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Vanilla buttermilk baked donuts top down shot.
Deborah Rainford

The BEST Buttermilk Baked Donuts

4.59 from 17 votes
These homemade buttermilk baked donuts are light and fluffy with an old-fashioned donut shop charm.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 18 Donuts
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 151
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • 2 medium eggs lightly beaten
  • 1 ¼ cups buttermilk
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
For the Glaze:
  • 1 cup icing sugar, sifted
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • ¼ teaspoon cherry juice or a drop of food coloring

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Combine dry ingredients: In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
  3. Mix wet ingredients: In another bowl or a measuring jug, whisk together buttermilk, eggs, vanilla pod seeds, melted butter, and vanilla extract until well incorporated.
  4. Prepare donut pans: Lightly grease standard or mini donut pans with cooking spray or melted butter.
  5. Fill the pans: Pour the batter into the donut pans, filling each cavity about 3/4 full.
  6. Bake: Place in the oven and bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the donuts are golden and bounce back when lightly touched.
  7. Cool: After baking, allow the donuts to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack to cool completely.
  8. Make the glaze: In a bowl, combine the icing sugar and milk, whisking until you have a thick glaze. Adjust the thickness with more icing sugar if it’s too thin.
  9. Glaze the donuts: Dip the top of each cooled donut into the glaze, then place back on the cooling rack. If you wish to decorate, do so while the glaze is still wet.

Notes

  • Glaze thickness: Add more icing sugar if the glaze is too runny.
  • Doneness test: Insert a toothpick into a donut; it’s done if there are a few crumbs. A clean toothpick might indicate the donuts are overbaked.