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    Home » Breakfast

    Cake Donuts

    Published: Jan 14, 2023 · by Nico

    Jump to Recipe

    Cake donuts are cute, delicious, and easy-to-make treats that you can make in 30 minutes with simple pantry staples.

    This recipe is for oven-baked cake donuts raised with baking powder, without yeast. You can expect a firm donut with a soft cake-like crumb and a delicious cinnamon sugar topping.

    cake donuts with cinnamon
    On this page:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Variations
    • Make Ahead & Storage
    • More Easy Baking Ideas
    • More Weekend Recipes
    • Recipe

    Check out our best plant-based dessert recipes!

    Whether you are a deep-fried cake donut or a yeast donut person, you cannot deny this oven-baked cake donut recipe's simplicity, taste, and versatility.

    You can whip up the batter in 2 minutes, plus our recipe is without eggs and so easy to adapt for vegans. For chocolate lovers, here's our easy chocolate glazed donuts recipe.

    Cake donuts bake in 20 minutes, meaning you can make them last minute in less than half an hour, which is fantastic!

    They hold up perfectly and have a firm, yet airy cake-like texture. They are excellent for dunking in milk or latte, lasting for several days, and are fulfilling and delicious.

    Louise loves cake donuts, while I prefer a light and airy yeast donut. Here are a couple of quotes from an entertaining article from the Huffington Post on cake vs. yeast/raised donuts:

    “Cake donuts are just alternatively shaped cupcakes or muffins. They live an existence of lies.”

    “Cake donuts 4 life. <― also going to be my new tattoo”.

    Thompson, J. R. (2017, June 2). Which Is The Superior Donut: A Cake Donut Or A Yeast Donut? Huffington Post.

    So which team are you on - cake or yeast donut?

    cake donuts cooling down

    Ingredients

    cake donuts ingredients

    Flour

    All-purpose flour is all you need.

    Sugar

    You can use white or brown sugar.

    Milk

    Any milk will do. We use almond milk. Other plant milks work equally well, including soy milk, oat milk, and rice milk.

    Vegetable oil

    We recommend neutral-flavored vegetable oil such as sunflower or canola oil.

    Vanilla Extract

    Vanilla extract helps infuse the batter with a cozy warm vanilla flavor. You can substitute the seeds of a real vanilla pod for vanilla extract.

    Cinnamon

    Cinnamon is a key ingredient in our cake donuts; we add it to the batter and topping.

    If you make a winter edition donut close to the holidays, you can add other spices such as grated nutmeg, all-spice, and ginger.

    Salt

    A pinch of salt helps tie together the other flavors and make the cake donuts more delicious.

    Baking powder

    Baking powder is the raising agent in this recipe, and it's essential.

    If unsure if your baking powder is still active, you can test it by pouring one cup of boiling water onto 1 teaspoon of baking powder in a small bowl. If the powder foams, it means it's active, and you can use it.

    This recipe does not require baking soda or vinegar.

    Sugar and cinnamon coating

    We like to top our donuts with a simple cinnamon-sugar mix. You'll need a little milk to make the top of the donut wet, sugar, and cinnamon.

    You can, of course, top them with a simple glaze and sprinkles, too, if you like.

    Equipment

    You'll need a 12-donut baking pan.

    cake donuts with a bite

    Instructions

    Make the donut batter

    Preheat the oven to 340°F or 170°C. Brush your donut baking pan with butter or dairy-free butter.

    To a large mixing bowl, add flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder. Whisk to combine.

    Flour in a glass bowl

    Add milk, oil, and vanilla extract and whisk the donut batter until combined, without overmixing.

    donut batter in a glass bowl

    With the help of a spoon, pour the mixture into the donut pan, filling the molds a little over half full.

    Tip: fill the mold less than you think, and never more than ¾ to the top, or your cake doughnuts will turn out without holes.

    Bake the donuts

    donut cake pan with batter

    Bake at 340°F or 170°C for 20 minutes. Let them cool down for 10 minutes in the pan, then take them out and serve or coat them in cinnamon sugar.

    cake donuts after baking in a pan

    Apply cinnamon sugar

    Fill one bowl with milk and the other with cinnamon stirred in sugar.

    Dip the top of the donuts in the milk, then dip it in the cinnamon sugar and arrange them on a wire rack to cool.

    Donuts dipped in milk and cinnamon

    You can serve them immediately with tea, coffee, milk, or a latte.

    Cake donuts stacked

    Variations

    Chocolate glazed donuts

    If you like chocolate and chocolate glaze, try these 30-minute chocolate glazed donuts that are easy to make and perfect for a lazy Sunday.

    Chocolate donuts with powdered sugar and bite

    Homemade Yeast Donuts

    Soft, light, and airy, our easy vegan yeast donut recipe will produce the best donuts you'll ever have. It's excellent for baking in the oven or deep-frying.

    Check out our vegan donuts recipe.

    vegan donuts with sugar

    Carrot and orange cake donuts

    These are original, moist, delicious cake donuts made with our orange and carrot cake batter. These are perfect for you if you are looking for a new donut flavor.
    Check out our carrot and orange cake recipe.

    cake donuts with orange and carrot

    Make Ahead & Storage

    Make Ahead: this recipe is excellent for making ahead because the donuts keep very well for several days.

    Room temperature: store donuts in a food-grade plastic bag or an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 - 5 days. If they get a little dry on the last day, warm them in the microwave for 1 minute to bring out the moisture in the dough.

    Freezer: cake donuts are great for freezing. Let them cool down completely, arrange them in a freezer-friendly bag and freeze them for up to 6 months.

