Best Cake Doughnuts Recipes

OLD-FASHIONED CAKE DOUGHNUTS (DONUTS)

Steps:

• In a large bowl mix the sugar, baking powder, salt and nutmeg.
• Add eggs, milk and melted butter. Beat well.
• Add 3 cups of the flour, beating until blended. Add one more cup of flour and beat well. The dough should be soft and sticky but firm enough to handle. If you feel its necessary, add up to 1/2 cup more flour.
• Cover with plastic wrap and chill for *at* *least* one hour.
• Remove your dough from the fridge and begin heating about 1" of oil to 360F in a large metal skillet.
• Working half the dough at a time, roll it out on a floured surface to about 1/2" thickness. Cut out circles using a doughnut cutter or large biscuit or cookie cutter. For the center, I actually use the cap off my martini shaker ;) to cut the holes.
• Gently drop the doughnuts in batches into the hot oil. Flip them over as they puff and turn them a couple more times as they cook. They will take about 2-3 minutes in total and will be lovely and golden brown all over.
• Remove from the oil and set them on paper towels or brown paper bag (that removes all the fat, you know).
• Douse them with sugar and cinnamon, icing, chocolate dipped with sprinkles or whatever you like.

OLD-TIME CAKE DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat butter and 1 cup sugar until crumbly, about 2 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition., Combine the flour, baking powder, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, salt and nutmeg; add to butter mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours. , Turn onto a heavily floured surface; pat dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 2-1/2-in. doughnut cutter. In an electric skillet or deep fryer, heat oil to 375°., Fry doughnuts, a few at a time, until golden brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels. , Combine remaining sugar and cinnamon; roll warm doughnuts in mixture. Freeze option: Wrap doughnuts in foil and transfer to a resealable freezer container. May be frozen for up to 3 months. To use, remove foil. Thaw at room temperature. Warm if desired. Combine 1/2 cup sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon; roll warm doughnuts in mixture.

PLAIN CAKE DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• Heat oil in deep-fryer to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• In a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg. Mix in butter until crumbly. Stir in milk and egg until smooth. Knead lightly, then turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll or pat to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut with a doughnut cutter, or use two round biscuit cutters of different sizes.
• Carefully drop doughnuts into hot oil, a few at a time. Do not overcrowd pan or oil may overflow. Fry, turning once, for 3 minutes or until golden. Drain on paper towels.

CAKE DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• In deep fryer or 3-quart saucepan, heat 3 to 4 inches oil to 375°F.
• In large bowl, beat 1 1/2 cups of the flour and the remaining ingredients except Rainbow Doughnut Icing with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Stir in remaining flour.
• On generously floured surface, roll dough lightly to coat. Gently roll to 3/8-inch thickness. Cut dough with floured 2 1/2-inch doughnut cutter.
• Fry doughnuts in oil, 2 to 3 at a time, turning as they rise to the surface. Fry 2 to 3 minutes or until golden brown on both sides. Remove from oil with slotted spoon; drain on paper towels. Cool slightly and frost with doughnut icing.

BLUEBERRY CAKE DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and spray the doughnut pans liberally with cooking spray.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter, sugar, salt, and vanilla until light and fluffy.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the flours, baking soda, and baking powder.
• Add the eggs and yolk to the mixer and cream until blended.
• In 4 to 6 stages, alternately add the flour mixture and the buttermilk, mixing on medium-low the whole time and constantly scraping down the sides. Once the additions are done, turn the mixer to its lowest setting and gently add the blueberries, mixing just until evenly incorporated and the batter is a nice shade of blue.
• Fill a large piping bag with the batter and fill each well in the pans about two-thirds full.
• Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until the dough springs back when poked for regular doughnuts, or 8 to 10 minutes for mini doughnuts.
• When cool, dip the doughnuts into the glaze and shake off the excess. Place them on a wire rack so the glaze soaks in and gets a little crunchy on the outside.
• In a big bowl, combine all the ingredients and whisk together. Adjust the consistency by adding either milk (to thin) or powdered sugar (to thicken).

