donuts and a mini donut pan for the leftover batter with this amount of mix. For a dozen regular size donuts you will need to double the recipe. 

Mix all dry ingredients until blended well. Add wet ingredients and stir or mix with a hand mixer until batter consistency. Add more milk of choice if needed. 

Add batter to piping bag to pipe into pan (easiest method for perfect circles, or spoon batter into pan evenly. Fill to top for fluffiest donuts. 

Bake regular sized donuts for 12 minutes, mini donuts for 7. Check for doneness and remove to allow to cool for 15-20 minutes on a wire rack. 

Frosting
Start by warming a small sauce pan over medium-low heat.  Add chocolate chips and coconut oil until they start to melt.

Add vanilla and maple syrup (optional), mix. 

When mixture is completely melted together, add dairy-free milk of choice until desired frosting consistency is achieved. 

Pour immediately into a wide, ceramic bowl and dip cooled donuts to frost. Allow to set and cool for another 15 minutes and enjoy! 

I made mine for a brunch event so I added dye-free, preservative-free sprinkles. Companies such as King Arthur and Natural Candy Store offer healthier alternative decoration options for special occasions. 

These also store beautifully. I put mine single layer in a Tupperware container and they last up to a week.

Pumpkin Protein Balls and German Chocolate Cupcakes, I knew I wanted to try their unsweetened original in replace of traditional peanut butter for my nut free readers and clients. 

My Overnight Oats made for a wonderful breakfast to cleanse after a week of bacon, paleo pancakes and gluten-free cinnamon rolls we enjoyed. In addition to being delicious and sugar-free, they were easy to make before heading to bed. Mason Jar creations are so easy, and the clean up is minimal. 

My delicious Apple Cinnamon Glazed Pumpkin Donuts, which traditionally use Almond Flour and Egg, now have a nut-free, egg-free variation. They are smaller and softer than their nuttier, dense counterpart. A favorite of Mr. Charming's these are not grain-free but are gluten-free, of course, and so delicious. See the recipe below!

Ingredients:

Donuts:
dry:
1/4 c. potato starch
1/4 c. oat flour
1/4 c. brown rice flour
1/4 c. tapioca starch
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/8 tsp. cream of tartar
2 tsp. cinnamon 
1/4 tsp. ginger

wet:
1/4 c. honey
1 TBSP. coconut oil
1/4 c. dairy-free milk
2 TBSP. organic applesauce
1/4 C. canned organic pumpkin


Glaze:
1 C. Corn-Free Confectioners Sugar (I use an organic cane sugar/tapioca starch blend)
2 TBSP. Vegan Butter (I use Earth Balance Dairy-Free/Soy-Free)
1 1/2 TBSP. non-dairy milk

Directions: 

For Donuts:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees and grease donut pan LIBERALLY with coconut oil or coconut oil spray. Combine dry ingredients and mix well with handheld mixer. Combine wet ingredients and mix well with handheld mixer. Pour wet mixture into dry mixture and mix once more until well blended. Empty contents from bowl into piping bag or ziploc bag to disperse easily into donut pan. Fill donut pan 3/4 of the way and cook for 15 minutes. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan and glazing. 

​For Glaze:
Mix ingredients once donuts have cooled and dip donuts to cover top. Set for 5 - 10 minutes until glaze solidifies. If glaze hardens before you are finished dipping, or if you are baking multiple batches, simply warm the glaze on low for 2-3 minutes to reuse. 

INGREDIENTS
1 cup raw sliced almonds
1 cup raw cashew pieces (or walnuts or pecans)
1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut 
1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
6 tablespoons unsalted EB dairy free, soy free butter
1/2 cup honey

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Cover a rectangular baking sheet with parchment paper.

Mix the almonds, cashews, coconut, seeds and spices together in a large mixing bowl.

Heat the butter and honey together in a small saucepan over low heat. Once the butter melts stir in the vanilla.

Pour the hot liquids over the dry ingredients and stir together with a rubber spatula until evenly coated.

Spread mixture onto prepared pan in one even layer. Bake for 75 minutes.

The granola will become crisp as it cools at which point you can break into pieces (if making bars) or break it up into small chunks by pounding it in a zip lock bag (if making cereal). Store in air tight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.