Chai Spiced Baked Doughnuts

Food photography friends...I had to break out the artificial light for the first time this fall, and it nearly broke my tiny heart. Darkness is coming. Take this time to be thankful for the light, for it is precious. 

Todd requested a dessert for a party being thrown for a co-worker friend who is moving jobs. He always gets to bring the raddest vegan desserts to his work. Remember the pumpkin cinnamon rolls from last year? He requested them again because everyone loved them, but I told him that we had to make something new!

Produce On Parade - Chai Spiced Baked Doughnuts - These baked donuts are infused with chai spice in the batter and the crunchy glaze. A unique doughnut that’s easy to make and sure to be a big hit. The taste is a bit like snickerdoodles.

I reckon some readers are tired of pumpkin this and pumpkin that. Oh, what a life these people must lead that their biggest frustration is an acute obsession with a delicious, orange winter squash. Boo hoo. Who are these people!? I don't know. Honestly, I didn't make them pumpkin doughnuts because Todd is convinced he doesn't like the stuff. Although, I'd like to remind him that he was the one who requested the pumpkin cinnamon rolls again. He's a closet pumpkin lover. 

“Rule your mind or it will rule you.”
— Buddha
Produce On Parade - Chai Spiced Baked Doughnuts - These baked donuts are infused with chai spice in the batter and the crunchy glaze. A unique doughnut that’s easy to make and sure to be a big hit. The taste is a bit like snickerdoodles.

These baked donuts are infused with chai spice in the batter and the crunchy glaze.  A unique doughnut that’s easy to make and sure to be a big hit. The taste is a bit like snickerdoodles.

Produce On Parade - Chai Spiced Baked Doughnuts - These baked donuts are infused with chai spice in the batter and the crunchy glaze. A unique doughnut that’s easy to make and sure to be a big hit. The taste is a bit like snickerdoodles.
Produce On Parade - Chai Spiced Baked Doughnuts - These baked donuts are infused with chai spice in the batter and the crunchy glaze. A unique doughnut that’s easy to make and sure to be a big hit. The taste is a bit like snickerdoodles.
Produce On Parade - Chai Spiced Baked Doughnuts - These baked donuts are infused with chai spice in the batter and the crunchy glaze. A unique doughnut that’s easy to make and sure to be a big hit. The taste is a bit like snickerdoodles.
Produce On Parade - Chai Spiced Baked Doughnuts - These baked donuts are infused with chai spice in the batter and the crunchy glaze. A unique doughnut that’s easy to make and sure to be a big hit. The taste is a bit like snickerdoodles.
Produce On Parade - Chai Spiced Baked Doughnuts - These baked donuts are infused with chai spice in the batter and the crunchy glaze. A unique doughnut that’s easy to make and sure to be a big hit. The taste is a bit like snickerdoodles.
Produce On Parade - Chai Spiced Baked Doughnuts - These baked donuts are infused with chai spice in the batter and the crunchy glaze. A unique doughnut that’s easy to make and sure to be a big hit. The taste is a bit like snickerdoodles.
Produce On Parade - Chai Spiced Baked Doughnuts - These baked donuts are infused with chai spice in the batter and the crunchy glaze. A unique doughnut that’s easy to make and sure to be a big hit. The taste is a bit like snickerdoodles.
Produce On Parade - Chai Spiced Baked Doughnuts - These baked donuts are infused with chai spice in the batter and the crunchy glaze. A unique doughnut that’s easy to make and sure to be a big hit. The taste is a bit like snickerdoodles.
Produce On Parade - Chai Spiced Baked Doughnuts - These baked donuts are infused with chai spice in the batter and the crunchy glaze. A unique doughnut that’s easy to make and sure to be a big hit. The taste is a bit like snickerdoodles.
Produce On Parade - Chai Spiced Baked Doughnuts - These baked donuts are infused with chai spice in the batter and the crunchy glaze. A unique doughnut that’s easy to make and sure to be a big hit. The taste is a bit like snickerdoodles.
Produce On Parade - Chai Spiced Baked Doughnuts - These baked donuts are infused with chai spice in the batter and the crunchy glaze. A unique doughnut that’s easy to make and sure to be a big hit. The taste is a bit like snickerdoodles.
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Chai Spiced Baked Doughnuts
by October-3-2014
These baked donuts are infused with chai spice in the batter and the crunchy glaze. A unique doughnut that’s easy to make and sure to be a big hit. The taste is a bit like snickerdoodles. NOTES: For an extra chai kick, try using chai tea by steeping one tea bag in ¾ cup water. Or, just plain water can be used. If you need a chai spice mix recipe, I like the one from Fit Foodie Finds.
Ingredients
  • ¾ cup chai tea or water
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup vegan sugar
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 tsp. chai spice
  • ¼ tsp. kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • -- Glaze --
  • 1/4 cup full-fat coconut milk (or other non-dairy milk)
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3/4 tsp. chai spice
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375° F. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour through and including the salt for the doughnuts. Make a well in the center with a large spoon.In a small bowl, whisk together the tea or water, oil, vinegar, and vanilla. Pour into the dry well, while stirring. Stir until just combined.Scoop the batter into a regular doughnut pan coated with a nonstick cooking spray. The wells should be filled about ¾ the way full. Too full and the doughnut hole will close in, not filled full enough and the doughnut will have a huge hole in the center. If you have a six doughnut pan like me, you will bake them in batches. If you have a twelve doughnut pan, you can do them all at once, just be sure they are cooled for about 20 minutes before glazing. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for a minute. Then, run a butter knife blade around each doughnut to loosen it from the pan. Tip the pan upside-down to remove the doughnuts. Place them on a wire cooling rack. Repeat with remaining batter.Once the second batch of donuts is done baking and has cooled for about 5 minutes, it’s time to make the glaze. Whisk together the glaze ingredients in a small saucepan over low heat for several minutes until runny. Then, immediately dip the doughnuts face-first into the glaze one by one and set back on the cooling rack. Then repeat again for a second glaze dip. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar if you like and allow to dry on the rack. It will take a few hours for the glaze to set and be somewhat hard.Store in an airtight container.
Details
Prep time: Cook time: Total time: Yield: 12 doughnuts
"Hey, give me some of those doughnuts, or else!"

