Mardi Gras Colored Sugar Donuts (Printable Version)
Fluffy donuts topped with vibrant purple, green, and gold sugar celebrating Mardi Gras flavors.
# What You'll Need:
→ For the Donut Dough
01 - 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
04 - 1/2 tsp salt
05 - 3/4 cup warm milk (110°F)
06 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
07 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
08 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
→ For Frying
09 - 4 cups vegetable oil for deep frying
→ For the Icing
10 - 2 cups powdered sugar
11 - 3-4 tbsp milk
12 - 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
→ For the Colored Sugar
13 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar, divided into three bowls
14 - Purple food coloring
15 - Green food coloring
16 - Yellow food coloring
# Method:
01 - Combine warm milk and yeast in a small bowl. Let sit for 5 minutes until foamy and activated.
02 - Whisk together flour, sugar, and salt in a large mixing bowl until well combined.
03 - Add melted butter, eggs, vanilla, and the yeast mixture to the dry ingredients. Mix until a shaggy dough forms.
04 - Knead by hand or with a stand mixer using a dough hook for 6-8 minutes until the dough becomes smooth and elastic.
05 - Place dough in a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap or a towel, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
06 - While dough rises, add a few drops of each food coloring to separate bowls of sugar. Rub with fingers until evenly colored and vibrant. Set aside.
07 - Turn risen dough onto a floured surface. Roll out to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut out 3-inch rounds using a donut cutter (or a glass and small cutter for centers).
08 - Place cut donuts on parchment-lined trays, cover lightly, and let rise for 30 minutes until puffy.
09 - Heat vegetable oil in a large, heavy pot to 350°F. Fry donuts in batches for 1-2 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
10 - Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and pourable.
11 - Dip warm donuts into the icing, allowing excess to drip off. Work quickly while donuts are still warm for optimal adherence.
12 - Immediately sprinkle with purple, green, and yellow sugars in sections or stripes to create a traditional Mardi Gras effect. Let set for 10-15 minutes before serving.
# Chef's Tips:
01 -
- These donuts capture everything magical about New Orleans in one bite pillowy soft, outrageously festive, and impossible to eat just one
- The colored sugar topping transforms simple fried dough into something that feels like a celebration on a plate
02 -
- Oil temperature matters more than you think, too cold and they will be greasy, too hot and they will burn outside while staying raw inside
- The dough needs that second rise after cutting, so do not rush this step or your donuts will be dense instead of light and fluffy
03 -
- Let the dough rise in a turned off oven with the light on, which creates the perfect warm, draft free environment
- Use a slotted spoon or spider skimmer to flip and remove donuts, giving you better control than tongs or a regular spoon