Carrot Cake Doughnuts with Cream Cheese Glaze

I know.

I know!

They sound fabulous don't they!

Trust me, they are.    And they're good for you!  -  Carrots!  Oats!!   Mmmmm.

We made these with that wonderful doughnut maker that I won on Chickens in the Road.   Remember....

It made wonderful brownies!

But I was hungry for carrot cake.

And cream cheese frosting.

Mostly the frosting.

I'm sure you understand.

I'll get right to the point.   Here's the recipe:

Carrot Cake Doughnuts [or muffins,  or cake or whatever.]

Plug in the doughnut maker.

• 1 1/2 cups grated carrot
• 1 1/2 cups ground whole oats/oatmeal [No, you don't have to grind them.  This is America.]
• 1/4 cup water

Combine these in a microwavable bowl.   We microwaved them for 1 minute, then stirred, then 2 minutes, then stirred, then 1 more minute.   Stir well.   Make sure the carrots are cooked enough for you.   They won't cook long in the doughnut machine.

When the carrots are soft enough for you, add:

• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup oil
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/4 cup flour
• 3/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 tsp salt
• dash nutmeg

Ready to come out!

Stir well.   Pipe into the doughnut maker.  [Don't try to spoon it in - too messy!   Use a ziplock bag with a corner cut off if you don't have a fancier piping tool.   You'll be glad you did!]

Bake doughnuts for 6 minutes.  Take them out and let them cool a bit.   Glaze when warm.   Or not.  Whatever you want.   I glazed them when they were very very warm so the glaze would melt all over and get gooey.    This is the glaze I made:

Cream Cheese Glaze

• 1/2 block of cream cheese
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• a few drops of milk - only if necessary

Melt the cream cheese in the microwave.   Stir in the powdered sugar.  If the glaze is too stiff, then add a couple of drops of milk and stir well. 

Doughnut Maker

As some of you know, in addition to this blog, I also write for Chickens in the Road, a country living blog by Suzanne McMinn.   You might have already seen it listed in my sidebar.   If you haven't already, please check it out:   Chickens in the Road

Once a month, Suzanne does a giveaway to one of her blog contributers and last month I was excited to be the winner of this doughnut maker.

Pretty, huh!  I especially like the sprinkles on top.

The girls, especially K2, were excited to try it out right away, so I turned them loose and they decided to make brownies in the doughnut maker. 




Brilliant!

They started with their favorite brownie recipe.

It didn't take long to figure out that it was much easier to pipe the batter in than it was to spoon it in.   K2 pulled out her Dessert Decorator Plus, by Wilton and filled it up. 

Then she piped the batter into the doughnut maker.

It generally takes 6 minutes to bake doughnuts, but the brownies took a bit longer.

Make sure you pipe them full - up to the edge.  They'll rise into the top spaces just fine.

Let them bake for 8 minutes and Ta-DA!

Brownies!
With crispy edges all over!

Notice that one in the back with the slump?   That's one that wasn't filled all the way.

Delish!     Thank you SO MUCH, Suzanne for this wonderful new tool!

Tomorrow - carrot cake doughnuts with cream cheese glaze!   Stay tuned for the recipe.