"Hey, give me some of those doughnuts, or else!"

Produce On Parade - Chai Spiced Baked Doughnuts - These baked donuts are infused with chai spice in the batter and the crunchy glaze. A unique doughnut that’s easy to make and sure to be a big hit. The taste is a bit like snickerdoodles.
Produce On Parade - Chai Spiced Baked Doughnuts - These baked donuts are infused with chai spice in the batter and the crunchy glaze. A unique doughnut that’s easy to make and sure to be a big hit. The taste is a bit like snickerdoodles.
Still need more doughnuts? You'll probably enjoy these Cookie Dough Doughnuts too!

Still need more doughnuts? You'll probably enjoy these Cookie Dough Doughnuts too!

Dutch Word of The Day

Doughnut --> Berlinerbol

Good Deed of The Day

Did you see the news recently? Do you know what the photo below is of? That's a mass of 35,000 walruses that have come ashore at Point Lay, Alaska because their ice caps that they normally go to have melted. Scary is an understatement.  I think we should all tell our senators that we need immediate, strong climate action in order to save the grand walrus and many other beautiful, threatened species. 

Photo from NBC News. Link above. 

Photo from NBC News. Link above. 

Matcha Mint Chia Pudding & A Review

I love matcha.

I love it prepared traditionally (as much as a white, Alaskan girl can...). I love it whisked into cold coconut milk with maple syrup. I love matcha lattes, and thrown into my smoothies too! Of course the stuff can be expensive. Especially if you're buying the ceremonial, high quality matcha. 

Produce On Parade - Matcha Mint Chia Pudding - A smooth and creamy pudding made with chia seeds and non-dairy milk starring bright green matcha and sweetened with agave nectar.

However, there are several different grades of matcha. Simply, they can be organized into culinary matcha (used for recipes, baking, smoothies, etc.), quality drinking matcha (best for matcha drinkers who don't require a super high quality matcha for their tea...like me), and then finally ceremonial super-premium matcha (very expensive and I'm no where near rich or exquisitely-palated enough to purchase it, though sometimes I wish I was).

