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    Home » Desserts » Coconut Doughnuts with Salted Caramel Icing

    Mar 5, 2021 · Modified: Mar 5, 2021 by Sues · This post may contain affiliate links, uses cookies, and generates income via ads · View privacy policy + disclosure statement linked in footer · 12 Comments

    Coconut Doughnuts with Salted Caramel Icing

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Coconut and salted caramel are a flavor match made in heaven and you'll be obsessed with these Coconut Doughnuts with Salted Caramel Icing. They're baked, easy to make, and a fun breakfast treat or tasty dessert.

    Plate with four coconut doughnuts with salted caramel icing with rack with more doughnuts in background and recipe title at top

    This post was originally published in May 2013, but has been updated with new photos in 2021.

    There are certain foods that are just destined to be together: Bacon and eggs. Peanut butter and jelly. Burgers and fries. Chocolate and red wine.

    But why is nobody talking about coconut and salted caramel? These two flavors are a match made in heaven and for some reason, they're not getting any attention when we should be throwing them a lavish wedding so they can express their commitment to each other and assure us they will stay together until death do them part.

    Or you know, until we eat them.

    Yes, I'm suggesting coconut and salted caramel get married. If you think I'm crazy, that's just because you haven't tried these coconut doughnuts with salted caramel icing yet. Once you try them, you'll be calling the wedding venues and booking the band right along with me.

    How to Make Coconut Doughnuts

    These coconut doughnuts are baked and so, so easy to make. All you need is a doughnut pan (I have that one and love it!) and a couple bowls. No stand mixer or hand mixer required!

    To start, pre-heat oven to 325 degrees and spray a donut pan with cooking spray.

    In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

    In a separate small bowl, lightly whisk eggs. Whisk milk, coconut extract, and melted coconut oil or butter into the eggs, until combined.

    I used to make these doughnuts with melted butter, but I recently started using melted coconut oil and it makes them even more coconut-y and delicious! You can use whatever you have on hand.

    Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, taking care not to over-mix. Over-mixing will make your doughnuts more dense and cake-y instead of moist and light.

    Gently fold in ½ cup coconut.

    Batter with shredded coconut in bowl

    Fill each cavity in donut pan about ¾ of the way with batter.

    I recommend putting the batter in a plastic bag and cutting off the corner to pipe it into the pan (you can also use a pastry bag).

    Batter in doughnut pan

    Bake for 8-10 minutes, until the doughnuts are light and springy to the touch.

    Let cool in the pan for a few minutes and then remove to cool completely on wire rack.

    If you only have a 6-cavity donut pan, repeat with remaining batter.

    Donuts on cooling rack

    How to Make Salted Caramel Icing

    While the doughnuts are baking, make the salted caramel icing. It does require you to make your own super small batch of caramel (I promise it's easy!). But if you'd rather not, you can always use store-bought caramel.

    For caramel making, in a small saucepan set over medium heat, stir together granulated sugar and water. Let mixture come to a simmer and let it simmer until it reaches a dark amber color (keep a close watch on the mixture so it doesn't burn or get too dark).

    Sugar and water simmering in saucepan

    Remove from heat and immediately stir in the heavy cream, vanilla extract, and salt, until the mixture is smooth.

    Salted caramel in saucepan

    Remove to separate bowl and let cool completely.

    In the bowl of a stand mixer with paddle attachment (or in a large mixing bowl with an hand mixer), beat butter on medium speed until it's light and fluffy. Lower mixer speed and beat in confectioner's sugar, until fully combined.

    Beat milk into mixture and pour in cooled caramel sauce. Beat until frosting is light and airy.

    Salted caramel icing in mixing bowl

    How to Frost Doughnuts

    Now you're ready to finish the doughnuts!

    Put the remaining ¼ cup coconut on a small baking sheet and toast for a few minutes, until it's lightly golden, stirring after a minute. Keep a close eye on the coconut as it will burn quickly. If you prefer, you can put it in the oven at 325 degrees for 5-10 minutes, checking frequently and stirring occasionally.

    Frost the coconut doughnuts and immediately sprinkle with toasted coconut.

    Frosted coconut doughnuts with salted caramel icing and toasted coconut on cooling rack

    Take a bite and you will immediately see why I think coconut and salted caramel should get married.

    These donuts are PACKED with coconut flavor and the creamy salted caramel flavor in the icing complements it so well.

    In my personal opinion, these flavors are made even better when enjoyed with a nice cup of coffee. Which means, I'm pretty sure you can eat these coconut doughnuts for breakfast.

    Closeup of four coconut doughnuts with salted caramel icing on plate

    And now I'm kind of obsessed with the idea of food weddings. I love people weddings and they're tons of fun, but food weddings could also be very happy occasions.

    Plus, you get the very best wedding favor at the end of it all: a delicious treat or meal with two made-for-each-other flavors involved.

    And they all lived happily ever after. In my mouth. That sounds really weird, but you know what I mean.

    Landscape overhead view of coconut doughnuts with salted caramel icing on plate with bowl of coconut and cooling rack in background

    More Coconut Recipes

    While I really want coconut to marry salted caramel, I'm not going to pretend coconut wouldn't also make a really great match with many other foods.

