Mandarin Orange Donuts with Ganache Glaze
Mandarin Orange Donuts with Ganache Glaze are packed with mandarin orange flavor in a tender baked donut wrapper. The chocolate scented ganache glaze is an added bonus.
This post is sponsored in conjunction with #SpringSweetsWeek. I received product samples from sponsor companies to help in the creation of the #SpringSweetsWeek recipes. All opinions are mine alone.
I love donuts. But then again, who doesn’t love a good donut. They’re like a mini quick bread that you can pop into your mouth for breakfast. However, if you’re like my mother you’re not a huge fan of fried donuts.
This always made me wonder what she was talking about when she said she didn’t like certain kinds of donuts. Then I was sitting there eating what I thought was my favorite donut and realized it. Fried donuts, if they’re not fried right, just leave a greasy coating over your mouth. It’s kind of gross. And it was my favorite kind of donut, too.
What’s the difference between doughnut and donut?
So, technically, it’s supposed to be doughnut. The first published use of the word doughnut was in a short story in 1808. The following year, Washington Irving used the term in his History of New York.
I’m sure you’re wondering about the nut. At least I was. And a nut is referencing an earlier use of the word to describe a small rounded cake or cookie. Yeah, I had no idea about that either.
Donut on the other hand, was ironically used by a doughnut machine company. All in an effort to make the products more pronounceable by the melting pot of New York. All in an effort to sell their automated doughnut machine. The word wasn’t really all that popular until after the 50’s when Dunkin Donuts was created about the same time.
Do Mandarin orange donuts taste good?
So, I’m getting back to Mom’s original statement about donuts leaving a coating of grease over your mouth. You do not experience this with baked donuts. Because they’re not fried. They’re baked. And you can add as much or as little fat as you want to add in your batter. I added some eggs and some butter. Though eggs are more of a binder and not a fat.
I made these mandarin orange donuts using donut pans. Since it makes a dozen donuts, and the pans only come in six wells, I needed two pans. Why don’t they make a 12 well donut pan? Maybe they do and I just haven’t found it yet. Of course, it worked in my favor because I forgot to set the timer on the first batch, and they got a little extra crispy. Which I didn’t mind.
Do Mandarin orange donuts have orange flavor?
Now, as to the mandarin orange flavor in these donuts. Oh my goodness. The kitchen smelled like an orange grove when they were baking. And I didn’t use one drop of orange extract. Because, to be honest, I haven’t found one that doesn’t taste super fake and gross. Maybe I just haven’t tried the right ones, but the last few just tasted super fake. These Mandarin Orange Donuts taste fresh and have mandarin orange juice and zest in them. And there’s orange cream coffee in both the donuts and the glaze.
I have talked, repeatedly, about how I suck at dipping things in chocolate. I always manager to screw it up and make the chocolate seize somehow. I had to try the ganache several times before it didn’t look chunky. That’s all me, though. Don’t think it’s the recipe or the chocolate. It’s all me.
But I did have a few oven baked donuts turn out okay with the chocolate ganache coating. And don’t they look perfectly delicious? All orange with the, well, Mandarin oranges and covered in delicious chocolate ganache that also has orange flavor. It’s like a double whammy of orange flavors in there!
And that orange color?
That’s all natural. Seriously I didn’t add any orange color what so ever in these baked donuts from scratch. It’s all-natural Mandarin orange flavor and color. And I’m serious when I said the whole kitchen smelled like an orange grove. I couldn’t wait for them to come out of the oven. My mouth was totally watering.
I hope you try making baked donuts at home. They’re super delicious and you can make them as healthy as you like! They bake up quickly and are so delicious.

Mandarin Orange Donuts with Ganache Glaze
Mandarin Orange Donuts with Ganache Glaze are packed with mandarin orange flavor in a tender baked donut wrapper. The chocolate scented ganache glaze is an added bonus.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons Door County Orange Cream
- 1/2 cup boiling water
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/4 sour cream
- 1/4 cup mandarin orange juice
- 1 tablespoon mandarin orange zest
- 2 large eggs
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
- 2/3 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup strong brewed Door County Orange Cream coffee
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Combine the coffee with the boiling water. Set aside.
- Combine the flour with the baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Beat the sugar with the milk and sour cream until combined.
- Stir in the mandarin orange juice and zest.
- Add the eggs one at a time, stirring between each addition.
- Stir in the butter and vanilla extract.
- Make a well in the center of the flour mixture. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
- Allow to rest 5 minutes before pouring into a zip top plastic bag. Cut off one corner and pipe into a donut pan.
- Bake at 350 for 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges.
- While the donuts are baking, combine the chocolate with the cream and coffee in a microwave safe bowl.
- Microwave on high 30 seconds. Stir and continue microwaving at 30 second internals until melted and creamy.
- When the donuts are cool enough to handle, dip them in the chocolate ganache and allow to cool before serving.
Nutrition Information
Yield
12Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 290Total Fat 16gSaturated Fat 10gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 5gCholesterol 62mgSodium 222mgCarbohydrates 35gFiber 2gSugar 21gProtein 4g
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Thanks for the recipe. Where does one find Door Country Orange Cream? I have purchased Door Country Orange Cream Coffee. Is that the same?
Thanks.
Yes! That’s it the same thing.
I love chocolate and orange together these sound so good!
Thanks so much!
Geez!! My taste buds just went off the chart with this delicious recipe!
Thank you! The orange is so good in there.
Orange and choclate together are the perfect match made in heaven. This looks fantastic.
Thanks so much! I agree.
These look glorious, and I finally found out the difference between doughnut and donut!
Right? I never could figure it out without doing some digging. How fun is food history?
I am all about the baked donuts and the orange with the chocolate is perfection.
Thanks so much! I need to make some more baked donuts soon.