Vanilla Frosted Donuts (Baked Not Fried)

Vanilla Frosted Donuts are deliciously light soft buttery cake donuts that are baked instead of fried and frosted with a sweet and creamy vanilla frosting.

These Baked Vanilla Frosted Donuts make a wonderful sweet breakfast treat. There is no better way to start the day than with these sweet frosted donuts.

I admit it! I love sweet breakfast treats. If you browsed through my Breakfast Recipes, you probably already knew that as you drooled over the Chocolate Mocha Baked Donuts or my Baked Glazed Strawberry Donuts! Don’t worry it’s impossible not to drool over donuts.

I’m sharing these lusciously sweet Vanilla Donuts with you just before National Donuts Day! To celebrate, there is no need to make a trip to Dunkin Donuts because you can easily make great tasting Vanilla Frosted Donuts at home that are baked instead of fried.

Table of Contents

• Why You’ll Love This Recipe
• Why This Recipe Works
• How To Make Vanilla Frosted Donuts
• Equipment
• Ingredients
• Directions
• Recipe Tips For Perfect Vanilla Donuts
• Variations of Donuts
• How To Serve Vanilla Frosted Donuts
• More Donut Recipes
• More Breakfast Ideas
• Recipe
• Reviews

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Flavor. These Vanilla Frosted Donuts are bursting with a sweet buttery vanilla flavor and sweet vanilla frosting on top.
• Baked. Since these donuts are baked and not fried, there is no messy oil to deal with and you can feel a little less guilty eating them because they are not fried.
• Easy. These Baked Vanilla Donuts are so easy to make that they would be good to make with the kids.

Why This Recipe Works

• Tried and True Recipe. This is a tried and true recipe that has been made many, many times over the years.
• Easy To Follow Instructions. I try to make the recipe as easy as possible to follow by using step by step written instructions with step by step photos as well.

How To Make Vanilla Frosted Donuts

Equipment

• Donut Baking Pan – A donut-shaped baking pan makes donut making so much easier. Just pipe the dough into the baking pan, and the donuts will have a round shape with the hole in the middle. You won’t have to worry about trying to shape the donuts.
• Piping Bag and Tips – Piping the dough into the donut baking pans makes it so much easier, cleaner, and less messy, and your donuts will have the perfect shape.
• Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer – Make it easy on yourself and on your arm and use one of these mixers instead of mixing the batter by hand.
• Sifter – By sifting the dry ingredients, you can minimize lumps in the batter.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons – When baking, precise measurement of ingredients is one of the keys to success. Be sure to be prepared with these measuring cups and spoons.

Ingredients

Below, I discuss the ingredients and possible substitutions if you don’t have a specific ingredient. However, if you are looking for the specific measurements of each ingredient, scroll down to the bottom of this article, just above the comments, for the printable recipe card, which includes all the ingredients and the specific amounts of each one.

Donut Ingredients

• Vanilla. Be sure to use good quality vanilla for a better flavor and for the best results.
• Buttermilk. If you don’t have buttermilk, you can use 1 cup of milk plus 2 tablespoons of vinegar to make sour milk.
• Eggs. Remove two eggs from the refrigerator before you start the recipe to let them come closer to room temperature. Beat the eggs until frothy before adding to the batter.
• Melted Butter. I recommend using real butter, and do not recommend using margarine.
• All Purpose Flour. I used all-purpose flour. However, you could use gluten-free flour and that would work as well.
• Granulated Sugar. I used regular granulated sugar for this recipe.
• Baking Powder. Be sure to use baking powder and not baking soda. Also check the date of the baking powder to make sure it is still fresh. If it is not fresh, then the donuts will not rise.
• Salt. Just a teaspoon of salt is all that is needed. I recommend kosher salt for the best results.
• Non-stick Baking Spray. I find this is the easiest way to keep the donuts from sticking to the pan. If you don’t have the baking spray, you could flour and grease the pan with butter before spooning the batter into the donut pans.

Frosting Ingredients

• Powdered sugar.
• Vanilla.
• Milk.
• Food coloring.

Garnish (Optional)

• Edible Glitter
• Sprinkles
• Melted White Chocolate.

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray the molds with non-stick spray and set them aside.
2. In a large bow add the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Mix until combined. (See photos 1 – 6 above.)
3. Add the milk, eggs, vanilla, and butter to the dry ingredients. Beat until combined. Do not over mix. (See photos 7 and 8 below.)
4. Fill each pan cavity with about 2⁄3 full, so they do not overflow. My suggestion is to use the plastic bottle for a cleaner and more even filling, or you can also use the piping bag. (See photos 9 and 10 below.)
5. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until the top of the donuts bounces when you touch. Let them cool in the pan 5 minutes before removing.

Frosting Instructions

1. Combine the powdered sugar and vanilla.
2. Then add the milk in little by little and food coloring if you are using it. You need it to be runny but not so much that it drips off. It should have a thick consistency.
3. You may use a piping bag or a plastic squeeze bottle to add the frosting. Pipe the frosting clockwise and leave them to set. (See photos 11 and 12 above.)
4. Melt your chocolate in 20-second bursts in the microwave or on the stove over a pan of hot water. Once melted, add a few drops of food coloring and mix well.
5. Place your donuts on parchment paper and drizzle a bit of melted chocolate into the pattern of your choice.
6. Add sprinkles and edible glitter to your drizzled icing right away before it hardens.

Recipe Tips For Perfect Vanilla Donuts

• For Puffier Donuts, use a metal mold for better results and lighter, fluffier donuts.
• Prevent Donuts From Sticking. Be sure to spray cooking spray or grease the donut pan before adding the batter.
• Prevent Misshapen Donuts. Be sure to not overfill the pan so the donuts don’t rise too much and become misshapen.
• Prevent Messy Baking. Use a bottle or piping bag to pipe in the batter for the pan. This makes it less messy.
• Best Frosting Consistency. The consistency of the frosting can be adjusted by adding in extra milk or powdered sugar depending on if it is too thick or too thin.
• Best Flavor. Use high quality pure vanilla for the best flavor.

Variations of Donuts

• Unicorn Donuts – Unicorn Donuts are perfect for a kid’s birthday party, baby showers, or graduation party.
• Lemon Blueberry Donuts – Soft, moist cake doughnuts, full of tasty blueberries and dipped into an oh-so-sweet lemon glaze. 

How To Serve Vanilla Frosted Donuts

• Serve with Vanilla Frosting and glitter, if desired.
• Add a hot cup of coffee, hot chocolate, or cappuccino.
• Enjoy!

More Donut Recipes

• Cinnamon Sugar Mini Donuts – These donuts are a staple at any fair and carnival but what makes these a bit healthier, but just as tasty, are that these are baked and not fried
• Whole Wheat Baked Lemon Doughnuts – These healthy whole wheat baked lemon donuts are simple to make, wholesome, and still feel like a treat thanks to the soft fluffy texture and zingy lemon glaze. 
• Red Velvet Donuts – Beautiful Red Velvet Donuts with tangy cream cheese icing make fun, colorful donuts perfect for Valentine’s Day or Christmas!

More Breakfast Ideas

• Chocolate Strawberry French Toast Casserole
• Blueberry Puff Pastry Danish With Cream Cheese Icing
• Apple Cinnamon White Cake

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