Mardi Gras King Cake Donuts (Printable)
Pillowy donuts with cinnamon swirl and colorful purple, green, gold glaze inspired by Mardi Gras flavors.
# Ingredient List:
→ Dough
01 - 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
02 - 1/2 cup warm milk (110°F)
03 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
04 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
05 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
06 - 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
07 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
08 - 2 large eggs
09 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Cinnamon-Sugar Filling
10 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
11 - 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
12 - 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
→ Frying
13 - Vegetable oil for frying (2 inches depth)
→ Glaze & Decoration
14 - 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
15 - 2-3 tablespoons milk
16 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
17 - Purple, green, and gold sanding sugars
# Directions:
01 - Dissolve yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in warm milk. Let stand for 5 minutes until foamy and activated.
02 - Combine flour, remaining sugar, salt, and nutmeg in a large bowl. Add yeast mixture, softened butter, eggs, and vanilla. Mix until soft dough forms.
03 - Knead dough on floured surface for 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in greased bowl, cover, and let rise in warm place until doubled, approximately 1 hour.
04 - Roll dough to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut 3-inch rounds using donut cutter or two round cutters. Re-roll scraps as needed.
05 - Place donuts and holes on parchment-lined tray. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes until puffy.
06 - Mix melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon until combined. Brush tops of each donut with mixture.
07 - Heat vegetable oil to 350°F. Fry donuts in batches for 1-2 minutes per side until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
08 - Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Dip cooled donuts into glaze, allowing excess to drip off.
09 - Immediately sprinkle donuts with purple, green, and gold sugars in sections to create traditional King Cake appearance. Let set before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- These donuts deliver the exact warm cinnamon sugar experience of a traditional king cake but in about half the time
- The vibrant purple green and gold sugars turn ordinary morning coffee into a festive celebration
- Frying them at home feels like bringing a tiny piece of Bourbon Street right into your kitchen
02 -
- Oil temperature is everything, too cool and the donuts will be greasy, too hot and they will burn outside while remaining raw inside
- The second rise is not optional, those extra 30 minutes are what create the pillowy texture that makes these worth the effort
- Apply the colored sugars immediately after glazing or they will not stick properly
03 -
- Invest in a kitchen thermometer for the oil, guessing the temperature is how most home cooks go wrong with fried foods
- Let the donuts cool for at least 10 minutes before glazing or the icing will slide right off