Mardi Gras King Cake Donuts (Printable)

Baked soft, sweet donuts topped with vibrant Mardi Gras sprinkles, perfect for festive indulgence.

# Ingredient List:

→ Donut Base

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

→ Cinnamon Sugar Filling

11 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
12 - 1/4 cup light brown sugar
13 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

→ Glaze & Decoration

14 - 1 cup powdered sugar
15 - 2 tablespoons whole milk
16 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
17 - Purple, green, and gold sprinkles

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a standard 12-well donut pan with cooking spray or butter.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, ground cinnamon, salt, and lemon zest until well blended.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, whole milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract until smooth and fully incorporated.
04 - Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Stir gently with a spatula until just combined—batter will remain slightly thick. Avoid overmixing to prevent tough donuts.
05 - In a small bowl, stir together melted butter, brown sugar, and ground cinnamon until sugar is dissolved and mixture forms a paste.
06 - Spoon half the batter into prepared donut wells, filling each about one-third full. Create a small well in center of each, add a swirl of cinnamon sugar filling, then cover with remaining batter.
07 - Bake for 10–12 minutes until tops spring back lightly when touched and edges are golden brown. Cool in pan for 5 minutes before transferring to wire rack.
08 - Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a small bowl until completely smooth. Adjust consistency with additional milk if needed.
09 - Dip tops of cooled donuts into glaze, allowing excess to drip off. Immediately sprinkle with purple, green, and gold sprinkles while glaze is wet.
10 - Let glaze set for at least 10 minutes at room temperature before serving. Donuts are best enjoyed the same day but can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The batter comes together in minutes but tastes like you spent all morning baking
  • That surprise swirl of cinnamon sugar running through the center makes every bite feel like finding treasure
  • They're lighter than fried donuts but still deliver that indulgent carnival dessert experience
02 -
  • Overmixed batter makes tough donuts, so stop folding as soon as the flour disappears
  • The cinnamon filling wants to sink to the bottom, so work quickly when layering
  • Dip donuts while slightly warm for better glaze adherence, but not hot or it'll slide right off
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients incorporate better and prevent that dreaded denseness
  • Let glazed donuts set completely before stacking, or you'll end up with one giant sprinkle-covered cake

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