How to Ice a Donut Cake

Coat your doughnut cake with sprinkles while the glaze is still wet.

A doughnut cake is a whimsical, delicious dessert to display and serve at a birthday party or other informal gathering. A doughnut cake pan set offers you a blank canvas: You can bake a plain yellow doughnut cake and top it with a chocolate glaze and sprinkles, or you can make a more complicated combination, such as a peanut butter cake with a jelly-infused glaze. Ice your doughnut cake with an easily pourable glaze and decorate with sprinkles for an impressive dessert that looks like a giant version of the classic breakfast treat.

Things You'll Need

• Double boiler
• 5 tbsp. unsalted butter
• 4 oz. semisweet chocolate chips
• 2 1/4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup hot water
• Large liquid measuring cup
• Sprinkles
• Canned frosting (two contrasting colors)

Instructions

Chocolate Glazed Doughnut Cake with Sprinkles

1. Follow the instructions on a box of cake mix or your favorite recipe to prepare a yellow cake batter. Bake and cool the cake according to the instructions that came with your doughnut pan set.

2. Bring 1 inch of water in the bottom of a double boiler to a slow simmer over medium heat. Heat the butter and chocolate chips in the top of the double boiler for about 1 to 2 minutes or until the mixture is melted completely, stirring to combine. Add the powdered sugar, vanilla and water; whisk until combined.

3. Pour the glaze into a large measuring cup with a pouring spout. Pour the glaze slowly over the cooled doughnut cake in one layer. Pour extra glaze at several points so it can drizzle down the sides of the cake. While the glaze is still warm, decorate with colored sprinkles.

4. Let the glaze set for at least 15 minutes before you slice and serve the doughnut cake.

Drizzled Doughnut Cake

1. Follow the instructions on a box of cake mix or use a recipe to prepare your favorite cake batter. Bake and cool the cake according the instructions that came with your doughnut pan set.

2. In a large measuring cup with a pouring spout, heat 2/3 cup of the frosting that you want to be the dominant flavor (chocolate or vanilla, for example) in the microwave for 10 to 20 seconds on high until it is thin enough to pour over the cake.

3. Pour the glaze slowly over the cooled doughnut cake in one layer. Pour extra glaze at several points so it can drizzle down the sides of the cake.

4. Let the first layer of glaze set for at least 15 minutes. Microwave 1/3 cup of the contrasting frosting on high for five to 10 seconds or until the frosting is thin enough to pour.

5. Drizzle the contrasting frosting over the first layer of frosting with a spoon or small ladle. Drizzle random lines or make swirling patterns or stripes. While the glaze is still warm, decorate with sprinkles.

6. Let the glaze set for at least 15 minutes before you slice and serve the doughnut cake.

Tips & Warnings

• Substitute any kind of small candy, such as miniature chocolate chips or candy-coated chocolates, for sprinkles.

• Do not overheat canned frosting or it may melt into the cake the next day. Microwave just until it is pourable.

References

• Williams-Sonoma: Chocolate-Glazed Donut Cake
• Betty Crocker: Frosting FAQ