Baked Cake Doughnuts

Jun 28, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Pastries doughnuts Vanilla: Extract Easy

Fresh baked cake doughnuts on a wire cooling rack, one broken open to show the tender inside

Tender baked cake doughnuts enriched with buttermilk and real vanilla, lightly spiced with warm cinnamon and nutmeg, finished with a vanilla-enhanced cinnamon sugar coating for a cozy, aromatic treat.

Prep 25 min

Cook 15 min

Cooling 10 min

Total 50 min

Yield 16 doughnuts

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

doughnuts

2 ¼ cups (280.0 g)all-purpose flour
½ cup (100.0 g)granulated sugar
2.0 tsp (8.0 g)baking powder
½ tsp (2.0 g)baking soda
½ tsp (3.0 g)fine sea salt
¼ tsp (0.5 g)ground cinnamon
½ tsp (1.0 g)ground nutmeg
2.0 large (100.0 g)eggs
¾ cup (180.0 ml)buttermilk
3.0 tbsp (42.0 g)unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 ½ tsp (7.5 ml)pure vanilla extract
½ cup (100.0 g)granulated sugar, for coating
1.0 tsp (2.5 g)ground cinnamon, for coating

Make it at home

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Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease or spray a 12-cavity doughnut pan.
In a medium bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg until well combined.
In another bowl, whisk eggs with buttermilk, melted butter, and 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract until smooth.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and fold gently until just combined. Do not overmix; a few small lumps are fine.
Divide the batter evenly among doughnut cavities, filling about 3/4 full for even rising.
Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until doughnuts spring back gently when pressed and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool doughnuts in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack for 10 minutes until just warm.
Mix granulated sugar and ground cinnamon in a shallow bowl. While doughnuts are still warm, toss them gently in the cinnamon sugar coating to evenly cover.
Serve immediately or let cool completely before storing.

Tips

Ensure not to overmix the batter to maintain tender doughnuts with a light crumb.
For the best vanilla flavor, increase the vanilla extract to 1 1/2 teaspoons and add it to the batter, and consider grating a small amount of vanilla bean into the wet ingredients when available.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make baked cake doughnuts?

Plan on 25 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of cooking, plus 10 minutes to rest. The recipe makes 16 baked cake doughnuts.

How should I store baked cake doughnuts?

Store coated doughnuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Reheat gently in a microwave or toaster oven for a few seconds.

Can I make baked cake doughnuts ahead?

Prepare and coat the doughnuts, then store at room temperature and coat with cinnamon sugar just before serving for optimal texture.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 1.5 tsp pure vanilla extract (7.5 ml). Each teaspoon of pure vanilla extract can be swapped for 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, the seeds of half a vanilla bean, or 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder. Paste and seeds add the classic dark specks.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 16 servings this recipe makes.

146 Calories / serving

3.0g Fat

26.6g Carbs

3.0g Protein

13.2g Sugar

Whole recipe (16 servings): ~2336 cal · 48g fat · 426g carbs · 48g protein · 211g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 146 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 28 min·1.6 mi·~3300 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 20 min·1.0 mi·~2000 steps
Moderate cycling 15 min·3.0 mi
Swimming laps 20 min
Jogging 14 min·1.2 mi·~2250 steps
Stair climbing 13 min·~1150 steps
Dancing 24 min
Bodyweight circuit training 15 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 34 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.

Made with VanillaGoods

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