chai-spiced donuts with browned butter glaze

The following photos are what i WISH my mornings looked like.

Bright sunlight, fresh flowers, a donut on my plate and a pot of tea steeping beside a cute milk bottle filled with fresh cream. Ah. That would be the life! Instead, mornings around my house include eating breakfast on the floor of my bedroom while I put my makeup on in front of my full length mirror while watching beauty videos on youtube. Was that a run on sentence? Hmmm. 

Anyway! Let's talk more donuts ok? Theeese little babies are super full of chai flavor and finished with the best thing ever - browned butter glaze. Have you ever tried browned butter? If the answer is no, what are you waiting on?!?!? It can be made in the microwave for goodness sake! If the answer is yes, you've probably already run into your kitchen to start making these. You already know you don't waste a second when someone gives you an excuse to use the nutty, buttery goodness. Smart people!

Here's to wishing that all your mornings as cozy, bright, and flavorful as these pictures! Stay tuned for one more donut recipe later this week!

Chai-Spiced Donuts with Browned Butter Glaze

inspired by Food Mouth

1 cup flour

1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon cardamom

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup milk

1 chai tea bag

1 egg

1/2 stick butter

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1-2 tablespoons milk

salt, to taste

For the Donuts

In a small saucepan heat milk over low heat until steaming. Immerse tea bag in heated milk and let cool. Remove tea bag.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees, and grease donut pan. Set aside.

In a large bowl combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and spices. 

In a separate bowl, whisk together cooled milk, egg, and vanilla extract.

Pour wet ingredients into the dry and mix until just combined. 

Spread batter into prepared donut pan and bake for 7-9 minutes or until the donuts spring back when touched.

Remove immediately from pan and cool donuts on a wire rack.

For the Browned Butter Glaze

In a medium size bowl, combine powdered sugar and salt. Set aside.

In heat proof cereal-sized bowl, microwave butter on high for 1 minute. Remove from microwave and stir. Keep microwaving for 1 minute increments until brown flecks appear on the bottom of the bowl.

Pour browned butter into the bowl with the powdered sugar and whisk. Depending on the texture of the glaze at this point, you can either add a tablespoon of milk to thin the glaze, or add more powdered sugar to thicken it up. I chose to keep my glaze very loose and added a full 2 tablespoons of milk.

To Assemble the Donuts

Once the donuts are cool and the glaze has been prepared, dip donuts into glaze one-by-one and set on a cooling rack over a sheet pan to catch any drippy glaze. Since my glaze was very thin, I dipped my donuts 3 times..if your glaze is thick you may only have to dip once or twice. It's really up to you!

Serve and eat these donuts immediately.