Mini Chocolate-Cinnamon Cake Donuts {Vegan & Gluten-Free}

The weekend is finally, well, almost here! I am looking forward lounging a little more this week because I feel like I have been going to to sleep way to late and working myself a tad too hard.

Wednesday I attempted to do Zumba like I normally do, but it had been 3 weeks since my last Zumba session. (I sound like I am in confession right now. LOL) I arrived at the gym 20 minutes before the class started so I could stretch and then get on the treadmill. It felt wonderful so I was almost confident I would get through Zumba.

Zumba started and I was only able to get through 30 minutes of the hour class in. I felt bad but at the same time I knew I had a limit. Looks like eights and treadmill are my only friends for the time being. I will take it and embrace that. I know the time will come when I will be able to return to my normal activities but I seriously decided not to dwell on it too much, especially when I continued hurting the rest of the evening.

The yoga ball was my friend.

Last night we had a great rehearsal for our choir and then our the whole choir presented us with a nice gift card! When I think of the amount of diapers we will need for our little girl then I am thankful for all or any help we receive.

Tonight I have my last baby shower hosted by some of the graduate students and spouses. I am very much looking forward to it especially since I have never attended an evening baby shower. Once this shower is past then I will know definitely what I will have left to buy for the baby. In reality I am not worrying about it. Tomorrow I hope to have the car seats installed so that it can be checked. 5 weeks and less in counting friends! Excitement indeed!

This morning I woke up early and made some delicious goodies for you, I mean for us. Many know I have been having a hankering for donuts but I had not really done anything about it. Probably a good thing. I check out BabyCakes newest cookbook called BabyCakes Covers the Classics: Gluten-Free Vegan Recipes from Donuts to Snickerdoodles. I really was excited to try the different donut recipes they covered so I decided to make their recipe for Chocolate Cake Donuts.

I only adapted the recipe because I remembered from previous recipes I have made from their other cookbook that they add just a little too much sugar for my liking. I decreased the sugar and added cinnamon to the mix and then dusted the donuts with cinnamon sugar. It was really delicious.

Do you know I only own ONE mini donut pan??? Someone needs to help me remedy this. Anyone?

Anyway, the recipe made 3 dozen mini donuts and they were so moist and dense. These were probably the best that I have had. You have to make them! Make them for your families tomorrow morning. Who knew that vegan and gluten-free donuts could be good?

I am now currently enjoying 1 with some iced-coffee. Follow my lead…..

Chocolate-Cinnamon Cake Donuts

adapted from BabyCakes Cover the Classics

makes 3 dozen mini donuts or a dozen regular donuts

1/3 melted coconut oil ( I used Tropical Traditions)

3/4 cup vegan sugar (original recipe calls for 1 1/3 cups!)

1/2 cup white or brown rice flour

1/3 cup garbanzo and fava bean flour

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/3 cup potato starch

2 Tablespoons arrowroot powder

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/8 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 cup hot water

Cinnamon-Sugar Sprinkle

1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon

1/4 cup vegan sugar

Add mix to a brown paper bag and toss each donut gently with sugar

Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Brush donut trays with non-stick spray or with coconut oil and set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the sugar, flours, cocoa powder, potato starch, arrowroot, baking powder and soda, salt, cinnamon and xanthan gum.

In a small bowl, add the hot water and coconut oil and let that melt, then add the applesauce, and vanilla and mix with a rubber spatula just until the ingredients are combined. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and fold the ingredients until well combined.