23 Incredible Homemade Donuts To Make This Weekend - Salt in my Coffee (2024)

There is absolutely nothing that makes breakfast time feel more playful, and more indulgent, than a really good donut.

There's no need to stop by the bakery or donut shop to get that morning fix though. Donuts are easier to make at home than you probably think. Even traditional fried donuts can be made with little trouble.

If getting out the deep fryer gives you pause though, don't worry--you'll also find lots of easy baked donut recipes in this lovingly curated list of favorite recipes. Whichever donut recipe you try, your family will be thanking you all day!

1. Baked Chai Donuts

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The softly spicy flavor of chai is so well loved as a hot beverage, it's no wonder these fragrant donuts are so warmly comforting.

Perfect for breakfast or brunch, and healthier than their fried counterparts, these baked treats are spicy, warming, and just delicious.

These are the donut we all need when we curl up by the wood stove with the cat, a cozy blanket, and a new novel.

Get the recipe here.

2. Lemon Sugar Baked Donuts

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These bright flavored, lemony donuts are just bursting with flavor. From the perfectly crisp exterior, to the tender crumb throughout, these breakfast treats are pure sunshine.

Donuts may seem like a huge effort to get on the table, but truly--if you have time to make muffins, you can just as easily make these! They're quick and easy to bake, and that gentle dusting of sugar gives them a picture perfect finish.

Get the recipe here.

3. Strawberry Donuts

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Here's another easy baked donut recipe, and this one features the sweetness of fresh, delicious strawberries. Topped with a gloriously pink strawberry glaze, these donuts are a real show stopper.

Perfectly soft and delicate inside, they're studded with fresh strawberries inside. A really nice addition to this recipe is the way gluten free and vegan substitutions are offered, so these can easily be made for anyone to enjoy!

Get the recipe here.

4. Chocolate Sprinkle Donuts

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These sprinkle covered donuts are such a fun treat. Dark chocolate donuts are baked to perfection, then dipped in an easy chocolate glaze, and covered in colorful sprinkles.

These may look impressive, but this is actually a one-bowl recipe. You don't even need a mixer. THIS recipe is the kind of easy win we all need in our lives right now!

Get the recipe here.

5. Brioche Donuts With Raspberry Cheesecake Filling

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Here's a light and fluffy raised donut with a luscious raspberry cheesecake filling. That buttery brioche flavor profile really comes through in these, and the sweet-yet-tangy cheesecake filling is so satisfying.

Perfect for a springtime celebration, these pillowy donuts just feel bright and cheerful.

Get the recipe here.

6. Baked Blueberry Donuts

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Studded with blueberry, these baked donuts are filled with flavor. Freeze dried blueberries are used to naturally color the glaze, for a nice subtle color that doesn't rely on food dyes.

Deliciously simple, this is another one of those recipes that's truly as easy as making muffins for breakfast--but so much more special.

Get the recipe here.

7. Baked Pumpkin Spice Doughnuts

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These pumpkin spice muffins are actually both gluten free and dairy free, making them a perfect choice if you have to watch out for food sensitivities. You'd never know they're allergen friendly though, because they're bold on flavor and have that classic cake doughnut texture.

If you love pumpkin spice, these healthier doughnuts will be a treat you don't want to miss!

Get the recipe here.

8. Old Fashioned Sour Cream Donuts

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These light and airy donuts have a soft crumb, and slightly crisp exterior, just as all the best fried donuts should!

That glaze really finishes these off, and dries to a sweet, crackly sheen. The sour cream is what really sets this recipe apart, offering a subtle tart flavor that balances the sweetness just perfectly.

Get the recipe here.

9. Cinnamon Bun Style Baked Donuts

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These soft and fluffy cinnamon bun donuts are covered in cinnamon glaze, cinnamon crumbles, and vanilla frosting.

Truly a decadent treat, this is a recipe that will really wow your family.

Get the recipe here.

10. Air Fryer Donut Holes

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These Air Fryer Doughnut Holes are about as easy as it gets. With just a few ingredients, and only 15 minutes of prep work, you'll be surprised how quickly they're on the table.

With the lovely crisp exterior you expect from fried donut holes, these are just another amazing recipe you can make right in your air fryer.

Get the recipe here.

11. Baked Banana Donuts

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Banana bread meets donut in these soft, flavorful baked donuts. A rich browned butter glaze finishes these off so well.

Next time you have spotted bananas and feel the pressure to make banana bread just to use them up, this is the perfect recipe to reach for instead. Your family will be delighted!

Get the recipe here.

12. Blueberry Glazed Doughnuts

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These perfectly tender blueberry glazed doughnuts are just packed with fresh blueberries. They're fried until they're golden brown and perfectly crispy on the outside, then glazed with a classic icing.

That golden crust on these donuts is everything you want in an old fashioned cake donut, and the glaze dries to an eye-catching sheen. Next time our school PTO hosts a bake sale, these are what I'm bringing!

Get the recipe here.

13. Boston Cream Donuts

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If you were to ask my kids, they would inform you that when it comes to donuts, Boston cream is the absolute queen, and everything else is a "lesser donut."

