Easy Homemade Baked Cake Donuts: Your Go-To Recipe for Delicious Mornings
Imagine starting your day with warm, fluffy **baked cake donuts** straight from your oven, dipped in rich chocolate, and adorned with colorful sprinkles. It’s not just a beautiful sight; it’s a delightful experience! Making **homemade donuts** is surprisingly easier than you might think, saving you a trip to the local donut shop and adding a special touch to any occasion. Picture a lazy Sunday breakfast during the holidays, filled with the aroma of freshly baked treats – what a perfect way to gather the family! And as the seasons change, don’t forget to try our incredible Pumpkin Spice Donuts for a taste of autumn bliss.
Why Choose Baked Donuts Over Fried?
While the thought of cozy fall treats like pumpkin and apple desserts might be on your mind, summer isn’t quite over, and busy school weeks are just beginning. These simple baked donuts are the perfect solution for a quick weekday breakfast or a delightful weekend indulgence. They’re not only incredibly easy to whip up, but they also offer a lighter alternative to their fried counterparts. Baking eliminates the need for hot oil, making the process less messy and a healthier choice for the entire family. You’ll definitely earn some extra points with your kids – or simply make yourself incredibly happy – with these delicious homemade treats.
Baked donuts offer a wonderfully moist and tender cake-like texture that melts in your mouth. They provide a fantastic canvas for all sorts of glazes and toppings, allowing for endless customization. Plus, getting your kids involved in decorating these beautiful pastries is a fun and engaging kitchen activity that creates lasting memories.
Related Recipe Idea: For an extra special touch, consider pairing these donuts with a rich and creamy Buttercream Frosting instead of chocolate!
Essential Ingredients for Your Baked Donut Recipe
To create these delightful homemade baked cake donuts, gather the following simple ingredients. Many of these are likely staples in your pantry already, making this a convenient recipe to try any time inspiration strikes:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup buttermilk (don’t worry if you don’t have it, we have a simple hack below!)
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 2.5 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup chocolate chips (for the glaze)
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil (for the glaze, helps with smoothness)
- A generous amount of colorful sprinkles!
Kitchen Tools You’ll Need for Donut Perfection
Having the right tools can make your donut-making process even smoother and more enjoyable. Here are a few items that will prove invaluable:
- A reliable donut pan: Essential for achieving that classic donut shape without frying.
- A spacious large mixing bowl: For easily combining your dry and wet ingredients without making a mess.
- A zipper plastic bag or a proper piping bag: This is a game-changer for neatly filling the donut pan wells, ensuring uniform donuts every time.
Expert Baking Tips for Fluffy Homemade Donuts
Even simple recipes benefit from a few clever tricks. These tips will help ensure your baked cake donuts turn out perfectly every time:
- Buttermilk Hack: If you find yourself without buttermilk – a common occurrence in many kitchens – don’t let it stop you! You can easily make your own. To a liquid measuring cup, add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar, then fill the rest of the cup with regular milk until it reaches 1 cup total. Let this mixture sit for 5-10 minutes. The milk will curdle slightly, and voilà – you have homemade buttermilk, ready to use!
- Powdered Buttermilk: For even greater convenience, many grocery stores also stock powdered buttermilk. This pantry staple can be reconstituted by simply adding water according to package directions, giving you buttermilk on demand.
- Avoid Over-mixing: This is perhaps the most crucial tip for any baked good, especially donuts. Once you combine the wet and dry ingredients, stir *just* until everything is incorporated. Over-mixing develops the gluten in the flour too much, leading to dense, tough donuts rather than light and airy ones. Stop mixing as soon as you see no dry streaks of flour.
- Even Filling: Using a piping bag or a zip-top bag with the corner snipped makes filling the donut pan much easier and ensures that each donut is evenly sized, promoting even baking.
Step-by-Step: How to Make Irresistible Baked Cake Donuts
Follow these straightforward instructions to create your own batch of bakery-worthy baked cake donuts:
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Begin by preheating your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit (220 degrees Celsius). Lightly spray a donut pan with non-stick cooking spray, ensuring every cavity is well-coated. Set the pan aside.
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In a large mixing bowl, combine all of your dry ingredients: flour, sugar, baking powder, nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt. Whisk them together until they are well-distributed.
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In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, beaten eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract. Pour this wet mixture into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Stir them together until just combined. Remember, resist the urge to over-mix the batter, as this will result in dense and tough donuts!
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Transfer the donut batter into a large zip-top plastic bag. Snip a corner off the bag to create an opening, which will allow you to easily pipe the batter into the prepared donut pan. This amount of batter should evenly fill 12 donut wells. If you have one, a piping bag fitted with a round tip also works perfectly.
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Bake the donuts for 7-9 minutes, or until they are golden brown and spring back lightly when touched.
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While the donuts are cooling, prepare your chocolate glaze. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips and coconut oil. Microwave for 30 seconds, then stir. Continue microwaving in 15-30 second intervals, stirring well after each, until the mixture is completely smooth and melted. Be careful not to overheat the chocolate.
