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    Home ยป Recipes ยป Breakfast

    Baked Donuts

    January 4, 2021 Updated February 22, 2021 BySam Merritt 58 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy.
    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

    An easy recipe for homemade Baked Donuts! There’s no yeast, no waiting for the dough to rise, just a simple recipe that can be ready to enjoy in under 30 minutes. Recipe includes a how-to video!

    baked donuts with different toppings (chocolate frosting, cinnamon sugar, white frosting)

    Soft, Fluffy, Homemade Donuts (No Yeast Needed!)

    This one’s for you resolutioners out there. Those of you who are craving a good old-fashioned deep fried homemade donut but swore off all things deep fried for the year (or at least the first few weeks of it 😉).

    Honestly, it’s for those of you who didn’t swear off greasy, deep-fried foods, too.

    Because as much as I love a classic donut, I would never say no to one of these baked donuts. They’re light, fluffy, airy and perfectly sweetened. Guaranteed to satisfy any donut craving.

    They’re also incredibly simple to make and can be hot and ready to eat in under 30 minutes. It’s honestly really, really easy, so let’s jump right in.

    What You Need

    Ingredients

    Let’s briefly go over just a few of the key players in today’s recipe…

    • Buttermilk. This gives the donuts a wonderful flavor and a soft, fluffy texture. If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, you can use my easy buttermilk substitute instead.
    • Butter. Some of this will be drizzled into the batter while some will be used to brush over the donuts so the cinnamon/sugar topping sticks. I actually prefer to use salted butter for brushing the donuts, but if you don’t have any you can just mix a dash of salt into your melted butter.
    • Sugar. I use a blend of regular granulated sugar and light brown sugar (I love using a balance of these two sugars, it almost always yields a better baked good!). The brown sugar adds a nice depth of flavor, but I balance it with granulated sugar so the donut isn’t too weighed down and stays fluffy rather than turning out chewy.
    • Flour. Use all-purpose flour. Self-rising flour is not recommended with this recipe.
    • Ground nutmeg. A pinch of this gives the donuts an authentic bakery-esque flavor. If you don’t have it, simply omit from the recipe, but I love the flavor it adds!

    As usual, this is just an overview of the ingredients I used and why. For the full recipe please scroll down to the bottom of the post!

    How to Make Baked Donuts

    1. Whisk together dry ingredients in a large bowl.
    2. Whisk together buttermilk, vanilla extract, and one egg in a large measuring cup, then drizzle melted butter in while whisking. If the mixture looks slightly curdled don’t sweat it!
    3. Gently fold together the wet and dry ingredients using a spatula. Don’t over-mix!
    4. Spread or pipe batter into a greased donut pan. I like to just portion the batter into a large Ziploc bag and then snip off a corner for piping.

    Tip: The batter should be completely combined before portioning, but make sure that you don’t over-mix or your donuts will end up dense and dry.

    Once the donuts are baked, you have your choice of toppings…

    Toppings

    My personal favorite topping is the simplest:

    1. Brush the donut with melted butter.
    2. Dip in cinnamon/sugar.

    Tip: It might seem tempting to simply dunk the baked donut in the melted butter, but unfortunately this over-saturates the donut and makes it soggy!

    Other topping options:

    • A vanilla glaze
    • A chocolate glaze
    • A dusting of powdered sugar.

    I have instructions for all of these options in the notes of the recipe card.

    overhead of baked donuts with different toppings (chocolate frosting, cinnamon sugar, white frosting)

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I make baked donuts without a donut pan?

    While you could pipe the batter into rings on a baking sheet and bake them that way instead, the donuts tend to spread quite a bit and have completely flattened bottoms. It works in a pinch, but I really recommend buying yourself a nice set of donut pans (and I’ve linked to the ones I use in the recipe card).

    How long will baked donuts these stay fresh?

    Baked donuts are best enjoyed while they’re still warm from the oven, but they will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days.

    Two donuts stacked on top of each other, one with a bite missing

    More Recipes You Might Like

    • Sour Cream Donuts
    • No-Yeast Donut Holes
    • No-Yeast Cinnamon Rolls
    • No-Yeast Monkey Bread

    Enjoy!

