Baked Strawberry Donut Recipe with Strawberry Glaze - NINNESCAH HOMESTEAD (2024)

If you are looking for the perfect baked strawberry donut recipe, this is it! These donuts have a soft texture that can best be described as a fried cake donut and a muffin had a baby.

We aren't frying these, but they still have that soft-to-bite-into cake batter we all love. Tiny pieces of strawberries are tucked inside the donut batter, making every bite even better. We even use strawberries to naturally color the strawberry glaze! This recipe is dye-free and just so perfectly simple.

Why this Baked Strawberry Donut Recipe Works

Who loves cake donuts? Hands up, everyone!

I'm a donut lover, through and through, and I know that just about everyone can say the same. My favorites have always been old-fashioned cake donuts, which is why I love this particular recipe so, sooo much. It’s rich, berry-packed and perfectly sweet.

I'm using classic donut ingredients, minus the yeast and skipping the vegetable oil. There’s no rising time and no mixer needed so you can whip up a batch in next to no time! This quick recipe is the real deal, but instead of frying these bad boys, we’re baking them in the oven.

This delicious strawberry donut recipe is baked, not fried, for those who want to make homemade donuts but don’t feel like messing up the kitchen by dragging out the fryer. But don't worry, they’re ever bit as tasty!

This baked strawberry donut recipe is delicious plain, but I’ve got a fresh strawberry glaze recipe if you’re craving an iced donut. These donuts also taste delicious with a simple powdered sugar dusting or quick sprinkle dip if you’re not a glazed donut fan!

Ingredients for Baked Strawberry Donuts Recipe

• All-purpose flour |This easy recipe for donuts could also be made with a gluten free flour blend such as Bob's 1:1. They could also be made with up to 50% whole wheat flour, fresh milled flour or cake flour.
• Granulated white sugar |White sugar adds sweetness and structure to the baked donuts.
• Baking powder |this is a no-yeast donut recipe, so it relies on baking powder to help them rise and keeps them from being dense. Be sure it isn't expired.
• Salt |My favorite salt for baked goods is anything non-iodized, from kosher to sea salt to avoid any chemical flavor. Celtic, Himalayan and French are also delicious!
• Milk |Buttermilk or clabber are great options, but whole milk is also a great choice for this recipe.
• Strawberries| Hear me out, it's worth finding freeze dried strawberries for this recipe. They are often in the snack section or can be purchased online. You could also use tiny pieces of fresh diced strawberries. Fresh strawberries can add moisture to the doughnuts, so the baking time may need increased slightly.
• Butter |Butter is gonna give these delicious donuts their oomf that makes them melt in your mouth.
• Vanilla Extract |Madagascar bourbon vanilla is really good in baked goods if you can find it!

Strawberry Glaze

• Maple Syrup |This sweetens up the frosting without overwhelming it. You can substitute corn syrup if you need to.
• Milk or cream| The amount will vary slightly, but start with the lowest amount and very slowly add more until the desired consistency is reached.
• Melted butter| It makes it smooth and creamy!
• Freeze dried strawberries |I used a morter and pestel to grind mine into a powder to make the glaze uniform and colorful. I also reserved a tablespoon or so to sprinkle on top.
• Powdered sugar |Sweeten up that icing! Depending on where you live, this might be called confectioners' sugar.

see recipe card for quantities

How to Make Strawberry Donuts (makes 12 donuts)

1.Preheat the oven to 400℉. Prepare the 12-count donut pan by spraying generously with cooking spray. I recommend placing the silicon donut pan on a baking sheet for stability.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl, stir together the wet ingredients: milk, melted butter, and vanilla.

3. Stir the wet ingredients into the flour mixture and mix until just combined to make the doughnut batter. Fold in the strawberry pieces.

4. Spoon the batter into the greased donut pan. I've found that about three normal sized spoonfuls in each donut pan perfectly fills them up. An alternative way to fill the pans is by pouring the batter into a plastic bag, pastry bag or piping bag and cutting a corner off to pipe it into the molds.

4. Reduce the oven temperature to 350℉. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes (give or take two minutes). The donuts are done when they spring back when touched and will pull away from the edge of the pan slightly.

5. Leave the donuts in the pan until they have cooled so that they can be touched without burning fingers. Then invert the pan onto a cooling rack that is setting in a baking sheet. This will keep your countertop from getting messy!

6. Make the strawberry frosting by whisking the milk, maple syrup, melted butter, freeze dried strawberry powder and powdered sugar together until smooth.

See Also

Easy Homemade Pancake RecipeHomemade Custard Recipe (Pastry Cream)Easy Homemade Granola Recipe - Rainbow DeliciousSimple Homemade Soy milk Recipe

7. Dip the baked doughnuts upside down into the glaze. Add sprinkles, if desired!

Hint: Frost each cooled donut while it is still slightly warm. The frosting should look pale pink and smooth. If it is thick and fluffy, either add a little milk or heat it in the microwave in 10 second increments until it is more of a liquid, glossy and has a runny texture. Dip the tops of the donuts in the frosting. Hold upside down until the icing stops dripping, then place the cake doughnuts on a wire rack to cool.

Variations for this Strawberry Donut Recipe

These donuts are pretty perfect as is, but there are still plenty of ways to make this recipe your own!

• sprinkles: add colorful sprinkles sprinkles to the tops of the freshly frosted donuts while the icing is still setting up.
• skip the frosting:use powdered sugar instead of glaze.
• strawberry lovers:add 1tablespoon of strawberry jam to the wet ingredients to add an extra oomf of strawberry flavor.
• chocolate lover:add ½ cup of mini chocolate chips to the batter before filling the donut pans.

• Silicon donut pansare a game changer! They allow the donuts to gently be popped out after cooling and are easy to clean.
• I recommend baking them on abaking pan(aka cookie sheet) to add a rigid and stable base.
• A few of my other favorite baking tools include a set of nestingmeasuring cups,measuring spoons, a sturdywhiskandlarge bowlfor mixing the donut batter.

How to store donuts

Homemade cake donuts don't store for long. Make them the day you wish to serve them or store them in an airtight container for up to two days.

They can also be frozen for up to three months. Be aware that the icing will break down when frozen and thawed, but the flavor will still be just fine.

FAQ

If you make this recipe, please leave a comment below! This provides helpful feedback to both me and other readers. For more delicious recipes from scratch and homesteading tips, follow me on instagram @NinnescahHomestead

Recipe

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Happy baking!

-Meg

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