CAKE DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Use a 3-inch-round cookie cutter or glass to trace 12 circles on the parchment, leaving space between each. Flip the parchment over and lightly coat with cooking spray. Fit a pastry bag with a 1/2-inch round tip or snip a 1/2-inch hole in one corner of a large resealable plastic bag.
• Sift the flour, baking powder, nutmeg and salt into a medium bowl. Beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until well combined, about 2 minutes. Beat in the whole egg and yolk until incorporated and the mixture turns pale yellow, about 3 minutes. Beat in the milk and vanilla until smooth, scraping down the bowl as needed. Reduce the mixer speed to low; gradually beat in the flour mixture until just incorporated (do not overmix). Transfer the batter to the prepared pastry bag.
• Using the circles as a guide, pipe the batter into 3-inch rings. (To make doughnut holes with the remaining batter, pipe 1-inch rounds onto the parchment.) Refrigerate while you heat the shortening, or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
• Heat about 6 cups shortening in a large pot over medium-high heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 340 degrees F. (You want to have about 2 inches of liquid once the shortening melts.) Use scissors to cut the parchment around each doughnut, leaving a 1-inch border. Carefully invert 2 doughnuts into the shortening and peel off the parchment with tongs. Fry until golden brown, 1 minute 30 seconds per side. (Fry the doughnut holes 30 seconds per side.) Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Bring the shortening back to 340 degrees F and repeat with the remaining doughnuts.

BUTTERMILK CAKE DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• Make the doughnuts: Heat 4 cups/960 milliliters of oil in a large heavy bottomed pot (preferably wider than taller) over medium heat to 375 degrees.
• In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, kosher salt and nutmeg.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together sour cream, buttermilk, egg, egg yolk and 3 tablespoons oil. Add the wet ingredients to the dry, using a wooden spoon to gently mix just until a dough comes together (you want to keep it rather shaggy; do not overwork the dough).
• Transfer dough to a floured work surface and knead 4 or 5 times, just until no wet or dry spots remain, sprinkling in additional flour as necessary (dough should feel supple but not wet).
• Pat dough (no need to use a rolling pin here) to a thickness of about ¾-inch. Using a 3 1/8- to 3 1/4-inch ring cutter, punch out as many circles as you can. Using a 1 ¼-inch ring cutter, punch out the center of each circle. (Dipping the rings in flour before each cut helps to avoid sticking.) The scraps of dough can be gathered and gently pressed again two more times to cut the rest of the doughnuts, continuing to flour your work surface as needed.
• Working in batches, gently lower doughnuts into the oil (no more than 4 or 5 at a time). Fry on one side until deeply golden brown, about 2 minutes. Flip with tongs or a skimmer and continue to fry until golden brown and cooked through, another 2 minutes.
• Drain doughnuts on a wire rack lined with paper towels and proceed with remaining doughnuts, making sure the oil returns to temperature between batches.
• To make the vanilla glaze: In a medium bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, buttermilk, vanilla extract and salt until no lumps remain. Add additional buttermilk if necessary, 1 tablespoon at a time, to thin the glaze.
• Remove paper towel from wire rack. Dip each doughnut into the glaze on one side, letting excess drip back into the bowl, and return it to the wire rack. Sprinkle immediately with sprinkles, chopped nuts or toasted coconut.
• To make the chocolate glaze: In a medium bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, cocoa powder, buttermilk and salt until no lumps remain. Add additional buttermilk if necessary, 1 tablespoon at a time, to thin the glaze.
• Remove paper towel from wire rack. Dip each doughnut into the glaze on one side, letting excess drip back into the bowl, and return it to the wire rack. Sprinkle immediately with sprinkles, flaky sea salt, chopped nuts or toasted coconut.

