Mardi Gras King Cake Donuts (Printable)
Baked donuts with cinnamon swirls and a festive glaze inspired by Mardi Gras flavors.
# What You'll Need:
→ Donut Batter
01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1/2 cup whole milk
06 - 2 large eggs
07 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
08 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
09 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
→ Cinnamon Swirl Filling
10 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
11 - 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
12 - 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
→ Glaze and Decoration
13 - 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
14 - 2-3 tablespoons milk
15 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
16 - Purple, green, and yellow sanding sugars
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F and generously grease a 12-cavity donut pan with cooking spray or butter.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon until well combined.
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. Stir gently until just combined; the batter should remain slightly thick. Do not overmix.
05 - In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons melted butter, brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon cinnamon. Stir until mixture forms a paste-like consistency.
06 - Spoon half the batter evenly into donut pan cavities, filling each about one-third full. Add 1 teaspoon cinnamon swirl mixture atop each cavity.
07 - Cover cinnamon filling with remaining batter, dividing evenly among cavities. Gently swirl with a toothpick to create marble pattern without over-mixing.
08 - Bake for 10-12 minutes until donuts spring back when lightly pressed and edges are golden brown. Avoid overbaking for optimal texture.
09 - Let donuts rest in pan for 5 minutes before transferring to wire rack. Allow to cool fully before glazing to prevent melting.
10 - Whisk powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Add additional milk 1 teaspoon at a time if needed for pourable consistency.
11 - Dip tops of cooled donuts into glaze, allowing excess to drip off. Immediately sprinkle sections with purple, green, and yellow sanding sugars in traditional King Cake pattern.
12 - Let glaze set for 10 minutes at room temperature before serving. Donuts are best enjoyed the same day but can be stored in an airtight container.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- These baked donuts capture all the cinnamon-swirled magic of traditional King Cake without the hours of yeast dough preparation
- The festive purple green and gold sugars make every bite feel like a celebration even if Fat Tuesday is months away
02 -
- The toothpick swirl technique takes a light hand because going too deep pulls cinnamon filling to the bottom where it can burn
- Room temperature ingredients blend more smoothly than cold ones straight from the refrigerator
03 -
- Add a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg to the batter for that authentic New Orleans bakery flavor
- Use a piping bag to fill the donut pan cavities for cleaner edges and less mess