Blood Orange and Vanilla Waffle Donuts

Posted by: Nicole Dula on Feb 11 2014

It’s just the best coincidence that blood oranges are in season during Valentine’s Day so I can make things pink. One year I made Blood Orange Heart Scones and those are pretty great, but these waffle donuts are my favorite thing right now. They come together quickly and the recipe makes a small batch of 5 to keep your waffle donut crush in check. I wanted to make another batch as soon as I had my last bite, though.

Aren’t blood oranges the dreamiest? Sigh. I should have a poster-sized picture of them above my bed.

Isn’t everything better in waffle form? I mean Leslie Knope thinks so and so do I. Now I’ve shown you how to make tasty waffles, waffle donuts and waffle eggs benedict making your waffle iron an essential kitchen tool. You’re welcome.

When you’re done glazing your donuts, you’ll have a little extra, but don’t throw it out. Save it in a little jar and I’ll post a bonus recipe soon for using it up.

Print Recipe

Blood Orange and Vanilla Waffle Donuts

Adapted from Sweet Treats and The Faux Martha, makes 5 waffle donuts

Sifting the powdered sugar for the glaze removes lumps. It’s not necessary, but you get a nicer result if you do. One blood orange will yield enough juice for the glaze recipe below.

Ingredients

Blood Orange and Vanilla Waffle Donuts

3 tablespoons of unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
2 tablespoons honey
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup buttermilk
zest of one blood orange

Blood Orange Glaze

1 1/2 cup of powdered sugar, sifted
4 tablespoons of blood orange juice

Instructions

Blood Orange and Vanilla Waffle Donuts

Preheat Belgian waffle iron on high. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, sugar, sea salt and nutmeg.
In another medium bowl, whisk the slightly cooled melted butter, honey, egg, vanilla, buttermilk and blood orange zest until well combined. Switch to a wooden spoon and add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir to combine. The batter will be thick.
Use a 1/4 measuring cup greased with butter to spoon batter onto the middle of each Belgian waffle square. Cook according to the waffle maker’s directions or until the waffle donuts are golden.
Transfer to a cooling rack to cool for a few minutes before glazing.

Blood Orange Glaze

Sift powdered sugar into a medium bowl. Whisk in 4 tablespoons of blood orange juice. You want the glaze to be pretty thick, but you can thin it with additional blood orange juice, if you like.
Transfer glaze to a small bowl that can fit the waffle donuts for easy dunking. Dip the top of the slightly cooled donuts into the glaze and twist for good coverage. Let cool completely or eat immediately.

34 Notes Leave a Note

Sues said on February 11, 2014 at 11:25 am :

These are seriously an amazing idea!! And they look sooo delicious. I’ve been on a major blood orange kick lately 🙂

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- nicoledula said on February 11, 2014 at 12:38 pm :
  
  You must make them, then 🙂 They are so easy!
  
  Reply
Erika said on February 11, 2014 at 12:43 pm :

I LOVE this.. I mean pink waffles.. what’s not to love about these.

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- nicoledula said on February 11, 2014 at 12:55 pm :
  
  Thanks, girl!
  
  Reply
Amy | Club Narwhal said on February 11, 2014 at 12:45 pm :

Nicole, you are a genius! And Leslie Knope would totally approve. I once went to a Mardi Gras celebration in Belgium solely because you got to throw bushels of blood oranges all day long. Such a beautiful fruit 🙂

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- nicoledula said on February 11, 2014 at 12:56 pm :
  
  What?! I must go to Belgium now! Thanks, Amy!
  
  Reply
Megan said on February 11, 2014 at 12:46 pm :

YES! I can’t wait for the bonus recipe. I asked Marc all about these guys after seeing this post.

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- nicoledula said on February 11, 2014 at 12:57 pm :
  
  Ha, yes! You’ll love the bonus recipe and you’ll love these guys, too. I can’t get them off my mind!
  
