HOMEMADE BAKED Sugar Donuts recipe that is easy to make and ready in 15 minutes. These simple and extra soft donuts taste just like raised sugar donuts from your favorite bakery!
Homemade Sugar Donuts Recipe
I love classic donuts. I’m not interested in the Blood Orange, Cafe Au Lait, Hibiscus, Passion Fruit, Horchata, Matcha and more from the donut shop. Give me a sugar donut. Give me a glazed donut. Give me a chocolate frosting donut with sprinkles.
These homemade baked sugar donuts are incredibly soft, fluffy, and absolutely irresistible. Thanks to the buttermilk in the batter, they bake up moist and tender with a light, airy texture—more like a classic raised donut than a heavy cake donut. If you love old-fashioned sugar donuts or warm bakery-style treats, these baked beauties are going to be your new favorite.
The best part? This recipe is simple and uses ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. The only special tool you’ll need is a donut pan (or 2)—and trust me, it’s a $10 investment that pays for itself the moment you pull your first batch of fresh, homemade baked donuts out of the oven.
Buttermilk Substitute With Vinegar
Not everyone keeps buttermilk around the house, but it is easy to substitute if you cannot make a run to the store. I know how it is when you want your donuts NOW! So instead, you can use 1 1/2 teaspoon of white vinegar or lemon juice plus enough milk to measure 1/2 cup. Stir it and let stand for 5 minutes. Then you’re good to go!
Buttermilk Substitute With Yogurt
Another option is using 1/2 cup of plain yogurt instead of the buttermilk. It’s much more common to have regular milk or yogurt in your house than buttermilk, unless you are someone who bakes all the time.
Storing Sugar Donuts
Let the donuts cool completely before storing. Place them in an airtight container or zip-top bag, separating layers with parchment paper so the sugar coating doesn’t rub off. Store at room temperature for 2–3 days. For longer storage, freeze the donuts (uncoated or coated) in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature and warm for a few seconds in the microwave if you like them soft and warm.
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Homemade Baked Sugar Donuts
PrintIngredients
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 2 eggs
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
For the sugar coating
- 1/4 cup sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Spray donut pan with nonstick spray.
- Mix together oil, buttermilk, eggs, sugar, salt, baking powder and vanilla until combined.
- Stir in flour and continue to mix until smooth.
- Fill the donut pans up about 3/4 of the way.
- Bake donuts for 15 minutes.
- Remove from oven, let cool for 5 minutes, then remove donuts from pan.
- Put sugar in a sandwich bag.
- One at a time, drop your donuts in bag and shake lightly to cover.
- Eat right away or store in container.
Linda Loder says
Love the donuts came out great moist and delicious thank you
Keri says
I tried this recipe this morning and although light in texture the flavour didn’t wow us! Don’t get me wrong my husband devoured 8 of these for breakfast but said that these are not a make again recipe. Quick, easy and light but just not for us!
K Beeg says
Good donuts! I put cinnamon in sugar for coating. Also cooking time was more ovens due vary. Also taking from silicone pan at 5 min was too soon…some fell apart. Will definitely add to my mix!
Jeri M. says
Since I don’t have a donut pan, I will use my mini cupcake pan and make sugar donut holes instead! 👍🏻
Pamela Reed says
Love that idea!
HARRY MCGOWAN says
It was so good me and my son made them. Thank you.
Lola says
Hi how can I make them eggless?
Looks amazing 👌
Sandra says
Can you use whole milk if you don’t have buttermilk
Pamela says
Hey Sandra, please see the section “Buttermilk Substitute” – this tells you how to make buttermilk with whole milk + lemon or vinegar.
christina j medina says
I made these this morning for breakfast and they are gone.Family loved them.I made 6 with just sugar and 6 with cinnamon sugar.My new doughnut recipe.Thank You!
Carol Hanson says
I wish there was a picture of the inside of this donut.
Stephanie M says
These are such a big hit at work! Easy and delicious! I added cinnamon to the sugar for the coating! Thank you!
Michelle says
Consider yourself booked marked 😃
Jenny says
Best baked donut recipe! Very light and fluffy.
Susan Roberts says
I love this recipe! This is the second time I’ve made them but this time they didn’t really brown. Any suggestions as to why? I had to make the buttermilk with milk and vinegar. I wondered if this was the issue that the buttermilk wasn’t ready?
Pamela says
Hey Susan, I would bake the donuts 1-2 additional minutes to make them more golden brown. Thank you for stopping by, I’m happy to hear you like the donuts!
AnnIe B says
Donuts did not disappoint! Mixed in cinnamon with the sugar coating and WOW… closed my eyes and instead of waiting in a looong line at the fair, was tap dancing in my kitchen for 15 minutes while waiting for them to bake! Now we don’t have to wait a year for the fair, or in lines… thank you🦩