Baked Cake Doughnuts Recipe

Baking these doughnuts transports me back to lazy Saturday mornings, where the aroma of fresh pastry filling the kitchen felt like an indulgent promise of the weekend. The simplicity of combining these familiar ingredients, with a hint of nutmeg, creates a delightful treat that’s just begging for a cozy afternoon coffee break.

I adore making baked cake doughnuts that blend together the ideal measure of sweetness with a soft, light, fluffy texture. These doughnuts, made with whole milk and two large eggs, are rich and satisfying.

Adding just a hint of ground nutmeg yields a warm, spice note that complements the granulated sugar’s sweetness to perfection.

Baked Cake Doughnuts Recipe Ingredients

• All-purpose flour: Provides structure and carbohydrates; essential for doughnut texture.
• Granulated sugar: Adds sweetness and contributes to golden browning.
• Baking powder: Leavening agent that makes doughnuts light and fluffy.
• Ground nutmeg: Adds warm, aromatic spice for classic doughnut flavor.
• Whole milk: Adds moisture, richness, and helps bind ingredients.
• Eggs: Provide structure, moisture, and aid in leavening.
• Vanilla extract: Adds fragrant sweetness and enhances flavor.
• Unsalted butter: Adds rich flavor and a tender crumb.

Baked Cake Doughnuts Recipe Ingredient Quantities

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup whole milk
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• Nonstick cooking spray (for the doughnut pan)

How to Make this Baked Cake Doughnuts Recipe

1. Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and give a doughnut pan a light greasing with some nonstick cooking spray.

2. In a big mixing bowl, combine all together by whisking: the flour, sugar, baking powder, ground nutmeg, and salt.

3. In a separate bowl, combine the milk, eggs, and vanilla extract and whisk thoroughly.

4. Combine the wet and dry ingredients. The mixing of the two should coincide with the baking powder going to work—which is why you don’t want to overmix. Do not treat the batter as if it is going to form a gluten network. Instead, throw in the towel after about 5 seconds of beating in any ingredient that more than 1 cup worth of flour might mysteriously transform into what a human likes to call bread.

5. Include the melted butter in the batter and gently mix it in until smooth and well combined.

6. Transfer the batter to a piping bag or a zip-top bag. Snip a corner off the bag for easy filling of the doughnut molds.

7. Fill each mold of the prepared doughnut pan with the batter, piping it in and filling to about 2/3 full.

8. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake the doughnuts for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown. They should spring back when touched and a toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean.

9. Allow the doughnuts to cool in the pan for a couple of minutes before moving them to a wire rack to finish cooling.

10. You may, after letting the doughnuts cool, glaze or some other way top them before serving them.

Baked Cake Doughnuts Recipe Equipment Needed

1. Oven
2. Doughnut pan
3. Nonstick cooking spray
4. Large mixing bowl
5. Whisk
6. Separate bowl
7. Piping bag or zip-top bag
8. Scissors (for snipping the bag)
9. Wire rack
10. Toothpick

FAQ

• Q: Can I substitute the whole milk with a non-dairy alternative?A: You can use almond milk, soy milk, or oat milk as substitutes. Just make sure it’s unsweetened to maintain the sugar balance.
• Q: How can I tell when the doughnuts are fully baked?A: Use a toothpick to test one of the doughnuts. If the toothpick comes out clean, the doughnuts are done. They may require slightly different amounts of time to bake, depending on your oven and how well it retains heat.
• Q: Can I make these doughnuts gluten-free?A: Of course! A 1:1 gluten-free flour blend can certainly be used as an alternative to all-purpose flour.
• Q: What can I use if I don’t have a doughnut pan?A: A muffin tin can be used to make doughnut holes, or to create a makeshift doughnut pan with the help of foil. This is a method that uses the items you have on hand to create the type of food you’re craving without making a special trip to the store.
• Q: How should I store leftover doughnuts?A: Keep them in a container that is airtight at room temperature for no more than 2 days. They can be stored in the refrigerator for another week. To eat them after they’ve been in either place, reheat in a regular oven for a few minutes.
• Q: Can I add other spices to the doughnut batter?Of course! Cinnamon or cardamom would be excellent complements to the nutmeg for added flavor complexity.
• Q: What toppings go well with these baked cake doughnuts?A: They can be glazed with chocolate or vanilla glaze, or simply dusted with powdered sugar for a classic finish.

Baked Cake Doughnuts Recipe Substitutions and Variations

All-purpose flour: Replace with the same amount of whole wheat flour and get a nuttier flavor in whatever dish you’re making.
Sugar in granulated form: Substitute coconut sugar and enjoy a sweetness that is reminiscent of caramel.
Whole milk: For a dairy-free option, use almond milk or oat milk.
Butter without salt: Substitute with coconut oil; it will give you a mild coconut flavor.
Almond extract: Give vanilla extract a break and try almond extract for a different flavor.

Pro Tips

1. Room Temperature Ingredients Ensure the milk, eggs, and melted butter are at room temperature before mixing. This helps everything combine more smoothly and evenly, leading to a better texture in the baked doughnuts.

2. Don’t Overmix When combining wet and dry ingredients, mix just until combined. Overmixing can lead to tough doughnuts due to gluten development. A few small lumps in the batter are okay.

3. Nutmeg Freshness For a more pronounced flavor, consider using freshly grated nutmeg instead of pre-ground. Freshly grated nutmeg provides a richer, more aromatic spice.

4. Even Baking Rotate the doughnut pan halfway through baking to promote even browning. Ovens can have hot spots, so rotating the pan ensures all doughnuts bake uniformly.

5. Creative Toppings Once cooled, personalize your doughnuts with a variety of toppings. Try a simple glaze of powdered sugar and milk, or get creative with chocolate, sprinkles, or even a dusting of cinnamon sugar for added texture and flavor.