Old-Fashioned Buttermilk Cake Doughnuts

Aug 16, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Pastries doughnuts Vanilla: Paste Medium

Fresh old-fashioned buttermilk cake doughnuts on a wire cooling rack, one broken open to show the tender inside

Light and tender old-fashioned cake doughnuts made with buttermilk and real vanilla bean paste, fried to golden perfection and finished with a vanilla glaze for classic flavor.

Prep 25 min

Cook 20 min

Cooling 1 hr

Total 1 hr 45 min

Yield 14 doughnuts

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

doughnuts

2 ½ cups (300.0 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
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
1.0 tsp (5.0 g)vanilla bean paste
neutral frying oil (vegetable or canola)
1 ½ cups (180.0 g)powdered sugar, for the glaze
3.0 tbsp (45.0 ml)whole milk, for the glaze
1.0 tsp (5.0 ml)pure vanilla extract, for the glaze

Make it at home

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Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg until combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, buttermilk, melted butter, and vanilla bean paste until smooth.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and gently mix with a rubber spatula just until the dough comes together. Avoid overmixing to keep the doughnuts tender.
Transfer the dough onto a well-floured surface and knead lightly 4 to 5 times until smooth.
Roll out the dough to about 1/2-inch thick. Use a doughnut cutter or two round cutters (about 3 inches for outer ring and 1 1/2 inches for hole) to cut out doughnuts. Gather scraps and re-roll once to cut more doughnuts.
Place cut doughnuts and holes on a baking sheet lined with parchment. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 45 to 60 minutes to chill and firm up the dough. Chilling helps them hold shape when frying.
Heat the frying oil in a heavy-bottomed pot or deep fryer to 375°F (190°C). The oil should be at least 2 inches deep.
Carefully add a few doughnuts to the hot oil, do not overcrowd. Fry each side for about 1 to 1 1/2 minutes until golden brown and puffed.
Use a slotted spoon or skimmer to transfer fried doughnuts to a wire rack set over a baking sheet to drain excess oil.
While doughnuts cool slightly, make the glaze: whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a small bowl until smooth and pourable.
Dip the warm doughnuts into the vanilla glaze, allowing excess to drip off, then place back on the wire rack to set.
Serve fresh for best texture and flavor.

Tips

Maintain the frying oil temperature at 375°F (190°C) for crispy, evenly cooked doughnuts.
Use vanilla bean paste in the dough and pure vanilla extract in the glaze for a bright and rich vanilla flavor.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make old-fashioned buttermilk cake doughnuts?

Plan on 25 minutes of prep and 20 minutes of cooking, plus 1 hour to chill. The recipe makes about 14 doughnuts.

How should I store old-fashioned buttermilk cake doughnuts?

Store glazed doughnuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Reheat briefly in a warm oven to refresh crust.

Can I make old-fashioned buttermilk cake doughnuts ahead?

The dough can be mixed and chilled up to 24 hours ahead; shape and fry just before glazing and serving.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 1 tsp vanilla bean paste (5 g). 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.

Light and tender old-fashioned cake doughnuts made with buttermilk and real vanilla bean paste, fried to golden perfection and finished with a vanilla glaze for classic flavor.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 14 servings this recipe makes.

267 Calories / serving

11.6g Fat

37.5g Carbs

3.6g Protein

20.9g Sugar

Whole recipe (14 servings): ~3738 cal · 162g fat · 525g carbs · 50g protein · 293g sugar

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

Per serving · 267 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 50 min·2.9 mi·~5850 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 36 min·1.8 mi·~3600 steps
Moderate cycling 27 min·5.4 mi
Swimming laps 37 min
Jogging 26 min·2.2 mi·~4150 steps
Stair climbing 25 min·~2250 steps
Dancing 43 min
Bodyweight circuit training 27 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 62 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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