I have a mini donut pan that I have only used once or twice. I am really trying to make an effort to use all of the crazy, one-use baking pans I have. I thought I would make vanilla donuts for breakfast this morning. But, then I was thinking, what isn’t made better with the addition of vanilla bean? Umm…nothing. So, I threw that in too. But, I didn’t want to make plain old vanilla donuts. I wanted to wow my children a bit. But how? I thought of my daughter Sammie and her favorite color, rainbow. So, I’ll make rainbow donuts!!
I just love how these turned out. But let me warn you, they do take a bit of time and lots of dishes. The batter is super easy to put together, taking only minutes. The time comes from dividing the batter into 6 colors, dying them, putting them into piping bags, piping them and then baking them. The big problem I discovered was that I only have one pan. I put the 12 on table and I thought my children, who usually eat like birds would each have like 2, and my husband would have the other 6. Nope. They inhaled them in about 1 minute. My husband was lucky to grab one out of Sammie’s hand and pop it into his mouth before she knew what was happening. So, then it took me awhile to get the next pan prepared for the oven and baked. Meanwhile everyone was waiting, impatiently, and starving. Two notes to self: buy 2 more donut pans and do not start a project like this unless you get up way before everyone else. But, let me say these were delicious donuts. They were so light and fluffy. And, the vanilla bean gave them the perfect extra shot of vanilla flavor. So, while these may take a bit of extra time and effort, these donuts will be a delicious, showstopping breakfast for your children. And, based on Sammie and Jack’s happy faces, I must say, time well spent. 😀
Mini rainbow vanilla bean donuts
Donut batter:
2 cups all purpose flour, sifted
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 tbsp. butter, melted
Seeds from one vanilla bean
Preheat oven to 425°F. Spray donut pan with nonstick cooking spray.
In large mixing bowl, sift together all purpose flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add buttermilk, eggs, vanilla extract, vanilla seeds and butter and beat until just combined. I divided the batter into 6 bowls and colored them with Americolor gels – red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple.
Scrape each colored batter into a separate small sandwich bag. I put each bag into a small glass for support. Cut a small hole from the corner of the red bag and press gently to place a big dot of batter into the well. Do the same with the orange. The red will have spread a bit, so place the orange so it overlaps by about 1/2. Continue around the well with yellow, green, blue and ending with the purple to complete the donut. They should be about half full.
Bake 4-8 minutes or until the top of the donuts spring back when touched. Let cool in pan for 4–5 minutes before removing. Finish doughnuts with vanilla glaze. Doughnuts are best served fresh.
In small bowl, stir together sugar, milk (or heavy cream- start with 1Tbsp, and slowly add more until you get the right consistency) and vanilla extract until sugar is completely dissolved. If using, add food coloring and stir until color is uniform. Use immediately to glaze doughnuts. Sprinkle on nonpareils if using.
Source: Sprinkle Bakes
Choc Chip Uru
/ May 7, 2012Nobody should be allowed to have this kind of talent and get away with it 😉
Your sweet ideas and creativity blow me away! I wish I wish you would release a baking book my friend!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Just Baked
/ May 7, 2012Awww…thanks so much Choc Chip Uru. You are too sweet. I would love to do that someday 😀
Kim @ Treats & Trinkets
/ May 7, 2012Look how pretty! And what a coincidence, rainbow is my favorite color, too. ^_^
Tina@flourtrader
/ May 7, 2012I was just griping at the grocery store the other day for no plain cake donuts. I love the plain ones with coffee. Your rainbow colored donuts do look really eye catching, no wonder everyone ran to the table and gobbled them down! You know it is a success when the food disappears in a blink. Very creative with the rainbow colors-great post!
Nicole, RD
/ May 7, 2012How cute are these! I am impressed! As an avid baked donut maker, these need to be made!
Just Baked
/ May 7, 2012Thanks so much Nicole! You have some amazing baked donuts on your blog just waiting to become rainbow ;D
Heather
/ May 7, 2012These are so cute! What a great mama you are 🙂 My little one is still a little young to fully appreciate these but I will definitely be making these once he gets a little older!
Just Baked
/ May 7, 2012Thanks Heather. You’re sweet. My daughter was already asking for rainbow donuts for breakfast this morning. 😀 Soon enough, I bet your son will love these too.
Eva @ Eva Bakes
/ May 7, 2012These are so cool! They remind me of a bigger version of Froot Loops. If I ever buy a donut pan, I will need to make these!
Just Baked
/ May 7, 2012Thanks Eva! That’s funny, I thought the same thing. Rainbow Fruit Loops! 😀
Dawn
/ May 7, 2012These are just ridiculous, Kim! I love them!
Just Baked
/ May 7, 2012Thanks Dawn! 😀
nicole
/ May 7, 2012these look awesome!
Just Baked
/ May 7, 2012Thanks so much Nicole! 😀
Hezzi-D
/ May 7, 2012These are so pretty! I love them. I need to make them and take them to my kids at school-they will adore them!
