These simple vanilla and buttermilk baked donuts are a mix of old-fashioned nostalgia and modern healthy(er) treat. Tender crumb, vanilla scented and glazed with an old-fashioned milk glaze. These are the clear winner of spring and summer BBQ dessert territory.
I am SO excited to share these baked donuts with you today!
Baked donuts can sometimes get a bit of a bad wrap. Like their not real donuts. Which is true. They're like a donut's healthier cake-y little sister. But here's the deal with a baked donut... they've got a lot going for them. Let's take a look at why...
3 Reasons to make buttermilk baked donuts
- They're quick and easy to make because their's no yeast involved. Just a simple one bowl batter.
- No deep frying required! <- That's reason enough. While I'm not averse to deep frying sometimes, it's something that can feel a little bit daunting when you don't have a lot of time.
- These donuts will last a couple of days in an airtight container. Fried donuts are really only good the day you make 'em. Really only within a few hours of being made. BUT these donuts last longer because they don't go soggy from being deep fried.
Vanilla & Buttermilk Baked Donuts Step By Step
- Mix the eggs and buttermilk and vanilla together. * If you are looking to really up the wow factor then you may want to make your own vanilla. I can show you how to do that here!
- Sift all the dry ingredients together.
- Combine them and mix to make a batter.
The glaze for these donuts is just as easy. It's icing sugar and milk. I used a splash of cherry juice to add some pale pink colour to the glaze, but you could absolutely skip that and just go with a creamy white glaze.
Can we also talk about the decorating? It's good right?!
I've had the idea for these donuts decorated with fresh cherry blossoms for about 2 years now. For some reason I never got to the post before the cherry blossoms were finished. But this year it happened and I could not be happier about it.
When any recipe is this simple it leaves a lot time for playing around with presentation and making something everyday seem completely luxurious and indulgent. All the flowers on these donuts are from trees and hedgerows from the meadows where I live, but you can use any flowers that grow in your garden... or someone else's garden! I won't tell.
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Vanilla Buttermilk Baked Donuts
Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose plain flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 2 medium eggs lightly beaten
- 1 ¼ cup buttermilk
- 1 vanilla pod seeds scraped
- 2 Tablespoons melted butter
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- For the Glaze
- 1 cup icing sugar sifted
- 2 Tablespoons milk
- ¼ teaspoon cherry juice of a drop of food colouring
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350f.
- Mix the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt in a bowl. In a measuring cup whisk the buttermilk, eggs, vanilla and melted butter. Whisk to incorporate.
- Lightly grease some standard or mini donut pans with a cooking spray, or some melted butter.
- Fill the donut pans ¾ full with the donut batter.
- Bake for about 15-18 minutes or until the donuts are golden and spring back when lightly touched (see notes)
- Leave to cool for about 10 minutes then turn out on to a cooling rack and leave to cool completely before glazing.
To make the glaze, whisk the icing sugar and milk to make a thick glaze that will coat the donuts.
- Invert the donut and dip in the glaze. Return the donut to the cooling rack and decorate while the glaze is still wet. Once decorated leave the glaze to set.
Eneida Mason says
SOOOOOO CUTE!!! Cant wait to make, making tonight! Thanks for all the decorating ideas 🙂
Debs says
Thanks so much, Eneida! Have fun decorating them and even more fun eating them!
[email protected] says
Hi Debs. I just saw that the lead image for this gorgeous recipe is shortlisted for the Pinterest Food & Drink Award for best styling. I couldn't agree more with your selection! These pretty pastel donuts, and their varied sizes (v clever) really jumped out off the screen. Good luck in the final!
Debs says
Thanks so much Kellie! I was shocked to be shortlisted! Good luck to you as well! Your lentil and lemon broth looks absolutely heavenly!
Beyhan says
Thank you for this easy recipe, Debs! Already saved it for my next Donut Baking Adventure 😀
I'm looking forward to giving it a try.
Debs says
That's awesome!!! Hope you love this recipe! Let me know how it turns out.
TaraLynn says
They Look Delish!!!!!!
[email protected] says
The prettiness thing I've seen all week! So lovely. They look feathery light.
Debs says
Thanks so much Di!
Martha says
This is awesome!! This is exactly what I had in mind when I was looking for ideas how to decorate mini donuts for a wedding dessert table. I have a question: for the decoration with fresh flowers, should I do it the same day of the wedding or it will be fine the day before? What’s your recommendation? Thank you in advance. Nicely done!! God bless you.
Debs says
Hi Martha! You'll want to leave the flowers off until the very last minute. Once they're placed on the doughnuts they do start to wilt quickly, especially if it's hot outside. But, they will look absolutely stunning for a dessert table. Let me know how it goes!
Ellie says
Super light and airy and I love the tang of the buttermilk. I didn’t have donut tin so I used a cupcake tin and filled the “donuts” with raspberry preserve. Came out amazing! Made edits to the frosting by dividing in three parts and adding coco powder and raspberry jam to a third.