Lemon & Strawberry Donuts w/ Homemade Sprinkles | Sailor Moon

          I had tears in my eyes while watching the first episode of the Sailor Moon reboot "Sailor Moon Crystal" this past Saturday. Oh, nostalgia! Oh, girly-girly kick-butt girls (read the lyrics for the intro song–I love it! So moving)! In honor of the advent of this fabulous rebooted series based on the original comics by Naoko Takeuchi I wanted to create something reminiscent of the series via theme and shape. So I made homemade moon and heart sprinkles and lemon yellow and strawberry pink doughnuts! I hope you enjoy!

* To watch "Sailor Moon Crystal" in N. Am. check out Hulu and Crunchyroll.

Note: The homemade sprinkles are made from fondant and need to sit out and dry for at least 24 hours so plan accordingly! If your pink or yellow fondant isn't pale enough simply work in white fondant until it reaches the desired color.

Sailor Moon Inspired Doughnuts!

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Ingredients:
Sprinkles
Pale Pink Fondant (homemade fondant recipe here or use store bought)
Pale Yellow Fondant
Pale Pink Edible Sugar Pearls/Dragees
Pale Yellow Edible Sugar Pearls/Dragees
Doughnuts
1/2 Cup Cake Flour
1/2 Cup All Purpose Flour
1 Tsp. Baking Powder
Pinch of Baking Soda
Pinch of Salt
2 Tbsp. Unsalted Butter, melted
3/4 Cup Sugar
1 Egg
1/4 Cup Greek Yogurt or Sour Cream
1/4 Cup Milk
Zest from 1 Lemon
1 Tbsp. Fresh Lemon Juice
1 Drop Yellow Food Color Gel
Glaze
1/4 Cup Finely Diced Strawberries (seeded skin removed first)
1 Cup Powdered Sugar, sifted
1 Tbsp. Heavy Cream or Milk

Important Items:
Waxed Paper or Parchment Paper
Tiny Heart, Star, & Circle Cutters (I used these polymer clay cutters from Michael's)
Doughnut Pan

Directions:

1. Sprinkles: Roll the fondant out on a clean surface, lightly sprinkled with powdered sugar if your fondant is still a little sticky or tacky, to about 1/16" thickness. Let the fondant get a little bit dry to make the cutting easier. Cut hearts from the pink fondant & stars & moons from the yellow. To make the crescent moon shape simply cut a circle & then use the circle cutter again to cut a piece from the side of the circle to create the crescent shape. Place the little shapes on a waxed or parchment paper lined tray. Let sit out for at least 24 hours to dry & harden (may take longer depending on the humidity in your area).

2. Doughnuts: Preheat your oven to 350ºF. Sift the 1st 5 ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. In a medium bowl (or a large liquid measuring cup) whisk the next 8 ingredients until completely combined. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry & stir together until just combined. Spray your doughnut pan with non-stick spray. Scoop the batter into a plastic baggie, seal, & snip a small-ish hole from one corner of the bag. Pipe the batter into the doughnut pan, filling each section about 2/3 (or a little bit more) full. Bake for about 7-8 minutes & then flip the doughnuts out onto a wire rack to cool (stick them in the freezer for a few minutes to speed up the cooling process). Makes about 8 or 9 doughnuts.

3. Glaze: Sift the powdered sugar into a small bowl & add the finely diced strawberries & milk. Stir until the mixture is smooth & creamy (no powdered sugar chunks remaining). Keep the cooled doughnuts on the wire rack & sit the rack over a foil lined tray. Spoon the strawberry glaze over the doughnuts & re-spoon any glaze that falls onto the tray below. Place the pearl & shape sprinkles on top of the glazed doughnuts & serve immediately (the sprinkles, being made from fondant, will eventually melt from the liquid of the glaze). Great with bitter/not-sweet tea.

* For more "Sailor Moon" food try my Waffle Bows & Naru's Chocolate Parfait! *