Lucky Lime Leprechaun Bait (Doughnut Treats for Your Little Leprechauns)

It's finally time for that first spring holiday- St. Patrick's Day!  And it is always time for doughnuts! 

I found a recipe for Lime Doughnuts at Kim Byers Celebration Shoppe , but it wasn't quite green enough or lime enough for my tastes so I made a few changes. Lime tastes like warm weather to me so this recipe did double-duty: Leprechaun green plus a taste of sunshine and summer that I have really been craving these last couple of weeks.  

The original recipe also called for baking the doughnuts in a mini-doughnut pan.  I have a doughnut baker that I love, so either method you prefer will work. 

Lucky Lime Leprechaun Bait

Donuts:                                                              Frosting: 

1/3 cup milk (low fat works fine)                         Zest of two limes

2 teaspoons lime juice                                       2 tablespoons milk                                   

1 egg                                                                  1 cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla                                              1 1/2 teaspoon lime juice

1 tablespoon butter melted                                 Green sprinkles (optional, but why not?)

1 cup flour (sifted)

1/3 cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

Green food coloring (optional) 

If using a donut baker, preheat.  The original recipe calls for a 375 degrees pre-heated oven and cooking spray on the pan.  If you are using a donut baker, you do not need to spray the pan.  

Add the lime juice to the milk and let rest for five minutes until the milk "sours".  Mix together the milk/lime juice, egg, vanilla and melted butter. (Make sure that your butter has cooled from the melting process or else- scrambled eggs!  Don't ask me how I know that!) 

Whisk together the flour, sugar and baking powder in a separate bowl.  Mix in the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients until combined. Add a few drops of green food coloring if desired. 

Prepare a piping bag (or gallon sized plastic bag with a hole in the corner) and pour in the mixture.  Pipe the donuts into the pan or the baker. (You can also just spoon it in, but that gets messy!) Follow the instruction for baking if using a doughnut baker (about 3-5 minutes) or if using a doughnut pan, bake for about eight minutes (according to the original recipe).  Allow donuts to completely cool before frosting. 

To make the frosting, add the lime zest, one tablespoon milk and the lime juice to the powdered sugar. Stir.  If the frosting is not the desired consistency, add the second tablespoon of milk and stir.  Dip the top of the cooled donuts into the frosting and add the sprinkles.  

There you go- temptation for any Lucky Leprechaun this St. Patrick's Day (or any day, if you ask me!)

May you have the Luck of the Irish this St. Patrick's Day and every day! Thanks for stopping by! 

~Cynthia

Note: I originally wrote this post, including the recipe, using the spelling "donut".  Apparently, this is an incorrect, Americanized version of the word "doughnut" that spell check and grammar "experts" do not approve of!  Duly noted!