Strawberry Buttermilk Doughnuts

I was ecstatic when I learned of a "u-pick" berry patch only a few minutes away from our house. I knew that we had to go pick strawberries right away! I stalked their Facebook page until they announced that the berries were ready for picking. We immediately rushed out there. Ryder loved to pick the strawberries, take one bite, then toss the remainder into our bucket. I couldn't help but giggle at the sight of the red juice dripping from his chin as he devoured berry after berry.

 The best part is when you pick them yourselves they are much cheaper! We spent half as much for a little more than a pound than we would pay in stores or at Farmer's Market. I think we will definitely go pack next week for more!

 And what did we do with all of the strawberries that didn't have a bite taken out of them? We made Strawberry Buttermilk Doughnuts, of course! They are just as addicting as the fresh strawberries themselves.

Strawberry Buttermilk Doughnuts

2 cups flour

½ cup sugar

1½ teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

¾ cup buttermilk

2 large eggs

¼ cup honey

2 tablespoons butter

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1½ cups strawberries, diced

 FOR GLAZE:

2 cup confectioner's sugar

½ cup strawberries, diced

2 tablespoons sugar

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees and lightly coat a doughnut pan with cooking spray (I rub olive oil on the pan).
2. To make the glaze, combine ½ cup diced strawberries with 2 tablespoons sugar. Stir and mash with fork, letting sit at room temperature until strawberry juice is produced.
3. Add 2-3 tablespoons of this strawberry juice mixture to confectioners sugar and mix well. If glaze seems to runny or to thick, add more strawberry juice or confectioners sugar. Set aside.
4. For the donuts, combine flour, ½ cup sugar, baking powder and salt in a bowl and whisk till combined.
5. In another bowl, combine buttermilk, eggs, honey, butter and vanilla stirring well with a whisk.
6. With a rubber spatula, slowly add wet ingredients into dry ingredients stirring until mixture is just combined. Add 1 cup strawberries and slowly mix in until just combine.
7. Pipe mixture into doughnut pan, filling ⅔ of the way full.
8. Bake for 8 minutes or until a toothpick is inserted and comes out clean.
9. Let cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes, and then dip in glaze and return to wire rack.
10. Enjoy! :)