Sufganiyot (n): A jelly donut which originated in Israel and is eaten around the world for Hanukkah.
They’re light and fluffy, deep fried until golden, filled with sweet jam, and topped with powdered sugar. YUM. I don’t care what time of year it is – I can literally always go for a good jelly donut. However; as with many of my favorite things – it’s not so great for you. Between all the sugar and oil needed to deep fry these, you can easily blow your entire points budget on a single donut, with a single donut running anywhere from 12 to 18 points (I mean….worth it, but….). So I sought a way to to have my Sufganiyot and eat it too. Enter- these darling little bites.
As delicious as they are adorable, these little guys are WW friendly! They’re also quick and easy to make, so you can whip up a batch on the fly and modify how you like. Add chocolate chips (Lily’s are a great WW friendly option), fill with Nutella, add fresh fruit – sky is the limit.
Lightening up jelly donuts
There are a number of ways to lighten up baked goods, and this recipe employs just about every trick in the book.
- Reduce the size. Instead of giant donuts, these are made in a mini-muffin pan. Yay, portion control!
- Reduce the sugar. Whereas traditional donuts have heaps of sugar, this recipe requires just 2.5 tbsp for 16 mini donut bites.
- Sneaky substitutions. Greek yogurt is your friend, especially when it comes to baking. The Greek yogurt keeps these donuts moist, light, and fluffy, without adding a ton of fat, calories, or points.
- Use a better-for-you jam. Avoid traditional jams which have a ton of sugar. Buy low sugar or naturally sweetened jams (or, if you’re feeling ambitious, make your own).
- Bake them, don’t fry them. Deep frying adds a ton of fat and calories from the oil that’s needed to fry the donuts. These little bites are baked instead, using minimal oil.
And there you have it! A few steps can take you from 12+ points down to just two, without sacrificing flavor.
Making the donut bites
Whipping these up is a cinch. Start by whisking your egg and sugar together until you have a fluffy mixture. Add milk, oil, vanilla, Greek yogurt, and whisk to combine. From there, sift together your dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Combine, pour into a greased mini muffin pan (or use cupcake liners) and bake for 11-13 minutes, until lightly golden and a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely.
Once cooled, use a sharp knife to gently cut out a hole in the center, only going about half-way down. Using a piping bag or a sandwich bag with the tip cut, carefully pipe or spoon roughly 1/2 tsp of jelly into each bite. Top with a little sifted powdered sugar and enjoy!
Looking for more WW friendly desserts?
Boy, are you in the right place. It’s kind of my thing. Here are some other tasty treats that won’t break the (points) bank:
- Lighter Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes
- Light Maple Walnut Biscotti
- Healthier Chocolate Dirt Cupcakes
- Healthy Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes
- Healthier Apple Cider Donuts
- Pumpkin Fluff Dip
Light Jelly Donut Bites
Equipment
- Mixing Bowls
- Sifter
- Oven
- Mini Muffin Pan
- Piping Bag
- Small Knife
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 2 1/2 tbsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- Pinch of salt
- 1 medium egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp unsweetened almond milk
- 1/2 cup nonfat Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup jam of choice for filling
- Powdered sugar to sift on top
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F
- In a small bowl, whisk together egg and sugar until mixture is fluffy. Add milk, oil, vanilla, egg, and Greek yogurt. Whisk until you have a smooth, creamy mixture.
- In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Pour wet ingredients into dry, and whisk together until you have a smooth mixture.
- Spray or line mini muffin pan with 16 liners. Put 1 tbsp of batter in each cup.
- Bake at 350 for 11-13 minutes, until lightly golden and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Let donut bites cool completely before filling. To fill, use a small, sharp knife to carefully cut out the centers (will be little cone shapes), being careful not to cut all the way through to the bottom.
- Using a piping bag or spoon, fill each donut bite with 1/2 tsp of jam.
- Sift powdered sugar on top to finish, and enjoy!
