lemon glazed baked donuts

Things are going to be a little quiet around here for a bit. Jesse and I are off to Quebec for our 2 week vacation, to explore the old towns and wonderful architecture, enjoy le fromage et le pain and evaluate coffee and boutique cafes. Most importantly we will take some time out together away from snow, Goose parkas and our strict daily habits of working, learning French, lifting weights and trialling recipes.

lemon donuts

On our return I will be leaving my office job at the airline and establishing a small cafe & bakery here. In our community of 900 there are 3 restaurants, one of which (the Chinese restaurant) is closing down next week. Unfortunately the other two which are both based in the local hotels are not at all appealing to us and many of our friends.

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At the moment, there is nowhere one can purchase a freshly baked brioche or a caramel slice from the display cabinet, and enjoy a relaxed morning over a good magazine and a strong, fresh flat white coffee, amidst a hub of community activity. Sure, this is indeed a very small, isolated Northern town. But almost every resident has moved here from the city, where coffee shops and boutique cafes are in abundance. And, like any city folk, we crave it. Cafe-style food. Fresh, homebaked goods. Nutritious, hearty salads. Good quality, freshly ground and properly brewed coffee. And the only way to get this is to create it.

chocolate and orange donuts

A big change and a big risk to pursue a passion I haven’t been able to satisfy through my 8 – 5 office job.

This audio clip by Alan Watts also had a part to play in having the confidence to take a risk and do something out of passion rather than obligation.

Lemon Glazed Baked Donuts
Recipe adapted from Leanne Bakes
Makes 12

I have made two sorts of donuts with my recently aquired donut pan – Chocolate & Orange and Lemon & Nutmeg. Both were wonderful – light, citrusy and fresh. Baked donuts are basically muffins. But shaped in a ring they are much more fun.

1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup wholewheat flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup buttermilk (or milk with a dash of vinegar to sour and thicken)
2 eggs
1/4 cup honey
2 1/2 tbsp butter, melted
1 tbsp vanilla extract
zest from 1 lemon

Lemon Glaze
1 1/2 cups icing sugar
juice from 1 lemon

Lightly grease a donut pan and preheat the oven to 425F. In a large bowl mix together the dry ingredients. In another bowl thoroughly mix together the wet ingredients.

Combine the wet and dry ingredients fold with a spatula until just combined, taking care not to overmix. You might see tiny pockets of flour – this is okay.

Spoon the batter into the greased donut pan, filling them 2/3 full. It may be easier to transfer batter to a piping bag and pipe into the rings. Bake for 8 minutes until they’re lightly golden and springy when gently pressed. Let cool on wire rack. Repeat with second batch, unless you have a 12 hole pan.

To make the glaze, whisk together the icing sugar and lemon juice until smooth and glossy. Dip the donuts while they’re slightly warm into the glaze, or drizzle overtop.

Other donuts on the web:
Pumpkin Spice Donuts with Cinnamon Butter Glaze
Caramel Apple Doughnuts
Orange Doughnuts with Chocolate Orange Glaze

And for those without a donut pan:
Baked Apple Doughnuts
Chocolate Donut Holes
Apple Cider Doughnuts

22 thoughts

  1. Christina! – where you going to open this little cafe/bakery??! That’s wonderful – and am sure you’ll do great with it! You’ll love Quebec City – it’s absolutely wonderful! – but you’re also leaving Norman Wells just as it’s getting totally awesome, finally! Hope you and Jesse really enjoy the trip :-) Look forward to hearing more about your cafe/bakery when you get back!

    • I’ll be baking from the kitchen in the rink Alasdair. Not sure if there are possibilities of moving elsewhere but it’s a fantastic start! We are very excited for Quebec – we’ll be happy to come back to less of the dirty snow piles and more warmth!

  2. Christina that is so cool!! Good for you for following your passion – this is so inspiring and I am super excited to hear all about your journey (I certainly hope you chronicle it here!). Have a wonderful time in Quebec!

  3. Wow, Christina…that is SO exciting! I’m sure you will do amazing and that the people of Norman Wells will be so happy to have some delicious food and baked goods. I’m excited to hear more about it :)

  4. Wow, opening your own cafe and bakery sounds like so much fun, and a lot of hard work but with your passion for food I’m sure it’ll do great! Congratulations and best of luck! :-)

  5. Wow that is so exciting! Good luck and all the best! All your food looks amazing, I’m sure you will do fabulously :) good on you.

    • Thank you Hannah – so looking forward to having a cafe in town, even if its me that’s behind the counter! I hated being in a kitchen in Hamilton cooking what someone else wanted, on their terms, but I’m thinking this will be quite a change and definitely a growing experience, business-wise. HR Management could well come in handy somewhere!

  6. WOW! Good luck, selfishly I will be very disappointed as I imagine you won’t be spending a lot of time blogging as you get everything set up, but yay for the folk of Norman Wells. Hope we’ll get some updates and good on you for chasing your dream. :)

    • Kate – thank you! I sure hope to still be blogging as I tend to create food at home that is different to what I would produce for a cafe. I know Jesse sure doesn’t want me to stop experimenting with recipes at home! Thanks for the support – it means a lot.

  7. Christina! SO excited for you at the start of your new venture. Way to follow your passion and do something to fill a void that is so obviously existing in the food scene. Your creations will bring joy and satisfaction to many a citizen of Norman Wells. Wishing you the BEST of wishes with starting up the cafe/bakery when you get back! Enjoy Quebec! x

  8. SOOOO exciting, Christina! i’m encouraged by your willingness to step out & pursue one of your passions in a bold, new way! i think your cafe will be amazing!! wish i could pop over to your northern village when your cafe opens and enjoy a fresh flat white & one of your yummy treats. :)

  9. Woohoo that is such exciting news! Go you Christina, can’t wait to hear more about it. Will be praying for every success for you both, it may be a risk but I am sure it will be worth it! :)

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