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30+ Of The BEST Donut Recipes You Can Make At Home

Today is National Donut Day, and I’m celebrating with the 31 best donut recipes I can find. Some links in this post are affiliate links that earn me a small commission if you click through and purchase anything.

Best homemade donut recipes

I may be slightly obsessed with donuts. The odd thing is that if you ask me what food I could give up happily, donuts are on the list.

So how do I get to that point? Well, what I don’t like are the greasy donuts many chain donut shops sell that are slightly stale because they no longer make them in-house, and that leaves a film on the roof of my mouth after I eat them. Those are the donuts I could never eat again.

Give me a good Boston cream donut though, and I could eat those all day long. I haven’t made them at home (yet), but one day I will. I’ve made enough other donuts, and in fact, I had leftover cinnamon sugar donuts I made yesterday for breakfast today.

Good news? Stick those puppies in a sealed container, and they taste perfect the next day. I give credit to my “secret” ingredient.

Homemade donuts definitely seem to taste best, and they aren’t hard to make in many cases. If you can make muffins, you can make donuts – especially the baked kind.

All you need is a donut pan (or a mini donut pan if you’re like me and think mini food tastes better) and pastry bags. As I found out recently, pastry bags cost no more than the gallon bags you usually use to pipe batter, and they’re far easier to use. Winning. All. Around.

Pro Tips for When You Make the Best Donut Recipes:

  1. Use that pastry bag. Truly. It’s so much easier to fill your donut pans when you pipe than when you try to spoon it in.
  2. When filling a pastry bag (or ok, the zip top baggie most of us use), set it inside a tall glass and fold the top over the rim of the glass. This gives you two hands-free to scrape your batter into the bag and keeps the bag from falling over.
  3. Don’t fill your donut pan too high. If you fill more than halfway, most recipes bake up so much that you don’t get a hole in the middle. That’s not the donut you’re going for, I promise.
  4. If dipping in a dry topping, do it as quickly as you can while they’re still hot. The topping sticks better that way.
  5. If you have a glaze or frosting for your donut, let it cool to room temperature before you apply it so it doesn’t slide right off.
  6. Never ever put donuts in the fridge. That’s how they go stale fast. Instead, store them in a tightly sealed container once they’re fully cooled. I love the Rubbermaid Brilliance containers – they seal fantastically and you can actually see what you stored.

But more importantly, you want to know all about the best donut recipes I could find, don’t you?

Amazing Baked Donuts to Make at Home

When you have a craving, don’t run out to the nearest donut shop, whip up some baked donuts at home. It’s about as easy as making cookies and easier than making a cake. The results are definitely worth it!

