Apple Cinnamon Doughnut Holes

(using a cake pop maker)

Brr! Yesterday's high temperature was 43 degrees; guess fall is officially here now! My daughter has been begging to use the cake pop maker she got for her birthday ages ago, so it seemed like a good day make seasonal treats! The manufacturer's website had tons of recipes you can make from scratch, this one included. I "tweaked" it, and tried to make it a tiny bit healthier by substituting some of our homemade applesauce. These turned out moist and cinnamon-y! Not super sweet either, which is okay! We made two variations, because, if your cake pop maker comes with sticks, you should probably make something on a stick! 

Behold the never-before-used cake pop maker! 

Well, it's been broken in now!

Apple Cinnamon Doughnut Holes  

(adapted from www.thebabycakesshop.com)

1 1/4 cup flour

1/2 cup sugar

1 Tablespoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 egg

1/2 applesauce

Cinnamon Sugar Topping:

3/4 cup sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon in a medium mixing bowl (I used a whisk). Add vegetable oil, egg and applesauce. Stir until just blended (don't over-mix).  Pour batter into a Ziploc bag, cut off a corner, and squeeze into the cooking reservoirs of a pre-heated cake pop maker (about a Tablespoon of batter).  Bake 4-5 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a doughnut hole comes out clean.  Prepare the cinnamon-sugar topping in a small bowl, and immediately toss hot doughnut holes in the mixture. Serve warm! Try not to eat 6 in a sitting!

I made two dozen of the cinnamon-sugar coated doughnut holes, and then made one dozen "plain".  I let them cool, then inserted sticks and drizzled with a simple glaze made by combining confectioner's sugar and apple cider - they were awesome!