The Ultimate Baked Donut Recipe Using Cake Mix (2024)

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These delicious cake mix donuts are perfect for when you want a tasty treat. Learn how to make this easy baked cake donut recipe in minutes!

Scroll down to the bottom of the post to see a video of the cake mix donuts in action! You’ll see how easy they are to make.

The Ultimate Baked Donut Recipe Using Cake Mix (1)

Who here loves donuts (raises hand)? Me!! It’s hard to find someone who doesn’t love donuts – but it’s also equally as hard to find someone who has a fryer at home.

I personally don’t have a fryer, and I have no interest in dealing with oil. That’s where this super easy baked cake donut recipe comes in.

Baked Donuts

These baked donuts are made with cake mix! Can you believe it? I suppose technically the fact they are baked instead of fried makes them something other than donuts, but I’m going with it given the fact that they are doughy, round (with a hole in the middle), and frosted. Looks like a donut to me.

The nice thing about these donuts is that once you get the cake mix, you likely have everything else in your cabinet to make them. There’s no firing up a fryer and using gallons of oil.

Your kids can help make these as there are minimal ingredients. I really love how easy these baked cake mix donuts are to make!

How Do Cake Mix Donuts Compare to Fried?

I’m not going to say that these take like Krispy Kreme because they don’t. Yet, they are delicious in their own right! I actually don’t love fried foods as much as I love baked, so these are perfect for me.

These cake mix donuts are a bit more dense than original, fried donuts. The consistency is a slightly different overall but ultimately, you’re going to love them. Especially with the frosting.

Cake vs. Cake Mix

You might think the biggest difference between cake donuts and cake mix donuts is that one is fried and one is baked (the mix). However, the truth is you can bake or fry either of these ‘nut styles.

The difference is actually that cake donuts use all the ingredients from scratch (flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, butter, milk, egg, spices) and the cake mix donuts use the cake mix as a shortcut.

Do they taste different? That depends on the mix and preparation (fried vs. baked). I would, generally speaking, expect the mix version to be more dense and taste more “cakey” than “donut-y.” I don’t prefer either one; they are both delicious.

Do you need a donut pan to bake donuts?

No – you don’t HAVE to have a donut pan. However it’s going to help you immensely if you do. I do understand this might be a “one and done” situation and therefore you might not want to make the commitment to a particular pan.

If this is the case, use aluminum foil balls in a cupcake pan as I describe in the recipe below.

Are you ready to get the recipe? Find it below!

Ingredients

Batter

  • 1 box yellow cake mix (you could use chocolate cake mix too!)
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup oil
  • 1 cup water

Glaze

  • 2 tbsp. melted butter
  • 1/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 2 tbsp. milk
  • 1/2 tsp. water
  • 1/2 tsp. vanilla
  • 1/2 cup powder sugar

Directions

The Ultimate Baked Donut Recipe Using Cake Mix (2)

Mix the wet ingredients together in a large bowl until just combined. You don’t want to overbeat because this will keep your recipe from being light and fluffy. Take a Ziploc bag, fill it up with the batter, and cut off a corner.

The next step to your easy cake mix donuts is done with a donut pan. . . but if you don’t have one: I saw this cool trick from Pretty Providence. You’ll use a muffin pan. Roll small pieces of foil into about 1/2 inch balls and place them into the center of each cup then spray the entire pan with cooking spray.

Take your batter and pipe around the foil ball in your baking pans. You’ll fill each compartment about halfway, but you can use less if you want them to really look like donuts.

The Ultimate Baked Donut Recipe Using Cake Mix (3)

Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool in the pan for 2-3 minutes. Remove the donuts from the pan and place on a cooling rack for about 5-10 minutes. Now while you wait for them to cool, make your glaze.

Mix all the ingredients for the glaze in a medium bowl. Then dip the donuts and return them to the cooling rack. Add some sprinkles to the top if you’d like.

The Ultimate Baked Donut Recipe Using Cake Mix (4)

As you can see, it really didn’t matter that these little babies weren’t real donuts. This baked donut recipe is such a cute mini wannabe version that I just had to gobble them up.

The Ultimate Baked Donut Recipe Using Cake Mix (5)

If you want to make these for the holidays, add appropriate colored sprinkles or jimmies. No one will know they aren’t “real” fried donuts!

They’ll be asking you for your recipe and will be surprised when you tell them they are baked donuts using cake mix.

Yield: 12 donuts

Baked Cake Mix Donuts

The Ultimate Baked Donut Recipe Using Cake Mix (6)

What looks like a donut but isn't fried? This baked cake donut recipe! These delicious cake mix donuts are perfect for when you want a tasty treat to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Prep Time10 minutes

Cook Time25 minutes

Total Time35 minutes

Ingredients

Batter

  • 1 box yellow cake mix
  • 1 egg(s)
  • 1/4 cup oil
  • 1 cup water

Glaze

  • 2 T butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 2 T milk
  • 1/2 tsp water
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup confectioners sugar

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
  2. Mix wet ingredients together in a large bowl. Add the cake mix and stir until just combined.
  3. Take a Ziploc bag, fill it up with the batter and cut off a corner. Fill up each donut pan mold about halfway.
  4. Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes or until golden brown.
  5. Allow to cool in the pan for 2-3 minutes.
  6. Remove the donuts from the pan and place on a cooling rack for about 5-10 minutes. While you wait for them to cool, make your glaze.
  7. Mix all the ingredients for the glaze in a medium bowl. Dip the donuts in a little bit, and return them to the cooling rack.
  8. Add some sprinkles to the top to finish.

