If there’s one ingredient that can brighten up a meal, it has to be lemons. Whether it’s the vivid color, the tangy flavor, or that unmistakable citrus aroma, there’s no missing it when you’ve got lemons on your plate.

Donuts, on the other hand, are the sweet, tasty treat that sometimes doubles as a breakfast substitute or a late night snack. Go to any volunteer event and there will almost certainly be a box of donuts there. Everyone loves donuts. So, what if we combined lemons and donuts? Well, you’d get something like these lemon donuts.

I know you might be thinking donuts are out of scope for most home kitchens. They’re somehow shrouded in mystery. We don’t think twice about baking a cake or making an apple pie, but donuts? Luckily, they aren’t as difficult as the donut lobbyist would have you believe. (I don’t know if there is a donut lobbying organization, but maybe there should be?)

The truth is, this lemon donuts recipe isn’t that hard. You don’t even need to fry the donuts, and there are no hard-to-find ingredients. There are two tricks, though: Use fresh lemon if at all possible. It gives you such a nice, rich flavor. Plus, you need the zest for the coating. Second, you may need to go out and buy a donut baking pan. I’ve seen some suggestions for substituting a muffin pan for donuts and using rolled up aluminum foil in the center to get the donut hole. Seems like a good idea, although I haven’t tried it, so I can’t vouch for how well it works.

Now, whether these are for breakfast or a mid-day snack, I can’t say. But you won’t be disappointed in either option.

One other thing, if you want to check out more lemon-centric recipes (Hello, Lemon Meringue Bars!) or find out about growing your own lemons, be sure to check out the Tart & Tangy Lemon Guide.

Lemon Donuts

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From their vibrant color to their even more vibrant flavor, lemons are an ingredient that work well in just about any dish from breakfast to drinks to dinner, and of course, lemon donuts!

• Author: Addie Gundry
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 9 minutes
• Total Time: 24 minutes
• Yield: Serves 12 1x
• Category: Bakery

Ingredients

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• Batter
  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup buttermilk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 3 teaspoons grated lemon zest
• Coating
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 4 teaspoons grated lemon zest
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

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Instructions

1. Adjust oven racks to center position and pre- heat the oven to 425 degrees F.
2. Spray 2 (6-count) donut pans with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and cornstarch. Whisk in the sugar, baking powder, and salt until well blended. Stir in the buttermilk, eggs, butter, lemon juice, vanilla, and lemon zest until the batter is smooth and combined.
4. Evenly divide the batter between the prepared donut pans.
5. Bake for 7-9 minutes until the edges of the donuts begin to turn a light golden brown and the tops of the donuts spring back when lightly touched.
6. Allow the donuts to cool for 5 minutes in the pans and then flip onto a parchment-lined counter.
7. In a small bowl or plate, combine the sugarand lemon zest.
8. Place the melted butter in a shallow bowl.
9. Dip one side of each donut in thebutter, and then press into the sugar/zest mixture.
10. Serve warm or at room temperature.

What do you think about lemon donuts? Have you tried them?