Time to Make the Donuts

I got this too-cute mini donut maker for Christmas and decided to put it through its paces for Easter.  Now, I feel the need to specify that there was no frying involved, which I suppose makes the end product more like donut-shaped pancakes than anything else.  But they were still tasty, not to mention pretty, easy to make, and relatively wholesome, so I didn't mind.  Should you ever find yourself in possession of a donut maker, here's the recipe (courtesy of the good people at Sunbeam):

Ingredients:

Batter

1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
9 tablespoons butter, melted
3/4 cup milk
1 egg, lightly beaten

Icing

2 cups confectioners sugar
2 1/2 tablespoons milk
2-3 drops food coloring

Directions:

Preheat donut machine.  Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl.  Make a well in the center.  Whisk in the butter, milk, and egg until mixture forms a smooth batter.  Transfer to a pitcher or fabric piping bag.  (I dispensed with this step but see how it could make things easier.)  Spray donut machine with cooking oil.  Fill bases of preheated donut rings with half of the batter.  Close lid and cook for 5 minutes or until donuts are golden and cooked.  Use a non-stick spatula to transfer donuts to a wire rack (if you happen to have such a fancy-schmancy apparatus.  I just used a plate.)  Repeat with remaining batter to make 10 donuts in total.

For the icing, sift the confectioners sugar into a medium bowl.  Stir in enough milk to make a soft, spreadable icing.  Divide icing evenly among 3 glass bowls.  Add a few drops of your choice of food coloring to each bowl.  Stir to combine, then drizzle or spread over cooled donuts.