Carrot Cake Donuts with Chocolate Birds Nests

These donuts are so simple, and so fun - a great activity to make with the kids this weekend. A simple baked carrot donut, topped with cream cheese icing and adorable (edible!) chocolate nests filled with mini-eggs. Happy Easter!

Carrot Cake Donuts with Chocolate Bird Nests

Yield: 18 donuts

Donuts

2 eggs, room temperature 1 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
2/3 cup full fat sour cream 1 cup carrots, finely grated 1 teaspoon cinnamon

1⁄2 teaspoon all spice
1 1⁄2 cups all-purpose white flour 1 teaspoon baking powder
1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
1⁄2 teaspoon salt

Cream Cheese Frosting

8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
1⁄2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature 1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1⁄2 - 3 cups icing (powdered) sugar

Birds Nest

1⁄2 package of dry vermicelli rice noodles
6 squares semi sweet dark chocolate
Candy coated chocolate eggs, about 3-5 per donut Special equipment: small ramekins, plastic wrap

Donuts

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter or spray donut baking pan.

2. Using a stand mixer or beaters, cream together the eggs, brown sugar and vanilla.

3. Add the sour cream and mix again until combined.

4. Add the carrots and spices, and mix again until well combined. Set aside.

5. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add the dry

   ingredients to the wet and gently fold together. Do not overmix

6. Pour the batter into a piping bag or re-sealable plastic bag and pipe batter into the

   donut pan. Fill each one about half way or slightly under. Alternatively, you can spoon

   the batter into the donut pan.

7. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1. Using a stand mixer or electric beaters, whip together the cream cheese, butter and vanilla.

2. In batches, add the icing sugar until desired taste is reached. Continue to whip the frosting on medium speed for at least 3 minutes.

Chocolate Bird Nests

1. 2.

In a microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate in 20 second increments, stirring between each increment.
Cut up the vermicelli noodles into 3-5 inch pieces. Pour the melted chocolate over and use your hands (I recommend gloves) work the chocolate into the noodles until they are all covered.

3. Assembly

1. 2. 3.

Once the donuts have cooled completely, generously apply the frosting to the donuts. Gently pop the bird nests out of the ramekins and place in the centre of the donut.
Fill the nest with 3-5 candy coated chocolate eggs.