There is a way early morning smells that I can't put into words. It's clean and damp, fresh and alive. It's a smell that you only get when its too early for heavy eyelids to be outside and moving about. I smelled it for the first time in a long time the other morning and was brought back to my childhood and fishing trips.

Before the sun rises, the boat was hooked to the back of the truck and I was tucked into my seat getting ready for a day on the water with my father (who must have been the most patient man in the world because I have never been good at fishing - or very into it for that matter). One requirement to every trip was chocolate covered doughnuts. Not just any chocolate covered doughnut either, but the mini Tastykake ones in the yellow box. Yeah, those were what made those early mornings possible.

These vanilla bean baked doughnuts may not be chocolate covered Tastykakes from the local quick stop, but they are just as addictive and would certainly help to lure anyone out of bed early in the morning.

 

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Vanilla Bean Baby Doughnuts

from SprinkleBakes

Ingredients:

Doughnut batter:

  • 2 cups flour
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 2 teas baking powder
  • ½ teas salt
  • ¾ cup buttermilk
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 teas vanilla extract
  • Seeds from one vanilla bean
  • 2 tbs butter, melted

Vanilla Glaze:

  • 1 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 1 tbs milk
  • ½ teas vanilla extract
  • 4 drops of liquid blue food coloring (or color of your choice. I rolled with teal)
  • White nonparels

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Spray your doughnut pan with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the buttermilk, eggs, vanilla extract and vanilla seeds. Add butter and mix until just combined.

Transfer the batter to a piping bag without a tip, or a ziplock bag (snip the corner off after filling). Fill each doughnut cup aproximately half way.

Bake 5 - 8 minutes or until top of doughnuts spring back when touched. Let cool on a wire rack in the pan for 4 minutes before turning out to cool completely.

Make the glaze:
In a small bowl, stir together the sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until the sugar is completely dissolved. Add the  food coloring and stir until the color is smooth and combined.

Dip the doughnuts the into the glaze and let sit for a minute. Place the doughnuts on a wire rack, set in a baking sheet, and sprinkle with nonpareils. (The baking sheet will catch any pesky runaways).

* I used a regular size pan for my doughnuts.

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15 Comments

  1. kitchenarian says:

    These would certainly make my morning better! I love the teal color and the sprinkles are just perfect on top. I am thinking I need to dig out those doughnut pans and get to work. Thanks for the recipe!

  2. Belinda @zomppa says:

    These are gorgeous!! I love the color, too. Wish I had a plate of these.

  3. sally @ sally's baking addiction says:

    Adorable! I love the teal. I made a similar donut last week but mixed fresh strawberry puree into the icing. This donut recipe is a keeper!

  4. Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says:

    These look awesome! What a treat!

  5. Good Morning! I'd like a Baker's Dozen of these vanilla bean beauties! I don't think I've ever wanted a bunch of mini donuts in my life as much as I do now!

  6. ATasteOfMadness says:

    These doughnuts look perfect! The color is gorgeous, I have never baked anything colorful before. I better start soon!

  7. Rachel @ Baked by Rachel says:

    I love that color... and of course the sprinkles.

  8. Stefanie @ Sarcastic Cooking says:

    Because of your beautifully written description, I am now smelling those little beauties! I have to make these this weekend! I love that perfect shade of blue/green, so pretty!

  9. what an awesome color frosting!

  10. Emily @ Life on Food says:

    These are so cute. It would be hard for me to take the first bite. But I think I could manage with a bit of a push in the backside.

  11. These are so beautiful! Love the bright pop of color. I can almost smell them, too....

  12. RavieNomNoms says:

    Oh my goodness how did I miss these?? They look SO amazing! I love the color of the frosting. How awesome

  13. Angie @ Big Bear's Wife says:

    These would certainly get me out of bed! I love the color too!

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