Mardi Gras King Cake Donuts (Print version)
Baked donuts with cinnamon swirl and vibrant glaze inspired by Mardi Gras traditions.
# Ingredient List:
→ Donuts
01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1/2 cup whole milk
06 - 2 large eggs
07 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
08 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
09 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
→ Cinnamon Swirl Filling
10 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
11 - 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
12 - 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
→ Glaze
13 - 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
14 - 2-3 tablespoons milk
15 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
16 - Purple, green, and yellow sanding sugars for decorating
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 12-cavity donut pan thoroughly with cooking spray or butter.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon until well blended.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk milk, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract until smooth and fully incorporated.
04 - Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Stir gently until just combined; avoid overmixing to prevent tough donuts.
05 - In a small bowl, combine melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Stir until mixture forms a smooth paste.
06 - Spoon half the donut batter evenly into the prepared donut pan cavities, filling each about one-third full.
07 - Place about 1 teaspoon of cinnamon swirl mixture on top of the batter in each cavity. Cover with remaining batter.
08 - Gently swirl a toothpick through the batter in each cavity to create marbleized cinnamon pattern.
09 - Bake for 10-12 minutes until donuts spring back when lightly touched and edges are lightly golden.
10 - Let donuts cool in pan for 5 minutes, then carefully transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
11 - Whisk powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk, and vanilla until smooth. Add additional milk if needed to reach pourable consistency.
12 - Dip cooled donuts into glaze, allowing excess to drip off. Immediately sprinkle with purple, green, and yellow sanding sugars in alternating sections.
13 - Let glaze set for 10 minutes before serving. Best enjoyed fresh but will keep for 1-2 days in an airtight container.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- All the festive joy of a traditional King Cake without the overnight rising time or yeast-related panic attacks
- The cinnamon swirl gets all caramelized and gooey in the oven, creating these little pockets of sugar that make people close their eyes when they take a bite
02 -
- Overfilling the donut pan causes them to lose their hole in the middle, which is fine but then theyre just muffins with an identity crisis
- The glaze sets surprisingly fast, so work quickly when adding the sanding sugars or they wont stick properly
03 -
- Use a pastry brush to get grease into every corner of the donut pan, especially the center post where sticking is most likely to happen
- Room temperature ingredients come together more smoothly and create a more tender final donut texture