A unicorn donut is a magical treat that no one can resist. These colorful and sugary delights are perfect for any occasion, whether you’re celebrating your birthday or just feeling like you need a little pick-me-up!
These unicorn donuts would make a fun back-to-school breakfast, a breakfast to welcome your Elf for the holiday season, or as a substitute for cake at a birthday party. My youngest doesn’t even like birthday cake so donuts are a great choice for him.
Unicorn Donut Ingredients
- unsalted butter
- vegetable oil
- granulated sugar
- brown sugar
- eggs
- baking powder
- baking soda
- ground nutmeg,
- salt
- vanilla extract
- All-purpose flour
- milk
Donut Glaze Ingredients
- Powdered sugar
- Water or milk
- Food coloring (optional)
How to Make Unicorn Donuts
Who doesn’t love a tasty donut? If you find yourself craving the sugar-coated, deep fried pastry but want to avoid all of those calories and grease, then this unicorn donut recipe is for you! The best part about these pastries is that they are not only fun and whimsical looking, they are also easy to make.
Preheat the oven to 425°F.
Lightly grease two silicon donut pans or standard donut pans.
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, beat together the butter, vegetable oil, and sugars until smooth.
Add the eggs and vanilla, beating to combine.
Stir in the baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, salt.
Add the flour into the batter, alternately with the milk, making sure everything is thoroughly combined. The batter will be thick.
Use food coloring to tint the batter as desired. You can make your donuts a solid color or tricolored like I did.
Pipe or spoon the batter into the lightly greased doughnut pans, filling the wells to about ¼″ shy of the rim.
Bake for 10 minutes. Remove them from the oven, and wait for 5 to 7 minutes before turning them out of the pans onto a cooling rack.
Unicorn Donuts
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons room temperature unsalted butter
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ⅓ cups All-Purpose Flour scooped and leveled
- 1 cup milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Lightly grease two silicon mats or standard donut pans.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, beat together the butter, vegetable oil, and sugars until smooth.
- Add the eggs and vanilla, beating to combine.
- Stir in the baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, salt.
- Add the flour into the batter, alternately with the milk, making sure everything is thoroughly combined.
The batter will be thick. - Pipe or spoon the batter into the lightly greased doughnut pans, filling the wells to about ¼"
shy of the rim. - Bake for 10 minutes. Remove them from the oven, and wait for 5 to 7 minutes before turning them
out of the pans onto a cooling rack
Notes
How to Make Donut Glaze
Whisk together 1 cup powdered sugar + 2-3 teaspoon water or milk until your desired consistency is achieved. It’s best to add the liquid to the powdered sugar one teaspoon at a time.
Color the glaze with food coloring if desired and dip or drizzle onto cooled donuts.
Whether it’s your child’s birthday party or just an everyday snack time with friends, there will be no shortage of happy faces when you serve up these delicious treats. You’re probably wondering how to make these magical, festive donuts. They are really easy! What occasion do you plan on making them for? Let me know in the comments below!
Donut Baking FAQ
What’s the difference between baked and fried donuts?
Baked donuts are much softer than fried donuts. They don’t have that crispy outer layer that forms when frying. Baked donuts are also lighter and have more of the same texture as a slice of cake.
Fried donuts also have that crispy outer layer that forms when frying, which isn’t present in baked doughnuts. Baked donuts are lighter (and more cake-like) than their deep-fried counterparts—but they can still be just as magical if you add sprinkles!
What toppings do I need to make these rainbow unicorn donut recipe?
Toppings vary depending on your preference or occasion, but it’s important not to overdo them because there will be lots of sugar inside too! Here are some ideas:
Sprinkles, nonpareils, silver and gold stars, and edible luster dust are all cool ideas. If you don’t want to order any special decorative items, chocolate chips and powdered sugar are fun options too.
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