Baked Cake Donuts

Looking for a fun activity for kids or grandchildren? Grab a whisk and mixing bowl and make a batch of baked cake donuts together!

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Our little granddaughter, Chloe spent a week here as a little respite. Chloe has seven siblings and though she loves them dearly, it is nice to occasionally spend some one-on-one time with MomMom and PopPop in a more quiet environment. Her high school age brother was here a couple of weeks ago and this time was Chloe’s turn.

The kids are finishing the school year still working from home due to Covid and Chloe was diligent to complete each days work on her Chromebook. She even had a online meetup with her teacher and classmates that included Toby.

Among other things, we did puzzles, watercolor painted, watched movies and baked donuts together.

How to make baked cake donuts

Baked cake donuts are not like traditional doughnuts that you would get from your favorite bakery. Nor are they like the light, cruller kind made with yeast. These donuts have more of a cake-like texture. They are easy to prepare, bake up quickly, and very tasty!

Let’s get started…

Preheat oven to 425°F. and get the donuts pans ready by spraying them with nonstick cooking spray.

If you do not have buttermilk, you can make an easy substitution by combining a little lemon juice with milk. Just a 1 tablespoon of fresh squeezed lemon juice into a measuring cup and fill with milk to the 1 cup line. This recipe calls for 3/4 cup.

Give a quick stir and wait 5 minutes to thicken.

In a large mixing bowl, sift together the cake flour, sugar, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt. I like to use whole nutmeg grated using a handy microplane.

Lightly beat the eggs in a small bowl.

Combine the buttermilk…

eggs, and butter…

Beat until just combined.

Fill each donut cup until about 2/3 full.

Bake 7-9 minutes, or until the top of the donuts spring back when touched.

Cool in pan for about 4-5 minutes before removing from pan. Run a butter knife around the edge if the pan and lift out the donut.

Don’t they look lovely!

Leave the donuts plain of finish with either a dusting of powdered sugar, glaze, or cinnamon-sugar topping.

For powdered donuts, fill and plastic bag with confectioners sugar, add a donut and shake.

For chocolate frosted donuts, add the chocolate chips, butter and corn syrup to a small bowl. Heat in the microwave for 1 minute on 50% power.

Stir until melted. Add a teaspoon of hot water and stir in. if the glaze is too thick. Immediately coat the donuts.

You can use a butter knife to spread the frosting onto the donuts or just drop a donut into the bowl to coat the top. Give a little twist and lift out to a rack to harden.

Yummy powdered, cinnamon sugar, chocolate frosted and plain donuts. Take your pick!

The donuts are best served fresh on the same day made.

A fun birthday or holiday gift suggestion: Wrap up a package of basic baking items so kids are ready to bake their own donuts and other goodies 🙂

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recipe right from the Wilton donut pan package

Makes 12 – 16 donuts

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups cake flour, sifted
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp salt
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 Tbsp butter, melted

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 425°F. Spray the 6-cavity donut pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Sift together cake flour, sugar, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Whisk in buttermilk, eggs, and butter and beat until just combined. Fill each donut cup until about 2/3 full.

Bake 7-9 minutes, or until the top of the donuts spring back when touched. Cool in pan for about 4-5 minutes before removing from pan. Complete donuts with either a dusting of powdered sugar, glaze, or cinnamon-sugar topping. The donuts are best served fresh on the same day made.

Donuts variations

Cinnamon Sugar

2 Tbs. sugar
1 Tbs. ground cinnamon
2 Tbs. butter, melted

In a shallow bowl or plate, stir together the sugar and cinnamon. Dip the baked doughnut in melted butter and roll in the mixture to coat. I use a pastry brush to apply the butter so I can get a lighter coverage and I have also used spray butter to cut calories.

Chocolate Frosting

1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 Tbs. melted butter
1 Tbs. corn syrup
1 tsp, hot water

In medium bowl, microwave chocolate chips, butter and corn syrup on 50% power for 1 minute, stirring frequently until completely melted. Stir in 1 teaspoon hot water, until the glaze is thick and smooth. Add another tsp. hot water if the glaze is too thick. Use immediately to glaze doughnuts.

Confectioners Sugar Doughnuts

Put 2/3 cup of confectioners’ Sugar in a resealable plastic bag. Add a doughnut, close the bag, and shake to coat. Repeat with remaining doughnuts.

My personal favorite way to eat donuts…
Slice plain, cinnamon or confectioners sugar doughnut in half. Lightly butter and toast until golden brown. Top with cinnamon sugar. I especially love the slightly crispy edges! A great way to use day old donuts.