Name: Baked Vanilla Donuts
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour; 1/2 cup white sugar; 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 2/3 cup buttermilk; 1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla; 1 cup powdered sugar; 2-3 Tablespoons half and half (**depending on the consistency you want); food coloring gel (optional **Follow the directions on the jar)

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Baked Vanilla Donuts!

soft & Tender vanilla donuts dipped in a creamy pink glaze & topped with fun sprinkles for Valentine’s Day!

Hello, friends!

Today I’m sharing a SUPER fun and festive recipe that can be enjoyed all year long. But especially for the up and coming day, we all celebrate love, Valentine’s Day!

Just in case you weren’t aware, this gal is and has always been a HUGE fan of donuts!

It all started W-A-Y back when I was a child and my mom would take us to our local bakery for a special treat.

Nowadays, I try and steer clear of those decadent fried creations, but that doesn’t mean I no longer enjoy a donut or two from time to time.

Over the years, I’ve made several different varieties of those baked yummy treats, like my Blueberry donuts with a tart lemon glaze, and a special treat for fall with my Baked Spiced Pear donuts.

Today’s Baked Vanilla donuts use the base recipe for my Pear donuts, but instead of spices, I infuse the donuts with good quality vanilla. Then, just because I couldn’t resist, I created a fun pink frosting to dip them in, and added some colorful sprinkles too!

Because who doesn’t love frosting and sprinkles?

I’m definitely raising my hand over here. And I think my family agrees. Because these yummy soft and tender, oh so adorable donuts sure didn’t last long.

what you’ll need to make baked vanilla donuts

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Equipment/Kitchen Tools

Mixing bowls
Donut pan
Wooden Spoon
Glass measuring cup
Measuring spoons
Measuring cups
Cooling rack
Whisk

Ingredients:

Flour
Sugar
Salt
Baking Powder
Vanilla
Butter
Buttermilk
Egg
Powdered Sugar
Half and Half
Food Coloring Gel
Sprinkles

how to make baked vanilla donuts:

Preheat the oven to 375°.
Spray your donut pan with non-stick cooking spray.
Combine the flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder in a large mixing bowl.
Add in the egg, melted butter, and buttermilk.
Stir until just combined. (Do not overmix)
Scoop the dough into a Ziploc bag. Cut the end to create a piping bag.
Pipe the dough into the donut pan-filling 3/4 full.
Bake the donuts for 10-11 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Remove the donuts from the oven and let them sit for 3-4 minutes before flipping the pan over onto a cooling rack. Allow the donuts to cool completely!

Meanwhile, make your frosting by combining powdered sugar, half and half, and some food coloring gel (optional). Whisk them together until you have the consistency you desire. Then dip the cooled donuts into the frosting. (BTW it’s a messy job but someone’s got to do it, right?)

Note: This was the first time I had used Wilton’s Gel Food Coloring. Let me just say first that it was AWESOME to work with. And secondly, you don’t need much!!!!

Honestly, I stuck a toothpick into the small jar and got a teeny tiny bit to start with. Then I dipped it into my frosting and that was all it needed for a light pink frosting. Then I added just a bit more for the darker pink.

I found these fun and colorful sprinkles at Walmart too and couldn’t resist adding them to the tops of each donut!

I also couldn’t resist making these adorable heart-shaped donuts either with a muffin tin I found at the Dollar Tree!

Here’s the full recipe!