Description
These delicious Baked Vanilla Donuts are a light and fluffy treat perfect for any occasion. Made with simple pantry ingredients and baked instead of fried, they offer a healthier twist on classic donuts. Finished with a smooth vanilla glaze, these donuts are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth in just 45 minutes.
Ingredients
Donuts
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste
Vanilla Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1-2 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pans: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 12 standard donut molds with non-stick baking spray and set aside to ensure the donuts don’t stick.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, and baking powder until well combined. This ensures even distribution of the leavening agent and sweetness.
- Add wet ingredients: To the dry mixture, add the large egg, milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla bean paste. Mix all ingredients until just combined to avoid overmixing which can toughen the donuts.
- Fill donut pans: Divide the batter evenly among the prepared donut molds, using about 1/4 cup per donut. Be careful not to overfill to allow room for rising.
- Bake donuts: Place the pans in the oven and bake for 15 to 17 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, indicating that the donuts are fully cooked.
- Cool donuts: Remove the donuts from the oven and let them cool in the pans for a few minutes. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely to room temperature before glazing.
- Prepare glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and 1 to 2 tablespoons of milk until the glaze is smooth and fully combined. Adjust milk quantity for desired consistency.
- Glaze the donuts: Dip each cooled donut into the vanilla glaze, coating the top. Allow excess glaze to drip off before placing the donut back on the wire rack.
- Set glaze: Let the glazed donuts set until the glaze hardens slightly, about 10 to 15 minutes, before serving or storing.
- Store leftovers: Store any leftover donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days to maintain freshness.
Notes
- Make sure not to overmix the batter to keep the donuts light and fluffy.
- Use vanilla bean paste for a richer vanilla flavor, but vanilla extract works well too.
- If you don’t have a donut pan, you can use a muffin tin, but the shape will be different.
- Don’t skip the cooling step before glazing to prevent melting the glaze.
- For a dairy-free option, substitute milk with your preferred plant-based milk.
