Baked Vanilla Donuts

Baked Vanilla Donuts are made from scratch in just about 30 minutes! These scrumptious breakfast treats are whipped up with a handful of simple and inexpensive ingredients and are baked to perfection in no time. Of course, what really sends them over the top is the sweet homemade frosting!

Aren’t these donuts the most beautiful things you’ve ever seen? I really do love the way these little baked beauties turned out. If you’re not a fan of my purple-pink color scheme, no worries! You can dye your frosting any color you want. Dress these donuts up for a holiday with festive colors to match what you’re celebrating or leave them white for a more classic vanilla look.

You can even leave them sans-frosting if you’d like. I can’t relate, but I know frosting isn’t for everyone! Luckily, these vanilla donuts are so tasty, they can totally stand on their own with no additional adornments. The subtle, sweet taste of vanilla is present in every bite of these perfectly baked donuts. They’re so soft, fluffy, and have just the right amount of vanilla flavor to make you smile!

Why You’ll Love This

• Easiest donuts ever. As much as I do love a traditionally fried donut, baking them is so much easier to do at home! No need to worry about all of that hot oil and mess. Simply whip up the batter, bake, dip, and enjoy. So easy!
• Frosting fun! You can make this quick and easy frosting any color you want to customize them. Whether it’s Christmas morning or the 4th of July, have fun with your frosting and decorate your donuts however you’d like.
• Inexpensive ingredients. Honestly, there’s a good chance you already have just about everything you need already in your kitchen. If you do have to head to the store, no worries! This budget-friendly list of ingredients is short and oh so sweet.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here is a list of ingredients you will need to make vanilla baked donuts. Make sure to scroll down to view the full recipe for exact measurements.

• All-purpose flour
• Sugar
• Baking powder
• Kosher salt
• Vanilla extract
• Buttermilk
• Eggs
• Butter
• Non-stick spray

For the frosting, you’ll need:

• Powdered sugar
• Vanilla extract
• Milk
• Food coloring
• White chocolate chips

How To Make Baked Vanilla Donuts

Here is a general overview of the steps involved to make classic baked vanilla donuts. Be sure to scroll to the bottom of this post for the full recipe.

Make the batter. Mix together all of the dry ingredients and create a well in the center of the bowl. Add the wet ingredients to the center of that well, then whisk until just combined.

Prepare for baking. Spray the donut tins with non-stick spray. Fill each tin about 2/3 of the way with batter. A piping bag works well for this step.

Bake the donuts. Bake at 350°F for about 8-10 minutes. Let them cool for 5 minutes before removing from the pan.

Make the icing. Combine the powdered sugar and vanilla, then add in the milk and food coloring a little at a time until your desired consistency and color is achieved.

Frost the donuts. Use a piping bag or squeeze bottle to add the icing to the donuts. You can also dip the donuts into the frosting, but they may be a bit messier this way.

Add a final touch or two. Whether you add a drizzle of melted white chocolate or a handful of sprinkles, have fun and decorate your donuts however you’d like!

Recipe Tips, Substitutions, and Variations

Here are just a few ways to make your baked donuts the very best that they can be:

• Use real vanilla extract. Imitation usually works in a pinch. But with a recipe like this, where the vanilla is really showcased as the star of the show, I recommend using 100% pure vanilla extract.
• Don’t over-mix the batter. Stir together the wet and dry ingredients until just combined. If you over-mix the batter, your donuts won’t rise properly when baked.
• Make the frosting thicker or thinner. Add more or less milk to change the consistency of the frosting. Start with just a little bit of milk and add more as you see fit. You can always stir in more, but you can’t take it out!
• Create a donut bar. Nothing’s more fun than getting interaction from guests and kids alike. Create a donut bar with various toppings and frosting flavors and allow everyone to decorate their own donuts!

Storage Instructions

Once fully cooled to room temperature, you can store these frosted donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

What to Serve with Baked Vanilla Donuts

Vanilla donuts are the perfect breakfast treat for any brunch or a way to sweeten up someone’s day by bringing them a dozen! Here are some fun ways to serve these donuts with other breakfast or brunch items.

• More donuts. Like I mentioned above, a donut bar is a fun, interactive way to get guests involved. Or, you just like giving people variety with various donuts for your brunch spread. Either way, these donuts are winners. Biscuit Donuts, Strawberry Buttermilk Donuts, Raspberry Cake Donuts, Triple Coconut Donut, Chocolate Chocolate Donut.
• Sweet tooth. If you’ve got a sweet tooth for breakfast, vanilla donuts served alongside Cinnamon Sugar Cruffins or Lemon Ricotta Pancakes would be delightful! Banana Blueberry Muffins and Strawberry Oatmeal Breakfast Muffins are a great option as well.
• Savory and sweet. This flavor combination is always a winner. Donuts served with Biscuits and Gravy Casserole or Spinach and Artichoke Quiche or even Egg White Breakfast Casserole and Cheesy Bacon Sausage Breakfast Sliders would be a well-balanced meal with a savory beginning and sweet ending!