A Donut Extravaganza with Rook No. 17

Happy Wednesday. I am happy to report Ranger Danger is doing much better, but we are cautious. I am so lucky to have such great friends step up

and help me out at the last minute.

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Today, My REAL LIFE (before blogging) FRIEND Jenn at Rook No. 17 is here.

She is a master with batter and glitter and

today she is sharing some donut goodness with us!

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I'm delighted to be guest posting here on 504 Main today.  Thanks Holly!

Like any good guest, I brought along something for the hostess...

DONUTS!

Two kinds, in fact!

And not just any donuts....

...Guilt Free Donuts!

I brought enough to share too!  Enjoy!

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EASY MINI BAKED DONUTS

"When you walk the streets you'll have no cares

If you walk the lines and not the squares

As you go through life make this your goal

Watch the donut, not the hole." -- Burl Ives

My youngest daughter loves to bake and try new recipes, so when I came across a mini donut pan, I knew it would be a perfect gift for her. Who am I kidding? It was a gift for me too. After all, I've been a donut fanatic for about as long as I can remember.  In third grade I got an "All About Me" book, and filled out each and every blank with the word, "donut".  And that little Burl Ives tune wasn't my favorite because of the deeper message found in the lyrics -- it was because it had the word "donut" in it.

 

We used the donut mix I bought with the pan, and the results were mighty tasty!  It didn't make many, however, and we were eager to make more to share with friends and family. So, I set about experimenting.  Happily, it took only two batches to get the measurements right  -- just in time for my daughter and Holly's to have a little lemonade and donut stand (dubbed "The Hole in One")!

This recipe is so easy -- so simple -- and so delicious!  The best part is that the donuts are baked, not fried, without compromising taste.  And, they bake up in only 5 minutes. 

Rook No. 17 Mini Baked Donut Recipe

(makes 3 dozen mini donuts)

4 Tablespoons butter, melted
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons cornstarch
1 1/2 cups whole milk
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Nonstick cooking spray

Preheat oven to 425

Step 1:  In a microwave or in a small pan on the stove top, melt butter and set aside.
Step 2:  In a medium bowl, add flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cornstarch.  Whisk to combine.
Step 3:  In the bowl of a standing mixer (or in a medium bowl, with a handheld mixer), mix milk and eggs until thoroughly combined.
Step 4:  Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and stir on medium speed to combine.
Step 5:  Add melted butter and vanilla and stir on medium speed to combine.

Step 6:  Spray mini donut pan with nonstick cooking spray.  Fill each well 1/2 way with batter.  To dispense the batter, I love to use a Wilton Easy Pour Funnel (you can pick these up in the cake decorating aisle of most craft stores for around $6).  It makes dispensing the batter so easy and precise!

Step 7:  Bake for 5 minutes.
Step 8:  Remove pan from oven.  Invert pan to release donuts.  Cool donuts on a wire rack.
Step 9:  Glaze and decorate.

Easy Chocolate Donut Glaze 
(adapted from Alton Brown)
(glazes approx. 36 mini donuts)

1/4 cup butter

2 Tablespoons whole milk
1 Tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 oz. chocolate chips
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted

Step 1:  In a small bowl, add butter, milk, vanilla and honey.  Microwave for 1 minute.

Step 2:  Add chocolate chips.  Whisk till chocolate is completely melted.
Step 3:  Stir in the sifted powdered sugar.
Step 4:  Microwave for an additional 20 seconds.
Step 5:  Dip the lighter colored side of each donut into the glaze, sprinkle with donuts, and set on a wire rack to set.

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AND FOR THOSE WHO PREFER TO PLAY WITH THEIR FOOD: 
UPCYCLED SOCK DONUTS

One not so fun day at home doing chores, the girls and I were sorting through the box we keep by the washer and dryer for collecting all the odd socks.  The box had reached maximum capacity, and after sorting all the wayward socks into pairs, we were left with a handful of strays that would likely never see their mates again.  "What a shame," I thought, to have to toss away all these sweet little children's socks, as I absentmindedly rolled one in my hands. That's when my nine-year old daughter said, "Mama, that sock looks like a donut!"  

And that's how our sweet and simple little SOCK DONUT project was born. The girls and I spent the rest of the afternoon rolling the stray socks, cutting out felt "icing" and embellishing with bits and beads we found around the house. These plush donuts have gotten plenty of imagination time in our little play kitchen.  I've also enjoyed using one as a pin cushion while I sew!

These little plush donuts make a great gift for a child. They're a whimsical way to "preserve" some of those sweet little baby socks. Very little sewing is required (just sewing the beads to the felt), and the donuts take just a few minutes to make.  You can whip up a whole batch in less than an hour, and package them for gift-giving in a little pink bakery box.  

Here's how to make your own SOCK DONUTS:

Materials

Children's socks (clean)

Felt
Small beads
Needle & Thread
Glue Gun

Step 1:  Cut toe from sock.

Step 2:  Roll sock in on itself starting with the cut end.  

The end result should look like this:

Step 3:  Cut some "icing" from felt.

 

Step 4:  Embellish by sewing small beads (I like seed and bugle beads) to the felt with a coordinating thread.

Step 5:  With small dabs of hot glue, attach loose edge of the sock to the top of the "donut".  This will help make it more durable.

Step 6:  Using hot glue, attach the embellished felt "icing" to the top of the sock "donut."

Thanks Jenn! You are the best!