CHOCOLATE GLAZED CAKE DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in a large bowl. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle, beat the eggs until foamy, gradually add the sugar and continue to beat until thick and yellow. Melt butter in a saucepan over low heat and combine with milk and vanilla extract. Stir the milk mixture into the egg mixture until blended. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix just until incorporated. Chill for 30 minutes to make it easier to roll and cut.
• Roll or pat the dough out on a heavily floured surface to about 1/4-inch thick, the dough is somewhat wet. Cut with a floured doughnut cutter, saving the holes. Transfer to a sheet of waxed paper and allow to air dry for 10 minutes. The dough will form a slight crust and absorb less fat when fried.
• Heat 3-inches of vegetable oil or shortening to 375 degrees F in an electric fryer or deep saucepan. Fry doughnuts until golden, about 5 minutes each side. To keep the oil temperature constant, fry 3 at a time. Fry the holes separately and drain on paper towels.
• For the chocolate glaze: melt butter and chocolate in a saucepan until melted, remove from heat. Whisk in confectioners' sugar until smooth. Gradually stir in the water until the mixture reaches the desired consistency. Dip the tops of the doughnuts in the glaze.

TIM HORTON'S STYLE CHOCOLATE CAKE DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• In a bowl, mix flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt. In a small bowl, whisk eggs, sugar, buttermilk, and melted butter to blend. Stir into dry ingredients until well blended. Chill until cold, at least 1 hour or up to 3 hours.
• Scrape dough onto a generously floured surface. With floured hands, pat dough out to about 1/2 inch thick. With a 3-inch doughnut cutter, cut out doughnuts. Pat together scraps of dough and cut again. (Alternately, shape dough into ropes about 5 inches long and 1/2 inch thick; join rope ends to form doughnuts.) Place doughnuts on a well-floured baking sheet.
• Meanwhile, fill an electric deep-fryer to the fill line or pour about 4 inches of oil into a 5- to 6-quart pan; heat to 375°F Place one doughnut at a time onto a wide spatula and gently slide into oil, frying up to three at a time. Cook, turning once, until puffy and cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes total (to check timing, cut first one to test). With a slotted spoon, transfer doughnuts to paper towels to drain. Repeat to fry remaining doughnuts.
• When cool enough to handle, dip the top half of each doughnut in warm mocha glaze and place on a plate. Let stand until glaze is set, about 5 minutes.
• Mocha Glaze - In a heatproof bowl, combine 6 ounces chopped semisweet chocolate, 1/2 cup whipping cream, 1 tablespoon butter, 2 teaspoons corn syrup, and 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder. Bring a few inches of water to a boil in a pan; remove from heat. Place bowl over water and let stand, stirring occasionally, until smooth, about 10 minutes.

CHOCOLATE CAKE DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• All the ingredients should be at room temperature (70 degrees F). Beat the sugar and eggs together until creamy and lemon colored.
• Melt the butter and chocolate together in a small saucepan over low heat. Beat into the sugar and egg mixture.
• In a separate bowl combine the vanilla and buttermilk. Stir into the sugar mixture.
• Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Stir into the liquid mixture. Chill the dough slightly to make it easier to handle.
• Roll out half the dough on a lightly floured board to a 1/2 inch thickness. Cut into doughnuts. Allow the cut doughnuts to dry for 10 minutes.
• Heat 2 inches of oil to 370 degrees F (185 degrees C) in a large skillet. The dough should be at room temperature before frying. Dip a metal pancake turner into the hot oil each time before using it to move or turn a doughnut. Transfer the doughnuts to the skillet, one every 15 seconds. Fry each doughnut about 90 seconds per side. Remove the doughnuts and drain on paper towels. Repeat with the remaining dough.
• To make the icing: Beat the sugar, egg white, and vanilla together until smooth. Drizzle onto the doughnuts after they have cooled.

BAKED CAKE DONUTS (DOUGHNUTS)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees and grease a 12 hole donut pan. In a large mixing bowl stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt. Add buttermilk, eggs, and butter, stir until just combined.
• Divide batter between prepared donut pan. Bake until toothpick comes out clean, 7 to 9 minutes. Let donuts cool in pans for 5 minutes then take them out of pan and let cool on a cooling rack.

