Vanilla Bean Baby Doughnuts

Even though I’ve been a busy girl lately, I’m never too busy for a doughnut break!  I especially love the mini variety.  These are extra light and have a double dose of vanilla goodness. 

The idea for these came from the Starbucks Birthday Cake Doughnut, a very dense doughnut that is eye-catching with pink icing and tiny white nonpareils.  Since my recipe turned out very light and fluffy (the exact opposite of Starbucks) I made them in my favorite shade of blue.  The texture was not at all what I expected from a baked doughnut.  I love them so much, I had to share!

Newborn baby doughnuts… aren’t they cute?

You’ll need a mini doughnut pan for this recipe.  I usually don’t like to clutter my pantry with unnecessary baking equipment, but I’ll make exceptions (like this tuile stencil) if something special speaks to me. I’m eager to experiment with other doughnut recipes, so I think this pan will be well utilized.

The recipe is pretty strait forward, and the only extra advice I can give is to put the donut batter into a piping bag.  It is so much easier to fill the doughnut cavities without making a big ol’ mess. 

Vanilla Bean Baby Doughnuts                      [click for printable version]

Adapted from Sur La Table

Yield: 5-6 dozen baby donuts

Doughnut 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. Spray doughnut cavities with cooking spray or brush with butter.  Fill each donut cup approximately 1/2 full.

Bake 5-8 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.

Vanilla glaze:

1 cup confectioner’ s sugar

1 tbsp. milk

½ tsp. vanilla extract

4 drops of liquid blue food coloring

White nonpareils

In small bowl, stir together sugar, milk and vanilla extract until sugar is completely dissolved. Add food coloring and stir until color is uniform.  Use immediately to glaze doughnuts.  Sprinkle on nonpareils.

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Jessica @ How Sweet
Jessica @ How Sweet
13 years ago

Those are too adorable. I love the aqua color!

linda
linda
13 years ago

love the color of icing…love the bowl (is it vintage pyrex?)…please share where it comes from!
thanks…:)

Heather Baird
Heather Baird
13 years ago

Hi Linda!

Yes, the bowl is vintage. It's the Pyrex Amish Butterprint pattern in Aqua. I think it was made in a mustard color too. I have 6 pieces and the mixing bowls are my absolute favorite.

Kacey
Kacey
13 years ago

These look so great! And I love how you display your food!

The Urban Baker
The Urban Baker
13 years ago

I must admit, I have a serious crush – a doughnut crush! no yeast! you have made my day! and they are baked. these are on the top of my "to do" list!

Cookbook Queen
Cookbook Queen
13 years ago

Love these and your beautiful pictures!! Love them!!

I will definitely be making these soon.

April
April
13 years ago

These have got to be the cutest thing!!!! Where did you find the pan?

Anonymous
Anonymous
13 years ago

cute! LOVELY!

HoosierHomemade
HoosierHomemade
13 years ago

Those are darling! And your photos are amazing! I love that pan!
I host Cupcake Tuesday every week, and thought you might be interested. I also have a Cupcake Challenge going on this month, with great prizes and the author of What's New Cupcake is judging!
http://hoosierhomemade.com/sand-castle-cupcakes-cupcake-challenge/
Hope to see you there!
~Liz

Unknown
Unknown
13 years ago

They are absolutely gorgeous *newborns* LOL, how lovely you pictures are

becky
becky
13 years ago

these are just too cute… and your pictures are just awesome!

Lindsey @ Hot Polka Dot
Lindsey @ Hot Polka Dot
13 years ago

Gosh these are adorable! I seriously went "aww" when I first laid eyes on them. Love the glaze colour! Turquoise has become my new best friend.

Heather Baird
Heather Baird
13 years ago

Thanks everyone! April, I got them at Cook's Corner in Turkey Creek. For those who are not local and interested in buying, it is the Norpro Nonstick Mini Donut Pan and can be bought online at Amazon.com for $9.99.

Kathy - Panini Happy
Kathy - Panini Happy
13 years ago

SO cute! And I love your little origami birds as well.

Angie
Angie
13 years ago

So pretty, looks like Tiffany blue!

Liv Wan
Liv Wan
13 years ago

Oh my…I love the colour so so so much! It's looks so cute and I bet it must be really yummy! 😉

Anna
Anna
13 years ago

The cuteness is overwhelming! I got a pan a long time ago but haven't had time to try making this yet. I shall wait no more 😀 Thank you for the inspiration.

Su-yin
Su-yin
13 years ago

I *looove* these. They're gorgeous, and they're healthy (sort of anyway, heh).

