Donut Men

Directions

1. 1
   Combine flour and sugar in a large bowl. Make a well in the center. Whisk yeast and 1/2 cup warm milk in a medium bowl. Let stand for 5 mins or until frothy. Add butter, vanilla extract and egg; whisk to combine. Pour into well. Using a spatula, stir until a soft, sticky dough forms.
2. 2
   Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface; knead for 5 mins or until smooth. Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl. Cover and let stand for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
3. 3
   Punch down dough. Knead until smooth. Roll out dough to 1/3-inch thickness. Using a 5-inch gingerbread man cutter, cut out 8 shapes from dough, re-rolling scraps as necessary. Place 1 inch apart on a large parchment paper-lined baking pan. Cover with parchment paper. Let stand for 30 mins or until risen.
4. 4
   Preheat the oven to 350°F. Brush donuts with 2 tsp milk. Bake for 10 mins or until golden. Transfer to wire racks to cool.
5. 5
   For the icing, sift powdered sugar into a medium heatproof bowl. Add 1-1 1/2 tbsp water to make a firm mixture. Place bowl over a saucepan of simmering water (don't let bottom of bowl touch the water); stir until runny. Spread donut tops with icing. Before icing sets, decorate with sprinkles, colored candies and colored sugar. Let stand until set.