BAKED MINI BUTTERMILK DOUGHNUTS WITH NUTELLA GLAZE

INGREDIENTS:

For the doughnuts:
Vegetable cooking spray
1 1/4 cups cake flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 1/2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

For the Nutella glaze:
1/2 cup Nutella, at room temperature
1/3 cup heavy cream
Assorted sprinkles, chopped nuts or toasted coconut (optional)

Equipment: mini-doughnut pan

DIRECTIONS:

Make the doughnuts:

Preheat the oven to 425°F and spray the mini-doughnut pan with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Whisk in the buttermilk, vanilla, eggs and melted butter just until combined.

Fill each pan cavity approximately 1/3 full (about 1/2 Tablespoon per cavity). Tap the pan on the counter to release any air bubbles and level out the batter.

Bake the doughnuts for 4 to 6 minutes, or until the tops of the doughnuts spring back when touched. Let the doughnuts cool in the pan for 5 minutes then transfer them to a cooling wrack to cool completely while you make the Nutella glaze.

Make the Nutella glaze:

In a medium bowl, whisk together the Nutella and heavy cream until combined. If the glaze is too thick, whisk in an additional 1 to 2 tablespoons heavy cream.

Dip the tops of the doughnuts into the glaze, shake off any excess (or use a spoon to smooth on the glaze) and immediately sprinkle them with chopped nuts, sprinkles or other garnishes.