Colorful Glazed Donuts

Instructions:
1. Make the Donut Dough
To begin, combine the warm milk and sugar in a small bowl. Sprinkle the active dry yeast over the milk mixture and stir to combine. Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes, or until the yeast becomes frothy. This step activates the yeast and helps the dough rise beautifully.
In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour and salt. Once the yeast mixture is ready, add the egg, melted butter, and yeast mixture to the flour. Mix everything together until a soft dough forms. If the dough is too sticky, you can add a little more flour, one tablespoon at a time, until it’s smooth and slightly tacky.
Knead the dough for about 5-7 minutes on a lightly floured surface, or until it becomes elastic and smooth. You can also use a stand mixer with a dough hook to make this process easier.
2. Let the Dough Rise
Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover it with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it doubles in size. This is when the yeast works its magic, making the donuts light and fluffy.
3. Shape the Donuts
Once the dough has risen, punch it down gently to release the air bubbles. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and roll it out to about ½ inch thick. Use a donut cutter, or two round cutters (one large and one small), to cut out donut shapes.
Place the cut donuts onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and cover them loosely with a kitchen towel. Allow the donuts to rise for an additional 30 minutes, so they puff up and become nice and fluffy.
4. Fry the Donuts
While the donuts are rising, heat oil in a deep fryer or large pot to 350°F (175°C). Carefully drop the donuts into the hot oil, frying them in batches to avoid overcrowding. Fry for about 1-2 minutes per side, or until they are golden brown. Use a slotted spoon to remove the donuts from the oil and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
5. Make the Glaze
While the donuts are cooling slightly, prepare the glaze. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons of milk. Stir until smooth and pourable. If you prefer a thicker glaze, add less milk; for a thinner glaze, add a little more milk, one teaspoon at a time.
Now comes the fun part—coloring the glaze! Divide the glaze into separate bowls based on how many colors you’d like to make. Add a few drops of food coloring to each bowl and stir until the desired colors are achieved. You can create a variety of colors, like red, green, blue, or purple, to make the donuts as vibrant as you like.
6. Glaze the Donuts
Once the donuts have cooled slightly, dip each donut into the colorful glaze, coating it evenly on top. Let any excess glaze drip off before placing the donuts on a cooling rack or a parchment paper-lined tray to set. You can dip each donut in a different color or even mix and match to create a rainbow of donuts.
7. Add a Chocolate Drizzle (Optional)
For an extra indulgent touch, drizzle some melted chocolate over the glazed donuts. You can use dark, milk, or white chocolate for this, depending on your preference. The combination of colorful glaze and a rich chocolate drizzle creates a mouthwatering contrast.
8. Let the Glaze Set
Allow the donuts to sit for about 10-15 minutes, letting the glaze firm up before serving. The glaze will harden slightly, creating a sweet and shiny coating that holds its color beautifully.