Victoria
Victoria
13 years ago

Oh yum, I love this idea. I don't think I've ever had a baked donut, but this sounds like a somewhat healthier option 🙂

Ingrid_3Bs
Ingrid_3Bs
13 years ago

Oh, my those are darlin'! My babygirl loves birthday cake ice cream. I wonder how'd she dig birthday cake donuts?
~ingrid

Heather I.
Heather I.
13 years ago

Oh so pretty and delicate! The sprinkles are my favorite part, so cute and petite 🙂

Unknown
Unknown
13 years ago

Wow, these look perfect and so sweet. I just happen to have a donut pan, so these are going into my bookmarks. Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe.
*kisses* HH

berry lovely
berry lovely
13 years ago

Your doughnuts are absolutely adorable, and I love the color scheme on the pictures.

Ken
Ken
13 years ago

These are stunningly adorable. It's nice to know 'donuts' can be baked.

Heather (Heather's Dish)
Heather (Heather's Dish)
13 years ago

i think i need about 50 of these immediately. so what if they're all for me? 🙂

these are seriously beautiful!

kelsey_the farmer's daughter
kelsey_the farmer's daughter
13 years ago

Oh my gosh….these are so adorable!!
I guess a doughnut pan will now be added to my Christmas wish list =)

Amy L
Amy L
13 years ago

SO adorable…and I recall my mother having that same bowl in a salmon type color print…nostalgia along with a good recipe: priceless 🙂 Thanks!

Anonymous
Anonymous
13 years ago

These look delicious…I love the blue frosting! It really makes them pop 🙂

Mara Campbell
Mara Campbell
13 years ago

these are so stinkin' cute and mini!! I love the mini donut pan and yours are just too cute for words. The color is beautiful!

Kimber
Kimber
13 years ago

Gorgeous! Love the origami, the vintage bowl, and the gorgeous blue of the donut icing. Loving the donuts…well, I don't need to tell you this girl loves her some donuts!

Gloria
Gloria
13 years ago

Heather, you are truly gifted. I LOVE the baby donuts and your blue color is superb! A soft robin's egg blue, one of my favorite colors. I do not particularly like to bake, but I now want to make these baby donuts! I want to buy the pan and everything. You are truly inspiring. Happy Baking!
Best regards,
Gloria

Gloria
Gloria
13 years ago

P.S. AND your photographs are amazing too!

gv

Sue
Sue
13 years ago

Your babies are ADORABLE!!! Congrats:)

Unknown
Unknown
13 years ago

These are just gorgeous… the color reminds me of a Tiffany Bluebox… Will I be biting into a diamond, possibly? 🙂

Anonymous
Anonymous
13 years ago

Those are too cute!
& that is a gorgeous blue =).

~Kurious Kitteh

Morgan
Morgan
13 years ago

These are totally fantastically adorable! I am just smitten with them!

Swee San
Swee San
13 years ago

So pretty!!

Sugar Plum Fairy
Sugar Plum Fairy
13 years ago

Oh god, they are the cutest doughnuts i've ever seen!

Kerry
Kerry
13 years ago

These are so adorable. I didn't even know they made mini doughnut pans! The things I'm learning from food blogs.

the decorated cookie
the decorated cookie
13 years ago

Way too cute! My 3-year old loves the baby Starbucks donuts (pink is her preferred color, blue would be mine)

Bonnie
Bonnie
13 years ago

oh yes! i will be trying this recipe! every time i go into Starbucks i see these donuts in the case..but i have yet to try one.

cookies and cups
cookies and cups
13 years ago

Great, now I guess I have to get one of those donuts pans, because I am pretty sure I cannot go on living without a mini donut!

Unknown
Unknown
13 years ago

omg! those doughnut make me hungry. ouhh..im starving here!!

Sakorarox
Sakorarox
13 years ago

so so soooo cute!

O.
O.
13 years ago

These are so cute, I just had to hop over to amazon and order a pan right away. Can't wait to try out your lovely recipe, thanks so much!

Sandy De Luxe
Sandy De Luxe
13 years ago

I absolutely adore them! OMG! You are really good. I'm going to buy me a doughnut plate as well. You don't know a good site transferring american recepies into liters?

Memória
Memória
13 years ago

These doughnuts look absolutely perfect. Wow. I'm so impressed!

AandEmom
AandEmom
13 years ago

I love these donuts, they are so cute. I however don't have a pan right now and can't wait to try them. Do you think they would work in a mini muffin pan. I will be buying the mini donut pan ASAP though.
Lisa

Debra
Debra
13 years ago

I have been obsessing about doughnuts lately but haven't found the time to make any…these are perfect!

Carolyn
Carolyn
13 years ago

Seriously gorgeous, both the doughnuts and the photos!