Indulge in the airy, melt-in-your-mouth delight of **Low Fat Classic French Crullers**, a guilt-free twist on the beloved French pastry. These golden, delicate rings are baked—not fried—making them lighter while retaining their iconic crisp exterior and tender interior. Crafted from a simple pâte à choux dough enriched with skim milk and a hint of vanilla, these crullers are finished with a light powdered sugar glaze for just the right amount of sweetness. Perfect for brunches, afternoon tea, or as a refined treat, this recipe is ready in under an hour and yields a batch of eight irresistible pastries. If you’re looking for a low-fat dessert that doesn’t skimp on flavor, this cruller is your perfect pastry fix!
Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a medium saucepan, combine water, skim milk, butter, salt, and sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Once it reaches a boil, immediately remove from heat.
Add the flour all at once and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixture comes together and forms a ball. Return to the heat and cook for another 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, to evaporate some moisture and cook the flour.
Transfer dough to a mixing bowl and let cool for 5 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, fully incorporating each before adding the next. Stir in the vanilla extract. The dough should be smooth and glossy.
Transfer the dough to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe rings onto the prepared baking sheet, about 2-3 inches in diameter.
Bake for 5 minutes at 425°F, then reduce the temperature to 350°F (180°C) without opening the oven. Continue baking for another 20-25 minutes until the crullers are golden brown and feel light and dry when lifted.
Remove from the oven and let cool slightly on a wire rack.
For the glaze, whisk together light powdered sugar and skim milk to create a smooth glaze. Dip the top of each cooled cruller into the glaze or use a spoon to drizzle over the top.
Allow the glaze to set for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy your low-fat crullers!
Calories |
1154 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 32.7 g | 42% | |
| Saturated Fat | 15.2 g | 76% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 602 mg | 201% | |
| Sodium | 1229 mg | 53% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 177.5 g | 65% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 3.5 g | 12% | |
| Total Sugars | 77.4 g | ||
| Protein | 34.3 g | 69% | |
| Vitamin D | 4.1 mcg | 21% | |
| Calcium | 224 mg | 17% | |
| Iron | 7.6 mg | 42% | |
| Potassium | 460 mg | 10% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.