Recipe: Mini pumpkin donuts inspired by Halloween Horror Nights
Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort got a bit of a makeover this year, but there are still plenty of Halloween tricks and pumpkin-y treats to help everyone celebrate the most horrifying time of year.
Park guests can experience the re-imagined Halloween fun, including two horrifying haunted houses and tons of tasty treats, but for those of us who can’t make it to Orlando this Halloween season, all is not lost.
“With Halloween Horror Nights sadly on hold until next year, I patiently waited for the first sign of the Pumpkin Spice Latte at my favorite coffee shop as an indicator that pumpkin season has officially arrived,” Universal Orlando Resort content representative (and self-proclaimed donut-lover), Michelle Russo wrote for the Discover Universal Blog. “I went on the hunt for […] pumpkin candy, pumpkin pastries, pumpkin bagels, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin waffle mix, and ESPECIALLY… pumpkin donuts.”
Luckily, Michelle has shared her recipe for perfect mini pumpkin donuts so we can all celebrate Halloween Horror Nights at home.
Halloween Horror Nights Mini Pumpkin Donuts with Green Icing
Makes 24 Mini Pumpkin Donuts
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of sugar
- 4 tsp baking powder
- 1 1⁄2 tsp salt
- 1⁄2 tsp nutmeg
- ¼ cup of pumpkin pie spice
- Two eggs
- 1⁄4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup milk
- 4 cups flour (plus a little more if the dough is sticky)
- Vegetable oil (for frying)
- Green icing (or white icing and green food coloring) for topping
Directions:
- In a large bowl, combine the sugar, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, salt, and nutmeg.
- Add eggs, milk, and melted butter. Beat well.
- Add 3 cups of the flour, beating until blended. Add one more cup of flour and beat well. The dough should be soft and sticky but firm enough to handle. If you feel it’s necessary, add up to 1/2 cup more flour.
- Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least one hour.
- Remove the dough from the refrigerator and begin heating about 1 inch of oil to 360℉ in a large metal skillet or dutch oven.
- Working with half the dough at a time, roll it out on a floured surface to about ½ inch thickness.
- Cut out circles using a mini donut cutter or small biscuit or cookie cutter (anything that can give you a mini donut shape). Use a smaller cutter to cut the holes (Michelle says she uses a soda bottle cap).
- Gently drop the donuts away from you in batches into the hot oil.
- As the donuts begin to puff, flip them over with metal tongs and continue to flip a few more times until they are golden brown all over (they will take about 2-3 minutes in total).
- Remove donuts from the oil and set them on a plate covered with paper towels.
- Drizzle green icing over the donuts.
Spooky serving suggestion: Crush cookies and lay the donuts on top to make an edible “pumpkin patch.”
We want to see your creations if you decide to give this recipe for Mini pumpkin donuts inspired by Halloween Horror Nights a try! Be sure to share photos with us on Twitter at @Attractions.
