Robin’s Egg Vanilla Baked Donuts

Homemade donuts are so easy to make and these Robin’s Egg Vanilla Baked Donuts are a favorite sweet treat! They make any day feel like spring and are great for Easter brunch or Mother’s Day too.

This easy baked donut recipe makes one of those great breakfast treats that gets the day started with excitement. No need to go to a coffee shop when they are so easy to make at home.

If you are a donut lover, this simple recipe for baked donuts (also called a cake donut) is much easier than a deep-fried donut recipe too. Once you have the baking pans you can satisfy donut cravings with warm doughnuts out of the oven anytime.

These vanilla donuts have a light texture with a satisfying golden brown exterior. The vanilla glaze in this easy recipe has a light flavor and beautiful color.

Perfect for a special breakfast, brunch or just to enjoy with a cup of coffee.

Jump to:

• Recipe Ingredients Notes
• How to make Vanilla Baked Donuts – Step-by-Step
• Pro Tips
• How to Store
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• Recipe

Recipe Ingredients Notes

All Purpose Flour. Regular or gluten-free measure-for-measure flour blend can be used. We use Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free 1-to-1 baking flour for all our gluten-free baked recipes.

Milk. We suggest whole dairy milk but you can use your milk of choice. We have not tested plant milks in this recipe.

Butter. Use unsalted butter and allow the butter to cool slightly before adding to the wet ingredients.

Powdered sugar. Also called confectioner’s sugar, this is used for the glaze. Sift out any large hard lumps before making the glaze.

Food Coloring: Robin’s egg blue. This will be used for the glaze. For the exact robin’s egg blue color of the glaze use Americolor Robin’s Egg Blue (#187). Otherwise you can combine a few drops of pastel blue with one drop of green food coloring. I’ve also done with with grocery store food coloring and it’s not quite as light but still makes a pretty color.

Black: To make the speckles you’ll need black food coloring too. Be cautious when applying the speckles as the dye can permanently color clothes and surfaces.

Supplies

Doughnut pan. You’ll need two 6-cavity donut pans. For best results use a non-stick donut pan.

Pastry brush. You’ll need this to make the speckles.

How to make Vanilla Baked Donuts – Step-by-Step

Printable full recipe at the end of this post.

STEP 1. Preparation

Pre heat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray two (6 count) doughnut pans with non-stick cooking spray (can use non-stick baking spray if not gluten-free).

STEP 2. Make batter

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and baking powder (photo 1).

In separate bowl, whisk together the milk, vegetable oil, melted butter, egg, and vanilla extract (photo 2).

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and whisk or stir just until no large lumps remain; don’t overmix (photo 3)!

Divide the thick batter evenly filling each of the donut cavities in the prepared doughnut pan halfway full (photo 4). Using a piping bag works great (see Pro Tips).

STEP 3. Bake and Cool

Bake in the preheated oven for 16-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Remove the donuts from oven and allow to sit in pan for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack. Allow them to cool completely before frosting (photo 5).

STEP 4. Glaze

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and milk. The mixture should be thick, but able to coat the top of the donuts. If it is too thick, add another tablespoon of milk. If it is too thin, add ¼ cup of powdered sugar.

Add the food coloring (see notes) and mix to combine (photo 6).

Place foil, parchment paper or layer of paper towel underneath the wire rack for easy clean up of excess glaze.

Dip the top of the donuts in the glaze, allow any excess to drip back into the bowl. Place them back on the wire cooling rack to set (photo 7).

Allow the donuts to set for 10 minutes before adding the speckles.

STEP 5. Add speckles

To make the speckles, combine 1 tablespoon of water with 4 drops of black or brown food coloring. Mix to combine.

Dip a pastry brush in the black mixture and flick it at the donuts to create speckles (run the forefinger of the hand not holding the brush to flick the bristles). Be careful– it will stain clothes, counters, and walls to make sure to cover any surface that you don’t want speckled.

Allow the donuts to sit for another 10 minutes before serving.

Pro Tips

Use a disposable piping bag. The easiest way to add the batter to the donut pan is with a pastry bag (aka piping bag). You can also cut a corner off of a gallon zipper top plastic bag and squeeze the batter through the end of the bag.

Practice speckles. Before trying speckling on the donuts, practice on a paper towel to get the hang of it. It helps to decide how far from the donut surface for the desired effect.

How to Store

Enjoy immediately or store in a single layer in an airtight container in the refrigerator or at room temperature for up to three days.

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