These Healthy Maple Pecan Protein Donuts are made with whole wheat flour, protein powder, Stevia, greek yogurt, and pecans with NO refined sugar. They're also low calorie and reading in 30 minutes. They're the perfect healthy fall snack!
I know the fall season is all about pumpkin but I have always had a special place in my heart for maple. Not only does it perfectly compliment a sweet breakfast like pumpkin pancakes, but I've also used it in dishes like my sweet potato casserole and this maple pecan stuffed sweet potato.
So when I was thinking about recipes to post for all your fall baking favorites, I knew I had to do something with maple. That's where I came up with these Maple Pecan Baked Donuts! Not only are they everything you love about fall, but they're also protein donuts! Every bite is not only delicious but nutritious too!
Ingredients for healthy maple pecan donuts
Whole wheat flour: not only is wheat flour a healthier option than all purpose flour, it also has a slightly nutty flavor that really compliments the maple and pecan in these donuts.
Protein powder: I use this vanilla whey protein, but you can use any protein powder you like, as long as it's the same amount by weight (49g).
Stevia: a zero calorie substitute for granulated sugar. You'd never taste the difference, but you're saving yourself lots of unwanted calories from refined sugar! You can find Stevia at any grocery store or here on Amazon.
Sugar free maple syrup: to infuse the maple pecan baked donuts with that sweet maple flavor without adding any extra calories or sugar.
Greek yogurt and egg whites: to add volume, moisture, stability, and protein to the donuts. I have not tested any substitutes for these ingredients, so I recommend following the recipe!
Fat free cream cheese: for the maple glaze on top. Make sure it's room temperature or else it will turn out clumpy!
Chopped pecans: for the topping on these maple pecan protein donuts. I love the slight crunch they add as you take a bite of the donut.
Tips for making baked donuts
Use a nonstick donut pan: I use these donut pans for all my baked donuts. They come with 6 donut tins per pan, so make sure you get at least two!
Don't substitute ingredients: I know this seems pretty intuitive but you'd be surprised how many times other readers substitute things. Baking is a science and this recipe was developed using the specified ingredients for a reason.
Set out the cream cheese: I can't tell you how many times the maple glaze turned out clumpy because I was impatient and didn't let the cream cheese completely come to room temperature. It's worth the wait, I promise! And just to clarify, this doesn't mean pulling it out of the fridge and nuking it in the microwave. I actually mean letting it sit out on the counter and coming to room temperature!
Whisk together the dry ingredients separately: this makes sure all the leavening agents and spices are well combined and not just in some parts of the donut batter. The last thing you want is a bunch of sad, small donuts and another bunch of over-baked donuts!
Don't combine wet and dry until you're ready: because this recipe uses baking powder, the batter is going to activate the first "rise" right away. You don't want your batter to sit out too long before going in the oven; it'll thicken too much and the donuts will turn out dry!
Prep your table: spray your donut pans with cooking spray and set them next to the mixing bowls. Then get your piping bag or ziploc bag ready to go. This ensures you move quickly from step to step without letting the batter sit out too long!
How to store: wrap individually in foil, then store in a ziploc bag for no more than 72 hours at room temperature. But don't worry, they're so yummy you probably won't have to worry about that!
Why you'll love these maple pecan protein donuts
They're secretly healthy: each baked donut is made with nourishing ingredients like whole wheat flour, protein powder, and pecans. No guilt after eating your donut!
They're packed with protein: 6g per donut to be exact! That means that three protein donuts give you 18g of protein - it's the perfect snack!
They're ready in 30 minutes: just mix the wet and dry ingredients and bake for 10 minutes. That's all you need!
They're sugar-free: but you'd never know! We use Stevia and sugar-free maple syrup to sweeten these baked donuts without actually using sugar.
I can't wait for you to bite into these delicious protein donuts! They're one of my favorite fall snacks/treats to keep on hand when I need a boost of energy without all the sugar.
Be sure to leave a star rating and review below if you make these maple pecan protein donuts so other readers know how you liked them! You can also tag me on Instagram. I love seeing my recipes come to life in your kitchen!
Healthy Maple Pecan Protein Donuts
These Healthy Maple Pecan Protein Donuts are made with whole wheat flour, protein powder, Stevia, greek yogurt, and pecans with NO refined sugar. They're also low calorie and reading in 30 minutes. They're the perfect healthy fall snack!
Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray two donut pans with cooking spray. Set out a piping bag or ziploc bag and set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the wheat flour, protein powder, Stevia, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until well combined.
In a large bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, greek yogurt, egg whites, and vanilla until well combined. Stir in the dry ingredients until well combined.
Add the donut batter to your piping bag and pipe into each donut tin until the batter is just below the top of the tin. Repeat with all 12 tins (you might have some batter left over). Bake for 10 minutes, then let cool in the pan for 3 minutes. Set on a cooling rack to finish cooling.
Meanwhile, make the maple glaze in a shallow bowl. Whisk the cream cheese until smooth, then whisk in the remaining ingredients until smooth. You can add more or less milk depending on how thick or thin you want the glaze.
Once the donuts are on the cooling racks, dip the tops of each donut in the glaze and sprinkle the chopped pecans on top.
Notes
Nutrition facts are a calculated estimate of one donut, including the maple glaze and chopped pecans.
I'm a perinatal holistic nutritionist here to help make your motherhood journey joyful and stress-free. Here you'll find recipes to nourish your body throughout all of pregnancy and postpartum, as well as educational articles and resources to empower you as you heal your body and raise a family.
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