It’s hot in Lahore these days, like 47 degrees Celsius hot! May is never a kind month in our plains but this year it has broken all previous records as the heatwave has intensified and the city is continuously in the grip of harsh weather. Imagine throwing a kid’s birthday party in this weather now! Life, especially when it involves food, never stops for us Lahoris, no matter what!
This weekend we celebrated the 11th birthday of our younger daughter. The big question was what to cook in this oppressive weather that would taste light and appetizing but still look like party food. I mostly included food with lemony, zingy flavors; curries with lemon, tamarind, and coconut milk with plain steamed rice instead of heavy gravies with pulao or biryanis.
Though usually we all vote for a chocolate cake unanimously on any celebration, this time the idea just didn’t click because of the heat. Even the birthday girl didn’t want a heavy chocolate and butter cream-loaded cake. Also, honestly, I simply did not have the energy in this heat to bake a layered cake. That got me thinking! The next thing she loves best after a chocolate cake are donuts. I decided to bake a delicious little pile of fluffy mini donut cakes and stack them high on a cake stand.
The flavor I chose was again lemon to go with the summer theme. These very soft, light, and fluffy donuts were dipped briefly in honey lemon syrup to make them super moist and then glazed with a lip-smacking good lemon sugar glaze. Colorful sprinkles made them look extra festive.
I was a bit nervous about whether the birthday girl would like the idea or not but it turned out that she fell in love with the towering yumminess at first sight and bite. She said it was the tastiest thing she had ever eaten and that it was the best surprise on her birthday. She even licked clean the bowl of leftover lemon sugar glaze.
That lemon glaze is the easiest thing to make and it lifts the donut cakes to a whole new level of delight. You can serve these delicious donut cakes separately too as a perfect accompaniment for tea in the evening. You can bake muffins with the same batter or even a loaf cake.
Tip: If you don’t have self-raising flour, make your own by mixing 1 cup plain flour with 2 teaspoons of baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
Also check the following.
Eggless One Bowl Chocolate Cake Recipe
Ingredients:
For Mini Donut Cakes:
- 2 cups self raising flour
- 1 cup caster sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2/3 cup cold water
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon essence
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
For Lemon Honey Syrup:
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
For Lemon Sugar Glaze:
- 1+1/2 cup icing sugar
- 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice
- A pinch yellow colour
This Is What You Do:
- Preheat oven at 200 degrees C.
- Mix flour, sugar, baking powder and lemon zest in a big mixing bowl.
- Add oil, lemon juice and lemon essence. Slowly add cold water and mix everything to make a thick batter.
- Lightly grease a donuts or mini bundt cakes baking pan. Spoon the batter into the baking pans, filling each one almost three quarters.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes.
- Meanwhile mix honey, lemon juice and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and take off heat. Set aside.
- Mix icing sugar with lemon juice in a separate bowl. Add a little lemon juice at a time to get the consistency of the glaze you require. It should neither be too thick nor too runny.
- Add a pinch of your favourite food colour to make the glaze look pretty or leave it white. I added yellow colour to compliment the lemon flavour.
- When the donut cakes are done, cool them till they are room temperature. Briefly dip each one of them into the honey lemon syrup. Don’t soak for too long or the donuts will break and get very soggy.
- Drizzle the tops with lemon sugar glaze. Sprinkle with colourful sprinkles, toasted coconut, white chocolate chips or candied lemon zest.
- Serves 4
I agree summers are horrible months, today seems to be the worst day here. Love those lemon donut cakes, they looks so good, feel like grabbing one. Wishing your d, the best in life.
Wishing your daughter the best in life! I am sure she enjoyed these Mini Bundt Cakes. I love tangy flavours too and lemon anything always instantly gets my attention. The Mini part of the recipe also helps portion control. π
Belated happy Birthday to the cutiepie <3
Ohh lemon !! always in love with the flavor. These mini donut cake looks perfect π
I love lemon based baked goodies and those cute donuts are calling my name to try. Love the beautiful lemon glaze too.
Belated birthday wishes,,, this is the best part, we can be our own bakers too to enjoy a bite on our special day. Love the colour feels so positive.
These mini lemon donut cakes look scrumptious, love lemon in bakes, adds such a bright and refreshing flavor π
Belated happy bday to your darling daughter…Look at the gorgeous colour of those mini lemon donuts…I just need a cup of coffee in my hand and i’m good to go!!…Yummy share!!
I love anything with lemon. This looks perfect and scrumptious. My son would love this.
Who doesn’t love doughnuts? But the idea of frying them always backs me off… love this baked version and that too with zesty citrusy flavors… totally yum! Never knew Pakistan got this hot during summers!
I can have donuts anytime and the zingy lemon donuts are super yum. Happy b day to your daughter β€
World weather is changing, most places are either too hot or too cold. The mini lemon donut cakes look so refreshing and summery. Love anything with lemon in it.
Belated birthday wishes to our princess. God bless her always. These mini lemon doughnut cakes looks so scrumptious and this is the perfect dish for the party. Beautiful clicks !!
Belated Happy birthday to your daughter Maria. Its a super cool thought to make lemon dough nut rather than heavy chocolaty cake. And they look so tempting with that glaze and sprinklers on the top.
These mini lemon donut cakes are looking super scrumptious πππ»
Lemony doughnuts look nice .. perfect for tea time.
Belated birthday wishes to your girl. I am sold to this idea of doughnuts! My daughter’s birthday next month n if she comes down will make these for her.
Drool worthy share Maria. I am totally in love with these donut cakes. I can feel the lemon flavour and taste.
Lemon flavored cake is my favorite one! This sounds even better! Perfect for kids parties β€οΈ
Wow! What an interesting recipe! I love Lemon flavored desserts and mini donut cakes sound delicious and look even better