My favorite interpretation of the name Wolf Moon relates it to the Wolf Trail or Road—a traditional Blackfoot name for the Milky Way. In northern climates, the stars in the winter sky are much brighter and clearer than during the rest of the year because there is so much less humidity, meaning there is no haze to obstruct your view. While teh night of a full moon isn’t always the best for star gazing (but do some January star gazing for sure!), it does provide a great opportunity to learn about the Wolf Road and make these amazing donuts for a Wolf Moon celebration. I use store bought donuts (that account for everyone’s allergies) making this a deceptively easy project.
Chocolate Wolves:
- food safe silicone wolf mold
- chocolate melting wafers (dark, milk of white chocolate)
- white food color (optional)
Galaxy Icing:
- 1/4 cup meringue powder
- 1/2 cup cold water
- 4- 4 ¼ cups powdered sugar
- black tahini
- blue butterfly pea powder
- beet powder
- ube powder
- matcha powder
- edible star glitter
- Pre-made donuts of your choice. (You can make them, bake them or buy them. I always buy them and get some regular and some gluten free!)
Method:
Make the chocolate wolves:
Heat the chocolate discs in the microwave slowly until just melted. Stir until smooth. (you can also use a double boiler if you prefer.) Pour into wolf mold and alllow to set completely in the fridge. (Several hours of overnight) Carefully unmold. Paint with white food color if desired.
*A note on wolf molds– I couldn’t find a commercially available mold that I liked so I made this one. Making a food safe silicone mold is actually easier than it sounds, but if you don’t mind one with a flat back, then they are available online and easier to both fill and unmold.
Make the galaxy icing:
Beat the water and meringue powder in a mixer until it holds peaks. Sift in the powdered sugar and continue to beat until you have a stiff glossy icing.
Divide the icing into 5 bowls (use less if you aren’t using all the colors) with one being the main “dipping bowl.” The icing in this larger bowl should remain white. Tint the other smaller bowls with the black tahini, blue butterfly pea powder, beet powder, ube powder, and matcha powder. Start with around a teaspoon of color and adjust to your taste. Alternatively you could use food coloring if you prefer.
Drip each color into the white dipping bowl one at a time. It doesn’t really matter how you do it and it can be pretty haphazard. Dip your donuts in twisting a little as you pull it out. Let some of the excess drip off and then place on parchment. Sprinkle with edible star glitter. and top with a wolf chocolate.
Allow to dry and then store in an airtight container. (If any are left…)
*All of the color powders on this list will be expensive to buy all at once if you don’t use them for other things, so if you don’t think they’ll be of use to you just use food coloring instead.
**Meringue powder on the other hand is infinitely useful and if you’ve never made royal icing this way I cannot recommend it enough.
***Nerd Fact: I actually developed this recipe in honor of the Loth Wolves in Star Wars Rebels.
