Who doesn’t love a classic powdered donut? Light, fluffy, and sweet, this homemade powdered donuts recipe is easy to make and just as delicious as your favorite donut shop!
Some people think it is difficult to make donuts at home, but it is less work than you might think! This powdered donut recipe is easy to follow, with no oil or frying required to make a yummy treat everyone will love.
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Cooked in under 15 minutes, you can make these donuts for a special occasion or as a fun treat to brighten up a regular day. The texture of these homemade donuts is light and airy, with just the right amount of sweetness to balance everything out.
I can’t say these donuts won’t be messy when you eat them, but I can guarantee they will bring a smile to your face!
Ingredient Notes
See the printable recipe card below for all ingredients, specific measurements, and complete instructions.
- Granulated Sugar—Adds sweetness and a light chewy texture to the donuts.
- Salted Butter—Melted. Helps keep your donuts moist and soft.
- Eggs—Act as a binder and hold the ingredients together as they cook.
- Whole Milk—Adds richness and thins out the batter.
- Flour—I like using all-purpose, but whole wheat flour should also work.
- Baking Soda—Helps the donuts rise and become nice and fluffy.
- Vanilla Extract—Gives these baked donuts a ton of comforting homemade flavor.
- Powdered Sugar—For the sweet coating on the outside of your finished donuts!
Since we will be baking rather than frying these homemade powdered donuts, you will need a donut pan! I recommend using a metal pan because it conducts heat better than a silicone pan and will give you perfectly cooked donuts every time.
How To Make Powdered Donuts
Start by whisking together the butter, sugar, milk, vanilla, and eggs in a large mixing bowl until smooth.
Next, add flour and baking soda. Using a large fork, gently whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until the batter is smooth.
Spray a metal donut pan with non-stick cooking spray then pour in your batter filling up the molds completely. Bake for 13 minutes in preheated 350°F oven.
Remove the donuts from the pan by turning the donut pan upside down and tapping on the counter to release them. Allow the donuts to cool for a few minutes then toss them in the powdered sugar.
Best Method To Coat The Donuts
The easiest way I have found to coat the donuts with powdered sugar is by pouring the sugar in a large bowl, and using tongs to place two or three donuts into the bowl at a time.
You can flip them once or twice to ensure they are completely covered. Another method is to pour the sugar into a Ziploc bag, place a few donuts into the bag, and gently shake until they are coated.
The powdered sugar should stick to the donuts easily, but if you have trouble, you can lightly brush melted butter on any area you need then proceed with coating. Don't brush too much butter, as it can cause the powdered sugar to clump up.
How To Avoid Dense Donuts
There can be a few reasons that your donuts come out dense, and there are ways to prevent that! The first is that you may have overmixed the dough. Donut batter is sensitive, so only mix until the ingredients have just combined.
I like to whisk the batter using a Danish dough hook to avoid overmixing, but if you don’t have one then a large fork will work great. Another reason for dense donuts is that you cooked them for too long.
It is important to stick to exactly 13 minutes, otherwise they will become tough and hard to chew. If you follow my recipe, your homemade powdered donuts should be perfectly light and airy!
How To Store Donuts
Any leftover powdered donuts can be stored in an airtight container on the counter for up to 5 days! You can also store them in a Ziploc bag, as long as it is sealed.
Preventing moisture from getting into the donuts is crucial as it will dry them out and change the texture of the powdered sugar.
Recipe Tips
- Make sure you cover your butter with a plate or paper towel if you melt it in the microwave to avoid any splatter.
- Your batter should be on the runnier side! This will give your donuts a light, moist, fluffy texture once cooked. It will also make pouring the batter into the mold much easier.
- Allowing the donuts a few minutes to cool down before tossing them in the powdered sugar will help prevent it from dissolving. However, it is important to coat them before they cool down completely so the sugar will stick better to the donut.
- It is important not to overbake these donuts. Stick with 13 minutes. If they cook for too long, they will become tough and hard to chew.
Here are a few more easy and delicious baked donut recipes to try.
The baked powdered donuts are easy to make and everyone loves them! No more buying store bought powdered donuts when you can easily make them at home.
Powdered Donuts Recipe
Ingredients
- 5 Tablespoons salted butter, melted
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons baking soda
- 2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Whisk together the butter, sugar, milk, vanilla, and eggs in a large mixing bowl for about 3 minutes, or until smooth and combined.
- Add the flour and baking soda. Gently whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients together using a large fork until the batter is smooth and the flour is fully incorporated into the mixture.
- Pour the donut batter into a metal donut pan, filling the molds completely. Bake the donuts for 13 minutes.
- Remove the donuts from the pan and allow them to cool for a few minutes before tossing them in the powdered sugar.
- Serve and enjoy!