    Thaw: defrost in the microwave for a couple of minutes or fridge over several hours.

    More Easy Baking Ideas

    If you love no-fuss baking, get inspiration from these easy and tasty baking ideas:

    • Easy vanilla cake with vegan cream cheese frosting and a light and airy crumb.
    • 1-bowl banana bread with just 7 ingredients, a super easy sweet treat.
    • 30-minute apple muffins: with tender pieces of apple, a wholesome snack, and a dessert idea.
    • Favorite apple cake: a reader's favorite easy cake with apple, cinnamon, and a moist and light cake crumb.
    • Cinnamon-sugar-covered pear cake: an Italian-inspired sweet and pear-tender cake.
    • Easy Vanilla Cake
    • Vegan Banana Bread
    • Apple Muffins
    • Vegan Apple Cake

    More Weekend Recipes

    Get ready for your next Sunday brunch with these bright and easy brunch recipes:

    • Potato frittata with chickpea flour and leek, perfect for meal prep and healthy breakfast.
    • Oatmeal pancakes with apple compote, an easy 20-minute recipe.
    • 5-minute tofu scramble: pairs perfectly with toasted bread and sliced avocado.
    • Banana pancakes: ready in 20 minutes, with an airy and light pancake consistency.
    • Potato Frittata (No Eggs)
    • Banana Pancakes
    • Tofu Scramble
    • Oatmeal Pancakes

    Recipe

    cake donuts stacked

    Cake Donuts

    Author: Nico
    Cake donuts are cute, delicious, and easy-to-make treats that you can make in 30 minutes with simple pantry staples.
    This recipe is for oven-baked cake donuts raised with baking powder, without yeast. You can expect a firm donut with a soft cake-like crumb and a delicious cinnamon sugar topping.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share Recipe
    5 from 1 vote
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 25 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12 donuts
    Calories 94 kcal

    Equipment

    • 12-donut baking pan

    Ingredients
     
     

    DRY INGREDIENTS

    • 1 cup all-purpose flour
    • ½ cup sugar
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon salt

    WET INGREDIENTS

    • ⅔ cup milk any, we use almond milk
    • 1 tablespoon canola oil
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    TOPPING

    • ¼ cup sugar
    • 1½ teaspoon cinnamon
    • ¼ cup milk any, we use almond milk

    Instructions
     

    MAKE DONUT BATTER

    • Preheat the oven to 340°F or 170°C. Brush your donut baking pan with butter or dairy-free butter.
      To a large bowl, add the dry ingredients and whisk to combine.
      Flour in a glass bowl
    • Add the wet ingredients, and whisk until combined, without overmixing.
      donut batter in a glass bowl

    BAKE THE DONUTS

    • With the help of a spoon, pour the mixture into the donut pan, filling the molds a little over half full.
      donut cake pan with batter
    • Bake at 340°F or 170°C for 20 minutes. Let them cool down for 10 minutes in the pan, then take them out and serve or coat them in cinnamon sugar.
      cake donuts after baking in a pan

    APPLY CINNAMON SUGAR

    • In a small bowl, add milk. In another small bowl, add cinnamon stirred in sugar.
      Dip the top half of each donut in milk first and in cinnamon sugar later, and arrange on a wire rack to cool.
      Donuts dipped in milk and cinnamon
    • You can serve the donuts right away, with milk, coffee, or a latte.
      Cake donuts stacked

    Notes

    Nutrition information is an estimate for 1 cake donut out of 12 made with non-dairy milk.
    SUBSTITUTIONS
    - All purpose flour: we have not tried this recipe with gluten-free flour.
    - Sugar: sub brown sugar, coconut sugar, or palm sugar.
    - Canola oil: sub any neutral-flavored oil such as sunflower oil.
    - Milk: sub soy milk, rice milk, or any other milk for almond milk.
    MAKE AHEAD & STORAGE
    - Make Ahead: this recipe is excellent for making ahead because the donuts keep very well for several days.
    - Room temperature: store donuts in a food-grade plastic bag or an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 - 5 days. If they get a little dry on the last day, warm them in the microwave for 1 minute to bring out the moisture in the dough.
    - Freezer: cake donuts are great for freezing. Let them cool down completely, arrange them in a freezer-friendly bag and freeze them for up to 6 months.
    - Thaw: defrost in the microwave or fridge over several hours.
     

    Nutritional Values

    Nutrition Facts
    Cake Donuts
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 94 Calories from Fat 18
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 2g3%
    Saturated Fat 0.1g1%
    Trans Fat 0g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
    Monounsaturated Fat 1g
    Cholesterol 0mg0%
    Potassium 68mg2%
    Carbohydrates 19g6%
    Dietary Fiber 1g4%
    Sugar 10g11%
    Protein 2g4%
    Vitamin A 58IU1%
    Vitamin B6 0.04mg2%
    Vitamin C 1mg1%
    Vitamin E 1mg7%
    Vitamin K 1µg1%
    Calcium 40mg4%
    Folate 24µg6%
    Iron 1mg6%
    Manganese 0.1mg5%
    Magnesium 3mg1%
    Zinc 0.1mg1%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Did you like this recipe?We are not much on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Leave us a comment below instead, it would mean the world to us 🙂

    If you liked these easy cake donuts, you might also enjoy the following:

    • 25+ Best Vegan Brunch Recipes
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    « Kale and Quinoa Salad
    30 Vegan Lunch Ideas »

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    Nico and Louise founders of the Plant-Based School.

    Hi, we are Nico and Louise, and we love cooking! Welcome to our blog.

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