Mini Rainbow Vanilla Bean Donuts (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Donut Batter
01 -
2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
02 -
¾ cup granulated sugar
03 -
2 teaspoons baking powder
04 -
½ teaspoon salt
05 -
¾ cup buttermilk
06 -
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
07 -
2 tablespoons butter, melted
08 -
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
09 -
Seeds from 1 vanilla bean
10 -
Gel food coloring (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple)
→ Vanilla Glaze
11 -
1 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted
12 -
1 tablespoon whole milk or heavy cream (plus more to adjust consistency)
13 -
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
14 -
Food coloring (optional)
15 -
Rainbow sprinkles (optional)
# Instructions:
01 -
Preheat oven to 425°F (218°C). Spray mini donut pan with non-stick cooking spray to ensure easy removal after baking.
02 -
In a large mixing bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. Whisk to combine evenly.
03 -
Add the buttermilk, lightly beaten eggs, melted butter, vanilla extract, and scraped vanilla bean seeds to the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined - don't overmix or the donuts will be tough.
04 -
Divide the batter evenly into 6 small bowls. Add a different gel food coloring to each bowl (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple) and stir gently until the color is evenly distributed.
05 -
Transfer each colored batter into separate piping bags or resealable sandwich bags. If using sandwich bags, snip a small corner off each bag to create a makeshift piping bag.
06 -
Pipe small dots or short lines of each colored batter into the donut wells in rainbow order (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple), slightly overlapping the colors. Fill each cavity about halfway to allow room for rising.
07 -
Bake in the preheated oven for 4-8 minutes, until the tops spring back when lightly touched. Watch carefully as mini donuts bake quickly and can easily overbake.
08 -
Allow the donuts to cool in the pan for 4-5 minutes, then gently remove and transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely before glazing.
09 -
In a small bowl, whisk together the confectioners' sugar, milk or cream, and vanilla extract until smooth. Add more liquid if needed to reach your desired consistency. If you want colored glaze, divide and add food coloring as desired.
10 -
Once the donuts are completely cooled, dip the tops into the glaze, allowing any excess to drip off. While the glaze is still wet, sprinkle with rainbow sprinkles if desired. Allow the glaze to set before serving.
# Notes:
01 -
For best results, use gel food coloring instead of liquid food coloring to achieve vibrant colors without adding too much moisture to the batter.
02 -
If you want to make regular-sized donuts instead of minis, increase the baking time to 10-12 minutes.
03 -
These donuts are best enjoyed the day they are made for optimal freshness and texture.