Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Baked Donuts:

• All-purpose flour: 1 ½ cups. For a gluten-free option, check out our gluten-free donut recipe!
• Granulated sugar: ½ cup
• Milk: ½ cup
• Egg: 1, beaten
• Unsalted butter: 5 tbsp, softened
• Melted Butter: 2 tbsp
• Baking powder: 2 ¼ tsp
• Honey: 1 tbsp
• Salt: ¼ tsp
• Nutmeg: ¼ tsp
• Cinnamon: ½ tsp

For the Glaze:

• Powdered sugar: ½ cup
• Half-and-half: 1 tbsp
• Vanilla extract: ¼ tsp (or seeds scraped from vanilla bean)
• Gel food coloring: Of your choice (optional)
• Sprinkles: Optional for decoration

We’ve chosen a classic vanilla glaze for these mini donuts, but the possibilities are endless! If you’re looking for inspiration, explore different glaze flavors. You might love a chocolate glaze, a white chocolate glaze, or even a pink lemonade glaze.

How to Make Mini Baked Donuts: Step-by-Step

1. Preheat: If using a donut maker, preheat according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If baking in the oven, preheat to 350°F (175°C).
2. Combine wet ingredients: In a large bowl, thoroughly mix the softened butter, egg, and sugar until well combined.
3. Combine dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
4. Mix wet and dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in two batches, alternating with the milk. Mix until just combined, being careful not to overmix, which can result in tough donuts.
5. Fill the molds: Use a spoon or a small piping bag to fill each donut mold in your donut maker (or donut pan if baking) with batter, filling them about ¾ full. Avoid overfilling, as the batter will expand slightly during cooking.
6. Bake: If using a donut maker, close it and bake according to the manufacturer’s instructions, typically around 3-5 minutes. Baking times may vary depending on your donut maker. If baking in the oven, bake for 7 minutes. To check for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of a donut; it should come out clean when they’re ready.
7. Cool: Carefully remove the donuts from the donut maker or donut pan and let them cool on a wire rack for about 20 minutes before decorating or glazing (optional).

How to Make Donut Glaze

1. Combine wet ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk together the half-and-half and vanilla extract (or vanilla bean seeds) until well combined.
2. Add powdered sugar: Add the powdered sugar to the wet ingredients and whisk until smooth. The glaze should be thick enough to coat the donuts but still pourable. If it’s too thick, add more half-and-half, 1 teaspoon at a time, until you reach the desired consistency.
3. Add food coloring (optional): If desired, add a few drops of gel food coloring and whisk until well incorporated. Start with a small amount of food coloring and add more until you reach your desired shade.
4. Glaze the donuts: Dunk your cooled donuts into the glaze, allowing any excess to drip back into the bowl. Once glazed, decorate with sprinkles if desired.

Recipe Notes and Tips for Perfect Mini Donuts

• Rest the batter: Allow the batter to rest for 5-10 minutes before using. This allows the baking powder to activate, resulting in fluffier donuts.
• Don’t reuse batter: Avoid reusing leftover batter, as the baking powder loses its effectiveness over time, and the donuts may not rise properly.
• Grease the donut maker: If your donut maker doesn’t have a non-stick surface, lightly grease it with cooking spray before adding the batter.
• Richer glaze: For a richer glaze, substitute 1 tablespoon of melted butter for 1 tablespoon of half-and-half.
• Thickening the glaze: If the glaze becomes too thin after adding sprinkles, chill it in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes to thicken it slightly.
• Use glaze immediately: The glaze is best used immediately, as it will thicken over time.
• Storage: These mini donuts are best enjoyed fresh but can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.

Mini Baked Donuts Recipe

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Cool Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour
• Course: Dessert
• Cuisine: Donuts
• Servings: 14