Baked Vanilla Bean Doughnuts

Published February 10, 2014. Updated March 6, 2020

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I know I should probably be posting a dinner recipe because it has been a while since I have, but I just can’t seem to get control of my sugary cravings :). What’s new though. I’ve always loved sweet things and doughnuts are a favorite near the top of that sweets lists.

This vanilla bean doughnut is a baked version so I can feel a little bit better about eating them versus a fried doughnut. These are a cake style doughnut with a soft fluffy texture and a deliciously moist crumb. They seem as though they just melt away in your mouth, especially with that sweet, buttery, vanilla glaze.

Baked Vanilla Bean Doughnuts | Cooking Classy

I forgot to get a close up picture of the crumb inside but these things are loaded with vanilla beans. It gives them a delicious natural sweetness and that irresistible flavor that just cannot be duplicated.

The batter for these is very versatile, you could use it for many different flavors by omitting the vanilla bean seeds and replacing them with cinnamon, nutmeg, a chai spice blend, lavender, almond extract, etc.

It is one of my favorite baked doughnut recipes I’ve ever made so it will be one you will definitely want to hang on to. Enjoy!

Baked Vanilla Bean Doughnuts | Cooking Classy

Baked Vanilla Bean Doughnuts | Cooking Classy

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4.67 from 3 votes

Baked Vanilla Bean Doughnuts

A delicious easy to make donut recipe. These have the best flavor and a great texture, and they don't require any deep frying!
Servings: 14
Prep15 minutes
Cook8 minutes
Ready in: 23 minutes

Ingredients

Glaze

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Butter 14 holes of three doughnut tins and set aside. In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt for 30 seconds, set aside.
  • In a separate mixing bowl, using an electric hand mixer, blend together melted butter, vegetable oil, sugar and vanilla bean seeds until smooth, about 1 minute. Blend in eggs one at a time then mix in vanilla extract.
  • Working in three separate batches, beginning and ending with flour mixture, add 1/3 of the flour mixture alternating with half of the milk and mix just until combined after each addition. Spoon batter into buttered doughnut wells, filling them about 1/4-inch from the rim.
  • Bake in preheated oven 7 - 8 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into doughnut comes out clean. Transfer to a wire rack to cool until lukewarm then dip in glaze and return to wire rack, immediately top with sprinkles if using and allow glaze to set at room temperature.
  • For the glaze:
  • In a flat bottomed bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, melted butter, vanilla and salt then stir in 2 Tbsp of milk, adding additional milk 1 tsp at a time to reach desired consistency and whisk until smooth. Tint with food coloring if desired.
  • Warm in microwave in 6 - 10 second intervals on HIGH power to warm as it begins to set while dipping doughnuts, as needed, whisking after heating.

Notes

Donut recipe adapted from King Arthur Flour
Nutrition Facts
Baked Vanilla Bean Doughnuts
Amount Per Serving
Calories 291 Calories from Fat 99
% Daily Value*
Fat 11g17%
Saturated Fat 8g50%
Cholesterol 40mg13%
Sodium 171mg7%
Potassium 121mg3%
Carbohydrates 44g15%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 26g29%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 262IU5%
Calcium 60mg6%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

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100 Comments

  • Ayu

    hi, Jaclyn. there is something i want to ask you. everytime i mix together powdered sugar and milk/water/butter i can’t and never ends up with a very clear white color. mine always turns out to be transparent white, so does the coloring. i used both gel coloring and powdered coloring but no one turns out to be as bold like yours. is there something wrong? i usually mix together my ingredients with spoon on a plate. should i use mixer instead?

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      You probably just need to add a little more powdered sugar. Cream also helps too if you want to try that. Mixing it by hand is fine though, a mixer won’t really change anything.

  • Joyce

    I usually do not eat doughnuts but I know that my kids are going to love this, will give it a try next weekend :) Thanks for sharing :)

  • Cassidy @ You Can’t Eat That

    I can’t believe I only found this recipe now, they look absolutely delicious! Do you have any experience making these doughnuts with an egg replacer? I have an egg allergy and would most likely use a flax egg or packaged egg replacer with this recipe and wondered if you have any recommendations?

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      Sorry I have only ever used egg replacer once before for a gluten-free recipe so I’m not very familiar with it and I can’t say for sure.

  • Dev

    I just made these tonight and oh my gosh are they yummy! I used my Baby Cakes machine and since I didn’t have vanilla bean handy, added an extra bit of vanilla extract. I should also mention that this was my first time ever using the Baby Cakes so didn’t really know what to expect. I am pleased to say that holy crap…they are dangerously good. I also used heavy whipping cream in the frosting instead of milk. Seriously couldn’t thank you enough for this recipe. I will definitely be adding this to my recipe box! Xoxo

  • Sarah

    How in the world do you get such vibrant colors in your icing?! Mine always turns out to be too light/ pastel-y and never this bold. Thoughts? Advice?

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      I used gel coloring – Wilton brand to be exact. They come out pretty bold without having to add a ton of coloring.

  • Cat

    I made these a few weeks ago and they were absolutely delicious! It was the first time I had made baked doughnuts and was incredibly pleased with the results. I will be making these again and again.
    Thank you for a great recipe – I have linked back to you on my blog.

  • Jinny

    hi is there a reason why both butter and vegetable oil are used? i’m thinking of substituting one of them with applesauce if the purpose of adding them is for moisture.

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      Yes I sometimes like to use a combination of both because butter adds better flavor but oil makes for a moister crumb.

  • Cindy

    Hi, these look amazing. I would love to make but do not yet own a donut pan. YET. Any suggestions of what I could use instead?
    Love the glaze too. Reminds me of The Simpsons