Mealtime Magic - Shimmering S'nownuts from The Elf on the Shelf Family Cookbook

 Reprinted from 

The Elf on the Shelf Family Cookbook by arrangement with William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. Copyright © 2024, Chanda A. Bell.

Shimmering S’nownuts

Makes 1 dozen donuts

The warm spices in our fave old-fashioned cake doughnut recipe will give your house the woodsy, warming scent of a North Pole pine grove—ah, “home sweet home.” We “doughnut” know about you, but we think they’re also great for zipping and zooming on a snowy winter night!

For the Doughnuts

Cooking spray

2 cups all-purpose flour

½ cup granulated sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon kosher salt

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice

3/4 cup buttermilk

2 large eggs

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

For the Sugar “Snow”

1 cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon pearl white luster dust

Special Equipment

12-doughnut mold

Pastry bag fitted with a large round tip

Toothpick

Festive serving plate

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease the doughnut mold with cooking spray.

2. Make the doughnuts: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.

3. In a separate bowl, whisk to combine the buttermilk, eggs, butter, and vanilla. Gradually add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture, gently whisking between additions, until the batter is smooth.

4. Use a silicone spatula to fill the pastry bag no more than two-thirds full. Pipe the batter into the doughnut molds, filling each about three-quarters of the way. Refill the bag with the remaining batter and pipe the remaining doughnuts.

5. Bake until the toothpick inserted into a doughnut comes out clean, about 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes, then transfer the doughnuts directly to the rack until cool enough to handle.

6. Make the sugar “snow”: Sift together the powdered sugar and luster dust over a large bowl. Working in batches, toss the warm doughnuts in the shimmery “snow” to coat. Stack them on the serving plate. Store the s’nownuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.

Sweet Shop Secret

Elf-Size Doughnut Delights!

Press cereal “O”s onto a wet paper towel, then dip them in powdered sugar. Use a toothpick to clear the “doughnut” hole of excess sugar. Make a little plate of them for your Scout Elves.