How to Make Donuts at Home

These homemade donuts taste just like they came from a donut shop.

making donuts at home with a donut maker

Picking up a dozen donuts from a bakery shop is incredibly delicious and indulgent for a morning treat or weekday dessert. However, on those days when you can't make it to your favorite donut shop, why not learn how to make donuts at home? Donuts are delicious and comforting, and it's so much fun and easy to make them from scratch without leaving the comforts of home. Although there are many types of donuts, the easiest ones to make at home are cake donuts. Keep reading to learn how to make donuts, including all the tools and ingredients for making a donut.


How to Make Donuts at Home

Before you begin the baking process, you'll need to gather up all the ingredients for donuts. We've outlined all of the ingredients for making a donut.


Ingredients You'll Need

Ingredients for Donuts:

  • 1 box of cake mix (any flavor)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 3/4 cup milk


Ingredients for Glaze:

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 3 tablespoons milk


Toppings:

  • Sprinkles or chopped nuts


Tools You'll Need

In addition to the ingredients, you'll need to prep your tools. Gathering all of your materials first will help ensure making a donut is as easy as possible.


Donut Pans: These specialty baking pans are an easy and inexpensive way to learn how to make donuts at home. They are available in various shapes and sizes, including donut holes, heart shapes, and more.

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Donut Makers: Whether you have a large family or are a budding entrepreneur, making donuts at home is easy with an electric donut maker. These machines allow home bakers to create dozens of pastries at a time and are available in various shapes and sizes including donut holes, filled donut makers, and mini donut makers.

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Piping Bags: These handy bags help you easily deposit even amounts of batter into donut pans. They also allow you to decorate your donuts, giving them a more professional look.

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Measuring Cups & Spoons: Use the right measuring gear to ensure your donuts come out perfectly.

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Mixing Bowls: Keep the donut batter in place and minimize the mess with a sturdy mixing bowl.

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Cooling Rack: Cool donuts and drain excess glaze without making the donuts soggy on a sturdy cooling rack.

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Something to Mix With

Hand Mixer: Lump-free batter will give you the best results. Use a hand mixer to incorporate the ingredients for the best cake donuts.

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Stand Mixer:For large batches of homemade donuts, a stand mixture will easily incorporate large volumes of ingredients.

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Whisk: Although electric mixers make mixing easier, smaller batches of donut batter are best mixed with a sturdy whisk.

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Instructions for Making Donuts

  1. Preheat the oven to 350° F (if using a donut cake pan) or prep the donut maker according to manufacturer instructions.
  2. Mix dry cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, and water in your mixing bowl until combined.
  3. Pour batter into a disposable piping bag. Snip off the end.
  4. Squeeze the donut batter into the prepared donut pan or donut maker cavities until cups are about 1/2 full.
  5. Bake at 350° F for 12-14 minutes if using a donut pan or the appropriate time recommended by the electric donut maker.
  6. Let donuts cool in the donut pan for about 5-10 minutes, then remove and let cool completely on a wire rack.
  7. If using a donut maker, remove immediately once cooked and place on a wire rack to cool.


FOR THE GLAZE:

  1. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together butter, powdered sugar, and milk until just combined.
  2. Dip the cooled donut about 1/2 way into the glaze, then lift and turn sideways to let extra run off.
  3. Place back on wire cooling rack.
  4. Top with optional sprinkles or chopped nuts.


Now that you know how to make donuts at home, shop all of our donut makers and baking necessities.

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Written by Debbie Brooks Wolfe


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