Strawberry Shortcake Donuts

Remember those lazy summer afternoons, when the sound of the ice cream truck echoed through the neighborhood, and your heart skipped a beat at the thought of that sweet, strawberry treat? Well, hold onto your childhood memories because we're bringing that same nostalgic delight to your taste buds with a twist – Strawberry Shortcake Donuts!

Crafted with love and a dash of nostalgia, our Strawberry Shortcake Donuts are a homage to those beloved ice cream bars that defined many of our sweetest summer memories. But this time, we're taking it up a notch by transforming it into an easy to make, cake donut that's impossible to resist.

The Base: Amoretti's Natural Vanilla Bean Artisan Flavor 

Every great donut starts with a solid foundation, and ours begins with the rich, decadent flavor of our Amoretti Natural Vanilla Bean Artisan Flavor. Infused with the finest madagascar vanilla beans, this vanilla is packed full of flavor that will have you swooning with every bite and ditching that cheap, store-bought vanilla bean paste.

The Glaze: Amoretti Natural Wild Strawberry Artisan Flavor

Now, let's talk about that irresistible glaze that takes these donuts to the next level. Our secret weapon? Amoretti Natural Wild Strawberry Artisan Flavor. Bursting with the fresh, juicy taste of ripe strawberries, this artisan flavor transforms a simple glaze into a heavenly coating that will have you licking your lips in anticipation. Oh, and an added bonus? It's made with real fruit! Woohoo!

The Topping: Strawberry Shortcake Crumbs

But wait, we're not done yet. To truly capture the essence of a classic strawberry shortcake, we've added a finishing touch – strawberry shortcake crumbs. You can thank us later. These crumbs add a delightful crunch and a burst of flavor that perfectly complements the sweetness of the donut and the tanginess of the strawberry glaze and truly gives it that strawberry shortcake ice cream treat texture.

For the Donut:

• 2⅓ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 2½ teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1½ cups whole buttermilk
• 1 large egg, at room temperature
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons Amoretti® Vanilla Madagascar Bourbon "European Style" with Alcohol

For the Glaze:

• 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
• 3-4 tablespoons milk
• 1 tablespoon Amoretti Natural Wild Strawberry Artisan Flavor

For the Crumble:

• 14 ounces golden sandwich cookies
• 10 ounces freeze-dried strawberries
• 4 tablespoons butter, melted

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Donut Batter:

   • In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
   • In another bowl, mix buttermilk, egg, melted butter, vegetable oil, and Amoretti Vanilla Madagascar Bourbon until well combined.
   • Gradually add the buttermilk mixture to the dry ingredients, stirring until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
   • Transfer to a piping bag (ziploc bags will work too) and pipe the batter into a greased donut pan and bake in a preheated oven at 400°F (175°C) for 8-10 minutes or until the donuts are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow them to cool.

2. Prepare the Glaze:

   • In a shallow bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and Amoretti Natural Wild Strawberry Artisan Flavor until smooth. Adjust the consistency by adding more milk if needed.

3. Create the Crumble:

   • In a food processor, pulse golden sandwich cookies and freeze-dried strawberries until they form coarse crumbs.
   • Then, add the melted butter and pulse until incorporated. You want the crumb topping to form small clusters.

4. Assemble the Donuts:

   • Dip each cooled donut into the strawberry glaze, ensuring they are completely coated.
   • Immediately sprinkle or dip into the strawberry shortcake crumble. Press gently to adhere the crumbs to the glaze.

5. Serve and Enjoy:

   • Allow the glaze to set for about 1 hour before serving, if you can resist the temptation. Then, indulge in the nostalgic delight of these Strawberry Shortcake Donuts, reminiscent of those carefree summer days of your childhood.