Firework Baked Donuts
When I was thinking about what I wanted to make for 4th of July, my mind immediately went to Pop Rocks since they reminded me of fireworks. I just needed to find the right dessert to go with them. After a few failed cookie attempts I saw my donut pans and it clicked! Baked donuts are a great backdrop for a variety of flavors and toppings, and their cakey texture makes a fun contrast to the Pop Rocks. I added some red, white, and blue decorative icing, topped with color coordinating Pop Rocks, and had the festive dessert I was looking for. Perfect for kids and kids at heart, these popping and crackling firework donuts are sure to bring some extra excitement to your next party!
How Do Pop Rocks Work?
The method of making Pop Rocks begins like making any other hard candy - sugar, water, and flavoring are combined and boiled until the water evaporates and leaves a sugar syrup. What makes Pop Rocks special is what happens in the next step! The sugar syrup is combined with carbon dioxide gas at high pressure (600 psi) so that the gas forms small pressurized bubbles in the candy. These bubbles remain in the candy as it cools and shatters. When the Pop Rocks dissolve in your mouth the pressure is released and you feel and hear those signature pops as the gas escapes from the candy.
Baked Donuts
I am a huge fan of baked donuts! They are easy and quick to make, and the flavor and topping possibilities are endless. You also don’t need to deal with a pot of hot oil like you do with fried donuts since these are baked in the oven.
I opted for a simple vanilla glazed donut for this recipe to allow the Pop Rocks to really shine. The batter can be made in just a few steps:
Sift together flour and baking powder. Set aside for later.
Combine butter, oil, vanilla, granulated sugar, and brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or use a large bowl and a handheld mixer). Mix on medium speed until smooth and creamy.
Add eggs and continue to mix on medium speed until fully combined.
Turn the mixer to low speed and alternate adding the dry ingredients and milk. Mix until fully combined, but do not overmix.
Brush donut pans with softened butter and fill about 2/3 full with batter. An easy way to do this is to use a large piping bag to pipe the batter into the pans. Bake at 400°F for about 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the donuts comes out clean and you can see slight browning around the edges. Let the donuts cool in the pan for 5 minutes and then remove them and place on a wire rack to continue to cool.
Glaze and Toppings
An easy vanilla glaze can be made by mixing powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and milk. You’ll want to make sure the glaze is thin enough to dip the donuts in but thick enough that it stays in place.
To add some vibrancy, I colored white chocolate to drizzle over the glaze. I chose red and blue for a 4th of July theme, but you can pick any color scheme you like to fit your occasion. The same goes for the pattern - feel free to experiment to create the look you want!
Sprinkle with Pop Rocks and enjoy!
Will You Actually Notice the Pop Rocks?
Yes you will! Aside from adding flavor and texture, you will experience the typical popping and crackling sensation from the Pop Rocks. I especially noticed this after I was done chewing - it was like mini fireworks in every bite! However, the Pop Rocks won’t last long after they are removed from their packaging. So make sure you eat the donuts soon after you make them. The candy will dissolve and the gases will be released as the Pop Rocks are in contact with moisture in the glaze and air. You may even hear this happening as you are topping the donuts. But with a treat so fun and delicious there won’t be any leftovers anyway!
Firework Baked Donuts
Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 and 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature (plus more for greasing pans)
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tsp vanilla paste or extract
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 3/4 cup whole milk
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1-2 tbsp milk
- 1/2 cup white chocolate, chopped
- Red and blue gel food coloring
- 2-3 packets of Pop Rocks candy (red & blue colored)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Brush softened butter into donut pans.
- Sift together the flour and baking powder in a medium bowl. Set aside.
- Combine the butter, oil, vanilla, and sugars in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and mix on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Alternatively, you can use a handheld mixer.
- Add the eggs and mix on medium speed until fully combined.
- With the mixer on low speed, alternate adding the dry ingredients and milk. Mix until fully combined, but do not overmix.
- Fill the donut pans to about 2/3 full. I find the easiest way to do this is to put the donut batter in a large piping bag and pipe into the donut molds.
- Bake for 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the thickest part of the donut comes out clean and there is some browning around the edges. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes before removing and allowing to cool completely on a wire rack.
- Meanwhile, prepare the glaze and toppings. For the glaze, stir together the powdered sugar, vanilla, and 1 tablespoon of milk until smooth. If the glaze is too thick, you can add up to 1 additional tablespoon of milk to thin it out.
- Melt the white chocolate over a double boiler or in the microwave. If using a microwave, only microwave for 15 seconds at a time at 50% power and stir in between. Divide the white chocolate into two small bowls and stir in enough food coloring to achieve the desired vibrancy.
- Dip each donut into the glaze and drizzle with the colored white chocolate in your preferred pattern. You can put the white chocolate in small plastic bags and cut off a small bit of a corner (or use a small piping bag) to more easily control the drizzle.
- Sprinkle the Pop Rocks on top and enjoy!
Notes
- These donuts are best enjoyed soon after they are made to ensure that the Pop Rocks retain their popping effect.