    And one of the magical things about coconut is that it can be incorporated into both sweet and savory foods. Here are some of my favorite coconut recipes:

    • Raspberry Coconut French Toast Casserole
    • Chile Lime Salmon Over Coconut Rice
    • Ginger Coconut Whipped Sweet Potatoes
    • Pumpkin Hot Coconut
    • Coconut Cupcakes with Chocolate Mint Buttercream
    • Basil Chicken in Coconut Curry Sauce
    • Coconut Chia Dragon Fruit Smoothie Jars
    • Strawberry Coconut Daiquiri
    • Buttery Coconut Bars (from Kate the Baker)
    • Chocolate Coconut Cream Pie (from The Marble Kitchen)
    Plate with four coconut doughnuts with salted caramel icing with rack with more doughnuts in background

    Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be over hear dreaming up my next coconut and salted caramel recipe and trying to figure out where they should go on their honeymoon.

    And with that I'll see myself out.

    What foods do you want to see in a wedding ceremony?

    Close-up view of a coconut doughnuts with salted caramel icing and toasted coconut on top

    Coconut Donuts with Salted Caramel Icing

    Coconut and salted caramel are a flavor match made in heaven and you'll be obsessed with these Coconut Doughnuts with Salted Caramel Icing. They're baked, easy to make, and a fun breakfast treat or tasty dessert.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Caramel Desserts, Coconut Desserts, Donut Recipes, Doughnut Recipes
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes
    Makes: 12 donuts
    Author: Sues

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups all-purpose flour
    • ¾ cup granulated sugar
    • 2 tsp baking powder
    • 1 tsp salt
    • 2 large eggs
    • ¾ cup whole milk
    • 2 tsp coconut extract
    • 3 Tbsp coconut oil (or unsalted butter), melted
    • ¾ cup coconut, divided
    • 1 batch Salted Caramel Icing (recipe below)

    Salted Caramel Icing

    • 2 Tbsp granulated sugar
    • 1 Tbsp water
    • 2 Tbsp heavy cream
    • 1 tsp vanilla extract
    • ½ tsp salt
    • 6 Tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
    • ½ cup confectioners' sugar
    • 1 Tbsp whole milk

    Instructions

    • Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees and spray a donut pan with cooking spray.
    • In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
    • In a separate small bowl, lightly whisk eggs. Whisk milk, coconut extract, and melted coconut oil or butter into the eggs, until combined.
    • Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, taking care not to over-mix. Gently fold in ½ cup coconut.
    • Fill each cavity in donut pan about ¾ of the way with batter. I recommend putting the batter in a plastic bag and cutting off the corner to pipe it into the pan (you can also use a pastry bag).
    • Bake donuts for 8-10 minutes, until they're light and springy to the touch. Let cool in the pan for a few minutes and then remove to cool completely on wire rack. If you only have a 6-cavity donut pan, repeat with remaining batter.
    • Put the remaining ¼ cup coconut on a small baking sheet and toast for a few minutes, until it's lightly golden, stirring after a minute. Keep a close eye on the coconut as it will burn quickly. If you prefer, you can put it in the oven at 325 degrees for 5-10 minutes, checking frequently and stirring occasionally.
    • Frost donuts with salted caramel icing and immediately sprinkle with toasted coconut.

    Salted Caramel Icing

    • In a small saucepan set over medium heat, stir together granulated sugar and water.
    • Let mixture come to a simmer and let it simmer until it reaches a dark amber color (keep a close watch on the mixture as it can burn quickly).
    • Remove from heat and immediately stir in heavy cream, vanilla extract, and salt, until the mixture is smooth. Remove to separate bowl and let cool completely.
    • In the bowl of a stand mixer with paddle attachment (or in a large mixing bowl with an hand mixer), beat butter on medium speed until it's light and fluffy. Lower mixer speed and beat in confectioner's sugar, until fully combined.
    • Beat milk into mixture and pour in cooled caramel sauce. Beat until frosting is light and airy.
    Share a Photo of Your Finished Recipe!Mention @wearenotmartha and share a photo if you've made the recipe!

    View Web Story for this recipe.

    Coconut Doughnuts with Salted Caramel Icing
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Simply Life says

      May 21, 2013 at 6:46 am

      too cute- what a fun concept 🙂

    2. Gia Grossman says

      May 21, 2013 at 9:12 am

      I love this idea! Peanut butter can be polygamous and marry everything for me!

    3. Leah | So, How's It Taste? says

      May 21, 2013 at 9:39 am

      I'd be down with food weddings! I like to see things that are out of the ordinary at weddings. Especially the cake. I hate white cake. Thank goodness the groom's cake is always fun! 😉

    4. Monique says

      May 21, 2013 at 11:35 am

      Dark Chocolate and Freshly ground peanut butter.
      I love the concept!
      Also, I took my donut pan out the other day... stared at it. Then put it away and had a cookie.
      I didnt feel like doing dishes after. lol.

    5. Juliana says

      May 21, 2013 at 1:23 pm

      I love your recipe...coconut and salted caramel...delicious!
      Have a lovely week 🙂

    6. Sharon says

      May 21, 2013 at 7:23 pm

      5 stars
      I have had these and I can tell you that they are YUMMY…you should try them too!!

    7. Odetta says

      May 21, 2013 at 7:25 pm

      I bet this is the best combo! And pretty too!

    8. Emily says

      May 21, 2013 at 9:03 pm

      uhhh drool!

    9. Shannon says

      May 22, 2013 at 3:31 pm

      wow, these sound like they are da bomb!

    10. Rachel says

      May 23, 2013 at 11:41 am

      Um, these look AMAZING! I've never made donuts before...I really need to get on that!

    11. Jess @ Sweet Athena says

      May 31, 2013 at 12:02 pm

      Looks like a good pairing to me! Food getting married- sure, why not.

    12. maillot football says

      June 15, 2013 at 5:35 pm

      I appreciate you sharing this article post.Really looking forward to read more. Awesome.

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