Mardi Gras Donuts Colored Sugar (Printable Version)

Fluffy, festive donuts topped with vibrant purple, green, and gold sugar for a Mardi Gras touch.

# What You Need:

→ 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 (gold) food coloring

# How-To Steps:

01 - Combine warm milk and yeast in a small bowl. Let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
02 - Whisk together flour, sugar, and salt in a large mixing bowl.
03 - Add melted butter, eggs, vanilla, and yeast mixture to dry ingredients. Mix until a shaggy dough forms.
04 - Knead by hand or with a dough hook for 6-8 minutes until smooth and elastic.
05 - Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour until doubled in size.
06 - Add a few drops of each food coloring to separate bowls of sugar. Rub with fingers until evenly colored.
07 - Roll dough to 1/2-inch thickness on a floured surface. Cut out 3-inch rounds using a donut cutter.
08 - Place donuts on parchment-lined trays, cover lightly, and let rise for 30 minutes.
09 - Heat oil to 350°F. Fry donuts in batches for 1-2 minutes per side until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
10 - Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth.
11 - Dip warm donuts into icing, allowing excess to drip off. Immediately sprinkle with colored sugars in sections for Mardi Gras effect.
12 - Let donuts set for 10-15 minutes before serving.

# Helpful Tips:

01 -
  • These donuts bring the authentic festive energy of Fat Tuesday right into your home kitchen
  • The texture impossibly fluffy on the inside with that perfect crisp exterior that only deep frying can achieve
  • Each bite tastes like celebration even if youre thousands of miles from New Orleans
02 -
  • Oil temperature is critical so use a kitchen thermometer, not your guesswork
  • Let the donuts cool just slightly before icing or the glaze will slide right off
  • The second rise is non negotiable for that light as air texture everyone loves
03 -
  • Save the donut holes and fry them first because they cook faster than the full sized donuts
  • Keep a paper towel lined cooling rack ready for immediate draining

Go Back