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Low-Calorie Protein Donut Holes - Light, Satisfying, and Easy

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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 22 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup (120 g) oat flour or finely ground oats
  • 1/2 cup (45–50 g) vanilla whey or plant-based protein powder
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp fine salt
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon (optional but nice)
  • 1/3 cup (80 g) nonfat Greek yogurt
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) unsweetened almond milk (or skim milk), plus 1–2 tbsp more if needed
  • 1 large egg (or 1 flax egg for vegan: 1 tbsp ground flax + 3 tbsp water, rested 10 minutes)
  • 2–3 tbsp granulated sweetener of choice (sugar, coconut sugar, or zero-cal sweetener)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tbsp light butter or neutral oil (optional, for moisture)
  • 2 tbsp zero-cal sweetener or fine sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1–2 tsp melted light butter or a quick spritz of oil
  • 1/2 cup powdered sweetener (regular or zero-cal)
  • 1–2 tbsp unsweetened almond milk
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease a mini muffin tin.
  2. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the oat flour, protein powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
  3. In another bowl, whisk the Greek yogurt, milk, egg, sweetener, vanilla, and light butter or oil until smooth.
  4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry. Stir gently until just combined. The batter should be thick but scoopable. If it’s too dry or crumbly, add 1–2 tablespoons more milk.
  5. Use a small cookie scoop or spoon to portion 1–1.5 tablespoon mounds. For a baking sheet, roll lightly with damp hands into balls. For a mini muffin tin, simply scoop into each cavity.
  6. Bake for 9–12 minutes, until the tops spring back when touched and a toothpick comes out clean. Avoid overbaking so they stay moist.
  7. Cool for 5 minutes. For the cinnamon “sugar,” brush or spritz each donut hole with a tiny bit of melted butter or oil, then roll in the cinnamon-sweetener mix. For the glaze, whisk the ingredients until smooth and dip the tops, letting excess drip off.
  8. Let set for a few minutes, then enjoy warm or at room temperature.