peach + toasted coconut donuts
August 1, 2011 Let’s start the week off right, shall we?
While the very last thing I wanted to do today, was turn the oven on in our 85* house, I did it anyways.
Local peaches are in season.
Donuts are in season.
It only seemed right.
The light was playing games with me today, but I tried to have fun with it despite it’s harshness. I miss my beloved side-light from the old house. Although I love this kitchen so much more. No complaints!
Truth be told, I’m really not much of a fruit-in-my-pastry kind of girl. I enjoy fruit ice cold from the fridge, not warm + mushy in a pie or muffin.
But for some reason, I just had to put peaches in a donut. And I just had to add toasted coconut as a topping. The trick to not having the donuts become a pile of peach-slop, is to dice the peach into very small pieces. About 1/4” square-ish. You want a nice, ripe peach, but not squishy. [I’m not sure I like the word squishy. It’s kind of like moist. Ick.]
The peaches get mixed in as the very last step.
I put 2 spoonfuls in each donut mold and then smooth it with the back of the spoon. Don’t forget, you can use a muffin pan as well! Just fill the cups about 2/3 the way full. They might need a few extra minutes of bake time as well.
While I was writing down the recipe at my computer, I realized I had no powdered sugar for the glaze. I had just ridden my bike to the local co-op for a few dinner items and completely forgot the powdered sugar. I let out a loud groan. Not a happy camper. There was no way I was biking back to the co-op. My legs were dead after another killer body rock workout. Seriously the most intense 20min of working out I’ve ever completed. [Suicidal Sweat Workout]
Powdered sugar is literally, finely ground sugar. Wait, I can make that at home! Ah, crisis averted.
I wanted to see if you could turn sucanat into powdered sugar, and it totally worked. So very excited to have much less processed powdered sugar, available at any time. It’s rare that I actually use powdered sugar, but it obviously works perfectly for a donut glaze.
To make powdered sugar:
- Blend 1c sucanat or pure cane sugar in a blender, with 1T starch. I recommend using arrowroot or tapioca starch. Both are less processed + more natural options than cornstarch. The starch prevents the powdered sugar from caking + helps to thicken when making glazes.
Ridiculously easy!
Sucanat Sugar Glaze
- 1/3c sucanat powdered sugar
- 4t squeezed peach juice [or milk]
- Whisk together until smooth. Add more sugar if it’s too runny, or 1/2-1t more liquid if it’s too thick. It will thicken slightly as it sits.
Store the extra powdered sugar in a jar. Pretty excited about this!
After 16-20min, the donuts are golden brown + ready to eat.
Well, almost ready. Can’t forget that glaze…
…or the toasted coconut topping!
Have you ever made toasted coconut? It’s one of my favorite topping ingredients ever. It’s easy to burn, so keep the oven door cracked + your eyes on the pan. I broil it over low, until golden brown, which takes no time at all!
The small cubes of peach ended up being the perfect, sweet, summery addition.
Peach + Toasted Coconut Donuts
- 1/2c oat flour [ground from rolled oats/steel cut/oat groats]
- 1/2c sweet rice flour
- 2T coconut flour
- 3T unrefined coconut oil, melted
- 1/3c sucanat [or pure cane sugar]
- 2 large eggs
- 2T unsweetened applesauce
- 5T unsweetened almond milk*
- 2t vanilla
- 1/2t salt
- 1t baking powder
- 1/2 + 2T peaches, cubed ~1/4” x 1/4”
- Preheat your oven to 350* [I use 375* for high elevation] + grease your donut pan.
- In a medium sized bowl mix together the oat flour, sweet rice flour, coconut flour, sucanat, salt + baking powder.
- In a small bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla + applesauce.
- Whisk in the melted coconut oil.
- Stir wet into dry, until combined. Do not over stir. It will look slightly lumpy.
- Fold in the peaches.
- With a spoon, spatula or piping bag, transfer the batter to your pan, leaving a little room at the top.
- Bake for 16-20min.
- Test with a toothpick for doneness. You want a slightly moist toothpick. Not gooey but not bone dry.
- Let them cool in the pan for 5min then turn out onto a cooling rack.
- Frost when cooled.
*If your peaches are not very juicy, add 1T extra milk.
*I made 8 donuts out of this recipe, but you could bulk them up a bit if you only want to bake the pan of 6. They will take a few extra minutes to bake.
*If you can’t find, or don’t want to buy coconut flour, add 2T extra of the sweet rice flour.
Toasted Coconut
- Add desired amount of coconut to a baking sheet.
- On the low broil setting, with the door cracked, cook until golden brown, stirring a few times
- Watch closely, it only takes a few minutes.
Peaches in a donut?? Better than expected. Even for this no-fruit-in-my-pastry girl.
Here’s to a productive + delicious week!
Ashley
Reader Comments (98)
I love how you say 'doughnuts are in season'. These look delish!
Amy
Having a THIS IS THE BEST POST OF ALL TIME moment!
Another amazing donut recipe I cant wait to try!
These were amazing per usual. So luscious + moist. I love the shadows in the first 2 peach photos. I should have known better than to touch the messy counter -- I am sorry. I hope you don't take my doughnut taster privileges away. I will cry. And no one wants to see that.
