Donut Cake Recipes

CAKE DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Use a 3-inch-round cookie cutter or glass to trace 12 circles on the parchment, leaving space between each. Flip the parchment over and lightly coat with cooking spray. Fit a pastry bag with a 1/2-inch round tip or snip a 1/2-inch hole in one corner of a large resealable plastic bag.
• Sift the flour, baking powder, nutmeg and salt into a medium bowl. Beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until well combined, about 2 minutes. Beat in the whole egg and yolk until incorporated and the mixture turns pale yellow, about 3 minutes. Beat in the milk and vanilla until smooth, scraping down the bowl as needed. Reduce the mixer speed to low; gradually beat in the flour mixture until just incorporated (do not overmix). Transfer the batter to the prepared pastry bag.
• Using the circles as a guide, pipe the batter into 3-inch rings. (To make doughnut holes with the remaining batter, pipe 1-inch rounds onto the parchment.) Refrigerate while you heat the shortening, or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
• Heat about 6 cups shortening in a large pot over medium-high heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 340 degrees F. (You want to have about 2 inches of liquid once the shortening melts.) Use scissors to cut the parchment around each doughnut, leaving a 1-inch border. Carefully invert 2 doughnuts into the shortening and peel off the parchment with tongs. Fry until golden brown, 1 minute 30 seconds per side. (Fry the doughnut holes 30 seconds per side.) Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Bring the shortening back to 340 degrees F and repeat with the remaining doughnuts.

OLD-FASHIONED CAKE DOUGHNUTS (DONUTS)

Steps:

• In a large bowl mix the sugar, baking powder, salt and nutmeg.
• Add eggs, milk and melted butter. Beat well.
• Add 3 cups of the flour, beating until blended. Add one more cup of flour and beat well. The dough should be soft and sticky but firm enough to handle. If you feel its necessary, add up to 1/2 cup more flour.
• Cover with plastic wrap and chill for *at* *least* one hour.
• Remove your dough from the fridge and begin heating about 1" of oil to 360F in a large metal skillet.
• Working half the dough at a time, roll it out on a floured surface to about 1/2" thickness. Cut out circles using a doughnut cutter or large biscuit or cookie cutter. For the center, I actually use the cap off my martini shaker ;) to cut the holes.
• Gently drop the doughnuts in batches into the hot oil. Flip them over as they puff and turn them a couple more times as they cook. They will take about 2-3 minutes in total and will be lovely and golden brown all over.
• Remove from the oil and set them on paper towels or brown paper bag (that removes all the fat, you know).
• Douse them with sugar and cinnamon, icing, chocolate dipped with sprinkles or whatever you like.

BAKED CAKE DONUTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Lightly brush two standard donut pans with butter. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, and salt; set aside.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with a hand mixer, beat butter and sugars on high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Reduce mixer speed to medium; add eggs and vanilla, beating until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in two batches, alternating with milk, and beat just until combined.
• Transfer batter to a piping bag or a resealable plastic bag, and snip a 1/2-inch hole in one corner of bag. Divide mixture evenly between prepared pans. Bang pans several times on counter to release air bubbles.
• Bake until tops of donuts spring back when lightly pressed, 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool. To decorate, see Variations below.

OLD-TIME CAKE DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat butter and 1 cup sugar until crumbly, about 2 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition., Combine the flour, baking powder, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, salt and nutmeg; add to butter mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours. , Turn onto a heavily floured surface; pat dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 2-1/2-in. doughnut cutter. In an electric skillet or deep fryer, heat oil to 375°., Fry doughnuts, a few at a time, until golden brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels. , Combine remaining sugar and cinnamon; roll warm doughnuts in mixture. Freeze option: Wrap doughnuts in foil and transfer to a resealable freezer container. May be frozen for up to 3 months. To use, remove foil. Thaw at room temperature. Warm if desired. Combine 1/2 cup sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon; roll warm doughnuts in mixture.

PLAIN CAKE DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• Heat oil in deep-fryer to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• In a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg. Mix in butter until crumbly. Stir in milk and egg until smooth. Knead lightly, then turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll or pat to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut with a doughnut cutter, or use two round biscuit cutters of different sizes.
• Carefully drop doughnuts into hot oil, a few at a time. Do not overcrowd pan or oil may overflow. Fry, turning once, for 3 minutes or until golden. Drain on paper towels.

DONUT CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour 12-cup Bundt pan; set aside.
• Combine milk, melted butter and eggs in bowl. Set aside.
• Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and nutmeg in bowl. Add milk mixture; stir just until combined.
• Spoon batter into prepared pan. Bake 35-40 minutes or until a few moist crumbs cling to toothpick inserted near center. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Invert onto serving plate; cool completely.
• Heat whipping cream in small saucepan over medium-low heat until bubbles form around edge and cream is steaming. Do not boil. Pour hot cream over chocolate chips; let stand 30 seconds. Gently stir until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Pour over top of cooled cake. Sprinkle with rainbow sprinkles as desired.