    Let’s bake together! Make sure to check out the how-to VIDEO in the recipe card! 

    baked donuts with different toppings (chocolate frosting, cinnamon sugar, white frosting)

    Baked Donuts

    An easy recipe for homemade Baked Donuts! There's no yeast, no waiting for the dough to rise, just a simple recipe that can be whipped up in under 30 minutes.
    Be sure to check out the how-to video, too!
    5 from 11 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Servings: 12 donuts
    Calories: 222kcal
    Author: Sam Merritt

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
    • ¼ cup (50 g) sugar
    • ¼ cup (50 g) brown sugar
    • 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
    • 1 teaspoons baking powder
    • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg optional
    • 1 cup (236 ml) buttermilk
    • 1 large egg
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 3 Tablespoons (42 g) unsalted butter melted and slightly cooled

    Topping (see notes for alternative topping options)

    • 4 Tablespoons salted butter melted
    • ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
    • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

    Recommended Equipment

    • Donut pan
    • Mixing bowls
    • Pastry brush

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and lightly grease a 12-count donut pan (I actually use two 6-count) with baking spray (or lightly grease and flour). Set aside.
    • In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugars, baking powder, baking soda, cornstarch, salt, and nutmeg (if using).
      2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour, ¼ cup (50 g) sugar, ¼ cup (50 g) brown sugar, 1 Tablespoon cornstarch, 1 teaspoons baking powder, ¼ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt, ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • In a separate bowl whisk together buttermilk, egg, and vanilla extract. While whisking constantly, drizzle in butter until combined (it’s OK if the mixture looks a bit curdled!).
      1 cup (236 ml) buttermilk, 1 large egg, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, 3 Tablespoons (42 g) unsalted butter
    • Add the liquid mixture to the dry ingredients and use a spatula to carefully fold together until just combined (all ingredients should be combined, but don’t over-mix or donuts will be dense and dry).
    • Pipe or spread the batter evenly into prepared donut pans.
    • Transfer to 350F (175C) oven and bake for 10-12 minutes or a toothpick inserted in the thickest part of a donut comes out clean. Allow to cool for several minutes then carefully remove to a cooling rack.
    • Use a pastry brush¹ to brush immediately with melted salted butter and then whisk together granulated sugar and cinnamon and dip donuts in mixture. Donuts are best enjoyed warm.
      4 Tablespoons salted butter, ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

    Notes

    Alternative Topping Options:

    Dip warm donuts in powdered sugar to coat completely. For a vanilla glaze: Whisk together 1 ½ cups powdered sugar (190g), 3-5 Tablespoons whole milk, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. For chocolate glaze add 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder to the glaze. Dip cooled donuts in glaze and allow glaze to harden (at least 30 minutes) before serving.
    ¹I like to use a pastry brush rather than dip the donuts because dipping over-saturates them with butter and makes them soggy.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1donut | Calories: 222kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 183mg | Potassium: 95mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 260IU | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 1mg

    Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.

    Tried this recipe? Show me on Instagram!Mention @SugarSpun_Sam or tag #sugarspunrun!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Linda Hanna

      January 06, 2025 at 1:16 pm

      Hi Miriam, I’m very interested in trying this recipe I do have a question, if using a nonstick pan do you still have to grease the pan? Thank you very much.

      Reply
      • Emily @ Sugar Spun Run

        January 06, 2025 at 1:39 pm

        Hi Linda! We recommend greasing anyway just to be safe ๐Ÿ˜Š

        Reply
        • Linda Hanna

          April 21, 2025 at 3:46 pm

          5 stars
          Thank you very much for the great recipe for baked donuts; and for the very clear instructions. Just made 12 and they are delish. I do have a question, is it normal for the top side to be light in color and the bottom a nice tan. I baked them for 10 minutes and they were done. If I had left the donuts in the oven for a few more minutes do you think the tops would have also browned? One other question can they be frozen? Whether browned or not browned this is a keeper of a recipe and I will make it again. l

        • Sam

          April 24, 2025 at 1:04 pm

          Hi Linda! It could be the pan here. It’s not necessarily a problem as long as they taste good. ๐Ÿ™‚

    2. Sharon

      October 23, 2024 at 12:32 pm

      5 stars
      just made these today, so easy and so good. my grandsons birthday is tomorrow and he is not a fan of cake but loves donuts. going to make a tower of donuts. I will fill some and cost some in powdered sugar and cinnamon sugar.

