Soft Baked Vanilla Donuts
Baked Vanilla Donuts are a delicious and easy-to-make treat that’s perfect for any occasion. These light and fluffy donuts are baked instead of fried, making them a healthier alternative to traditional donuts.
I love making baked donuts, from Blueberry donuts to cinnamon to even zucchini baked donuts, they are so easy to make, the addition of greek yogurt makes them soft and moist. Perfect plain or just as delicious with an easy chocolate ganache topping.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
Ingredients needed to make Vanilla Donuts
- Flour – all purpose or cake flour
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Salt – I use salted butter so if you use unsalted butter then add a bit more salt
- Sugar – granulated sugar
- Butter – melted and cooled
- Egg – large egg room temperature
- Vanilla – vanilla extract
- Greek yogurt – whole plain greek yogurt room temperature
- Milk – 2% or whole milk room temperature
Chocolate ganache
- Chocolate – semi sweet chocolate or white chocolate
- Cream – whole, heavy or whipping cream
If you use white chocolate then add less cream.
How to Make Cake Flour
If you prefer you can use cake flour instead of all purpose, it will make the donuts softer and more tender. For every cup of all purpose flour, remove two tablespoons and replace with two tablespoons of corn starch.
Be sure to sift the flour and cornstarch together a couple of times, this way it is sure to be properly combined and lump free.
How to make a Vanilla Donut recipe
In a small pot melt the butter and let cool. In a medium/large bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar.
In a medium bowl whisk together until combined, cooled melted butter, egg, vanilla, greek yogurt and milk.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Do not over mix.
To fill the donut pan you can either pour the donut batter into a piping bag and fill the prepared donut pan until almost full or use a small spoon.
Bake until a toothpick comes out clean or with a few crumbs attached. Let the donuts cool for about 10 minutes in the pan then move to a wire rack to cool completely.
The donuts should be completely cool before dipping in the glaze. Top with sprinkles, grated chocolate or even finely chopped nuts if desired.
How to make chocolate ganache
Chop the chocolate and place in a medium bowl. In a medium saucepan heat the cream until very hot but not boiling, pour over the chocolate and let sit for 5 minutes, then stir until melted and smooth.
Is it Donut or Doughnut?
In the Oxford English Dictionary it lists both spellings, Doughnut is the preferred spelling in British English and donut is the preferred American spelling. So in other words they both mean the same thing, just different spelling.
FAQs
Using pastry flour instead of all purpose and the addition of milk and greek yogurt are what helps to make these donuts soft.
These donuts take no time to make, 20 minutes and you are eating donuts. Yummy soft, moist, baked Vanilla Cake Donuts.
You can either grease and flour the pan or use a nonstick cooking spray.
If you use chocolate chips for the ganache just be sure to use a good quality chip.
How to store the baked donuts
Store the baked cooled donuts in an air tight container at room temperature. They will last up to 4 days. You can also freeze them in a freezer safe bag or container. They will keep for up to 2-3 months in the freezer.
These Vanilla Cake Donuts are an easy and delicious Valentine’s day treat or any day treat for that matter. Enjoy!
Chocolate Dipped Vanilla Baked Donuts
Equipment
Ingredients
FOR THE DONUTS
- 1 cup flour all purpose or cake/pastry flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 pinch salt
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons butter melted let cool
- 1 egg
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- 3 tablespoons greek yogurt
- ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon milk either 2% or whole milk room temperature
FOR THE GANACHE
- 4 ounces semi sweet chocolate good quality
- ½ cup cream whole/whipping or heavy cream with at least 30% fat content
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350° (180° celsius), grease and flour a 6 size donut pan.
- In a small pot melt butter and let cool.
- In a medium/large bowl whisk together flour,baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar.
- In a medium bowl whisk together until combined, cooled melted butter, egg, vanilla, greek yogurt and milk.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Do not over mix.
- To fill the donut pan you can either pour the donut batter into a piping bag and fill the prepared donut pan until almost full or use a small spoon and spatula.
- Bake for approximately 10 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean or with a few crumbs attached. Let the donuts cool for about 10 minutes in the pan then move to a wire rack to cool completely.
- The donuts should be completely cool before dipping or spreading with the ganache. Top with sprinkles, grated chocolate or even finely chopped nuts if desired before the ganache has set. Enjoy!
TO MAKE THE GANACHE
- Chop the chocolate and place in a medium bowl. In a medium saucepan heat the cream until very hot but not boiling, pour over the chocolate and let sit for 5 minutes, then stir until melted and smooth.
Notes
Nutrition
Republished from February 10, 2016.
Can we use regular yogurt instead of Greek yogurt?
By the way, I love your website and have making all sorts of things.
thanks
Champa
Hi Champa, yes you can use regular yogurt, although use only 3-4 tablespoons of milk. Thanks so much, so glad you enjoy the website. Take care!
Hi
I just found your website recently, and I’ve been making for your recipe . That was amazing !! Especially easy making bread !! I was making already twice now. LOL
This time also I was looking for baking donuts. Here you go , your site , I was using and baking finished right now. I’m going to sneaking try tasting before I will be showing to everybody. Oh boy oh boy ! It is never tasting Baking Donuts inside fluffiness ever before !! ( I had experienced made baking donuts recipe before ) I can’t compare to anybody else recipe ever. Thank you so much !! Again , definitely my favorite and repeating recipe !
Hi Yuri, thanks so much, so glad you like the bread. I make it often too. And so glad you like the donuts. Have a great weekend. 🙂
Tried these doughnuts today. All I can say is delicious ! Thank you!!!
Hi Lana, I am so glad you enjoyed them. Thanks.
what a cute and fun idea! I feel like this would be fun to do with friends 🙂 thanks for sharing!
Hi Tianna, thanks, sounds like a good idea. 🙂
what a sweet treat these would be for valentines day
Thanks Heather!
Donuts are my husband’s FAVORITE! Honestly I don’t think there is any dessert he’d rather have on Valentine’s day, haha. We even had donuts instead of cake at our wedding!
Hi Liz, wow that really is someone who loves donuts! 🙂 Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day.
Happy blog anniversary! These donuts look like the perfect thing to celebrate with – too cute!
Thanks Sarah, they were good too! 🙂
Oh my goodness… if there is one thing I miss the most it’s doughnuts. Granted there are completely safe gluten and dairy free versions of them, but I really miss the real ones. These look so pretty. I love your photography too.
Okay, I have to go now. I really try not to look at recipes that I cannot eat anymore. I just wanted to let you know that I’m pinning this to Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop Group board.
xoxo. Happy Valentines Day.
Olivia
Hi Olivia, sorry you can’t have a taste, but thanks for pinning. Have a great day.
Oh, yum yum! I like how your recipe has Greek yogurt in it so it is just a wee healthier… So I can eat more and not feel guilty!
Hi Angelina, exactly, eat more what the heck. 🙂
Happy blog birthday, friend!! You need a glass of champagne to go with those donuts 🙂
Hi April, thanks, time flies, and you are absolutely right, a glass of champagne would go perfect!