Matcha is so beneficial because it's basically the baby green tea leaves just completely pulverized, so you're consuming the entire leaf (as opposed to just soaking it in hot water, like most teas). Try buying regular green tea leaves in the bulk section and tossing them into your smoothies for equal nutrition but a little more wallet friendly. However, if it's the matcha taste you want, then it's best to use actual matcha. If it's solely the nutrition of the actual tea leaves though...give plain green tea leaves a try. 

Today, I've created a smooth and creamy pudding made with chia seeds and non-dairy milk, featuring bright green matcha and sweetened with agave nectar. It's made with Kiss Me Organics Culinary Grade Organic Matcha, which was gifted to me to test. 

Produce On Parade - Matcha Mint Chia Pudding - A smooth and creamy pudding made with chia seeds and non-dairy milk starring bright green matcha and sweetened with agave nectar.
Produce On Parade - Matcha Mint Chia Pudding - A smooth and creamy pudding made with chia seeds and non-dairy milk starring bright green matcha and sweetened with agave nectar.
Produce On Parade - Matcha Mint Chia Pudding - A smooth and creamy pudding made with chia seeds and non-dairy milk starring bright green matcha and sweetened with agave nectar.
Produce On Parade - Matcha Mint Chia Pudding - A smooth and creamy pudding made with chia seeds and non-dairy milk starring bright green matcha and sweetened with agave nectar.
Produce On Parade - Matcha Mint Chia Pudding - A smooth and creamy pudding made with chia seeds and non-dairy milk starring bright green matcha and sweetened with agave nectar.

I was thrilled to try this matcha. Normally, I buy matcha from an ethnic market in Anchorage, but it's the middle of the road matcha that I use for drinking and I would never put it in my smoothies or recipes. The Kiss Me Organics matcha is great for recipes though. It lends a bold matcha flavor that's perfect in dishes. I whisked it into cold coconut milk, which was wonderful. However, I didn't prefer it to my other matcha when drinking hot tea. No surprise there though, it's not for that!

Produce On Parade - Matcha Mint Chia Pudding - A smooth and creamy pudding made with chia seeds and non-dairy milk starring bright green matcha and sweetened with agave nectar.

Because I don't buy culinary grade matcha, I haven't made many recipes with it, so this was fun and exciting! I can't wait to possibly bake with it and make other fun matcha infused recipes. 

I'll definitely buy this matcha again. It's $6.25 for one once. The same brand of matcha I normally buy is $13.65 for one ounce. The same brand, but culinary grade is $8.69 for one once and the ceremonial grade is $18.08 for one once, for comparison. 

Have you added matcha to your recipes? What's your favorite way to use culinary matcha? I want to make cupcakes soon!

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Matcha Mint Chia Pudding
by September-8-2014
A smooth and creamy pudding made with chia seeds and non-dairy milk starring bright green matcha and sweetened with agave nectar. Inspired by Detoxinista.
Ingredients
  • 2 cups non-dairy milk of preference
  • 6 Tbsp. chia seeds
  • 2 Tbsp. agave nectar
  • 2 tsp. culinary grade matcha
  • 2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • small pinch of kosher salt
  • 6 fresh mint leaves
Instructions
Place everything in a high speed blender and blend on high for a few minutes until smooth and it begins to gel. Place in fridge for about 3 hours to set.
Details
Prep time: Cook time: Total time: Yield: 2 cups
Produce On Parade - Matcha Mint Chia Pudding - A smooth and creamy pudding made with chia seeds and non-dairy milk starring bright green matcha and sweetened with agave nectar.
Produce On Parade - Matcha Mint Chia Pudding - A smooth and creamy pudding made with chia seeds and non-dairy milk starring bright green matcha and sweetened with agave nectar.
Produce On Parade - Matcha Mint Chia Pudding - A smooth and creamy pudding made with chia seeds and non-dairy milk starring bright green matcha and sweetened with agave nectar.

