Maple Bacon Donuts

Preheat the oven to 325ºF. Grease your donut pan(s) liberally.

To prepare the donuts, in a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the sugar, maple syrup, coconut oil, applesauce, vanilla and maple extract. Fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until combined.

Using a pastry or plastic bag with a #12 tip, pipe the donut mixture into the donut molds, filling the wells halfway. (The batter does thicken upon standing, so you may need to use a small knife or spatula to evenly spread it around the donut molds.)

Bake for 18 minutes, rotating the pan(s) halfway through the cooking time. Allow the donuts to cool in their molds for at least 30 minutes. Carefully run a thin knife between the finished donut and the mold. Twist/lift the donuts from their molds and allow them to rest on a baking rack.

While the donuts rest, prepare the glaze by whisking the powdered sugar, half-and-half, and maple extract in a shallow bowl until smooth.

Dip the donuts in the glaze and place the glazed donuts back on the baking rack, allowing the excess glaze to run off. Sprinkle the glazed donuts with the bacon garnish.

(Donut recipe adapted from Babycakes Covers the Classics.)