Homer's Pink Doughnut
A classic ring doughnut with bright pink icing and colorful sprinkles, Homer Simpson's single most iconic snack.
- prep
- 30 min
- cook
- 10 min
- total
- 40 min
- serves
- 10
- level
- medium
This exact pink-iced, sprinkle-topped doughnut is Homer Simpson's single most iconic snack across the entire run of The Simpsons, instantly recognizable and closely tied to the character's whole easygoing personality.
A bright, cheerful pink, built up gradually with food coloring rather than left as a muted dusty shade, and sprinkles added the moment the icing goes on, are the two details that actually make this look right.
Part of our 60 famous foods from movies and TV list.
method
Dissolve the yeast in the warm milk with a pinch of the sugar, and let sit for 10 minutes until foamy.
Mix the flour, remaining sugar and salt. Add the yeast mixture, melted butter and eggs, and mix into a soft dough.
Knead for 8 to 10 minutes, until smooth and elastic.
Cover and let rise for about 1 hour, until doubled.
Roll the dough out to about 1.5cm thick, and cut into rings using two different sized round cutters.
Let the cut rings rise again for 20 to 30 minutes.
Heat the oil to 175°C (350°F), and fry the doughnuts for 1 to 2 minutes per side, until golden. Drain on paper towels and cool.
Mix the icing sugar, milk and pink food coloring into a smooth, thick icing.
Dip the top of each cooled doughnut into the icing, and immediately scatter with sprinkles before it sets.
chef's tips
- Dip the icing on while it's still wet and immediately apply the sprinkles; waiting even a minute lets the icing start to set and the sprinkles won't stick properly.
- This exact pink-iced, sprinkle-topped doughnut is Homer Simpson's single most iconic snack across the entire run of The Simpsons, closely tied to the character's whole personality.
- Letting the dough rise twice, once before cutting and once after, gives a lighter, airier doughnut than skipping the second rise.
- Build the pink color up gradually with the food coloring until it matches that bright, cheerful, cartoonish shade rather than a muted dusty pink.