King Cake Donuts Mardi Gras (Print)

Soft baked donuts with vanilla glaze and vibrant Mardi Gras colored sprinkles for a festive touch.

# Ingredients:

→ For the Donuts

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
05 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
06 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
07 - 2 large eggs
08 - 3/4 cup whole milk
09 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
10 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
11 - Zest of 1 lemon

→ For the Glaze

12 - 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
13 - 2 to 3 tablespoons whole milk
14 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ For Decoration

15 - Green, purple, and gold sanding sugar or sprinkles

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease donut pan with nonstick spray.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, milk, melted butter, vanilla extract, and lemon zest until fully combined.
04 - Pour wet ingredient mixture into dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Avoid overmixing to maintain tender texture.
05 - Spoon or pipe batter evenly into prepared donut pan, filling each cavity approximately two-thirds full.
06 - Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until donuts spring back when lightly pressed and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
07 - Allow donuts to cool in pan for 2 minutes, then transfer to wire cooling rack for complete cooling.
08 - Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and pourable consistency is achieved.
09 - Dip cooled donuts into glaze, allowing excess to drip off naturally.
10 - Immediately sprinkle donuts with green, purple, and gold sanding sugar in alternating sections to recreate King Cake aesthetic.
11 - Allow glaze to set completely before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They bake in under 15 minutes, so you can have Mardi Gras vibes without the stress of deep frying.
  • The lemon zest gives them a brightness that keeps them from feeling heavy, even with the vanilla glaze.
  • Those colorful sprinkles make every bite feel a little bit like a party, no matter what day it is.
02 -
  • Don't skip cooling the donuts completely before glazing—warm donuts will cause the glaze to slide right off and pool at the bottom.
  • The lemon zest is optional only if you really dislike citrus, but it transforms these from just sweet to genuinely balanced.
  • Room temperature batter bakes more evenly than cold batter, so let your eggs and milk sit on the counter for a few minutes before you start.
03 -
  • Sanding sugar sticks better than regular sprinkles to wet glaze, and the texture is more sophisticated—it's worth seeking out.
  • If your glaze hardens before you finish decorating, warm it very gently over low heat or microwave it for 10 seconds at a time.
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