BAKED CARROT CAKE DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease two 6-cavity doughnut pans or one 12-cavity muffin pan with cooking spray.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, nutmeg and ginger. In a medium bowl, whisk together the vegetable oil, milk, dark brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs and vanilla. Fold the carrots and raisins into the wet mixture, then fold the dry flour mixture into the wet.
• Transfer the batter to a large pastry bag or resealable plastic bag. Cut a 1/4-inch hole in the corner of the bag, then squeeze the batter evenly into the 12 cavities. Bake until golden and set, rotating the pans halfway through, 14 to 16 minutes. A toothpick inserted into a doughnut should come out with moist crumbs attached.
• Let the doughnuts cool in the pan for a few minutes, then tip them out onto a cooling rack to cool.
• To prepare the glaze, gently heat the cream cheese in a wide, shallow bowl in short 5-second bursts in the microwave until warm and runny. Whisk in the sugar. Dip the top of each doughnut into the glaze. (If the glaze gets too thick as it cools, you can pop it in the microwave for 5 to 10 seconds at a time.) These are best the day they're made.

GRANDMA'S CAKE DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• Heat about 1 quart oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Mix sugar, eggs, and 2 tablespoons oil together in a mixing bowl.
• Pour milk, vinegar, and baking soda into a liquid measuring cup; milk will become foamy. Add to sugar mixture; mix well. Mix in flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg.
• Drop batter by teaspoonfuls into the hot oil until golden, about 1 minute per side, working in batches. Drain doughnuts on paper towels.

COFFEE AND DOUGHNUTS ICEBOX CAKE

Steps:

• Blend doughnut sticks in a food processor until finely ground. Combine ground doughnuts with melted butter in a bowl. Press mixture into the bottom of an 8x8-inch glass baking dish. Freeze crust for 10 minutes.
• Spread ice cream over the frozen crust. Place back into the freezer for about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine milk, pudding mix, and instant coffee until smooth. Fold in whipped topping and spread over the coffee ice cream in the crust. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for 2 hours. Place mini doughnuts on top before serving.

IRISH COFFEE CAKE DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• Whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt and nutmeg in a large bowl until completely combined. Whisk together the buttermilk, sour cream, whole egg, yolk, espresso powder, oil and vanilla in a medium bowl until completely combined. Fold the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients just until a soft and sticky dough comes together (do not overwork).
• Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and liberally dust with flour (about 1/3 cup).
• Scrape the dough onto the prepared baking sheet. Dust your hands and the top of the dough with more flour, then gently pat out the dough to 3/4 inch thick.
• Working on the baking sheet, punch out as many rounds as you can with a 3-inch cutter. Then use a 1-inch cutter to punch out the center of each round. (Dip the cutters in flour before each cut to avoid sticking.) Gather the dough scraps and gently re-roll without overworking the dough. Repeat cutting until all the dough has been used (you should have 8 doughnuts and 8 doughnut holes).
• Set a wire rack inside a rimmed baking sheet and line a second rimmed baking sheet with several layers of paper towels. Fit a large heavy pot with a deep-fry thermometer and pour in vegetable oil to a depth of 3 inches. Heat over medium-high until the thermometer registers 375 degrees F.
• Fry the doughnuts in batches until deep golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to the wire rack and let cool slightly. Fry the doughnut holes until deep golden brown, about 90 seconds per side. Transfer to the wire rack and let drain for 1 minute. Then transfer to the paper-towel lined baking sheet to cool for 10 minutes before glazing. (This two-step process gets a lot more oil out of the doughnuts than using only one method.) Repeat with the remaining dough, making sure the oil returns to temperature between batches.
• Whisk together the confectioners' sugar, coffee cream liqueur and Irish whiskey in a medium bowl until the glaze is smooth and the consistency of honey; add more confectioners' sugar if necessary.
• Dip each doughnut into the glaze on one side (we like the craggy side, it has more texture for an appetizing appearance), letting the excess drip back into the bowl, then return it to the wire rack. Toss the doughnut holes in the glaze to coat completely and return to the wire rack. Let the glaze set for 10 minutes before serving.

