If you love a soft, cake-like donut but aren’t fond of the mess and cleanup that goes along with frying them, you can make these delicious treats right in your oven. They’re also much healthier than their fried counterparts, with less fat and calories. And they’re so easy to prepare.
Basic Donut Recipe
To begin, preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Lightly grease two standard donut pans with non-stick cooking spray or butter; set aside.
Whisk together the dry ingredients in one bowl, and the wet ingredients in another. To ensure even baking, bring the egg and buttermilk to room temperature before mixing them into the flour mixture.
The batter will be lumpy, so stir it slowly until it’s just combined, and then pipe the mixture into the donut cavities. It’s best to fill each cavity a little more than three-quarters full, or just below the edges of the pan.
Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the donuts comes out clean. Remove from the oven and place them on a wire rack to cool completely.
Cinnamon Sugar Doughnuts
To create a sweet, churro-style crust, brush each doughnut with melted butter and then sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Or for a simple, classic donut flavor, dip each donut in the cinnamon sugar after it’s cooled to just warm (and not hot).
Vanilla Bean Donuts
This recipe is easy enough to make without a donut pan, but if you want to give them a fancy look, use a muffin pan and line it with foil. The foil will create a raised center and ensure that your donuts don’t fall flat.
These donuts are perfect with a cup of coffee or for breakfast on the go! You can also enjoy them with a cup of ice cream, or just for dessert.
If you prefer a chocolate glaze, you can substitute some of the powdered sugar in this recipe with semisweet or white chocolate chips. Then, thin the glaze with a bit of milk until it’s just spreadable and drizzle or spread over the tops of each donut.
You can also try making these with different flavors: Strawberry, lemon or chocolate fudge! Or finish them with a variety of sprinkles or other toppings, such as toasted coconut.
Donuts are also great for freezing and reheating. They will store for up to 2 days in an airtight container at room temperature or for a few weeks in the freezer.
Whether you choose to make these baked donuts or a fried version, they are sure to delight your family and friends! With their light texture, low fat and calorie count, and no added oil, these baked donuts are the perfect alternative to fried ones. They’re also great for people with food allergies, like gluten-free, dairy-free or egg-free folks!