Ebelskiver Doughnuts (WFMW)

Ebelskiver Doughnuts (WFMW)

When I was making doughnuts a few weeks ago, I was reminded of how much I don’t like frying.  I love doughnuts, but I hate frying. So, I knew I needed to start working on some new techniques for making doughnuts.

I’ve been seeing a lot of baked doughnut recipes using those fun doughnut pans… I may eventually get one, but for now, I’m working with what I have.  I knew that baking the doughnuts on a flat baking sheet would yield flat-bottomed doughnuts, which I didn’t want.  I’ve seen some doughnuts baked in mini-muffin tins, as well, but I didn’t want them to look like muffins. I’m picky!

Instead, I decided to go out on a limb and try making doughnut holes in my ebelskiver pan.

It took me a few tries to get it right… I started with a sour cream cake doughnut recipe. When I followed the recipe exactly, the dough/batter was a bit too thick, making it hard to spoon into the ebelskiver pan.  So, on my second try, I made a thinner batter, but the result was too runny and the doughnut holes turned out kind of flat. Finally, on my third try, I found the happy medium (remind you Goldilocks and the porridge?).  The key is to take a traditional cake doughnut batter and add just enough liquid that it can be spooned easily, but isn’t runny.  For my recipe, using buttermilk instead of sour cream worked perfectly. For other recipes, adding just a few tablespoons of buttermilk or cream should work perfectly!

works for me wednesday at we are that family

Here’s the best part… Not only can you make doughnut holds without frying, but you can make filled doughnut holes! Can you see where this is going? I stuffed my doughnut holes with Nutella, but the possibilities are unlimited!

Nutella Filled Ebelskiver Doughnut Holes
(Makes about 15 doughnut holes, adapted from Doughnuts)

  • 3/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Freshly ground nutmeg (about 1/8 – 1/4 teaspoon)
  • Pinch sea salt
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 1 egg
  • Nutella
  • Powdered sugar

Begin by whisking together the flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a pinch of sea salt.  In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg and buttermilk.  Add the wet ingredients to the dry mixture and stir until just combined.  The mixture should be sticky, but not runny.

Heat your ebelskiver pan over medium-low heat and spray lightly with cooking spray.  Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the batter into each hole in the pan.  Add about a teaspoon of Nutella in the center, and then top with just enough additional batter to cover the Nutella (about 1 teaspoon).  Cook for a few minutes and then use wooden skewers to flip the ebelskivers and cook on the other side for an additional minute or two.

Remove the ebelskivers from the pan and roll in powdered sugar while they are still hot. Enjoy while still warm.

Please Note – The link to Lara Ferroni’s book Doughnuts provided in this post is an Amazon affiliate link.

23 comments

  1. What an awesome idea! I don’t allow frying in my house and I have a Ebelskiver pan that is currently used to collect dust. These will have to be on the menu in the next couple of days. Thanks for the recipe! :-)

  2. Oh how you tease me with nutella anything. Gosh, I should have just given up butter for lent. Sigh.

  3. I kept seeing ebelskiver stuff at Williams Sonoma and had no idea what they were… now I do!

  4. Flavia says:

    I love this idea! I have an Ebelskiver pan that I have yet to use, but I just bought the Doughnuts cookbook and am loving all the recipes.

  5. Soma says:

    I don’t like frying either, esp. the donuts which drinks up the oil. I need to own the Ebelskiver. The Nutella makes these donuts divine! Can imagine each blissful bite.

  6. Tracey says:

    I bought an ebelskiver pan a few years ago and have probably only used it once or twice. Your recipe reminds me why I wanted it in the first place – the doughnuts look awesome!

  7. carine says:

    the ebelskivers are used in making red bean filled crusty pancake like treat here in my country. Nutella is definitely great for any filling..I believe everyone has a nutella digging-in experience…

  8. naomi says:

    OMG. . . Will work for food! I love this and I have an ableskiver pan-can’t wait to try this.

  9. Dana says:

    That right there is worth a trip to Williams Sonoma. Great job Jen!

  10. Jen what a great idea – I can’t stand frying things either so this is a great alternative. Very lucky that I don’t have one of these pans otherwise I would be making them all the time!

  11. Paula says:

    I don’t have a donut baking pan nor do I have an ebelskiver pan and I’m so anxious to get a donut pan to start baking donuts to take to the grandkids. Mind you…I’m sure I’ll eat a few myself.

    Yours turned out great and good-thinking on your part to try them in your ebelskiver pan.

  12. How did I miss these?! I’ve been looking for new things to do with my ebelskiver pan, and these look wonderful, Jen.

  13. You made my day! Nutella-filled doughnuts? That sounds like an amazing treat. Now… I just have to buy one of those pans so I can make these in my own kitchen!

  14. Jaggs says:

    I too like donuts but I don’t like the taste of them being fried. I looked for another way but was not successful until now! What I found was the electric donut hole maker by Nostagia Electric. It looks like an electric Ebelskiver maker, seven wells and all. The donuts come out perfectly round..awesome, awesome, awesome. The best part is you can purchase it at Amazon for only $20.00! Just thought I share.

    1. Jaggs – Thanks for the recommendation. I will have to check that out! :)

  15. Francine says:

    I wonder if I could make mini ones in my babycakes cake pop maker??? Worth a try!!

  16. Valerie says:

    What type of pan did you use and what is the brand name? I’m not sure if I should buy a non stick or cast iron pan.

    1. Hi, Valerie – My pan is a non-stick pan made by NordicWare. Hope that helps!

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