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.













Melanie says
This is the third time I’ve made these in the past month, my little boys love help making them and eat them! They’re so soft! Thanks so much!
Ann says
Pamela, we made these this morning, and they were delish! My kids were able to help with the recipe and were happy to help consume the results. We did one half batch sugar and one half with cinnamon sugar. Followed the recipe to a tee and they turned out great. Thanks!
Pamela says
Hey Ann, I’m so happy to hear you and your kids had fun making this recipe – thanks for the smile! Thanks for commenting and letting me know!
Rosy says
Hi Pamela been looking for a recipe and i decided to give your a try, today i got my donuts pan and i just put i the oven a batch of 20, 15 min. are too long. can’t wait to try them!!!!! i will update once they get out of the oven
Pamela says
Hope the start of your weekend is filled with delicious sugar donuts! Enjoy Rosy!
Mary mance says
The donut pans
Mary mance says
You will find them ebay
Yazmin says
I made them but mine didn’t rise as much. Im disappointed in myself
Pamela says
Don’t be disappointed in yourself, sometimes looks isn’t everything! Hope they were delicious!
Jim Kelly says
Made these tonight as a project with my 4 year old granddaughter- I’m not a grandfatherly baker but the recipe seemed easy enough.
They turned out great – we even got creative and made a glaze for some. Thanks for the great recipe – you helped PoppiMan continue to be cool.
Sajeena says
It’s soo easy n yummy… my suggestion is… it would taste even better with some icing..
Pamela says
Glad you liked them, icing sounds great!
Cindy says
I made these for Sunday morning breakfast and my kiddos loved them so much! Next time I’m going to double the batch so we can freeze leftovers. Thank you!
Corene says
Made these today, and they are very good. Did not have a donut pan so used muffin tins.
My husband and I both agreed we thought they’d be even better with a bit of nutmeg in them. Am going to try a batch with it in and see what happens.corene.
Pamela says
Hey Corene, glad you enjoyed these donuts in muffin form! Thanks for letting me know! Keep enjoying if you make more!
nneka says
Made these today and it was delicious! Though mine were not as fluffy as yours…still yummy. Thanks for the recipe.
Pamela says
Hey Nneka, thanks for letting me know you made them – happy you thought they were delicious…. me too!
Dil says
Any chance I can replace the oil with Greek yogurt?
Pamela says
I’ve never done this so I don’t know how they will turn out. If you give it a shot, let me know.
Treat itself says
Thank u for the recipe, i’am wondering if I can replace all-purpose flour with spelt flour. Thank you
Pamela says
Hello, I’ve never used spelt flour for this recipe so I don’t know how it will turn out. Spelt flour in general is not a 1:1 replacement for all purpose flour so you’d have to research how much to replace it with. Good luck!
Sheena says
Looks so delightfully yum! Thanks for sharing this with us.
Beth says
I made them this weekend for a bake sale and they were a hit! They turned out perfect and everyone loved the sugar taste! Thank you!
Pam McCray says
Followed the directions to a “T” and the result, for me, was an epic fail. The donuts were not browned on the top and stuck to the non-stick donut pan sprayed with Pam. The broken results are delish. I will try the next batch without Pam and use butter instead. Will keep you posted.
Pamela Johnson says
There is a cake release recipe that works great too!
Donella says
They look amazing! I’m sure they’re easy to modify with cinnamon sugar, too. YUM!
Pamela says
Absolutely! Enjoy!
Sarah says
Found your blog via Inspiration Monday!
These look absolutely delicious!!
Sarah https://www.enrichmentality.com
Chuck Garvey says
Where can you buy donut pans.
Pamela says
You can buy one at any kitchen supply store. Amazon also sells them: http://amzn.to/2kkZxK2
marcy ray says
I never heard of a “donut plan”.
Cassie says
Target
Jamie says
Those look amazing! My son would love them. Pinning the recipe to try. 🙂
Nicole says
These doughnuts look so delicious! I don’t have a doughnut pan, but I have been on the edge of buying one so I could make homemade doughnuts. I just may have to go for it now. Pinned your recipe. Thank you for sharing your recipe with us at the #HomeMattersParty this week.
Shashi at RunninSrilankan says
Last year when my daughter and I were in NYC, we stood in line for one of those Cronuts and while they were totally unique and a worthy “experience” I would much rather sit at home and enjoy one of these pillowy baked sugar donuts!
Kim~madeinaday says
I have not tried to make donuts yet! These look so yummy Thanks for the recipe! Sharing on Twitter. Thanks for linking up at MerryMonday!
Kim
Cakespy says
Oh, these are awfully sugar-yet-no-spice nice. Lovely looking doughnuts!
Lux G. says
My sweet tooth is rejoicing.
Emma @ Bake Then Eat says
These look so good, you have jolted me into getting my donut pan out of the back of the cupboard!
John/Kitchen Riffs says
Love donuts! And we always bake ours these days — much healthier, and frying is such a pain. These look excellent. Now, where are my donut pans? 🙂
alice marie noble says
where can I buy donut pans? please and thank you
Pamela says
Hey Alice, you can buy donut pans in almost any department store that has a kitchen section. You can also buy them on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2kkZxK2
Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic says
Love the classic flavor of sugar donuts. These looks so fluffy and delicious!
Suzanne says
Yummy gorgeous donuts!!
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
Easy peasy and so GOOD!