Beautifully Rooted: Banana-Sweet Potato Muffins/Donuts

It's not a huge secret that I enjoy a donut from time to time. I'm not particular either.
I like chocolate, maple, plain ol glazed, cinnamon sugar and cake. They're all good in my book.

That said, I don't love how unhealthy they are - not that it's really stopping us from eating them!
However, I really do try to feed my kids, and myself, healthy things. My two year old has always been a really good eater and I'm so thankful for that. She eats any fruit but as of late has decided she doesn't really like veggies. So, I've been sneaking veggies into different foods.

Since my two year old has the same fondness for fried pastries, I bought a donut machine as a healthier alternative and so we could have fun making some at home. I also decided to try making healthy donuts,
yes, they do exist! So what makes a healthy donut? One that is baked and has a veggie in it!!

My first attempt was banana-zucchini donuts. You can find that recipe here. They were a huge hit.
Toddler and husband approved.

My latest adventure was banana-sweet potato donuts.
Another successful attempt and that's what I'm sharing today.

Here's what you need:
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cups sugar
2 eggs - beaten
3 bananas
1 sweet potato - cooked (i microwaved mine for time efficiency)
1 1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
cream cheese frosting (also totally optional)

You make the donuts and muffins the same way but in the end you just cook them differently.
For muffins, I have a dark pan so I set the oven to 375. Preheat your oven or turn on your donut machine.

To start, cream the butter and sugar together using a stand up mixer.

In a separate bowl, mash the bananas and sweet potato. Then stir in the eggs.

Add the banana-sweet potato mixture to the creamed butter/sugar and mix until combined.

In another bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice together.

With the mixer on low, slowly add in the flour mixture. I just added a 1/2 cup at a time, until just combined. Add in the vanilla and walnuts, if using, and mix until combined.

Spoon the mixture into your muffin pan or donut pan and cook until a toothpick comes out clean.
Not sure on time, sorry, I always do the, "it's starting to really smell good in here,
that must mean they're done," method. It usually works.

If you're making donuts,
I put the batter in a ziploc freezer quart bag and cut a hole in the end to squeeze into the pan.

When the muffins or donuts are cooked, take them out and let them cool on a rack.

If you want to make them less healthy, go ahead! I put some cream cheese frosting on top and sprinkle them with extra chopped walnuts. They're probably still healthier than fried donuts! I mean, they have fruit and a veggie in them!!