1
Mocha donuts ready to eat
Homemade Mocha Donuts
You know the phrase bacon makes everything better, but did you know mocha makes everything better, too? These donuts became an instant favorite in my house, and for good reason.
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2
Mini cute baked lemon glazed donut
Easy Lemon Glazed Donuts
Sometimes donuts can be too sweet, don’t you think? I love adding a little tart to my donuts. This donut has lemon inside it and more lemon zest in the glaze. Nope, not gonna get sick of eating these baked lemon donuts anytime soon!
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3
Homemade strawberry donuts recipe with a bite missing
Strawberry Glazed Donuts
What can I say? I’m a sucker for fruit in my donuts (and in my scones – mmmm chocolate cherry scones). Freeze dried fruit may be one of the best kitchen inventions ever. I love how it adds so much flavor to recipes, and I use it constantly. These strawberry glazed donuts taste as good as they look!
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4
homemade cinnamon sugar donuts
Homemade Cinnamon Sugar Donuts
This is the type of donut I go straight for every time I go to a fair or anywhere with those mini fried donuts. These are baked, not fried, so I can convince myself they’re healthier. They’re light and airy and even the next day, they’re perfectly moist and don’t have a hint of stale donut. A classic cinnamon sugar donut may be just what the doctor ordered.
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5
onedishkitchen.com
Red Velvet Donuts
This small batch donut recipe is perfect for the times when you want to make donuts but don’t want to make them for the entire block. These fluffy red velvet donuts get topped with a sweet cream cheese frosting that’s just enough without being too much.
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6
Delicious easy homemade doughnut recipe
Cereal Milk Doughnuts
I’ve always been a fan of cereal milk. I may not like when my cereal got soggy, but the sweet milk left behind? That was the only way I drank milk growing up – true story. These cereal milk donuts made with cinnamon cereal (but go ahead and substitute chocolate – yum!) taste amazing, and the cereal crunch on top makes them even better.
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7
Enjoy a homemade cereal topped donut
Strawberry Cereal Topped Donuts
Why stop with a cinnamon cereal milk donut? The crunch cereal gives to the tops of donuts is amazing. This cereal topped donut is a little denser but filled with flavor. The hint of strawberry that comes through makes this one a winner in my house every time!
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8
www.mysuburbankitchen.com
Lemon Raspberry Donuts
Does it come as any surprise that lemon raspberry donuts makes this list of the best donut recipes? Take the bright flavors of lemon and combine them with the sweetness of raspberry, and you have heaven in your mouth. The glaze is the perfect way to finish off these lemon raspberry donuts. I dare you to try to keep them in your house!
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9
theliveinkitchen.com
Chai Baked Donuts
These baked donuts are flavored with tea in both the batter and the icing for a delightful hint of spice. They're equally as delicious on a cool fall morning as they are for dessert all year long.
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10
recipesfromapantry.com
Raspberry Glazed Donuts
As amazing as lemon raspberry donuts, the simplicity of these raspberry glazed donuts puts them into the list, too. They call for freeze dried raspberries, which only proves my point that freeze dried fruit is the best. The buttermilk keeps the raspberry glazed donuts from being overly sweet, and the freeze dried topping makes them absolutely gorgeous, too.
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11
www.mysuburbankitchen.com
Easy S’mores Donuts
I’m not all fruit all the time. You guys know I have an obsession with s’mores oriented desserts. Whether it’s the copycat Girl Scout s’mores cookie (shhhh I think mine’s better) or s’mores cake or s’mores stuffed strawberries, I’m all over it. Of course a s’mores donut makes it onto the list of the best donuts recipes.
This recipe starts with a cake mix, which makes it one of the easiest and fastest recipes on the list. But as quick as this recipe is, it’s hands down gorgeous and full of flavor. Is a s’mores donut next on your bucket list?
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12
savoryspin.com
Golden Donuts with Caramel Glaze
These aromatic baked Golden Donuts get spiced with turmeric, cardamom, and ginger before being bathed in a decadent caramel sauce. Yeah, this is one heck of a tasty breakfast!
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13
homemadeandyummy.com
Gluten Free Chocolate Chili Mocha Donuts
My gluten free friends, I will not leave you in the dust. This recipe is that perfect combination of sweetness with a touch of heat that has me sitting up and asking for more. It’s the only other recipe I’ve seen recently that incorporates the secret ingredient from my cinnamon sugar donuts, and it’s the perfect complement to the rest of the ingredients.
Don’t assume that just because you’re gluten free means you have to skip donuts. You need to try this chocolate chili mocha donut – and that goes for those of us who aren’t gluten free, too!
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14
mygluten-freekitchen.com
Gluten-free Maple Donuts
If you’ve been looking for a really good gluten-free maple donut like the ones you used to enjoy, this is hands down the recipe you need. These gluten free and dairy free donuts turn out soft, not cakey. These are the perfect gluten-free donuts with a delicious maple icing.
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15
recipeforperfection.com
Chocolate Dipped Gluten Free Doughnuts
Soft and pillowy, these gluten free doughnuts are oven baked and dipped in a luscious chocolate glaze. Enjoy their chocolate-covered glory, or take it to the next level with your favorite toppings (like coconut).