Tara Voss
/ May 9, 2012FANTASTIC!!! and I love that you are a rainbow person…me too:) I did a rainbow cake for my daughter’s first birthday (http://www.anythingbutpickles.com/rainbowcake/) and rainbow cupcakes (http://www.anythingbutpickles.com/rainbow-cupcakes/) that are fairly similar in process. Your post totally makes me want to try rainbow donuts now!
Palatable Jazz
/ May 10, 2012Yes ma’am…I love this recipe and presentation. This is a must try and share! I will be sending out your recipe and blog link to all my followers on all my social medias. You have a culinary fan right here! Take Care!
Just Baked
/ May 10, 2012Thank you so much! I appreciate it! 😀
barbara
/ May 10, 2012I wonder if these would work in one of the mini donut maker machines….
Just Baked
/ May 10, 2012Good question Barbara. Hmmm…I’ve never used one of those before. Do you have to preheat it? If not, I can’t see why this batter would behave differently.
If you do have to preheat it, it might take too long to set up the batter in the rainbow pattern and you would risk them being overcooked. If you try it, let me know how they turn out 😀 Thanks!
Chrissy @ The Outlaw Mom Blog
/ May 10, 2012These looks absolutely lovely. I have yet to make donuts, but this is reason enough! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Kim
/ May 10, 2012Total genius! I love these! I am thinking I’ll post a link for a pool party inspiration – these would be adorable! hugs! Kim @ Party Frosting!
Just Baked
/ May 10, 2012Thanks so much Kim! What a cute idea! Little inner tubes 😀 I love it! You have so many really cute party ideas on your site!
Lynsey
/ May 11, 2012How stinkin’ cute are these? I love the bright, multi-colored doughnuts, they are so much fun! Great job and super creative idea!
Farmlife Chick
/ May 12, 2012we go crazy for donuts and these are amazing! i love that her favorite color is rainbow. that’s so cute.
overtimecook
/ May 14, 2012Love these! So cute and colorful!
khalilah
/ May 25, 2012Love your work. Friend found you on pintrest. I was looking for pool party ideal. Now I love your ideals. Keep up the good work. Especially love ideal my daughter(4) who loves to cook can help with.
Just Baked
/ May 26, 2012Thanks you so much! You’re sweet 😀 That’s a cute idea. I love to cook with my daughter too.
khalilah
/ May 25, 2012What if you don’t have a donut pan. How else can you make these. Please find a way and share.
Just Baked
/ May 26, 2012The only thing I can think of is to use a mini muffin pan. They won’t hold the same design, but they will look like rainbow swirled cupcakes that taste like donuts. Still cute and still delicious. They may take a bit longer to bake, so I would keep a close eye on them. But if you want, donut pans are pretty cheap, just around $10. Let me know how they turn out.
Lynn @ The Actor's Diet
/ July 13, 2012so insanely beautiful!
Just Baked
/ July 13, 2012Thanks so much Lynn! 😀
Megan @ MegGoesNomNom
/ August 29, 2012These are adorable – how fun!
Just Baked
/ August 29, 2012Thanks Megan!
savynaturalista
/ August 29, 2012I am in love!!
Just Baked
/ August 29, 2012Thanks savynaturalista!
Rita
/ August 29, 2012awwwww super cute…
Just Baked
/ August 29, 2012Thanks Rita 😀
rivera0327
/ September 12, 2012Hi there! I was wondering can this be made using a bundt pan?
Just Baked
/ September 12, 2012Are you talking about those mini bundt pans? If so, I don’t see why it wouldn’t work, it would just be a different shape. 😀
rivera0327
/ September 12, 2012HI! Not the mini bundt pan but a BIG bundt pan? THANKS for the response.
Brooke
/ January 31, 2013awesome
Just Baked
/ January 31, 2013Thanks Brooke
delizabethm
/ February 1, 2013My dough came out real thick. What did i do wrong??
Just Baked
/ February 2, 2013Hmmm, it’s hard to say. Maybe you were a bit heavy handed with the flour? That’s the hardest part about baking- there can be such a variance when filling a measuring cup. I like to bake by weight whenever one is provided to avoid this problem. Mine wasn’t really thin, otherwise it would have spread out too much, not maintaining the stripes.
Lucille Hall
/ March 25, 2013Please tell me where you were able to purchase your mini doughnut pan. I have looked at Walmart, Target and Michael’s. I can’t wait to make these. Thanks in advance for you response.
Just Baked
/ March 25, 2013Hi Lucille! I bought mine on Amazon. But, I’ve seen them at Bed Bath & Beyond. Do you have one of those by you?
Lucille Hall
/ March 27, 2013Thank you so much for your reply. I was out yesterday and found the pan at Kohl’s. I am so excited. I can’t wait to make these pretty treats!
Just Baked
/ March 27, 2013I’m so glad! I didn’t think of Kohl’s. Let me know how they turn out!
Paula
/ June 3, 2013These look amazing 🙂 Just an idea to save on dishes…you could divide the batter into the sandwich bags and then add the food colouring 🙂