They HAVE to be healthy... they contain fruit!
I get into this recipe, I feel it is necessary for me to say a few words about Joe Paterno. As many of you know, he passed away today after a short battle with lung cancer. Joe Paterno dedicated over fifty years of his life to Penn State, donating millions of dollars, and positively influencing thousands of young men and students. To look past all of the good he has done for my university, and to instead focus on his one mistake is wrong. He was quoted as saying, ”They ask me what I’d like written about me when I’m gone. I hope they write I made Penn State a better place, not just that I was a good football coach.” His family has requested donations to be made in his name to THON, the worlds largest student-run philanthropic organization that helps fight pediatric cancer.
Now on to happier subjects…
Last week, I received an EXTREMELY unexpected (but none the less AWESOME) gift from my friend Giulia: a Babycakes Cake Pop Maker! There are certain things that I, as a baker, are afraid to make. This list includes (but is not limited to): cinnamon rolls, fried donuts (or fried ANYTHING for that matter), and cake pops. I don’t know, the whole process of making a cake (only to ruin it), mixing with frosting, shaping into a ball, etc.etc. seems SO lengthy and time consuming. With this new gadget, I can make cake pops in FOUR minutes.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have all the ingredients I needed to make this awesome cake pop recipe today. However, this cake pop maker can make another one of my favorite treats…Donut Holes!!! I made a batch with grape jelly, and one without (since some hate fruit with their dessert!).
The results? They turned out great! A flavor-filled pop-in-your mouth dessert. They are sweet, moist, and the grape jelly really makes the donut hole THAT much better. The best part was how quick they were to make! It’s dangerous to have an awesome recipe that you can make and fill in less than 30 minutes!
If you don’t have a Babycakes Cake Pop Maker, don’t worry! You can still make this recipe in a mini muffin pan!
This recipe is from the Babycakes Cake Pop Maker Instruction Manual.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup shortening
1 egg
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup milk
6 tbsp butter, melted
Cinnamon-Sugar Topping:
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
Directions for Cake Pop Maker:
- Beat together sugar and shortening in mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in egg.
- Stir together flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg.
- Alternately blend in flour mixture and milk into shortening mixture, beginning and ending with the flour mixture.
- Fill each cooking reservoir with about 1 tbsp batter ****
- Bake 4 to 5 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into puffs come out clean.
- For cinnamon-sugar topping, combine cinnamon and sugar in small bowl. Immediately roll hot puffs in melted butter then in cinnamon-sugar mixture.
- Once cooled, stuff donuts with your choice of jelly, jam, or even chocolate! Mine came with a little tool for stuffing, but you can stab the side of your donut holes with a pastry bag tip and fill it through the pastry bag!
**** I found it easiest to put the batter in a ziplock bag, and snip the bottom corner to pour the batter into the machine.
Directions for Mini Muffins:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and generously spray a mini muffin tin.
- Beat together sugar and shortening in mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in egg.
- Stir together flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg.
- Alternately blend in flour mixture and milk into shortening mixture, beginning and ending with the flour mixture.
- Fill each muffin cup half full. Bake for 9-12 minutes, or until tops are golden brown.
- For cinnamon-sugar topping, combine cinnamon and sugar in small bowl. Immediately roll hot mini muffins in melted butter then in cinnamon-sugar mixture.
- Once cooled, stuff donuts with your choice of jelly, jam, or even chocolate! Mine came with a little tool for stuffing, but you can stab the side of your donut holes with a pastry bag tip and fill it through the pastry bag!
acollegebaker 