Mini BAKED Donuts!!

Yes, that's right.  I said baked donuts!   I had seen these on my google reader and thought, yeah I would like to try those...  But I didn't have a pan to bake them in.   So I starred the recipe in my reader and went on with my business.

The other day I went to a local kitchen store and couldn't help but notice the 20% OFF EVERYTHING IN THE STORE sign, then I couldn't help but notice the mini donut baking pan right beside the 20% OFF EVERYTHING IN THE STORE sign.   

So...  what does one do?  Buy it of course.  What does one do next?   Try out the pan!

 The ingredient list is short - I had everything except for the buttermilk (don't worry, I stopped at the store on my way home and bought some.)   What makes these donuts so good is the lemon zest stirred into the sugar....   

 I added my lemon sugar to the rest of the dry, then mixed the wet in.

 I mixed the dough and placed it into a piping bag.  It helped fill the cups equally.

 Then came the fun part -- decorating!!!  Chocolate dipped with sprinkles (these were the kids favourite)

 These were dipped in butter and then smothered in cinnamon sugar.

Then we have the plain chocolate dip.

I am sorry to report, they are all gone.  None left to share.  The good news is they are easy peasy to make and more can be made!

Recipe - taken from My Baking Addiction

Ingredients
½ cup granulated sugar
Zest of 1 lemon
1¼ cups cake flour, sifted
1¼ tsp. baking powder
¾ tsp. salt
½ cup buttermilk
1 egg, lightly beaten
1½ tbsp. butter, melted
½ teaspoon of vanilla

Instructions
Prepare pan with baking spray.
1. Heat oven to 425 degrees F.
2. In a small bowl combine sugar and lemon zest until the sugar is moistened and fragrant.
2. In a large mixing bowl, sift together cake flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir in sugar mixture.
3. Add buttermilk, egg, butter, and vanilla and stir until just combined.
4. Add batter to a piping bag and fill each donut cup approximately one-half full.
5. Bake 4–6 minutes or until the top of the donuts spring back when touched.
6. Let cool in pan for 4–5 minutes before removing. Finish the donuts with glaze, sprinkles, or cinnamon sugar.

adapted from Wilton