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.













Trish says
My daughter is crazy for donuts but I don’t love the oil. These baked versions are a great fix. Pinned!
Kristin says
You had me at Donut! Plus easy and 15 min. This will be a winner for me and my family! Pinned it so I could come back to it later! Yum!
Jess says
I’ll take 15! They sound amazing!
I would love for you to share this with my Facebook Group for recipes, crafts, tips, and tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips/
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Debbie B. says
Made these tonight & they were a hit!! Next time I may add cocoa & try for a chocolate donut or even chocolate chips. Hubby is a total a chocolate nut!!😊
Jen says
These look yummy!
Sharon@bluewillowhouse says
Your homemade donuts look wonderful. Got to try them!
Beverly says
I’m not so sure that I needed to see this recipe! I want to start making them soon. They look delicious. Thanks for sharing at Snickerdoodle. We’ll be featuring your baked sugar donuts at tomorrow’s party. Hope to see you there!
Carol says
These look amazing ( and professional!) . Thank you for sharing and featuring when my party opens tonight.
Julie Pollitt @ Back To My Southern Roots says
These look mighty yummy! I love donuts and I like the idea of baking rather than frying.
Petra says
Wow, they look amazing! Thank you for sharing them with us at Fiesta Friday!
sheri says
Yum! Thanks for joining us at the To Grandma’s House We Go link party!
Jhuls @ The Not So Creative Cook says
I just got my silicone donut pan and your recipe sounds perfect for me to try! These donuts look so classic and yummy! Thank for sharing at Fiesta Friday party & happy new year!
Florence @ Vintage Southern Picks says
Donuts! Oh my goodness…guilty pleasures for sure. I don’t allow myself to have a certain kind that starts with “K”. Heck, I can’t have any donut, but my husband can, so I’ll be fixing them for sure. They look delish!
Ola says
Visiting from Life on Lakeshore… This look delish! Like you I love simple donuts. Nothin’ super fancy. I think I’ll give these a try and toss them in a cinnamon and sugar mix.
Pamela says
Hey Ola – enjoy the donuts! Thanks for stopping by!
Crystal says
These sound easy and delicious! love that you bake them.
Kathleen - Bloggers Lifestyle says
These homemade donuts look perfect, it must be a good recipe. You are making me hungry, I have not had a donut in ages.
Kathleen
Blogger’s Pit Stop
Ann says
Baked doughnuts? I’m sold! Looks so soft too. Yum!! #fiestafriday
Leslie says
I love creative combinations, but there’s nothing like a classic doughnut. This looks like the perfect doughnut to use in our doughnut pan this winter. Thanks so much for sharing at the #happynowlinkup!
Life Diet Health says
These sound fantastic – I’m sure my boys would love these. Thanks for sharing at Fiesta Friday this week.
Emmi @ Emmi's Cookin' Side says
I love that these donuts are baked! Never tried to make donuts, so the time has come!!! Thank you for this inspiration!
Emmi @ Emmi’s Cookin’ Side.blog
Sandra L Garth says
These look soft, pillowy and like some I’ve seen on Unique Sweets. Happy New Year and thanks for sharing with us this week at Celebrate Your Story and we hope you will join us again next week.
kathy olson says
I will try these – thank you!
Connie says
Yummy! I have a small electric donut maker. I’m going to try this recipe in it. We love homemade baked donuts.
Pamela says
Enjoy the donuts Connie!
Donna Reidland says
These look yummy! Definitely pinning to try out.
Mother of 3 says
Wow! Those look amazing! Pinned.
Debbie Williams says
Sounds so good. I’m trying this. Thanks for the recipe.
J says
Looks yummy!
Can these be made in a mini donut pan? What would the adjustments be?
Thanks !
Pamela says
Hi! Absolutely! I would adjust the time to 8-10 minutes, check at 8 minutes to start with. Enjoy the donuts!
Dave says
Good light not,fried
Pamela says
Glad to hear you liked them Dave!
Tammy says
Looks so yummy! Can’t wait to try with my new donut pan from Santa!
Jen says
These look really good and I would love to bake them. Does anyone have suggestions on where to purchase a donut pan? I’ve looked and had no luck. Thanks!
Pamela says
Hey Jen, you can buy them at most department stores in the kitchen section. If you have a kitchen store nearby, they will definitely have it! Lastly, Amazon..! http://amzn.to/2bx4kpD