Valentine's Day Cherry Donuts

I love Valentine's Day for pretty much two reasons. Candy and treats! Yummmm. I mean, who doesn't love candy hearts and chocolate, right? So I knew I had to do a Valentine's Day baking post, like last year's Red Velvet Brownies. This year I went the donut route, and the came out pretty darn good! Added some pink and red sprinkles, and they were set to go!

Valentine's Day Cherry Donuts (recipe from Shugary Sweets)

ingredients:

For the Donuts:

• 2 cup flour
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup milk 
• 2 Tbsp butter, melted
• 15 maraschino cherries, chopped

For the Glaze:

• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• sprinkles

directions:

1. In mixing bowl, add flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and nutmeg. Mix until combined. Add in eggs, vanilla, milk and melted butter. Mix thoroughly. Fold in chopped cherries.
2. Pour batter into a ziploc bag, snip off the corner of bag. Pipe into greased donut pans. Bake in a 325 degree oven for 10 minutes. Remove and allow to cool in pans 5 minutes before removing to a cooling rack.
3. For the frosting, heat cream in small saucepan until just before boiling. Remove from heat and whisk in vanilla extract and powdered sugar. Add more cream (or powdered sugar) until desired consistency.
4. To frost donut, dip cooled donut into glaze. Set on wax paper, apply sprinkles immediately (if desired), and allow to set (about 15 minutes) before eating. Enjoy!

Perfect timing to whip some up before Sunday!

-Kylie

pumpkin doughnuts

I recently got a doughnut (or donut?) pan, and I couldn't wait to try it out! My first attempt didn't turn out so well (apple doughnuts that definitely tasted more like bread), but I hit a big success with these pumpkin doughnuts! So moist and delicious! I have a feeling these will be made multiple times this year!

Pumpkin Doughnuts with Sour Cream Icing (recipe from Real Simple)

ingredients for doughnuts:

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1 cup pure pumpkin puree
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

ingredients for icing:

• 3/4 cup confectioners sugar
• 2 tbsp sour cream
• 1/4 tsp fresh lemon juice

directions:

1. Heat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease a doughnut pan.
2. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl; set aside.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, granulated sugar, brown sugar, oil, egg and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
4. Spoon 1/4 cup batter into each compartment of the doughnut pan. Bake until the doughnuts are golden brown and spring back slightly when touched, about 12-14 minutes. 
5. Let cool in pans for about 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
6. While the doughnuts are cooling, whisk together the confectioners sugar, sour cream and lemon juice in a small bowl. Dunk the cooled doughnuts in the icing and let set on a piece of parchment or wax paper. 

Enjoy!

-Kylie