Mardi Gras King Cake Donuts (Print Version)
Light, fluffy baked donuts decorated in traditional Mardi Gras colors with a cinnamon-sugar filling and sweet glaze.
# What You Need:
→ Dough
01 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1 packet active dry yeast (7 g)
04 - 1/2 tsp salt
05 - 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
06 - 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
07 - 2/3 cup warm milk (110°F)
08 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
09 - 1 large egg
→ Cinnamon Filling
10 - 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
11 - 2 tsp ground cinnamon
12 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
→ Glaze & Decoration
13 - 1 cup powdered sugar
14 - 2-3 tbsp milk
15 - 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
16 - Purple, green, and gold sanding sugar
# How to Prepare:
01 - Whisk together flour, granulated sugar, yeast, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a large bowl until evenly combined.
02 - Combine warm milk, melted butter, and egg in a separate bowl. Pour into dry ingredients and mix until soft dough forms.
03 - Turn dough onto lightly floured surface and knead for 5 minutes until smooth and elastic.
04 - Place dough in lightly greased bowl, cover, and let rise in warm place for 1 hour until doubled in size.
05 - Preheat oven to 350°F and line baking sheet with parchment paper.
06 - Mix brown sugar and cinnamon in small bowl for filling.
07 - Roll dough to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut 12 donuts using 3-inch and 1-inch round cutters.
08 - Place donuts on prepared sheet. Brush tops with softened butter and sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar mixture, pressing gently to adhere.
09 - Bake for 12-15 minutes until lightly golden. Cool slightly on wire rack.
10 - Whisk powdered sugar, 2-3 tablespoons milk, and vanilla until thick glaze forms.
11 - Dip warm donut tops into glaze. Immediately sprinkle with purple, green, and gold sugars in sections to create King Cake pattern. Let set 10 minutes before serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- These capture all the festive King Cake flavors in a fraction of the time with way less technical pressure
- The baked donut texture is incredibly light while still feeling indulgent and special
02 -
- Room temperature ingredients prevent the butter from seizing and creating weird texture pockets
- The glaze must be applied while donuts are still slightly warm or it will slide right off
03 -
- Substituting half the milk with heavy cream creates a richer dough that feels even more special
- Warm your sanding sugars slightly in the oven for a few minutes to make them adhere better to the glaze