Midweek Baked Doughnuts 🍩 (Easy, Fluffy & Customizable!)
These baked doughnuts are the perfect quick treat—no frying, no fuss! They’re light, cakey, and ready in under 30 minutes, whether you use a doughnut pan or a doughnut maker. Plus, that cinnamon-sugar coating is downright irresistible. Here’s how to nail them every time, plus pro tips & fun variations!
✨ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
✅ Healthier than fried – Baked, not deep-fried!
✅ Soft & fluffy – Cake flour keeps them tender.
✅ Fast & easy – Ready in 15 mins (oven) or 3 mins (doughnut maker).
✅ Kid-friendly – Perfect for little helpers to decorate!
📝 Ingredients (Makes 6–8 Doughnuts)
- 200g cake flour (or all-purpose flour + 2 tbsp cornstarch)
- 125g white sugar (or coconut sugar for a deeper flavor)
- 2 tsp baking powder (for lift)
- ½ tsp salt (balances sweetness)
- ½ cup milk (dairy or plant-based)
- 50g melted butter (or coconut oil)
- ½ tsp vanilla essence (or almond extract for a twist)
- 1 large egg (room temperature)
For Cinnamon-Sugar Coating:
- ½ cup white sugar
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- 50g melted butter (for dipping)
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Method
1️⃣ Prep
- Oven: Preheat to 180°C (350°F). Grease doughnut pans well.
- Doughnut maker: Preheat for 5 mins.
2️⃣ Mix Dry Ingredients
- In a bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
3️⃣ Add Wet Ingredients
- Pour in milk, melted butter, vanilla, and egg. Whisk until smooth (don’t overmix!).
4️⃣ Bake
- Oven: Pipe/spoon batter into pans. Bake 12–15 mins until golden.
- Doughnut maker: Fill cavities ¾ full. Cook 2–3 mins.
5️⃣ Cool & Decorate
- Let cool 5 mins before removing from pans.
- Cinnamon-sugar coating: Dip in melted butter, then roll in cinnamon-sugar.
🍫 5 Delicious Variations
- Chocolate Glaze – Mix powdered sugar + cocoa + milk.
- Lemon Poppyseed – Add 1 tbsp lemon zest + 1 tsp poppyseeds to batter.
- Maple Bacon – Drizzle with maple syrup + crumbled bacon.
- Strawberry Frosting – Blend freeze-dried strawberries into glaze.
- Nutella-Stuffed – Pipe Nutella into centers after baking.
💡 Pro Tips for Perfect Doughnuts
✔ Use a piping bag (or ziplock with corner cut) for neat rings.
✔ Don’t overfill – Batter rises! ¾ full is ideal.
✔ Cool before dipping – Prevents sugar from melting.
✔ Storage: Keep in an airtight container for 2 days (best fresh!).
🔎 Why Cake Flour?
Cake flour = lighter, fluffier doughnuts (lower protein = less gluten). No cake flour? Swap 2 tbsp flour for cornstarch per cup of all-purpose flour.
🍩 Serving Suggestions
- Breakfast: Pair with coffee or hot chocolate.
- Dessert: Serve with ice cream & caramel sauce.
- Gift Idea: Box them up with ribbon for a sweet surprise!
Final Verdict
These doughnuts are weeknight magic—easy, quick, and endlessly customizable. The cinnamon-sugar version is a classic, but don’t be afraid to get creative!
🚀 Try it tonight and watch them disappear! Want a gluten-free or vegan version? Ask me for tweaks! 😊