Baked Cake Donuts
I love baked cake donuts and I’ve been wanting to share this recipe with you for some time. Sometimes you just feel like a donut, right? Homemade donuts are so easy to make. In case you missed my post, How to Make Vintage Glazed Doughnuts
My glazed doughnuts are so yummy, but I love cake donuts as well. These baked cake donuts are moist in the center and have just the right texture on the outside. They are easy to mix, bake, and frost.
Baked Cake Donuts
What You May Need In The Kitchen:
- Donut Pan or this one, Donut Pan (12 donuts)
- Mixing Bowl
- Silicone Pastry Bag
- Whisk
- Cooling Rack
- Parchment Paper
Baked Cake Donuts Recipe
Ingredients
- All-Purpose Flour: the basic flour to make donuts
- White Granulated Sugar: is to make the donuts a bit sweeter
- Powdered Sugar: is used for the glaze because it’s a smooth sugar
- Baking Soda: creates the perfect rise in donuts
- Salt: adds flavor
- Sour Cream: is used for more flavor in the donuts
- Egg: they bind the dough and make the donuts fluffy
- Canola Oil: makes for a moister donut
Step One: Gather Ingredients
Gather all of the ingredients so you’re ready to make the recipe. Preheat your oven to (350°F) = (176°C). Lightly brush the donut pans with canola oil.
Step Two: Mix Donut Ingredients
Donuts: combine the flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, and salt in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Add the sour cream, oil, and egg, and then mix thoroughly.
Step Three: Batter – Well Mixed
It’s a medium-thick batter.
Step Four: Put Batter in Bag
Fill the pastry bag with the batter.
Step Five: Put Batter in Donut Pan
Use the pastry bag to “spread” the donut batter around each well in your donut pan. Fill them about 3/4 full.
Step Six: Smooth Out Batter
Filling the donut cups with the donut batter using a pastry bag is a snap, no tip is needed. These are so fun, my friends, you need to make them!
Step Seven: Bake
Bake for 10-13 minutes, or until the donut springs back when lightly touched. Let the donuts cool in the pan for about 5 minutes. Please remember, the side of the donut you see below is the bottom. You will flip the donuts over so the round side is on top when you frost them.
Step Eight: Put Donuts on the Rack
Place the cooked donuts on a cooling rack.
Step Nine: Make Glaze
Glaze: Combine the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla in a medium-sized bowl. Whisk until smooth. Place the donuts on the cooling rack on top of a cookie sheet to spread the glaze on the donuts. Use a small spreader to spread the glaze on the donuts. You can also dip the donuts on the round side down and “twirl” the donuts until covered. Top off the donuts with sprinkles, chopped nuts, or shredded coconut while the glaze is wet.
Finished Product
- 1 cup bread flour or all-purpose white flour
- 1/2 cup white granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup canola oil
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 3-4 tablespoons milk, add enough milk to make it thin enough to "twirl" the donuts in the glaze
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- Sprinkles, Chopped Nuts, or Shredded Coconut (optional toppings). Sprinkle on the donuts while the glaze is still wet.
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Donuts:
Preheat your oven to (350°F) = (176°C). Lightly brush the donut pans with canola oil.
1. Combine the flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, and salt in a medium-sized mixing bowl.
2. Add the sour cream, oil, the eggs, and mix thoroughly.
3. Use a pastry bag to "spread" the donut batter around each well in your donut pan. Fill them about 3/4 full.
4. Bake for 10-13 minutes or until the donut springs back when lightly touched.
5. Let the donuts cool in the pan for about 5 minutes. Place the cooked donuts on a cooling rack.
Glaze:
1. Combine the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla in a medium-sized bowl. Whisk until smooth.
2. Place the donuts on the cooling rack on top of a cookie sheet to spread the glaze on the donuts. Use a small spreader to spread the glaze on the donuts. You can also dip the donuts on the round side down and "twirl" the donuts until covered.
3. Sprinkle with sprinkles, chopped nuts, or shredded coconut on the donuts while the glaze is wet.
How do I store these after I bake them?
I store them in an airtight container. If frosted with cream cheese frosting, I place them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Can I freeze the baked donuts?
Yes, you can. Place the donuts individually in plastic wrap and place them in an airtight container for 2-3 months in the freezer.