BAKED CAKE DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a doughnut pan.
• 2. Sift the flours and baking powder together into a large bowl or the bowl of a mixer. Whisk in the sugar, nutmeg, and salt. Add the butter and use your fingers to rub it into the dry ingredients as you would in making a pastry crust, until evenly distributed. Add the milk, yogurt, vanilla, and egg and stir until just combined. Do not overmix or your doughnuts may be rubbery.
• 3. Use a piping bag or a spoon to fill each doughnut cup about three-quarters full, making sure the center post is clear. Bake until doughnuts are a light golden brown and spring back when touched, 6 to 10 minutes. Let cool slightly before removing from pan. Glaze as desired.

CLASSIC CAKE DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• Melt the shortening in a small saucepan over medium heat. Set aside to cool slightly but still liquid.
• In a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the sugar and shortening together on medium speed, until just combined. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the milk and vanilla, and continue beating until the mixture is light, about 2 minutes.
• Meanwhile, sift the flour, baking powder, nutmeg, mace, and salt into a medium bowl.
• Reduce the mixer's speed to low, add the flour mixture until just combined. (The texture of the dough will be soft and loose.) Transfer the dough to a large piece of plastic wrap and wrap it well. (Make sure you scrap off all the dough clinging to the paddle.) Refrigerate the dough for 4 hours or overnight.
• On a lightly floured work surface, roll the chilled dough out into a rectangle about 1/2-inch thick. Dip the edges of a 2 1/2-inch-round doughnut cutter in flour and cut the dough into doughnuts. Place the doughnuts and holes on a baking sheet lined with parchment.
• Put enough vegetable shortening into a tall, heavy-bottomed pot to fill it about a third of the way up. Heat the shortening over medium heat until a deep-fry thermometer inserted in the oil registers 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with paper towels.
• Working in batches, fry the doughnuts and holes, turning once, until they are golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the doughnuts to the paper towels to drain and cool. Repeat until all the doughnuts and holes are fried. (Make sure the shortening returns to 375 degrees F. between batches.)
• For sugared doughnuts, roll the doughnuts in sugar or cinnamon sugar while they are still warm. To cover the doughnuts with confectioners' sugar, allow them to cool completely before rolling in the sugar.

GOLDEN PUFFS (FRIED CAKE DOUGHNUTS)

Steps:

• 1. Combine all ingredients and mix with a fork until combined. Variation: If adding grated apples to the mixture do so at the end and fold in.
• 2. Drop by teaspoonfuls into hot oil. Turn when underside is brown and finish cooking. Remove from oil and drain on paper towel. Roll in cinnamon sugar mixture to coat while still warm. Serve warm and delicious. Can be stored in an airtight container if you have any left.

BAKED CARROT CAKE DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Lightly spray 6-cup doughnut pan with cooking spray.
• In medium bowl, stir together flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg with whisk. In 4-cup measuring cup, beat egg, oil, milk, molasses, vanilla and carrot with whisk. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients; fold until just combined. Spoon or pipe batter into donut cups, filling about half full.
• Bake on center oven rack 10 to 12 minutes or until doughnuts are golden around edges and spring back when touched. Remove from oven. Turn doughnuts out onto cooling rack. Repeat with remaining batter.
• In small bowl, beat cream cheese, milk and powdered sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Spread on cooled donuts. Sprinkle pecans over tops.

CAKE DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat eggs; add the sugar, sour cream, butter and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda, salt and nutmeg; add to sour cream mixture alternately with buttermilk. , Turn onto a lightly floured surface; roll to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 2-1/2-in. doughnut cutter. , In an electric skillet or deep-fat fryer, heat oil to 375°. Fry doughnuts, a few at a time, until golden brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels. Dust with confectioners' sugar.