      Reply
      • Sam

        October 23, 2024 at 4:29 pm

        I’m so glad you enjoyed them so much, Sharon! Happy birthday to your grandson! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
      • Heather

        January 07, 2025 at 10:05 pm

        I want to try this but itโ€™s just two of us. If I only wanted to make 6 donuts, can I just half the ingredients or will that completely mess it up?
        Or can I refrigerate the remains mixture for another batch of 6 the following day?
        Thx!!๐Ÿ˜Š

        Reply
        • Sam

          January 16, 2025 at 1:33 pm

          Hi Heather! You could cut the recipe in half for just 6 donuts. I’m not sure how storing the dough in the refrigerator overnight will work. The donuts may end up a bit dense and gummy, but I haven’t personally tried it.

    3. Mithila

      July 03, 2024 at 9:52 am

      can I use cake flour in the place of AP flour and cornstarch?

      Reply
      • Sam

        July 03, 2024 at 9:44 pm

        I honestly haven’t tried it so I can’t say for sure how it would turn out. If you do try it I would love to know how it goes! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    4. Rusty Shackleford

      June 22, 2024 at 8:22 pm

      Is adding fruit or something to the top of these before throwing into the oven doable? Thinking strawberries or blueberries. Would frozen fruit work better?

      Reply
      • Sam

        June 23, 2024 at 8:40 pm

        Sounds tasty! I haven’t personally tried it so I can’t say for sure. I would probably be more likely to use fresh over frozen. If you do try it, let me know how it turns out! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    5. Holly

      April 26, 2024 at 5:20 pm

      Just made these donuts today. My husband and kids loved them. My son said itโ€™s so much better than Dunkinโ€™ Donuts. He wants me to make them all the time. Will definitly make these again

      Reply
      • Sam

        April 30, 2024 at 10:49 pm

        I’m so glad everyone enjoyed them so much, Holly! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    6. Nikki

      April 18, 2024 at 12:47 am

      Hi, I see it makes 12 donuts, but what is the diameter of your donut spaces on the baking pan?

      Reply
      • Sam

        April 18, 2024 at 10:00 am

        Hi Nikki! I link to the exact ones I use in the equipment section of the recipe card if that helps!

        Reply
      • Charissa

        July 18, 2024 at 5:30 pm

        5 stars
        perfect donuts

        Reply
    7. Debbie

      January 29, 2024 at 11:24 pm

      5 stars
      These are the BEST homemade donuts I think I’ve ever had, and they’re easy to make too. I didn’t have buttermilk, so I mixed milk and vinegar. Mine had to bake about 14 minutes to bake fully, but they were worth the wait!

      Reply
      • Sam

        January 30, 2024 at 8:56 am

        I’m so glad you enjoyed them so much, Debbie! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    8. Kacie

      January 15, 2024 at 1:24 am

      Can I add chocolate to the batter ? To make it marbled ?

      Reply
      • Sam

        January 16, 2024 at 8:53 pm

        Hi Kacie! I haven’t tried it, but it’s possible it could dry out the dough. If you try it I would love to know how it goes. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    9. Joanna

      November 17, 2023 at 12:35 pm

      Can I make these ahead and freeze them? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Sam

        November 17, 2023 at 10:33 pm

        Hi Joanna! I haven’t personally tried it, but I think that could work. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    10. Miriam Rose Blanar

      August 04, 2023 at 9:49 pm

      Do you know if I could somehow make these lemon flavored? My husband want lemon donuts and I wanted to do your recipe, buy I’m worried I’ll mess it up if I try to add lemon…..

      Reply
      • Sam

        August 07, 2023 at 4:32 pm

        Hi Miriam! Unfortunately I haven’t tried it, but I would think you could add a bit of zest and a little bit of lemon extract without causing any problems with the dough. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
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    The author (Sam) in blue shirt holding donut Hi, I'm Sam! I'm dedicated to bringing you sweet, simple, and from-scratch dessert recipes. My life may or may not be controlled by my sweet tooth. Send help (or chocolate). Read more about me.

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