Notes

You can add anything you like to the batter: chocolate chips, nuts, sprinkles . . . feel free to get creative with this recipe.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

1 donut

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 254Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 21mgSodium: 341mgCarbohydrates: 42gFiber: 1gSugar: 24gProtein: 3g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a rating or share a photo onPinterest!

If you enjoyed this baked cake donut recipe, I’d love for you to check out some of our other favorite dessert recipes:

  • Funfetti Mini Cakes Recipe
  • Baked Apple Cider Donuts
  • Air Fryer Pop Tarts Are a Tasty Treat
  • Baked Maple Chai Donuts
  • How to Make a Mug Cake
  • Cream Cookie Lemon Bars Recipe

Photography by Patty fromThe PKP Way

The Ultimate Baked Donut Recipe Using Cake Mix (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between donut mix and cake mix? ›

Although ingredients are basically the same for all donuts, they are characterized by their leavening agent. Cake donuts are made from a kind of cake batter which is chemically leavened with baking powder or baking soda. Yeast donuts are made from dough leavened with yeast.

What is a cake batter donut? ›

Artificially Flavored. Celebrate your birthday every day with our scrumptious Cake Batter Doughnut. Indulge in this festive doughnut filled with creamy cake batter KREME filling, topped with yellow icing and confetti sprinkles. "It's tough to say which doughnut is my favorite."

What is the difference between old fashioned donuts and cake donuts? ›

Cake doughnuts, lacking that honeycomb structure of big yeast bubbles, are often (but not always) smaller, with a puckered little hole. A subset, the old-fashioned doughnut, always has a cracked, craggy surface, and in the most classic versions the sides splay out like the petals of a flower.

Does Krispy Kreme make cake or yeast donuts? ›

Most Krispy Kreme doughnut varieties are made of the same yeast-raised dough as the original glazed, but they're prepared differently. Some are dipped in chocolate, caramel or other toppings and some are loaded with filling. Some speciality doughnuts are ring-shaped original glazed coated with different toppings.

Why do cake donuts taste different? ›

Yeast donuts are made from dough that is leavened with yeast, while cake donuts are made from a cake batter that uses baking powder or baking soda. This difference creates a world of difference in terms of texture and flavor.

Are Dunkin donuts yeast or cake? ›

With its 68-year history, DD is the go-to spot for both cake and yeast donuts. In fact, the company is so good at donuts that its secret recipe hasn't changed since it was first created back in1948.

Are cake doughnuts baked or fried? ›

But while we often associate yeasted donuts with the deep fryer and cake donuts with the oven, cake donuts can actually be either baked or fried. And whether you fry your donuts in hot oil or bake them in the oven will have an impact on the mouthfeel and flavor of the donut.

How are cake donuts made in a bakery? ›

The dough is rolled out and then cut with a donut cutter or circular cutter and then fried. Some cake donuts are made with a very loose batter that is then extruded into hot oil to cook or piped into a donut pan and baked.

What is a cake type donut? ›

Cake doughnuts get their rise from baking powder instead of yeast, so they have some more heft to them and are slightly crunchy, but still soft and satisfying. They also still have that hint of nutmeg flavor which is characteristic of just about any doughnut – but feel free to omit the nutmeg if you don't like it.

What is a Long John donut? ›

The Long John is a bar-shaped, yeast risen doughnut either coated entirely with glaze or top-coated with cake icing. They may be filled with custard or cream. The term Long John is used in the Midwestern U.S. and Canada, and has been used in Texas. Long John (pastry) Long John with maple frosting.

Are baked donuts better? ›

They are healthier than fried donuts. The donuts are moist and fluffy, with a slightly crispy exterior. They are versatile. You can customize the recipe to your liking by adding different flavors of glaze or toppings.

Why do old fashioned donuts taste better? ›

The use of buttermilk or sour cream may impart a rich flavor to the doughnut. It is typically deep-fried, and may be deep fried at a lower temperature compared to other doughnut styles, having a crunchier texture compared to other cake doughnut styles.

How to get free dozen Krispy Kreme on birthday? ›

Your Birthday

To get this sweet birthday treat, you'll need to be a member of Krispy Kreme Rewards. Be sure to enter your birthday when you register so they'll know when to send the coupon for your free birthday doughnut.

What is Krispy Kreme cake batter donut? ›

We love celebrating birthdays every day with a scrumptious cake batter doughnut. Filled with cake batter KREME, topped with yellow icing and bright confetti sprinkles, this doughnut is perfect for any party. "It's tough to say which doughnut is my favorite."

What is the difference between donut and cake? ›

It depends. If it is made with yeast, it's bread. If it's made with baking powder or baking soda it's cake. Both kinds exist and are often distinguished by calling them either cake donuts or raised donuts.

What's the difference between donuts and pancake mix? ›

The Difference

Nutmeg is often used in donuts to add flavor. Both recipes also include sugar, eggs, milk, and melted butter, although the amounts may vary slightly. However, the donut recipe calls for more sugar than the pancake recipe, which is common in donuts since they are often glazed or coated in sugar.

Is Bundt cake mix the same as regular cake mix? ›

The differences between a Bundt cake and a regular cake are shape, size, and texture. The ingredients may be the same, but the end result looks different. A regular cake can be round, square, rectangular or any shape really.

What makes donut dough different? ›

While the exact ingredients can vary, the big difference between them is that yeast donuts include a leavener: The dough for yeast donuts rises with the help of (surprise!) yeast, while cake donuts are made with baking powder, just like a typical cake batter would be.

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