These look incredible! I love fruit in my baked goods, and peaches are one of my favorites. I'm so excited that you were able to make powdered sugar from sucanat. I've been trying to eliminate refined sugar from my diet, so I thought making anything with powdered sugar was out of the question. Thank you so much for sharing this idea!
Ashley your recipes are just soooo amazing! And so creative and they just make me want to dive in!
Peaches. I just bought 5! If I wasnt headed to Colorado in the morning, I'd be going to Williams Sonoma to buy a donut pan to make these!
It's an excellent point about the donuts--they're ALWAYS in season.
Okay, I'm done :)
Yum yum! Love the glaze dripping off the side :)
Sooo when are you opening your donut shop here in Cleveland? ;)
Toasted coconut adds such a nutty flavor and level of complexity to anything...great idea. I don't think I've ever had peach/coconut combination but it sounds great...and makes me think grilled peaches & coconut gelato might also be delicious. Yum.
"Peaches in a donut" totally should have been expected. They look completely delicious!
Oh and I really liked that second photo with the long shadows :)
I just saw peach muffins the other day and just about died. These exceed those feelings though. OH my goodness!
These sound amazing! Peaches here in Europe are great just now. Donuts here we come....
Yum! These look awesome!
woah!! I knew peaches were in season...so why shouldnt peach donuts be in season!? they look fantastic :)
These are adorable! I love fruit cold from the fridge but there is nothing better than warm fruit in a dessert.
These donuts look positively heavenly! Peaches + brown sugar (or sucanat) is definitely in my top 5 favorite combinations. Let's start the week off right, indeed.
Imagine 100% coconut donuts, made with coconut milk and a coconut butter glaze + toasted coconut? Mmmmmmm....
Donuts totally are in season! ;) Love this combo!
YUM!!! These look amazing. My favorite donuts are blueberry cake ones and I bet you would make a killer one!
I just found your blog, and I am obsessed! I love how you use fresh, whole ingredients in creative ways, showing that real food can also be fun and delicious. As a holistic health coach, this is a big part of what I teach others to do, and I can tell I'm going to be getting lots of great tips and ideas from you!
Ashley, your recipes are amazing! I am so excited to make these donuts!!
Oh. my. gosh...... Mouth is watering!!!! :) Good thinking, looks so sweet and delicious!
Wow, I think you could open up your own little cafe....you post the most amazing breakfast recipes and now have the most beautiful donuts...amazing!
I tried Tasty Harmony on Friday night....LUV! :) Can't wait to go back! I saw the Buddha Belly (?) salad and I thought of you! :)
Oh my. That is SUCH a good idea. My sister and I were just saying the other day that we need to make more doughnuts. I'm LOVING the fruit addition idea!
oooh these look delish! I think I need a donut pan... isn't it always donut season? ;)
What exactly is sweet rice flour? I haven't seen it in any stores around here. Would brown rice flour work instead?
I wasn't that into your donuts before bit this version is truly impressive I'm going to have to try for sure!
Peaches are so good right now, I can't get enough! I also can't decide which one of your donut recipes looks best!?
Ashley, those donuts look TO DIE FOR. My local bakery has been baking ooey gooey fresh peach muffins but you MAY have one-upped them with the toasted coconut addition!
of course donuts are always in season! well, while they're still the hottest thing around :-)
Looks delicious, I can't wait to get back to my donut pan!
Such a great idea about the Sucanat grinding...can't wait to try that out. These look delicious!
These are so cute Ashley! And you are SO clever to try making the Sucanat into powdered sugar - genius idea! I think I'm off to buy myself some peaches... ;)
I just got an entire case of peaches from a local farm, so this post is perfectly timed! Making these ASAP.
I was so freaking excited about it!!
My favorite so far was the key lime, which is completely surprising!
Thanks Melissa!! Toasted coconut can one-up any recipe! ;)
There is a specific grain of rice called "short grain rice," that has a natural sweetness to it. It's turned into flour, like brown rice flour, and called "sweet rice flour." I get it at whole foods - this is the brand http://www.vitacost.com/Ener-G-Sweet-Rice-Flour
Aw, thanks! :) That would be fun!! So glad you liked TH...maybe I'll see you there sometime!
Thanks for saying hi Analiese!! I just love your name! Glad my recipes + tips will be helpful for you. :)
Ahhh, yes, these are kind of like those!! Cakey in the same way!
Ok fine already! I need a donut pan. Sure, these could be done in a muffin tin, but it just wouldn't be the same. These look wonderful!
Those are already on my mind. :)
My thoughts exactly.
Thanks Sylvia!
Ahhh, grilled peaches!!! I'm going to make those once the peaches here plump up a bit!
hehehee ;) I'll have my mom open one.
Enjoy your time in Colorado!! You will love Boulder...such a fun city and AMAZING food, everywhere!! I'm jealous you get to attend that amazing class. Have fun!
You're so welcome!! I was pretty excited myself! :)
OMG!! I need a donut pan stat. These recipes are haunting me! Mouth. Is. Watering.
LOL - I shouldn't have yelled for you eating delicious glaze off my counter. Apologies!! No way..no tears!