Pumpkin Doughnut Holes + Plaid

Plaid is Rad!  

This past weekend my roommate Nicole and I hosted a "Plaid is Rad" party.  The theme came to me when thinking about having a warm pre-holiday party and because Trevor wears plaid almost every day of the year, so it just seemed to fit :-)  Everyone who attended dressed up, even all of the guys!  Best. Theme. Ever.

Girls in their plaid!

For the menu, Nicole and I spent the day cooking a variety of warm comfort foods.  They included: 

• Mini-Apple Tartlets
• Sweet potato fries (one sweet, one savory!)
• Spinach dip with goat and Parmesan cheese
• Zuchhini Tots
• Baked Pumpkin Doughnut Holes

Party food with wonderful plaid tablecloth!

We also made a "signature" drink of spice hot apple cider, served to guests to keep them warm in the increasingly cold weather!    

The party gave us an excuse to make some of fall the recipes we have been meaning to try for a while now.  I searched my Pintrest Appetizers/Party board for some healthy and hearty foods.  The baked pumpkin doughnut holes were a hit, with a soft, airy center and crispy outside covered in cinnamon and sugar.  It will definitely make you question why doughnuts have to be fried.  Check out the recipe below adapted from ggLaRue :

Baked Pumpkin Doughnut Holes

Yield: 24 doughnut holes (1 mini-muffin tin)

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 egg

3/4 cup pumpkin puree

1/2 cup skim milk

2 Tablespoons Brummel and Brown tub margarine

1 Tablespoons olive oil

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup cinnamon

Directions

1.  Preheat oven to 350.

2.  In a small bowl, mix together dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, salt and pumpkin pie spice).

3.  In a large bowl, combine unsweetened applesauce, brown sugar, egg, pumpkin puree and skim milk.  

3.  Add small bowl of dry ingredients to bowl of wet ingredients and mix until smooth and well combined.  

4.  Grease a 24 cup mini-muffin tin with Pam spray.

5.  Spoon dough into mini-muffin tin and bake for 18 minutes on 350 degrees.

6.  When doughnuts are almost finished baking, melt 2-3 Tbsp Brummel and Brown tub margarine and mix with 1 tsp of olive oil in a small bowl.

7.  In another bowl, mix together cinnamon and sugar.

8.  When doughnuts are done baking, take out of oven and let cool about 2-3 minutes.

9.  Dip doughnut holes in oil mixture and then roll in cinnamon and sugar.  Place in a serving bowl and enjoy!

B and T in matching plaid for the party!