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These moist, delicious baked vanilla donuts are a simple breakfast everyone will love. For the vanilla lover and more, these donuts are easy to whip up in just 10 minutes, topped with a maple glaze and all the sprinkles. Easy to make right along with the kids for a fun activity!
There is nothing more fun to eat than a donut, and these triple vanilla baked donuts are no exception. All the vanilla flavor and a rich vanilla maple glaze and perfect for all the toppings.
These vanilla donuts were inspired by my Greek yogurt donuts and are so great for the kids to help whip up as they are ready in no time! The best breakfast recipe if you ask me! Try these other favorites as well: Banana Blueberry Muffins, Apple Cinnamon Donuts with Apple Cider Glaze, Pancake Bites or these Easy Homemade Pop Tarts with Pie Crust!
Why We Love These Vanilla Donuts
The whole recipe is ready in under 30 minutes. Baked donuts bake up super quick. You only need about 10 minutes give or take to bake and a few minutes to cool. The actual mixing up the batter takes about 5 minutes or so. Easy, easy, EASY!
Lots of vanilla flavor. The vanilla flavor in this vanilla donut recipe comes from three sources: yogurt, vanilla extract and vanilla almond milk. Lots of vanilla for the most vibrant vanilla goodness!
Simple pantry staples. Everything needed for this easy breakfast recipe I have on hand all the time. If I don’t have vanilla yogurt, I at least have some plain yogurt on hand and can adjust if needed.
Lots of fun ways to vary flavor. Vanilla donuts are a perfect base for many flavors. You can easily adjust the glaze flavor, add in some chopped nuts, blueberries or mini chocolate chips into the batter and sprinkle the tops of the donuts with all the things: coconut, sprinkles, chopped nuts, and more.
Ingredient Notes
- flour: All purpose flour for these vanilla donuts. You can sub for a 1:1 gluten free all purpose flour if you need these gluten free.
- sugar: These donuts are not super sweet, just a touch of sugar is all I use. You can add more if desired.
- baking soda/powder: make sure both are fresh–you want the donuts to rise.
- salt: just a pinch, I prefer sea salt
- butter: unsalted, melted and cooled. If you only have salted, just adjust the salt in the recipe.
- yogurt: vanilla yogurt, preferably not Greek, but Greek does work, the texture will be different. Whole milk yogurt is ideal for the most flavor.
- milk: For the extra vanilla flavor I use vanilla almond milk in these baked vanilla donuts. However, another milk will work. You can even use one of the vanilla dairy milks you can typically find with the kids chocolate milk boxes.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Stir the dry ingredients together and set aside.
Step 2: Whisk the egg and butter together and then add in the milk, yogurt and vanilla and whisk until smooth.
Step 3: Add in the dry ingredients and stir.
Step 4: The mixture is pretty thick, so don’t worry if it seems like it’s not thin enough!
Step 5: You can spoon the mixture into the donut pan but I prefer piping the batter. To pipe, transfer the vanilla donut batter to a piping bag or gallon plastic bag. Cut a one inch slit at the corner and pipe into an oil sprayed donut pan. Do not overfill the donut molds. You want to fill the donut molds about halfway and no more. They will rise!
Step 6: Bake the donuts for about 10 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow the donuts to cool for several minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Step 7: While donuts cool, whisk the glaze ingredients together. Adjust the amount of maple or milk/cream amounts to thin the maple glaze as desired.
Step 8: Dip the donuts in the glaze and let excess drop off. Place back on the cooling rack and top with sprinkles if desired.
Recipe Tips
- When filling your donut pan, a little goes a long way. These vanilla donuts will rise a decent amount so you don’t need to fill the donut molds much. About half way is plenty. Otherwise they will bake over and you will lose the nice round edges that you want in a donut. They will still taste fine, so the recipe isn’t a flop if you over fill.
- Make sure leavening agents are fresh. When baking, always use fresh baking soda and baking powder. If they are expired they can really impact the results of any recipe. And not in a great way.
- Easily adjust the glaze flavor. While I am a huge huge HUGE fan of this maple vanilla glaze, there are lots of ways to vary it: add in 1/2 teaspoon of lemon or almond extract, add cocoa powder for chocolate glaze, skip the maple and use just milk and vanilla, use honey instead of the maple.
Storage
Store these donuts at room temperature for about 3-4 days in an airtight container. You can refrigerate them and they will keep closer to 5 days.
Once completely cooled, you can freeze them. Freeze for an hour in a single layer and then transfer to a container with wax or parchment paper between the layers.
Other Donut and Breakfast Recipes
- Whole Wheat Greek Yogurt Baked Donuts
- Apple Cinnamon Donuts With Apple Cider Glaze
- Puff Pastry Cinnamon Rolls
- Homemade Pop Tarts
- Carrot Cake Baked Donuts
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Baked Vanilla Donuts with Maple Vanilla Glaze
Ingredients
For Donuts
- 1 cup all purpose flour (or gluten free all purpose), spooned and leveled
- 1 large egg
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- ⅓ cup vanilla yogurt (whole milk yogurt is best)
- ⅓-½ cup sugar
- ¼ cup plus 1 Tbsp vanilla unsweetened almond milk , whole milk works well too
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- dash of sea salt
For Glaze
- 1 cup confectioners sugar
- 2-3 Tbsp milk or cream
- 1 Tbsp pure maple syrup
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and sea salt.
- In a small bowl, whisk together butter and egg until smooth. Add in yogurt, milk and vanilla and whisk until smooth.
- Pour wet ingredients into dry and stir to combine. The dough will be a thick consistency but if it seems a bit dry, add a splash of milk. Try not to over stir as well.
- Spray oil into donut baking pan to coat. Spoon donut batter into the molds or pour batter into a plastic bag and cut a slit to fill donut molds. I prefer this method and found it to be a lot less messy!
- Bake for about 10 minutes, until golden brown and a toothpick comes up clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool thoroughly.
- While donuts cool, or before serving, whisk together glaze ingredients, adding more maple or milk to desired thickness and dip each donut into glaze and set aside to dry–or dig in immediately!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Oh wow, these donuts look so indulgent and yummy! I like that you baked them instead of deep-frying. I have to make your recipe for sure.
I like baked as well as the fried but I think the baked are easier!
Looks delicious!!! They are dafintely being added to my need to try list!
So glad to hear Kelly!
I am with you all the way on “cake” donuts. My baba used to make them when I was a kid. SOOOO good. I love my donut pans, they are so much fun. Baked donuts hands down are the BEST!!
Yes to all of this!!!
These look amazing! I absolutely love that these are baked donuts! I’m pinning this to make later! Thank you!
Thanks Sarah!!! Hope you love them!!
Doughnuts are my weakness! Like I really shouldn’t be around them because I lose all self control… and I totally agree that doughnuts should never be naked lol
Nope. Never ever naked. Ever.
Oh this looks amazing and I am definitely going to have to make these!!! Also, your photos are absolutely beautiful!!!
Aaawww thanks so much Haley
The idea of making donuts actually really scares me…but these ingredients may be getting my brave apron on! Thank you!
Well baked donuts are more like making muffins but in a cute shape. Promise they aren’t scary.
These look ridiculously good! I have never tried making donuts, but I think I may have to now!
Yes, Lara!!!
I accept your challenge! I am going to try to think better thoughts about my body. Now, about those donuts! These are amazing! I can almost smell them through the computer! lol.
Yay!!!! It can be a challenge at times.
Trust me I ignore those types of ads. Now onto those great looking donuts. Will be trying these soon.
So good to hear Candy!!