Glazed Maple Chai Donuts are a delightful way to bring warm, spiced comfort to your kitchen, offering a homemade treat that rivals any bakery. This recipe makes it easy to whip up a batch of these cozy, flavorful donuts, perfect for a weekend brunch or an afternoon pick-me-up.
Key Ingredients for Glazed Maple Chai Donuts
- 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup strong brewed chai tea, cooled
For the Glaze:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup milk
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
How to Make Glazed Maple Chai Donuts
Whip up these Glazed Maple Chai Donuts with ease for a truly satisfying treat that’s both simple to prepare and bursting with comforting flavors. The rich, spiced dough combined with a sweet maple glaze creates a delightful texture and taste sensation, perfect for any occasion. This recipe takes approximately 30 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to bake.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prepare the Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, and nutmeg. Ensure all the spices are evenly distributed.
- Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar together with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate small bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the milk and the cooled strong brewed chai tea.
- Alternately Add Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture in three additions, alternating with the wet ingredients in two additions. Begin and end with the dry ingredients. Mix on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the batter.
- Prepare for Baking: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease and flour two donut pans, or use non-stick spray. Alternatively, you can line baking sheets with parchment paper and pipe donut shapes.
- Fill the Donut Pans: Spoon the batter into a piping bag or a sturdy zip-top bag with the corner snipped off. Pipe the batter into the prepared donut pans, filling each mold about two-thirds full. If not using donut pans, pipe rings of batter onto the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake the Donuts: Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a donut comes out clean.
- Cool the Donuts: Let the donuts cool in the pans for 5 minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Make the Glaze: While the donuts are cooling, prepare the glaze. In a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, pure maple syrup, and vanilla extract until smooth and pourable. If the glaze is too thick, add a little more milk, a teaspoon at a time. If it’s too thin, add a little more powdered sugar.
- Glaze the Donuts: Once the donuts are completely cool, dip the top of each donut into the prepared glaze, allowing any excess to drip back into the bowl.
- Set the Glaze: Place the glazed donuts back on the wire rack to allow the glaze to set. You can sprinkle with a little extra cinnamon or chopped nuts while the glaze is still wet if desired.
Why You’ll Love This Glazed Maple Chai Donuts
You’ll adore these Glazed Maple Chai Donuts for their incredibly cozy and comforting flavor profile. The fragrant blend of chai spices — cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and cloves — infused into a tender donut, topped with a sweet, slightly nutty maple glaze, creates an experience that’s both familiar and exciting. It’s like wrapping yourself in a warm blanket on a chilly morning, delivering a delightful sweetness without being overwhelming, reminiscent of your favorite spiced latte.
Skip the expensive trip to the bakery and enjoy the satisfaction of creating this gourmet treat right in your own kitchen. These homemade donuts are surprisingly economical to make, allowing you to indulge more often without breaking the bank. The pure maple syrup in the glaze adds a rich depth that beautifully complements the chai spices, offering a nuanced sweetness that’s far superior to artificial flavorings. Give these Glazed Maple Chai Donuts a try today and experience the joy of a perfectly spiced, wonderfully sweet homemade donut!
Storing and Reheating Tips
Storing: Glazed Maple Chai Donuts are best enjoyed fresh, but they can be stored for a day or two at room temperature. Keep them in an airtight container to maintain their freshness and prevent them from drying out. Ensure the glaze has fully set before storing to avoid sticking. For longer storage, you can refrigerate them, but this may slightly affect the texture, making them a bit denser.
Reheating: If you choose to refrigerate your donuts and find them a bit firm, you can gently reheat them. Place a donut on a microwave-safe plate and microwave on low power for 10-15 seconds. Be careful not to overheat, as this can make them tough. Alternatively, you can refresh them in a warm oven (around 300°F/150°C) for a few minutes until they’re just warmed through. Freezing is not generally recommended for glazed donuts as the glaze can become gummy upon thawing.
Final Thoughts
These Glazed Maple Chai Donuts are a perfect balance of warm spice and sweet simplicity, offering a truly comforting and delightful homemade treat. Give them a bake this weekend; you won’t be disappointed by the delicious aromas and even better taste!
Glazed Maple Chai Donuts
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, and nutmeg. Ensure all the spices are evenly distributed.2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, ½ teaspoon ground cardamom, ¼ teaspoon ground cloves, ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- In a large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar together with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.½ cup unsalted butter, 1 cup granulated sugar
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.2 large eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- In a separate small bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the milk and the cooled strong brewed chai tea.½ cup milk, ½ cup strong brewed chai tea
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture in three additions, alternating with the wet ingredients in two additions. Begin and end with the dry ingredients. Mix on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the batter.2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, ½ teaspoon ground cardamom, ¼ teaspoon ground cloves, ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg, ½ cup milk, ½ cup strong brewed chai tea
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease and flour two donut pans, or use non-stick spray. Alternatively, you can line baking sheets with parchment paper and pipe donut shapes.
- Spoon the batter into a piping bag or a sturdy zip-top bag with the corner snipped off. Pipe the batter into the prepared donut pans, filling each mold about two-thirds full. If not using donut pans, pipe rings of batter onto the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a donut comes out clean.
- Let the donuts cool in the pans for 5 minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- While the donuts are cooling, prepare the glaze. In a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, pure maple syrup, and vanilla extract until smooth and pourable. If the glaze is too thick, add a little more milk, a teaspoon at a time. If it’s too thin, add a little more powdered sugar.2 cups powdered sugar, ¼ cup milk, 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Once the donuts are completely cool, dip the top of each donut into the prepared glaze, allowing any excess to drip back into the bowl.
- Place the glazed donuts back on the wire rack to allow the glaze to set. You can sprinkle with a little extra cinnamon or chopped nuts while the glaze is still wet if desired.