An easy batter made from creamy peanut butter and classic baking ingredients transforms into soft and fluffy Peanut Butter Donuts. Decorated in a tempting vanilla glaze, these donuts make for a comforting dessert or a sweet breakfast.

Easy baked peanut butter donuts
Ever since I made a Peanut Butter Burger, I had it in my head that I wanted to start creating more recipes with peanut butter. Creamy, nutty, and satisfying, peanut butter is truly one of the best ingredients for both savory and sweet recipes.
We’re putting the savory recipes on hold for now and making my signature Peanut Butter Donuts instead! They’re a soft dessert or a sweet breakfast treat that bake up in a flash. Perfect for the family or when you want to impress friends.
These peanut butter donuts are baked in a donut pan rather than fried, making them a much healthier option you can eat any time of the day. I can’t think of a better way to start the day than with a peanut butter donut and an Extra Strong Coffee Brownie. Talk about a reason to wake up in the morning!
Just like in these Peanut Butter Oatmeal Sandwich Cookies, creamy peanut butter transforms desserts into chewy and decadent treats. It sure makes these peanut butter donuts extra filling and gives them an irresistibly soft and fluffy texture.
How to make peanut butter douts
I recommend making this recipe in a donut pan. These pans are usually inexpensive and will give you perfectly shaped and evenly cooked donuts every time. Plus, you can use it to make all of my other donut recipes!
Make the donut batter by mixing the wet ingredients together in a large bowl until combined. Next, add in the dry ingredients and whip until a thick batter is formed.
Evenly distribute the donut batter into your prepared pan.
Bake the donuts until they turn golden brown.
While the donuts are cooling on a rack, make the icing by whisking together the sugar, vanilla, and milk in a bowl.
Dip each cooled donut in the vanilla glaze and place them on a cooling rack until the icing sets completely.
Don’t have a donut pan?
While a donut pan helps baked donuts form their signature shape, you don’t necessarily need one to make this recipe. Instead, you can use a muffin pan! This recipe makes 8 to 10 peanut butter donut muffins.
Make sure you only fill the muffin tin 2/3rds of the way to prevent them from spilling over. Bake at 350°F for 18-20 minutes or until lightly browned and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Recipe tips
- Be careful not to overfill your donut pan. Each indentation should be no more than 3/4 of the way full. If you add too much batter, the donuts will bake over the edges and lose their shape.
- To prepare this recipe ahead of time, make the donut batter the night before and store it in a covered container in the fridge.
- Don’t overmix the batter! This will make the dough tough and the donuts will lose their light and fluffy texture.
- For less mess, use a piping bag or a Ziploc bag with an end cut-off to pipe the donut batter into the pan.
- If you’re adding decorations on top of the glaze, make sure you add them immediately after icing so it doesn’t harden.
How to decorate peanut butter donuts
These donuts are dunked in a simple vanilla icing made from powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. Keep this icing handy as it also pairs well with scones or drizzled on top of your favorite muffins! You can dress up these donuts with just the glaze or with more fun toppings, like:
- A drizzle of Homemade Raspberry Jam
- Spread with Pumpkin Butter
- Rainbow or chocolate sprinkles
- Chocolate Brownie Frosting
- Peanut butter chips
- Chocolate glaze and nuts
- A drizzle of peanut butter
- Matcha Tea Frosting
Storing baked donuts
If eating immediately: Simply leave the donuts out on the cooling rack or on a serving dish at room temperature. If they sit out longer than 4 hours, cover with plastic wrap or transfer to a cake serving dish with a lid.
Storing leftovers: To keep them fresher longer, store the peanut butter donuts in the refrigerator in a single layer in an airtight container. Stacking them can cause the icing on the donuts to stick to each other. They should stay fresh for 2 to 3 days in the fridge.
More donut recipes to try
- Baked Strawberry Donuts
- Baked Chocolate Donuts with Peanut Butter Frosting
- Glazed Carrot Cake Donuts
- Jelly Donut Holes
- Coffee Chocolate Donuts
- Blueberry Muffin Donuts
More peanut butter desserts you might like
- Peanut Butter Fudge
- Homemade Peanut Butter Oreos
- Snowman Peanut Butter Balls
- Peanut Butter Blossoms
- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
- Fudge Donuts with Peanut Butter Frosting
Pin for later:
Peanut Butter Donuts
PrintIngredients
Donuts:
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon butter melted
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup white sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Glaze:
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a donut pan with nonstick spray.
- In a large bowl mix vegetable oil, butter, milk, egg, sugar, vanilla and peanut butter until creamy.
- Add in flour, baking powder and salt and continue mixing until well combined.
- Spoon batter into donut pan, about 3/4 of the way filled, making sure the middle hole is clean.
- Bake donuts for 16-17 minutes or until sides are golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes before removing donuts from pan.
- In a small bowl mix powdered sugar, milk and vanilla, mixing until completely combined and an icing glaze forms.
- Once the donuts are cooled down dip each donut in the glaze and then place them on a cooling rack. Serve and enjoy!
