Mardi Gras King Cake Donuts (Printable)

Tender cinnamon donuts with vibrant glaze and festive sprinkles, perfect for Mardi Gras celebrations.

# Ingredient List:

→ 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 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
06 - 2/3 cup whole milk
07 - 2 large eggs
08 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
09 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

→ For the Cinnamon Swirl

10 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
11 - 1/4 cup brown sugar
12 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

→ For the Glaze

13 - 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
14 - 2-3 tablespoons milk
15 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ For Decoration

16 - Purple, green, and gold/yellow sprinkles

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Generously grease a 12-cavity donut pan with cooking spray or butter.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt 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. Fold gently with a spatula just until combined; avoid overmixing to prevent tough donuts.
05 - In a small bowl, mix softened butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon until a smooth paste forms.
06 - Spoon half the batter into donut pan cavities, filling each about one-third full. Pipe or spoon a ring of cinnamon swirl mixture onto each donut, then top with remaining batter to completely cover the swirl.
07 - Bake for 10-12 minutes until donuts spring back when lightly touched and edges are golden brown. Cool in pan for 5 minutes before transferring to wire rack.
08 - Whisk powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Add additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, if needed to reach pourable consistency.
09 - Dip tops of cooled donuts into glaze, allowing excess to drip off. Immediately sprinkle with alternating purple, green, and gold sprinkles. Let glaze set for 15 minutes before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They bake in 12 minutes instead of the hour-long wait for traditional King Cake
  • The cinnamon swirl running through each donut means every bite has that signature spice
  • You get to play with purple, green, and gold sprinkles without any fancy decorating skills
02 -
  • Overmixing the batter makes donuts tough, so stop as soon as the flour disappears
  • The cinnamon swirl can sink to the bottom if the batter is too thin, so keep it thick enough to mound on a spoon
  • Glaze sets fast once it hits the donut, so have your sprinkles ready before you start dipping
03 -
  • Warm your donuts for 10 seconds in the microwave before glazing, the heat helps the glaze spread evenly
  • If you don't have a donut pan, a muffin tin works in a pinch with longer baking time

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