German Word of The Day

Green tea --> Grüntee (groon-teeh)

Good Deed of The Day

Guess what? You ladies can keep wearing yo' bras. Damn. Check out this article on the new study that was conducted to find out whether or not bra-wearing gave women an increased risk for breast cancer. It didn't

*DISCLAIMER*  PRODUCE ON PARADE IS A PERSONAL BLOG WRITTEN AND EDITED BY MYSELF ONLY, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. MY REVIEWS ARE COMPLETELY BASED ON MY OWN OPINION OF THE PRODUCT REVIEWED. I AM NOT PAID TO WRITE POSTS. THESE PRODUCTS WERE SUPPLIED TO ME AS GIFTS FROM THE COMPANY TO TEST AND REVIEW. OTHERWISE, IF I MENTION A COMPANY BY NAME AND THERE IS NO DISCLAIMER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST, I AM MERELY WRITING ABOUT SOMETHING I LIKE, PURCHASE AND/OR USE. THE FACT THAT I DO RECEIVE A PRODUCT AS A GIFT TO TEST AND REVIEW, WILL NEVER POSITIVELY INFLUENCE THE CONTENT MADE IN THIS POST.

Cookie Dough Doughnuts

“Cakes are special. Every birthday, every celebration ends with something sweet, a cake, and people remember. It’s all about the memories.”
— Buddy Valastro

Or sometimes, instead of a cake...it's birthday doughnuts. Cookie dough doughnuts to be specific. Made from scratch and vegan to boot.

Produce On Parade - Cookie Dough Doughnuts - A fluffy, perfectly textured vanilla doughnut layered high with creamy and delicious cookie dough. Super decadent and sure to be a huge hit!

When I asked Todd what he wanted for dessert on his birthday, he told me "cookie dough". Hmmm, okay. I can do that I guess. I know the man also loves doughnuts. He used to consume them on a very regular and not-so-secretive basis, before we went vegan. However, living in Alaska, I can't think of a single place to purchase a vegan doughnut. Even the crappy drugstore kind (he loves those too) aren't vegan. Thus, Todd hasn't had a single doughnut in a very long time. 

Aware of this doughnut famine, a while back I bought an actual doughnut pan. When he told me he wanted only cookie dough for his birthday dessert, I knew instantly what needed to be done. Cookie dough doughnuts. This was the first time I had ever used the pan and it worked perfectly. I was a little afraid that the doughnuts would taste, well, not really like doughnuts specifically. Just because they're in the shape of a doughnut does not mean a doughnut they will be. You feel me? But, doughnuts these most definitely were!

Produce On Parade - Cookie Dough Doughnuts
Produce On Parade - Cookie Dough Doughnuts
Produce On Parade - Cookie Dough Doughnuts
Produce On Parade - Cookie Dough Doughnuts
Produce On Parade - Cookie Dough Doughnuts
Produce On Parade - Cookie Dough Doughnuts

Todd was pretty surprised and extraordinarily happy to have his first doughnut in over a year and a half. Plus, whenever there's cookie dough involved, the happiness aura in life is instantaneously elevated.

Produce On Parade - Cookie Dough Doughnuts
Produce On Parade - Cookie Dough Doughnuts

Todd might have put himself into a birthday, cookie dough doughnut coma that day. He told me it was absolutely worth it. 

Produce On Parade - Cookie Dough Doughnuts
Produce On Parade - Cookie Dough Doughnuts

We're puppy sitting this week for a friend. Meet Nala! She is Bailey's mini-me. But...a girl...obviously. They are BFFs...obviously. 

Produce On Parade - Cookie Dough Doughnuts

Isn't she the sweetest?

Produce On Parade - Cookie Dough Doughnuts

German Word of The Day

Doughnut --> Krapfen (crahp-fen)

Good Deed of The Day

Cow's milk is so super disturbing. There are so many plant-based alternatives, why on Earth do many Americans still drink it? It's not like the elimination of all dairy products has been found to cure constipation in up to 100% of kids tested, leading to a resolution of rectal inflammation and complications such as anal fissures. Oh wait, yep, it has. The same has been proven in adults as well. Do you or a loved one have anal fissures and/or rectal inflammation? Or just think cow dairy is really scary (a rhyme!)? Switch to non-dairy milk! You heard it here first people, anal fissures. No fun. This guy knows what I'm talking about.