These oven baked donuts are ultra soft, fluffy, and moist! They are so fun for breakfast, brunch, and dessert. These donuts take less than 40 minutes and come out better than your local bakery. They are totally customizable and great for any occasion!

Baked donuts.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • These baked donuts are quick and easy to make.
  • This is a simple recipe that can be whipped up in no time.
  • They are healthier than fried donuts.
  • The donuts are moist and fluffy, with a slightly crispy exterior.
  • They are versatile. You can customize the recipe to your liking by adding different flavors of glaze or toppings.
  • They are perfect for any occasion!
  • Baked donuts are a great dessert for potlucks, parties, or simply a weeknight treat.
  • I love making these for a birthday breakfast!
  • Check out these Chocolate Old Fashioned Donuts for another fun recipe.

Ingredients & Substitutes

These are the ingredients and substitutions for baked donuts. Scroll down to the bottom for the full recipe.

Use all-purpose flour for these donuts. I have also tested them using gluten-free flour with great success! I suggest using King Arthur Flour or Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free flour

Granulated sugar adds the sweetness.

Baking powder helps these donuts rise while baking.

Add in a little salt to balance out the sweetness.

Milk helps thin out the donut batter.

Eggs make the donuts light and airy. I do not recommend using vegan eggs or another egg replacement.

Use unsalted melted butter. This adds moisture and a cozy buttery flavor.

Vanilla extract adds a delicious homemade flavor.

For the glaze, use powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Add in slightly more powdered sugar to thicken it. Add in slightly more milk to thin it out.

Lastly, feel free to add sprinkles, chocolate chips, coconut flakes, or nuts on top!

Ingredients for baked donuts.

Taste & Texture

These baked donuts are moist and fluffy, with a slightly crispy exterior.

The glaze is sweet, creamy, and slightly tangy.

When you bite into a baked donut, the flavors and textures come together perfectly for a delicious and satisfying treat!

How to Make

Step 1

First, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a donut pan with non-stick cooking spray.

Step 2

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

Whisk with flour.

Step 3

In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract until well combined.

Step 4

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.

Donut batter in bowl.

Step 5

Spoon the batter into a piping bag or a resealable plastic bag with the corner snipped off. Pipe the batter into the prepared donut pan, filling each cavity about 2/3 full.

Piping bag with batter.

Step 6

Bake the donuts for 12-15 minutes, or until they are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Step 7

Remove the donuts from the oven and let them cool in the pan for a few minutes. Then, transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Soft donuts.

Step 8

For the glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a small bowl until smooth and well combined. Add more milk if needed to achieve your desired consistency.

Donuts with glaze.

Step 9

If desired, add food coloring to the glaze for different colored donuts. Dip the cooled donuts into the glaze, allowing any excess to drip off.

Step 10

If desired, add sprinkles or other toppings to the glazed donuts.

Step 11

Let the glaze set for a few minutes before serving.

Glazed doughnuts.

Step 12

Lastly, enjoy the freshly baked and glazed donuts!

Expert Tips for Success

Here are a few expert tips and tricks for making the best baked donuts.

Use room temperature ingredients. This will help the batter come together more easily.

Do not overmix the donut batter. Overmixing will make the donuts tough.

Bake the donuts until they are golden brown. Be careful to not overbake.

Let the donuts cool completely before glazing them. This will help prevent the glaze from melting.

Add more milk or more powdered sugar to reach the desired consistency.

Homemade doughnuts with glaze.

Flavor Variations & Add-Ins

You can easily customize this baked donut recipe to your liking by adding different flavors of glaze or toppings. Here are a few ideas.

  • Vanilla glaze
  • Chocolate glaze
  • Strawberry glaze
  • Maple glaze
  • Sprinkles
  • Chocolate chips
  • Nuts
  • Fruit
  • Apple cider

How to Serve & Store

Baked donuts are best served fresh.

Serve with a glass of milk, coffee, tea, or smoothie.

For a full brunch spread, serve with eggs, bacon, quiche, and fresh fruit.

This donut cake is so fun too!

However, these donuts can also be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I make these donuts ahead of time?

Yes, you can make these donuts ahead of time and freeze them. Just let them cool completely before freezing them. When you’re ready to serve them, thaw them overnight in the refrigerator and then glaze them.

How do I prevent the glaze from melting?

To prevent the glaze from melting, let the donuts cool completely before glazing them. You can also refrigerate the donuts for a few minutes before glazing them.

What are some other ways to decorate these donuts?

You can decorate these donuts with a variety of different toppings, such as sprinkles, chocolate chips, or nuts. You can also pipe the glaze into different shapes, such as flowers or hearts.

Do baked donuts taste the same as fried donuts?

No, baked donuts do not taste the same as fried donuts. The cooking method affects the texture, flavor, and appearance of the donuts.

Are baked donuts healthier than fried donuts?

Yes, baked donuts are generally healthier than fried donuts. Fried donuts are cooked in hot oil, which adds a lot of fat and calories to the final product. Baked donuts, on the other hand, are cooked in an oven, which uses less fat.

How do you store them?

Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

What is the difference between cake donuts and yeast donuts?

The main difference between cake donuts and yeast donuts is the leavening agent used. Cake donuts are leavened with baking powder or baking soda, while yeast donuts are leavened with yeast. This difference in leavening agent gives the donuts their distinct textures and flavors.

Soft, fluffy doughnuts.

Equipment Needed

Donut Pan: This is my favorite donut pan!

You May Also Enjoy

If you enjoy this baked donut recipe, please leave a rating and review! You can find more great recipes on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Check out these Breakfast Recipes for more delicious recipes!

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Baked donuts.

Baked Donuts

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.9 from 28 reviews
  • Author: Addison LaBonte
  • Prep Time: 10
  • Cook Time: 15
  • Total Time: 25
  • Yield: 10 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Cuisine: American
Print Recipe

Description

Enjoy a healthier take on the classic donut with our baked donuts. Made with simple ingredients and baked in the oven, our donuts are light, fluffy, and delicious. Top them with your favorite glaze, frosting, or sprinkles for a truly irresistible treat.

Ingredients

Units Scale

For the donuts:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon, optional
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the glaze:

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Food coloring, sprinkles, or other toppings (optional)

Instructions

  1. First, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a donut pan with non-stick cooking spray.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract until well combined.
  4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
  5. Spoon the batter into a piping bag or a resealable plastic bag with the corner snipped off. Pipe the batter into the prepared donut pan, filling each cavity about 2/3 full.
  6. Bake the donuts for 12 to 15 minutes, or until they are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.Bake until the donuts have sprung up. 
  7. Remove the donuts from the oven and let them cool in the pan for a few minutes. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
  8. For the glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a small bowl until smooth and well combined. Add more milk if needed to achieve your desired consistency.
  9. If desired, add food coloring to the glaze for different colored donuts. Dip the cooled donuts into the glaze, allowing any excess to drip off.
  10. If desired, add sprinkles or other toppings to the glazed donuts.
  11. Let the glaze set for a few minutes before serving.
  12. Finally, enjoy the freshly baked and glazed donuts!

Notes

  • Do not overmix the donut batter.  Mix until just combined.
  • Use a piping bag or Ziplock bag to add the batter to the donut pan.
  • Original Recipe: The original recipe had 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tsp vanilla, 1/2 tsp salt and no additional flavorings. I have adjusted it to taste. 
  • Allow the donuts to cool completely before adding the glaze.
  • If the glaze is too thick, add slightly more milk. If the glaze is too thin, add slightly more powdered sugar.
  • Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days.