While some of us may take issue with that, the classic Boston Cream donut has many devotees who would absolutely agree. Thankfully, here's a recipe that allows anyone to make this delicious confection right in their own kitchen, no trip to the donut shop needed. It's not as hard as you might think, and they're so rewarding to make and enjoy!

Get the recipe here.

14. Easy Rainbow Donuts

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These easy little rainbow donuts would be total perfection for a unicorn party, wouldn't they? The hardest part of this whole recipe is taking the time to tint six different colors of batter, and that's honestly kind of fun.

Use a pastry bag to make filling the donut pans easy, and the whole thing is really a breeze. The look on all the kids' faces when you bring out this colorful donut tray will be priceless!

Get the recipe here.

15. Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Donuts

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These chocolate cake donuts are so perfectly fluffy, you'd never guess they're gluten free. Packed with dark chocolate flavor, they're also dipped in a decadent chocolate ganache.

These can easily be decorated for any occasion, but I just am smitten with the little star sprinkles used in the photo. Wouldn't these be fun for a solstice party?

Get the recipe here.

16. Custard Donuts

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Soft, fluffy, and stuffed with delicious homemade custard, these donuts are a truly indulgent morning treat.

Made with a yeasted dough, the light texture of these makes every minute of that rising time worth the wait. The classic homemade custard that these are filled with is absolutely perfect too. These are truly a classic bakery donut.

Get the recipe here.

17. Tres Leches Cake Donuts with Rainbow Sprinkles

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This recipe features all flavors you love from Tres Leches Cake, in an easy-to-make breakfast treat.

We all know and love the cherished Tres Leches Cake, so this easy recipe is sure to be a hit as well. That sweet white frosting is a must, and colorful sprinkles make these playful donuts just the thing for any celebration.

Get the recipe here.

18. Carrot Cake Donuts

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If you love carrot cake, this donut recipe is a must-try. These are another baked donut recipe, that riffs perfectly off the idea of a classic carrot cake.

Topped with cream cheese icing (as any carrot cake recipe should be!), these are a spicy, warming treat.

Get the recipe here.

19. Maple Bacon Donuts

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I was chatting with the bakery owner here in our small Maine town the other day, marveling at all the magnificent donut varieties she offers.

"You know what's always the top seller?", she asked me. "These babies right here." She was pointing to a tray of maple bacon donuts that looked just like these ones in that picture there.

They really are a beloved favorite, and if you've never tried them, perhaps today should be the day! The perfect balance of savory and sweet, these are blanketed with a sweet maple glaze and then scattered with crisp bacon bits, for an unforgettable treat.

Get the recipe here.

20. Gingerbread Baked Donuts

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Gingerbread is not just for Christmas time, and these donuts are here to prove it. Back in the 1800's, gingerbread was one of the most common treats, at any time of year. I vote we use history here as an excuse to enjoy these delicious gingerbread donuts any time we want.

These are a quick and easy baked donut, so they're easy to get on the table for breakfast. If you really love spice, try mixing a little cinnamon or nutmeg in with the sanding sugar before coating these!

Get the recipe here.

21. Honey Donuts with Vanilla Honey Glaze

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Did you know that August 17th is National Honeybee Day? It's true, and I think these are the treat we need to celebrate it with.

Honey is a flavor that so often is used to complement another, more dominant flavor. In this recipe though, honey gets its day in the sun. That vanilla honey glaze is delicious perfection.

Get the recipe here.

22. Baked Beet Donuts With Strawberry Glaze

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Oh my heavens, the color on these donuts. They're just so eye-catching! These delicious little treats are actually gluten free, and the fact that they're made with beets just makes them feel virtuously healthy, doesn't it?

That strawberry glaze is so pretty, and pairs with the color of the donuts perfectly. These are one I'm really eager to try!

Get the recipe here.

23. Perfect Yeast Doughnuts

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There is simply nothing like a simple, perfectly-made raised donut, that's been fried to golden perfection.

I used to have this amazing great aunt. She was the kind of capable woman who would do her own roofing (in her 80's mind you), and think nothing of it. I mean, we all do our own death-defying home repairs, right?

We had a weekly Friday morning breakfast date, and every single week, she would order the same thing: a single raised donut and cup of black coffee. I'll always remember the subtle expression of approval on her face as she'd bite into that donut, which coming from her, was high praise. This recipe is the one I'd make for her if I could. There really is nothing like a perfect raised donut, after all.

Get the recipe here.

5-Ingredient Summer Desserts That Are Unbelievably Easy

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Summer is such a fun time to gather with friends for a special meal, but when the weather is hot, who wants to slave away in the kitchen crafting a delicious dessert?

For those time when you're wanting to bring out a special treat, with minimal effort but maximum effect, these easy dessert recipes are ready to save the day.

Each of these recipes calls for just 5 ingredients (or less!), and they're all proven crowd-pleasers!

17 Gorgeous Summery Mocktails Even the Kids Can Love

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There's nothing more fun than a special drink in the summertime, and being included in the co*cktail fun means so much--not just to kids, but to anyone who might prefer to skip the alcohol.

If you're looking for inspiration for some gorgeous summery "mocktails" to enjoy with the family this summer, here are 17 beginner-friendly ones to get you started!

Get the recipes here.