Donut Muffins

The perfect marriage between a donut and a muffin! These taste like donut holes! There are several recipes out there for these delectable bites, I've tried a few, and this one is my favorite. I found it in a cake book my grandma gave me. I made a few slight variations, and don't really know if it makes a difference or not, but here is my modified recipe
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Doughnut Muffins

* 1/3 cup shortening
* 1/2 cup sugar
* 1 egg
* 1-1/2 cups flour
* 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
* 3/4 cup milk
* 1/2 tsp butter flavor extract
* 1/2 tsp vanilla extract


In a mixing bowl mash together the shortening and sugar. Add the egg and whisk it all up until it is smooth. Make sure you use shortening, Not Margarine. The shortening gives this recipe it’s special donut texture. Measure the flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg into the bowl. Pour in the milk, butter extract and vanilla extract. Mix the batter with a whisk until it is smooth. Drop the mixture into 24 oiled mini muffin cups about 2/3 full. Bake the muffins at 350 for 15-18 minutes, the tops my still look pale, use a toothpick to check doneness. Remove them from the oven and allow them to cool.

***I had a little batter left over so I added 2 teaspoons of cocoa and made 6 chocolate muffins, super yummy!***

Here are the recipes for the glazes:

Chocolate Glaze

* 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
* 1 Tablespoon milk
* 1 teaspoon light corn syrup
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 ounce bittersweet chocolate, chopped
* 1/2 cup sifted confectioners' sugar

Combine butter, milk, corn syrup, and vanilla in medium saucepan and heat over medium heat until butter is melted. Decrease the heat to low, add the chocolate, and whisk until melted. Turn off heat, add the powdered sugar, and whisk until smooth. Dip tops of muffins into glaze. Allow glaze to set for 30 minutes before serving.
*I just heated mine in a small bowl in the microwave, then added the chocolate and sugar.*


Strawberry Glaze

* 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
* 1 Tablespoon milk
* 1 teaspoon light corn syrup
* 1/2 teaspoon strawberry extract
* 1/2 cup sifted confectioners' sugar
* a few drops pink food coloring

Directions same as above, replace vanilla extract with strawberry and omit the chocolate, add food coloring at the end.


Vanilla Glaze

* 1 Tablespoon milk
* 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
* 1/2 cup sifted confectioners' sugar

mix all ingredients together until smooth.

For the cinnamon sugar coated muffins, I just dipped the whole muffin in melted butter then rolled in a cinnamon sugar mixture.
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Be careful with these, they may seem small and harmless, but it's easy to eat more than a few!