  Reply
shanna mallon said on February 11, 2014 at 1:16 pm :

literally the only thing stopping me from making these RIGHT NOW is that I do not have blood oranges on hand. Why don’t I have blood oranges on hand? I cannot wait to try these.

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- nicoledula said on February 11, 2014 at 1:33 pm :
  
  Thanks so much, Shanna! Hopefully you can track down a blood orange soon 🙂
  
  Reply
Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough said on February 11, 2014 at 1:48 pm :

Oh man, I’m getting weak in the knees just looking at these doughnuts.

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- nicoledula said on February 11, 2014 at 4:08 pm :
  
  I’m so happy with how they turned out. I need to stop myself from wanting to make them every single morning for breakfast until blood oranges leave for the season. I think baby needs these 🙂
  
  Reply
Grace @ Earthy Feast said on February 11, 2014 at 4:08 pm :

I saw these on Instagram and had to come get a closer look! Wow! I have just about everything on hand to make them! Such a gorgeous and tasty looking treat!

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- nicoledula said on February 11, 2014 at 4:11 pm :
  
  That’s what I love about this recipe, Grace. Pantry staples plus a blood orange is all you need! Thanks for coming by for a closer look 🙂
  
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Korey said on February 12, 2014 at 2:05 am :

You’ve done it! I’ve been contemplating getting a waffle maker (will crowd my tiny playhouse-size kitchen), but now I know I must so I can make these lovelies!

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- nicoledula said on February 12, 2014 at 12:18 pm :
  
  My day is made, Korey! You won’t regret having one and I saved you from having to buy a donut pan, right? 🙂
  
  Reply
autumn said on February 12, 2014 at 6:35 am :

Sooo pretty. Blood oranges are total stunners! And I’m so excited to get on the waffle donut train and try these… maybe this weekend!

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- nicoledula said on February 12, 2014 at 12:19 pm :
  
  Thanks, Autumn! And I know these have been made successfully by subbing in 1 cup of gluten-free flour, too, so let me know how it goes!
  
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Beth said on February 12, 2014 at 12:22 pm :

These look amazing!! Do you think I could use my regular waffle maker?

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- nicoledula said on February 12, 2014 at 12:25 pm :
  
  Hi Beth! I’ve only tried them with my belgian waffle maker with the deep grooves, but give it a try with yours! Cook until your waffle donuts are golden brown and let me know how it goes 🙂
  
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Danguole said on February 13, 2014 at 12:14 am :

This is just a stroke of genius. Well done, ma’am! Your picture would be on Leslie Knope’s wall, right alongside Eleanor Roosevelt. Seriously.

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- nicoledula said on February 13, 2014 at 8:26 am :
  
  I like the sound of that! Thanks, Danguole 🙂
  
  Reply
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Shutterbug said on March 11, 2014 at 12:42 am :

Forget the waffle! I would just make that blood orange glaze and eat it by the spoonful! 😉

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- nicoledula said on March 11, 2014 at 9:33 am :
  
  That is definitely a delicious option! 😉
  
  Reply
Amanda said on December 19, 2014 at 7:17 pm :

Could you make the glaze with blood orange syrup instead?

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- nicoledula said on December 21, 2014 at 2:26 pm :
  
  Hi Amanda! I’ve never used blood orange syrup before, but if the syrup is already rather sweet, it might be too sweet combined with the powdered sugar. Citrus glazes work best because there’s a balance of the tart and tangy with the sweetness from the powdered sugar. You might want to try lemon juice plus a touch of your blood orange syrup to make it pink?
  
  Reply
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Mentioned on: Blood Orange Recipe Collection - The Cottage Market
Burgoyne said on January 11, 2020 at 10:38 am :

So I am making these for the first time can I use regular orange?

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- Nicole Dula said on January 19, 2020 at 1:05 pm :
  
  Absolutely! It won’t have that pretty pink color, but it will taste just as delicious.
  
  Reply