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I should have pulled my sleeping bag out of the closet and unrolled it in the kitchen this week. I might have been sleeping on top of christmas sprinkles and mini chocolate chips, but I wouldn’t have to look far for breakfast! Ha, just kidding.. I will not eat the sprinkles and chocolate chips off my floor.. that’s what mice as for. Just kidding again :)
We are swimming in christmas cookies! My husband and I have been busy baking like a couple of Santa’s elves, but I am so SO thankful he volunteered to help me. There is only so much one person can do when you need to unwrap 80 hershey kisses, roll cookie dough, switch the pans in the oven and box up cookies. So if we weren’t busy enough baking cookies, I decided to whip up a batch of donuts too!
Donuts are way easier than cookies. I have it down to a system now. Combine the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and cocoa in a cereal bowl, mix gently. Combine the milk, egg, oil, and extract in a larger bowl, whisk, slowly dump the flour into the wet ingredients, stir stir stir, and voila, they are mixed! That takes less than 10 minutes. Spray the donut pan and transfer in the batter, I like to use 2 spoons, shake the pan slightly to get the batter level, and bake for 10 minutes. Let them cool for a few minutes, dip them in chocolate, and enjoy! Cookies are not that quick, but then again I didn’t make 140 donuts, only 6 :)
Are donuts an acceptable christmas cookie substitute? I’m really going to have to think about that option for next year!
If you received a box of christmas donuts, what flavor combinations would you like?
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Chocolate Candy Cane Donuts
Ingredients
- 1 cup flour
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 6 tbsp milk
- 1 large egg
- ½ tsp peppermint extract
- 3 tbsp vegetable/canola oil
- 2 squares vanilla candiquik
- ½ tbsp vegetable shortening
- 3-4 candy canes, crushed (I like to put them in a ziploc bag and use my rolling pin to crush them)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Spray a donut pan with cooking spray, use a paper towel to lightly spread/remove excess spray.
- In a large bowl combine the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder and salt.
- In another bowl combine the milk, egg, vanilla, peppermint extract and oil. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, mix just until combined.
- Transfer the batter to a large piping bag or use a ziploc bag with one corner cut off. Pipe the batter into the donut pan, filling each donut hole about 2/3 full.
- Bake the donuts for 10-13 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let the donuts sit in the pan for 10 minutes before moving to a wire rack.
- Melt the vanilla candiquik in the microwave. I like to microwave mine with a little bit of vegetable shortening for 2 minutes on 50% power. Continue to microwave on 50% power, stirring every 30 seconds until the chocolate is melted.
- For dipping, it’s easiest to transfer the chocolate to a small shallow dish, but large enough to fit a donut in. While hanging onto the edges of the donut, dip each donut into the chocolate and pause for a few seconds while the donut is upside down to allow to excess to fall off. Allow the donuts to cool on a tray for a few minutes before adding the crushed candy canes, however you don’t want them to cool completely, otherwise the candy canes won’t stick to the chocolate.
- Use your fingers to sprinkle the crushed candy canes on top of the white chocolate, you may have to press the larger candy cane pieces into the chocolate slightly.
- Enjoy or store in an airtight container.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclosure
All nutritional values are approximate and provided to the reader as a courtesy. Changing ingredients and/or quantities will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.
Oh man, I definitely need to add a donut pan to my Christmas list. Fresh donuts in less than 30 minutes? That is dangerously awesome.
YES! YES! I hope Santa brings you a donut pan :)
its superb
Thank you Julie!
I can’t resist a good donut! These look so good, Beth!
Especially one that looks like Christmas!
That is a lot of cookies! Sweet of the hubs to help you. :) These donuts look so yummy and festive! Love how easy they are!
Does your husband help you frost your cupcakes? :)
Hi, for the chocolate candy cane donuts… I’ve never made donuts but love to bake so I’m excited to try there!… Only, I missed the direction that says when to add the peppermint extract??? I assume I goes into the white chocolate topping?? Please help! Thanks!
Hi Marlene! I am so sorry! Yes, I missed that – you could put in either in the batter or in with the melted chocolate!