Why are my baked donuts dry?
They may be a bit overbaked. Use a toothpick to test the donuts and if there is a little batter on the toothpick, stop baking them.
How can I keep my baked donuts moist?
Keep them stored in an airtight container.
What flour is best for making donuts?
All-purpose flour is best for making donuts. I only stock bread flour so I use it anyway. We eat them so fast it doesn’t matter to my family.
Why do donuts have holes?
The reason we make donuts without the center is so the donuts will cook more evenly and not burn before they are totally cooked through. We want the donuts to cook or bake evenly inside and outside.
What’s the difference between doughnuts and donuts?
The term doughnut is the original preferred spelling. But the Americanized term donut is just a shortened version of the word. Donut isn’t incorrect, just less common.
What can I serve with these baked cake donuts?
- Milk
- Chocolate Milk
- Coffee
- Tea
- Juice
- Fresh Fruit
Final Word
Please let me know if you make my baked cake donuts. I love to hear your thoughts. What do you put on top of yours? Do you make plain donuts? Chocolate donuts? It’s all about teaching our kids and grandkids how to cook from scratch. May God Bless this world, Linda
Linda, I’m going to order these pans and use your recipe. Cake donuts are my favorite! Thank you!
Hi Paula, thank you for the 5 stars, my sweet friend! They taste even better the next day! Now, I am going to experiment with making a baked chocolate donut. Linda
Linda, I want you to know I ordered the pans and received them last night. I made the donuts this morning using your recipe and they are WONDERFUL! Even the husband likes them and he’s not a big cake donut fan. He did say this recipe is a keeper, so I’ll be making them again soon. Thanks so much!
Hi Paula, thank you for the 5 stars!! I love hearing you made them!! We can make donuts anytime we want!! I’m going to work on a chocolate recipe and a lemon donut recipe June has. I can’t wait!! Linda
Thank you! I’ve been wanting a good “tried” baked donut recipe. I have been making them since I was married in a “donut maker” (one of those gadgets that come & go like a sandwich maker – they do keep both sides rounded) but have never found a good recipe. I might get a donut pan so I can make more at a time. My favorite glaze is similar except it is CHOCOLATE (yum!). Just add about 1/3 of a cup of melted chocolate chips to Linda’s recipe for the best flavor. I’ve tried cocoa powder and it just doesn’t taste near as good. This could be a fun family activity especially in the fall with cider!
Hi Kay, I’m going to order another pan as well so I can make more at a time. That turquoise pastry bag is the best thing ever! It’s easy to wash too! Of course, now I am going to make a chocolate glaze!! Thanks for the tips on that one!! I love chocolate! Linda
I just ordered the pan set, bags, and tips. This will be so much fun to do when the grandkids visit! Thank you Linda!
Hi Kay, I know, right?? The grandkids will love these! My grandkids (youngest is 14) even so each one came in and said can I try one of these little donuts??? It’s so fun! Linda
Linda,
I love the donut pan idea. Jane and I both love donuts but with my Type II diabetes I only indulge a couple of times a year. The recipe sounds delicious. We’ll have to get donut pans and try it.
We have loved every single recipe of yours we’ve tried.
Hi Ray, thank you for the 5 stars, my friend! I love sharing recipes my family has made for years! You are always so kind to me, thank you!! Linda
I have made Lemon baked donuts, chocolate baked donuts, plain ones and I think others. I love them.
Don’t feel as bad eating them since they aren’t fried, but fried is good too.
Hi June, oh my gosh, now I really want to make a variety of donuts! I have lemon extract too! These sound so good June!! Linda
These are awesome! I love the baked idea!
Hi Heidi, thank you for the 5 stars, my sweet friend! Linda
Love the idea of making Doughnuts by baking. When I make them by frying they tend to be too oily. I also like to make doughnuts by using canned biscuits and cutting a small hole out of the middle. Quick and easy when you are in a hurry.
HI Jackie, oh my gosh, that’s a great idea! I never thought of that. Thank you for the 5 stars, my sweet friend!! Linda
This recipe is great. The donuts turned out so delicious.
Hi Chef Ryan, thanks for the 5 stars! I’m glad you liked them!! Linda