Last Updated on January 23, 2023 by Kathryn Donangelo
This Baked Donut Recipe is fluffy, moist, and everything you dream about in a donut from your favorite donut shop. Made with a classic old-fashioned donut dough and covered in a sweet chocolate glaze, and sprinkles.
If you love donuts, be sure to try my Buttermilk Donut Cake and Cinnamon Sugar Donut Bites.
PIN this Baked Donut recipe to try later!
Is there anything better in the morning than a warm donut? You can easily bake a batch yourself without busting out the deep fryer, creating lightened up homemade baked donuts. I use Greek yogurt in this recipe that makes these donuts extra fluffy. You get the same flavors as a classic fried donut, without any grease!
These make a fun and easy treat for breakfast, brunch, dessert, or any occasion. Made with an extremely easy mixture, that resembles a classic cake-like, old-fashioned donut that’s lighter and fluffy. I topped these donuts with a chocolate icing but you can use any icing flavor you prefer.
If you’re looking for sweet and homemade Valentine’s Day breakfast ideas, these baked donuts are perfect. You can easily box these up in a mini bakery boxes as gifts for teachers, friends, party favors, or just because.
INGREDIENTS
- Flour: all-purpose works best with this recipe. You could also use whole-wheat flour if you wanted a healthier option.
- Baking powder + baking soda: makes the donuts rise and get a fluffy texture.
- Salt: enhances the sweet flavors.
- Ground nutmeg: this is a key ingredient and absolutely needed. You only need a small amount but the flavor goes a long way and gives these donuts their distinctive “old-fashioned” flavor.
- Eggs: binds the donut dough together.
- Brown sugar + granulated sugar: adds the perfect combination of sweetness.
- Milk: whole, low-fat, or non-fat will work. The more fat, the more flavor the donuts will have.
- Yogurt: either Greek plain or vanilla flavors yogurt will work. This will make the donuts extra fluffy and light.
- Butter: unsalted is best so you could control the salt.
- Oil: canola or vegetable oil works great.
- Vanilla extract: enhances the flavors.
- Chocolate chips: you could use either milk or semisweet chocolate chips. I use semisweet because the bitterness compliments the sweetness of the donuts.
- Sprinkles: for fun, you can use any sprinkle colors that you prefer. Switch up the sprinkles for different holidays and occasions.
HOW TO MAKE BAKED DONUTS
HOW TO BAKE DONUTS WITHOUT DONUT PAN
I highly recommend using a donut pan for a perfect round donut shape and they are fairly inexpensive. However, you can definitely do without them for this recipe.
Use a regular or jumbo muffin pan. Roll small sheets of foil into cylinders and add to the centers, make sure the rolled foil is tall enough and is taller than the muffin pan. This will help form the “donut shape”. The length should be around the size of your index finger.
Grease the muffin pan and foil cylinders before adding the donut batter.
Put the donut batter in a pastry bag or large ziplock bag, just make a cut in the corner. Squeeze the batter in a circle around the foil and bake accordingly to the recipe.
RECIPE VARIATIONS
Since this donut batter is similar to a plain old-fashioned donut, you can easily customize the flavors and donut toppings.
Chocolate donuts: add 2-3 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder to the recipe for an extra chocolate flavor.
Vanilla donuts: instead of a chocolate glaze, top the donuts with a vanilla bean icing instead.
Spiced donuts: add a few dashes of cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, or gingerbread spice, for a warm, spiced flavor.
Funfetii donuts: add 1/3 cup of rainbow jimmies to the donut batter.
Chocolate chip donuts: add 1/3 cup of mini chocolate chips to the donut batter.
Peanut butter donuts: top the donuts with a peanut butter icing and peanut butter chips or mini Reese’s peanut butter cups.
TIPS
- Use a pastry bag or ziplock bag to fill the donut pan for an easier fill. You could also use a spoon or ziplock bag.
- Make sure your ingredients are at room temperature. This will help the ingredients come together, creating fluffier donuts.
- Be sure not to over-mix the batter, a few lumps are perfectly fine.
- Make these baked donuts into mini baked donuts by baking them in a mini donut pan.
- Switch the glaze for different flavors such as vanilla, lemon, strawberry, powdered sugar, mocha, etc.
- Use different sprinkles for different occasions. Rainbow sprinkles for a birthday, red and green sprinkles for Christmas, etc.
