Valentines doughnuts

I like to make the most of special occasions and hand made gifts really say you care,  but I don’t always have the time or headspace for anything that seems fiddly or complicated. These Valentines doughnuts are gorgeously tasty, simple to make, quick to bake and easy to decorate and look so much more special than the effort that went into making them.  They are baked as well, so no need for all that oil and messiness.

These vanilla and cardamom scented baked doughnuts can be decorated exactly how you want, there are so many options. I’ve gone for two simple designs which are easily replicated. Have fun and send a little love out into the world. 

Ingredients for Valentines doughnuts

250g self rising flour

120g caster sugar

2 large eggs

¼ tsp salt

2tsp baking powder

2 tbsp vegetable oil 

2 tsp vanilla extract

5 cardamom pods, crushed

180ml milk

Approx 350g icing sugar (sieved)

Approx 2 tsp recently boiled water

pink food colouring and heart shaped sprinkles

Makes 12 baked doughnuts or 24 mini flower shaped doughnuts

Method

Preheat the oven to 220°C (200°C in fan oven) Gas Mark 7.

Line the doughnut tins or doughnut flower tins with baking spray and leave to one side. 

Weigh out the dry ingredients (flour, salt, baking powder) and sift into a large mixing bowl. Then add the caster sugar. Stir to combine then leave to one side. 

Crush the cardamom pods and discard the husk and add to the dry ingredients.

Measure the milk into a jug. Crack in the eggs and add the vanilla extract and oil into the liquids. Stir to combine. 

Add the wet ingredients into the dry, gradually to avoid lumps. (Don’t worry too much if there are a few lumps, it’s a bit like making muffins, better not to overmix and have a light batter than to have a super smooth consistency and have heavy doughnuts.)

With a teaspoon, fill each mould ½ full (the mixture rises quite a bit). 

Bake in the middle shelf of the oven for 7-8 minutes. (It honestly doesn’t take long at all – you just want the mixture to be springy to the touch and just coming away from the sides).  The smaller doughnuts will only take about 6 minutes to cook.

Leave to cool for 5/10 minutes and then using a knife gently go around the outside of each doughnut to loosen and take out of the tin. They should come out easily. Leave on a wire rack to cool. 

While they are cooling, make the water icing. 

Measure and sieve out the icing sugar (this can sometimes feel quite time consuming but you really need to, nobody wants lumpy icing). Then gradually add water from a recently boiled kettle. The lovely thing about this type of icing is that if it’s a little thick, just add more water if its too runny add another tablespoon of water, its very forgiving that way. No stress here. The consistency you’re after a pretty thick; just pouring off a spoon. Too runny and it will just run off the sides. 

If you want to make different coloured icings; then just divide the mixture into small bowls, add a small amount of food colouring and give it a stir. Go easy with food colouring; you can always add more but it’s difficult to take it away if it’s too bright. 

Using a spoon, coat each baked doughnut in the icing and place back on the cooling rack. I went for two different styles; on the round doughnuts I used white water icing and topped with red heart shaped sprinkles. Easy and effective. On the smaller, flower shaped doughnuts I used a mixture of white and pink water icing and topped with coloured sprinkles. Let your creativity go wild and do whatever your heart tells you. It is Valentine’s after all.

The doughnuts are best eaten on the day they are made and will keep in an airtight container for 2 days. 

Looking for more valentine inspiration? Why not try my Chocolate nutella muffins – with a crunchie topping very indulgent.

On the look out for gift ideas for valentines? Nothing quite goes with this holiday like chocolate so why not check out my Emma Bakes, White chocolate selection box – perfect for milky bar lovers everywhere or Chocolate gift ideas – EmmaBakes selection box a gorgeous selection of handmade artisan truffles. Perfect to spoil the one you love.

Hunting for the perfect Valentines card? Thortful have some great choices