After meeting with a friend recently, I went shopping.
It was an accidental shopping trip as I was supposed to JUST visit with her, despite our location at the mall, and I did do that, but dangit, I parked right next to Forever 21 and it would be like, so wrong for me to walk by and never say hi to the necklaces.
So I did.
And proceeded to go on a polka dot rampage.
I realized this in the dressing room when I had ten items, all of which adorned polka dots. And one of those items were harem pants.
Now, I have been unsure about harem pants. They’re kind of confusing to wear and really intimidating (must be that five-foot of additional fabric right in the crotchetal area), but they were polka dot, and they were surprisingly cute, and I thought, why not try them on? Maybe I’ll look instantly chic and they’ll be all magical and whatnot.
So I tried on my polka dot ensemble, looking very much like a clown with the wide variety of spotted clothing in my dressing room, and pulled on the harem pants, ready to be wowed.
Lemme tell you. Harem pants are like, the new diet. Wanna know why? Because somewhere in them, there’s like, an instant muffin top eater. It eats your muffin top. Seriously!! Muffasaurus Rex was nowhere to be seen and I was feeling fine and dandy until…
Until I realized it looked like I was a genie clown wearing a diaper.
Or had a very long crotchetal area.
I wasn’t sure which one of the two was worse, as both a diaper-wearing genie clown and having an additional yard of fabric in that region were both cumbersome. Sure, Muffasaurus Rex was gone, but did I really want to look like a genie, or *shudder* a genie with a crotchetal problem? Methinks not.
So I gave up the diaper look and the polka dots and spent $80 on some other stuff.
Moral of the story? If you’re desperate to hide your muffin top, consider harem pants. Sure, you may look like you’re wearing adult diapers, but at least you and your spacious area will look trendy and chic. Unless you’re one of those people who can pull off any look, questionable or otherwise, then I hate you.
Enough about harem pants. They certainly weren’t magical and no carpets started flying, so I moved on to something that was magical. Strawberry Milk Donuts. Now, I know some people dislike strawberry milk (who are you, an alien!?) but I happen to be a fan of it and prefer it over chocolate milk. There’s something about it that I love and I wanted to recreate it into a breakfast staple ’round these parts: Donuts!
These donuts are insanely moist and fluffy and have a fresh strawberry taste to them, despite coming from a box. And the strawberry milk glaze is phenom.
Whether or not you like your milk pink, make ’em! I promise, carpets will fly and Muffasaurus Rex will be happy.
Strawberry Milk Donuts *adapted from the Twice-Glazed Funfetti Cake Donuts recipe
2 & 3/4 cups strawberry cake mix
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
2 Tbsp melted butter
Strawberry milk glaze (recipe + ingredients follow)
Sprinkles
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Liberally grease a 6-cavity donut pan with cooking spray and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, buttermilk, eggs and butter and stir until combined and batter is free of lumps.
3. Pour batter carefully into a gallon-size resealable bag, seal out the air, and snip off a tip in one corner. Pipe the batter into the cavities, filling about 2/3-3/4 full. Bake for approx. 7-9 minutes or until the tops spring back lightly when touched. Cool in the pan for about 5 minutes, then gently shake and invert over a wire rack to release donuts & cool completely.
Strawberry Milk Glaze
2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 pkt Duncan Hines Strawberry Shortcake Recipe Creations mix
2-3 Tbsp milk
1. In a small bowl, combine above ingredients until thick. Add more milk if needed; you want the icing to be a thick glaze consistency, not runny.
2. Dip the tops of the cooled donuts into the glaze; allow excess to drip off. Sprinkle immediately with rainbow sprinkles. Allow glaze to set, about 15 minutes.
3. Best served the same day, but feel free to store at room temperature in a paper bag for about 1 day.
Eek! These donuts were some of my favorites. Jimmies on donuts are practically necessary, so don’t skimp on that part 🙂 I hope you love them!
xo, Hayley
PS–do you LOVE that donut dish towel as much as I do? Hope so, ’cause I bought an extra to give away in a future post, so stay tuned! xo.
Savory Simple says
Everything you make looks so delicious!
Chloe says
These look great! As do all of your other recipes actually!! I made your Twinkie Cupcakes for a family gathering, and I think my dad wanted to hide them so there would be leftovers just for him! I discovered your blog through Pinterest and thought it was awesome. My younger sister’s name is Hayley too….spelled just like yours….and you have a sister Chloe I saw on another post..which is my name…not a common combo! Thanks for all your great recipes!!
The Domestic Rebel says
Hey Chloe! Thanks so much for your sweet comment. So funny that you’re named Chloe and have a younger sister named Hayley… we’re opposite sister-name twins! Haha. I’m glad you enjoy the blog and the recipes–thanks for reading!
Heather@DieteticSinners says
I wish my sister lived near by so I could make these to share. She prefers strawberry milk over chocolate milk too. Oh well. Guess I’ll just have to eat them all by myself.
The Domestic Rebel says
Haha Heather, I fully endorse that decision; it’s easy to do!
Mercedes says
These look just like the donuts the Simpsons eat! I love how pink they are! So cute!
crazyforcrust says
Okay, I know I’m old because I’ve never heard of harem pants?! They sound like Hammer pants, lol. Pink donuts, I’m so in!
The Domestic Rebel says
They ARE hammer pants. And so ugly.
Elle says
I know this might be a silly question, but can you make these in anything other than a donut pan? Don’t have one of those and would rather try these sooner than later!
The Domestic Rebel says
Hey Elle! I’m not sure how well it’d work any other way, except it MAY work frying it… but I’ve never tried it that way. However, I have a sneak peek for you, missy: I will be doing a fun donut giveaway here soon and will giveaway a pan! Hopefully you’ll enter to win it when it goes live 🙂
Tanya Schroeder says
Wait a minute, Harem pants??? I thought those went out when MC Hammer went bankrupt??? Heck, forget fashion, gimme THESE pleasingly pink donuts! BTW, I was always partial to strawberry milk too. Totally underrated.
The Witch's Kitchen says
I think I’m in that old group. MC Hammer wore those haram pants back in the day. Although I don’t remember him in polka dots.
“you can’t touch this. HAMMER TIME!”
The Domestic Rebel says
Lol, they’re the same thing! Ugh, how and why they’re back in style plagues me.
Heather says
Ill be honest – not a strawberry milk fan, but for doughnuts I’d make an exception:)
Back For Seconds says
I’m glad you passed on the harem pants. I don’t understand why people wear them, like you said it totally gives you the diaper look, ha!
These look so girly and perfect, and I want one bad! Love ll the sprinkles 🙂
erinmotz says
A word on harem pants: *ahem* I see a TON of yoga teachers wearing them, and even though I’m one myself, I just find them awkward! I agree with you – the idea of them is a good one but it does make you look like you’re wearing a giant diaper, haha. Those pretty pink donuts!! I’m thinking of making them for a baby shower! Great great idea!
The Domestic Rebel says
Erin, they were SUPER comfy but yeah, the diaper look is no bueno. I love me some regular ol’ yoga pants 🙂
Ashley says
My son practically LIVES on strawberry milk, so I have no doubt these donuts would be a hit at my house. Don’t you just love that donut pan? Probably the best $10 I’ve ever spent. Eek, and your dishtowel is sooo cute!
The Domestic Rebel says
Seriously THE best $10 ever!!