APPLE CIDER DOUGHNUT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat the dry cake mix, apple cider, apple sauce, water, and eggs. Add in the cinnnamon (¼ tsp,) brown sugar and vanilla to the cake mix batter. (See "recipe options" in notes)
• Pour mix into a well greased & floured bundt pan (we used Baker's Joy. This has flour in it to make sure it doesn't stick.)
• Place bundt pan on center rack and bake for 40-45 minutes. Test with a toothpick by sticking into the middle of the cake, if it comes out clean it is ready. Remove from heat and allow to cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes.

GLAZED BUTTERMILK DONUT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 12- to 15-cup Bundt pan with baking spray.
• Beat granulated sugar and butter with a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes, stopping to scrape down sides of bowl as needed. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating until just combined after each addition. Add vanilla, beating until just combined.
• Whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, and baking soda in a medium bowl. With mixer on low speed, gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture, beating until just combined after each addition. Spoon batter into prepared pan; gently tap on counter 3 to 5 times to release air bubbles.
• Bake in preheated oven until a wooden pick inserted in center of cake comes out clean, about 50 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack 15 minutes. Invert cake out of pan onto a cutting board or platter, then gently flip cake back over so rough side is facing up. Let cool on wire rack completely, about 1 hour.
• Whisk together powdered sugar and water in a medium bowl until smooth. Brush over cooled cake. Slice and serve.

CLASSIC CAKE DONUT RECIPE

Steps:

• In the bowl of your stand mixer with the paddle or the whisk attachment, cream the softened butter and the sugar on medium high speed until the mixture is light in color and fluffy.
• While mixing on low, add in one egg, let it mix in and then add in the second egg and mix on medium speed until everything is smooth and combined
• Add in the buttermilk and the vanilla and mix until combined
• While mixing on low, add in the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and nutmeg and mix until the dough is combined. Do not over-mix. The dough will be sticky.
• Lightly flour your work surface and transfer the sticky dough to the floured surface.
• Press the dough down lightly until its about 1" thick.
• Fold the dough over onto itself 3-4 times until the dough is smooth.
• Flatten the dough down to about 1/2" or use a rolling pin. Let the dough rest for 5-10 minutes while your oil is heating up.
• Turn on your FryDaddy or begin heating your oil to 360ºF-375ºF (182ºC -190ºC). Set up a draining station for the donuts by placing a cooling rack over a sheet pan to catch the oil.
• Use a donut cutter or ring cutter to cut out the donuts. You can press together the scraps and roll them out again to get as many donuts as you can. Just keep in mind the more you work the dough, the tougher the donuts will get.
• Add the donut to the hot oil using your slotted spoon to lower it gently. Fry the donut for 2 minutes then flip it over and fry it for 1 more minute.
• Fry your donut holes for about 1 minute, stirring and pushing them down with your spoon until golden brown on the outsides.
• Transfer the dough to a cooling rack over a sheet pan to let the oil drain away from the donut
• Once your donuts are cooked you can roll them in powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar, glaze them with donut glaze or chocolate glaze!
• Store donuts in a paper bag at room temperature for up to two days. They are best eaten fresh! Do not refrigerate.
• Sift the powdered sugar into a bowl and add the milk (or water). Whisk together to combine, add more powdered sugar to make it thicker or more milk to make it thinner.
• In a medium sized bowl, add the heavy cream, butter and corn syrup to the chocolate chips. Microwave for 30 seconds and stir together until the chocolate is melted. Microwave for another 15 seconds if needed.

CAKE DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, stir together the flour, 1/2 cup sugar, baking powder, salt, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and nutmeg. Make a well in the center and pour in the milk, egg, butter, and vanilla. Mix until well blended. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Heat oil in a deep heavy skillet or deep-fryer to 370 degrees F (185 degrees C). On a floured board, roll chilled dough out to 1/2 inch thickness. Use a 3 inch round cutter to cut out doughnuts. Use a smaller cutter to cut holes from center. If you do not have a small cutter, use the mouth of a bottle.
• Fry doughnuts in hot oil until golden brown, turning once. Remove from oil to drain on paper plates. Combine the remaining 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/2 cup sugar in a large resealable bag. Place a few warm donuts into the bag at a time, seal and shake to coat.

CAKE MIX DONUTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Grease a donut pan (I love these Wilton pans) with butter and flour or with baker's floured cooking spray. Mix together all wet ingredients (eggs, butter, and buttermilk) with a whisk or in a stand mixer with a paddle until fully combined. Add in cake mix, and mix on low speed until incorporated, and then increase speed to medium and beat for 3 minutes.
• I've found a piping bag the easiest way to transfer the batter to the pans - this set of reusable silicone piping bags are my favorites, and have lasted for years! Fill each donut ring just over half full - they won't have empty centers if the rings are over-filled.
• Bake at 350 degrees F for 12-16 minutes, until each donut is no longer sticky in the center.
• Combine all ingredients in a small mixing bowl, and whisk until well blended. Glaze donuts either by dipping upside down in the bowl, or by transferring glaze to a piping bag and drizzling over your donuts.
• (This glaze can dry fairly quickly in warm/dry weather, so cover it if you're not going to glaze your donuts right away!) Decorate to your liking - and enjoy!