A warm maple donut is a coffeehouse favorite, featuring airy soft centers and a golden crust. Served with a donut glaze and toasted pecans, these baked treats make an impressive breakfast for the family or guests. This recipe is super simple and uses a handful of everyday pantry ingredients. The recipe is easy enough for even new bakers to successfully whip up, and the end results are well worth the effort!
To make this recipe you'll need all-purpose flour, yeast, water, melted butter, sugar, salt, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract and milk. Start by mixing the dry ingredients in a large bowl, then whisk in the wet ingredients. Whisk until everything is fully combined, then cover and refrigerate the dough for at least 2 hours. Once the dough has chilled, remove it to a well floured work surface and knead in a bit more flour as needed, so the dough is not sticky. Cut out the donuts using a cutter and place them on a baking sheet lined with paper towels to absorb any excess oil. Bake the donuts in a 350 F oven for about 15 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
To finish the donuts, melt the butter for the glaze in a small saucepan. Stir in the powdered sugar, milk and maple syrup until the mixture is smooth. If you'd like a slightly thinner glaze, add another 1/2 tablespoon of milk. Dip each donut into the glaze and let it harden on a wire rack before serving. These donuts will keep for a few days at room temperature, but they're best when eaten within an hour after being glazed.