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Once the donuts have cooled sufficiently, dip each one into the melted chocolate glaze. Immediately after dipping, top with your favorite sprinkles before the chocolate sets.
Voila! You’ve just created bake shop-quality chocolate donuts right in your own kitchen!
Creative Topping Variations for Your Donuts
While chocolate and sprinkles are a classic combination, don’t limit your creativity! There are many other delicious topping ideas you can explore to customize your baked cake donuts:
- Maple Glaze: A simple glaze made with powdered sugar, a touch of milk, and maple extract offers a wonderfully warm and comforting flavor, perfect for fall.
- Powdered Sugar: For a simple yet elegant finish, dust your cooled donuts generously with powdered sugar. This is quick, easy, and always a hit.
- Cinnamon Sugar: After a quick dip in melted butter, toss your donuts in a mixture of granulated sugar and cinnamon for that delightful, aromatic coating.
- Granulated Sugar: A plain sugar coating provides a lovely textural contrast and a sweet, simple taste that highlights the donut’s cakey interior.
- Nutty Toppings: After glazing, sprinkle with chopped nuts like pecans, walnuts, or almonds for added crunch and flavor.
- Fruity Drizzle: A simple fruit puree or a berry coulis can add a fresh, vibrant touch to your donuts.
Enjoy the immense satisfaction of these delightful homemade baked cake donuts. Once you experience how easy and rewarding they are to make, you’ll find yourself baking them again and again for every special occasion, or just because!
More Delicious Breakfast Ideas to Explore
If you love starting your day with something special, you might enjoy these other fantastic breakfast recipes:
- For an indulgent morning treat, our Strawberries & Cream Stuffed French Toast is an absolute top choice. It’s truly delicious and feels like a gourmet breakfast!
- Looking for a refreshing way to kickstart your day? You really have to try this energizing Mocha Smoothie Bowl. It’s a great way to get up and going!
- If you’re constantly on the go like me and need a quick but hearty breakfast, make sure you blend yourself a Loaded Coffee Smoothie first thing. It’s breakfast and coffee all in one!
- For busy parents with hungry kids, you’ll thank me for these convenient Homemade Freezer French Toast Sticks. They are perfect for popping in the microwave on hectic school mornings.
Craving More Donut Recipes?
Once you’ve mastered these baked cake donuts, you might find yourself eager to explore other variations of this beloved treat. Here are some more delightful donut recipes to expand your baking repertoire:
- Air Fryer Donuts: A quick and easy way to get crispy donuts with less oil.
- Pumpkin Spice Donuts: Perfect for fall, these donuts are packed with warm spices.
- Homemade Doughnuts: For those who love the classic fried donut experience.
- Lemon Baked Donuts: Zesty and refreshing, a bright twist on the baked classic.
- Peanut Butter & Jelly Donuts: A fun, nostalgic flavor combination.
- Donut Hole Cake Pops: A creative way to transform donut holes into bite-sized delights.
- Bronuts: A fun and hearty “bro-nut” recipe, often featuring more robust flavors.
Baked Cake Donuts
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
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Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- ⅔ cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup buttermilk
- 2 large eggs beaten
- 2 ½ Tablespoons butter melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
Things You’ll Need
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Donut pan
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Large bowl
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Piping bag
Before You Begin
- If you don’t have buttermilk, which I often don’t, you can easily make some with this hack – to a measuring cup, add 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar then finish filling to 1 cup with milk. Let stand for 5-10 minutes to let milk curdle. Voila – buttermilk.
- Grocery stores also carry powdered buttermilk that you reconstitute by adding water!
- The biggest mistake people make with this recipe is over-mixing the batter. Stir it only until everything is combined. Then stop! Otherwise your donut will be dense and tough.
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F and lightly spray a donut pan with non-stick spray. Set aside.
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To a large bowl, all all of the dry ingredients.
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Add in the buttermilk, beaten eggs, melted butter, and vanilla. Stir until just combined. Do not over-mix the batter or your donuts will be dense and tough!
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Pour the batter into a large zip top bag and snip the tip to easily pour into the donut pan. It will fill 12 donut wells evenly.
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Bake for 7-9 minutes or until golden brown.
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While they are cooling, to a microwave safe bowl, add the chocolate chips and coconut oil and microwave for 30 seconds, stir, then microwave another 30 seconds (as needed) and stir until smooth.
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Dip each cooled donut into the melted chocolate and immediately top with sprinkles.
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Enjoy!
Nutrition
The recipes on this blog are tested with a conventional gas oven and gas stovetop. It’s important to note that some ovens, especially as they age, can cook and bake inconsistently. Using an inexpensive oven thermometer can assure you that your oven is truly heating to the proper temperature. If you use a toaster oven or countertop oven, please keep in mind that they may not distribute heat the same as a conventional full sized oven and you may need to adjust your cooking/baking times. In the case of recipes made with a pressure cooker, air fryer, slow cooker, or other appliance, a link to the appliances we use is listed within each respective recipe. For baking recipes where measurements are given by weight, please note that results may not be the same if cups are used instead, and we can’t guarantee success with that method.
This post originally appeared here on Sep 12, 2016.