THIS BAKED DONUT RECIPE IS
- Fun to bake for any occasion, holiday, or anytime you want freshly baked donut!
- Easy enough for kids to help make- let them dip the donuts in the icing or add sprinkles of their choice.
- So delicious, it will satisfy just about any donut craving.
- Fluffy, cake-like, moist, and has that nostalgic old-fashioned donut flavor.
- Quick to make. You can make these from start to finish in less than 30 minutes.
Both adults and kids of all ages will fall in love with each bite. Not only are these baked donuts a healthier alternative, they take much less time to make than a traditional fried donut.
LEFTOVERS & STORAGE
I always recommend enjoying these donuts the same day for the best flavor and freshness.
Store any leftovers in a single layer so the glaze doesn’t stick. You can either store in an airtight container in the refrigerator or on the counter in a cool area for up to 4 days.
More Chocolate Recipes
- Baked Donut Recipe from Kathryn’s Kitchen Blog
- Buttermilk Chocolate Cupcakes from Jolene’s Recipe Journal
- Chocolate Ice cream Soda from Art of Natural Living
- Cookie Dough Fudge from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Crockpot Peanut Clusters from The Fresh Cooky
- Gamberi al Cioccolato from A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Mole Wings from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Orange Chocolate Cheesecake Pots from Shockingly Delicious
- Slow Cooker Chocolate Cobbler from Cheese Curd In Paradise
- Soft and Chewy Chocolate Sugar Cookies from Blogghetti
- Strawberry Cheesecake Bites from Devour Dinner
- Tar Heel Brownie Pie from Palatable Pastime
- Triple Chocolate M&M Giant Heart Cookie from Magical Ingredients
LOOKING FOR OTHER EASY VALENTINE’S DAY DESSERTS? TRY THESE!
- Valentine’s Cake Mix Cookie
- Strawberry Nice Cream
- Sweetheart Brownies
- Sugar Cookie Bars
- Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies
- Strawberry Rice Krispie Treats
- Mini Chocolate Cheesecakes
- Lemon Cheesecake Bars
- Romantic Cheese Board for Two
- 25+ Healthy Valentine’s Day Treats
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Baked Donuts
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/4 tsp. baking soda
- 1/8 tsp. salt
- 1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
- 2 whole large eggs
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup greek yogurt; vanilla or plain flavored
- 2 Tbsp. butter; melted
- 2 Tbsp. oil
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
Chocolate Glaze
- 1 1/2-2 cups chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
- sprinkles; optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease donut pans with butter or nonstick cooking spray, set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugars until combined. Add the milk, butter, oil, yogurt, and vanilla extract and mix again.
- Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture and fold the ingredients together, just until combined. The batter will be thick and it's ok if there are a few lumps.
- Fill donut cavities 3/4 way full by using either a pastry bag/ziplock bag, cut off a corner and pipe the batter into each donut cup. You could also spoon the batter into the donut cups but using a bag will help create a neater look.
- Bake for 10-11 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of donuts comes out clean. Let cool for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
- In the meantime you can make the chocolate glaze, in a microwave safe bowl, add the chocolate chips, milk and vanilla extract. Melt in 30-second intervals, storing in-between each interval until smooth and melted.
- Dip each donut in the chocolate glaze, top with sprinkles, and place on cooling rack to set. Enjoy!
- It's best to enjoy the donuts the same day since they are so fresh. They will last up to 4 days in the refrigerator or a cool area covered or in an airtight container.
I’m constantly looking for baked donut recipes with awesome texture – these are amazing. The yogurt is such a good idea!
Thank you so much, Cara!!
Very delicious. Love the extra fluff from the Greek yogurt (great that it makes them a tad healthier, too). Will make again for Valentine’s day breakfast!
The yogurt does make these donuts fluffy! So glad you tried and love them!
These are so cute and bake up perfectly! I had so much fun decorating them with my niece!
Love that! Thanks for trying my recipe!
I can highly recommend this recipe! Everyone at home loved them. Great texture and flavour!
Thank you, Leva! So happy to hear that!
This looks so good, will try it out this weekend.
I hope you love these donuts!
These do look soooo fluffy for a baked donut. And they are beautiful! Can’t wait to try!
Thank you, enjoy!