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16
thebellyrulesthemind.net
GF Vegan Mini Churros Donuts
This Mini Churros Donuts recipe is surprisingly easy to make, and the batter just requires 6 ingredients. In just 15 minutes, you can enjoy these gluten-free, vegan treats.
These donuts make a perfect goodie, ideal for breakfast, brunch, and a satisfying dessert. They are made light, fast, delicious, and above all not fried but baked.
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17
beplantwell.com
Coffee Cake Donuts
These vegan coffee cake donuts are super moist with a simple crumb topping and dairy free glaze, as well as lots of sweet cinnamon flavor. And yes, of course you can make them with "non vegan" ingredients, too.
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18
Perfect homemade mini donuts recipe so adorable
Cake Donuts with Chocolate Frosting
If a chocolate chili mocha donut is a little too much for you, try this classic chocolate frosted donut instead. It is a cake donut with a delicious chocolate glaze. Dip it in sprinkles, and you literally have childhood in your mouth. I don’t exaggerate.
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19
zonacooks.com
Baked Chocolate Donuts with Chocolate Glaze
Don't want donuts for days? Then whip up this quick and easy baked small batch of chocolate donuts coated with a chocolate glaze. Add extra toppings like sprinkles, nuts or gummy worms if you like to dress them up even more.
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20
dizzybusyandhungry.com
Double Chocolate Doughnuts with Orange Glaze
Made with Greek yogurt and topped with a delicious orange glaze, these doughnuts will start your day out right. Make a double batch and freeze the extra for a quick and delicious snack any time of day.
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21
recipesfromapantry.com
Peanut Butter Nutella Donuts
If you really love and want allllll the chocolate, this is the donut for you. This peanut butter Nutella donut gets infused into the donuts before baking then they get coated with even more Nutella. And sprinkles. If you have 30 minutes to spare, you have time to whip these up.
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22
www.veggieinspired.com
Strawberry Glazed Chocolate Vegan Donuts
These easy gluten free, vegan donuts are soft and chocolate-y and dipped in a sweet pink glaze made with fresh strawberries. You'll never miss the dairy in this fantastic version.
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23
girlwiththeironcast.com
Lemon Poppy Seed Donuts
These lemon poppy seed donuts are the perfect sweet/tangy treat to start your day. Baked not fried, these donuts end up dipped in a delicious lemony glaze.
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24
2cookinmamas.com
Baked Lemon Blueberry Doughnuts
Start your day with easy & delicious, baked (not fried) lemon blueberry doughnuts. Soft, moist cake doughnuts, full of tasty blueberries and dipped into an oh-so-sweet lemon glaze. They come together in less than 20 minutes and are great for breakfast, an afternoon snack or a quick dessert.
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25
homemadeandyummy.com
Baked Oatmeal Donuts
What a fun way to start your day. Who says donuts are not healthy? The Baked Breakfast Donuts are packed with healthy ingredients, and they're tasty, too.
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26
beplantwell.com
Champagne Donuts
These sweet frosted vegan champagne donuts are deliciously vanilla-flavored and unique. And yes, they are made with a generous splash of bubbly. How can you not try them?
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27
www.hellospoonful.com
Baked Banana Bread Donuts
These baked banana bread donuts are moist, fluffy and loaded with chocolate chunks. Enjoy this healthy twist on a classic donut for breakfast, a snack or dessert. Even better, they're ready in just 30 minutes.
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28
Cranberry Almond Donuts
www.suburbia-unwrapped.com
Cranberry Almond Donuts
These cranberry almond donuts are heavenly right out of the oven. Or, make a beautiful pink cranberry glaze to satisfy your sweet tooth for something a little extra special.
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29
Image shows apple cider donuts.
Apple Cider Donuts
My other favorite classic donut is an apple cider donut. Whenever we go apple picking, we always grab a half dozen to enjoy. Of course, we usually only go apple picking once a year, and I need apple cider donuts way more often than that. These? Super simple to make and so full of flavor, especially since you concentrate the apple cider to go into the batter.
This version is baked, but I also have an amazing fried apple cider donut recipe. Whichever you prefer, that’s your call. Just. Make. Them.
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30
www.natalieshealth.com
Double Chocolate Banana Donuts
Sweet and absolutely irresistible, these double chocolate banana donuts are perfect guilt-free treat. These donuts are oven baked, and though they're made with whole grains and refined sugar-free, they're certainly not taste free.
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31
brooklynfarmgirl.com
Glazed Carrot Cake Donuts
Where are my carrot cake fans? This one is just for you! These homemade baked donuts are made with fresh carrots and taste just like carrot cake.
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What do you think are the best donut recipes?

Best Donuts collage

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  1. Gloria says:

    I love baked donuts. What I great collection. I have shared on ALL my platforms.

  2. Gloria says:

    Thanks so much for including my Gluten Free Chocolate Chili Mocha Donuts in this delicious collection. I have shared, pinned and scheduled a FB post too.

  3. Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says:

    What a great selection of donut recipes – I’ve definitely got to give some a try! Thanks for including some of my recipes, much appreciated!

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