Consuelo @ Honey & Figs says
Did you say Peanut Butter? And donuts? Hope there are some of these left, because I’m hopping on a plane right now!
Johlene says
Oh wow that´s all I´m saying.. Peanut butter & Vanilla in a donut with loads of sprinkles on top.. amazingggggggggg 🙂
Chris @ Shared Appetite says
Ok, I REALLY need to get me one of those donut pans! I have such donut envy lately with all my blogger friends that are pumping out these amazing looking donuts, haha! This looks amazing!
Koko says
These look divine…peanut butter is the key to my heart, I’ve just decided. Haha! And 100 calories a cookie is the meanest thing I have ever heard- there is NO WAY anyone can eat just one Halloween Oreo- rude!!!
Gintare @Gourmantine says
Ah, great are the mornings that start with a donut 🙂 I have quite a sweet tooth too, but these days if I indulge in it too much, I add an extra half a mile to the morning run!
Daniela @ FoodrecipesHQ says
They are oven baked! That’s great… I like these donuts at the first sight because I could notice they are not greasy and deep fried. It’s a treat I can “afford”.
Liz says
Hey, peanut butter is a source of protein so these are practically health food! They look fantastic, too 🙂
Mason Canyon says
All I can say is ‘delicious looking.’
Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen says
I had no idea that oreos have 100 calories a cookie. Yikes! I could eat donuts every day, but I have never, ever tried making them. These look like a delicious donut to start with 🙂
Kelly says
Haha yup totally think about donuts way too much especially if they have lots of pretty and colorful sprinkles like these 🙂 Oh man, I am drooling over these chocolate peanut butter donuts – they look incredible!
cheri says
I have quite a sweet tooth and work hard at only indulging once a day. These look wonderful!
Ashley @ My Midwest Table says
I love doughnuts! In fact, I have a shirt that says “Doughnuts make people happy”…because they do! These PB ones look fantastic!
Pamela says
I love that shirt! I totally agree!
Shashi @ http://runninsrilankan.com says
“My eyes tell me to eat all sugar treats in front of me” we must be the same person!!!
My eyes so do the same!!! 🙂
I have yet to buy a donut pan – and recipes like these are making me break my budget…peanut butter is a fav of mine – in donuts with vanilla frosting – gosh-I would be up at 4am polishing off the crumbs!
Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic says
My sweet tooth is pretty insane too. So I hear you on the midnight chocolate kiss snacking!
Kelly - LEFT SIDE OF THE TABLE says
I’ve never made doughnuts before!! I don’t know why but in my head I think that they are complicated…breads kinda scare me. Haha but…i’m kinda obsessed with PB. Who isn’t?? And never had it in a doughnut. I do live in Minnesota, and doughnuts aren’t super popular here. Pinning this one, going to have to try it real soon. Thanks for sharing. Have a wonderful St. Pattys Day 🙂
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
These cakey donuts look fantastic!
ela@GrayApron says
They are loaded with the good thing! And cute too! 🙂 ela
Trisha says
These look SOOO good !
Mary Frances says
I like donuts, but my real weakness is peanut butter. Oh, and then sprinkles. Way too combine all my weaknesses into one recipe, Pamela!
Mary Frances says
What font do you use on your photos? I really like it!
Pamela says
This one is called “Call Me”. Thanks Mary Frances!
Ashley says
You know, I like donuts but can kind of take then or leave them! Which I guess is a good thing?? haha But a peanut butter donut – now that may be a different story!! These sound awesome!
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
I love that last shot where the donuts are gone. That’s exactly what would happen in my house if I made these lovelies! Gorgeous!
Tandy | Lavender and Lime says
I wonder if we get chocolate peanut butter here?
Pamela says
Check it out Tandy, seems like a couple of the big brands are making it now.
Kathi @ Deliciously Yum! says
I totally agree. I could have a donut pretty much every day. Yours look so delicious!!
Jamie | Jamie's Recipes says
Chocolate peanut butter? I need to seek this out. My kiddos are loving baked doughnuts. I will have to add these to the rotation.
Kelly @ hidden fruits and veggies says
I’m with you! Every day should be donut day 🙂 We actually have a deal that Josh will ALWAYS go grocery shopping with me, or I will end up brining home at least 1 dozen donuts from the bakery. It’s a fact of life. These look much better than what I can buy in my grocery store, plus sprinkles. Sprinkles for dayyyys.
Katie says
I’m just going to have to move in with you, okay?
Pamela says
Only if you bring that shower curtain.
Joy @Baking-Joy says
Peanut butter and vanilla is such a delicious combination, I can practically taste these!
Helen @ Scrummy Lane says
Yum yum! Such pretty photos, Pamela! I’m naughtiest with chocolate. If I know it’s there, I can honestly eat the whole bar in a shamefully short period of time! 😉
Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor says
Yes, I agree! Especially if they are baked, I love baked donuts. And the sprinkles make me happy 🙂
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
mmmmm the fact that these donuts have chocolate peanut butter in them makes them SO. FRIGGIN. AMAZING! and that vanilla frosting? heaven!