Really tasty blueberry baked donuts! I loved the glaze as is, but will add lemon zest next time for a twist.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ -our reader, Becca

Why You’ll Love These Glazed Blueberry Cake Donuts

• Elevated Blueberry Flavor: This recipe takes the beloved taste of classic blueberry muffins and transforms it into an even more indulgent experience. The rich, cake-like texture of these donuts, combined with the sweet bursts of blueberries and a creamy glaze, offers a delightful upgrade to your usual baked goods. If you’re a fan of a bigger cake, you’ll also adore my Blueberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake recipe!

• Perfect for Any Occasion: These glazed blueberry cake donuts are incredibly versatile. Enjoy them as a special breakfast treat alongside your morning coffee, serve them as an elegant addition to any brunch spread, or simply grab one as a sweet snack to brighten your day. They even make a fantastic light dessert to conclude any meal, satisfying your sweet tooth without being overly heavy.

• Enjoy Fresh Blueberry Taste Year-Round: No need to wait for blueberry season! This recipe is perfectly adaptable whether you use plump, fresh blueberries picked at their peak or convenient frozen blueberries straight from your freezer. This means you can indulge in the comforting flavor of homemade blueberry donuts whenever the craving strikes, regardless of the time of year.

• A Healthier Baked Alternative: Unlike traditional fried donuts, these are baked, which significantly reduces the amount of oil and mess involved. You get all the deliciousness of a donut with a lighter feel, making them a more guilt-free indulgence. They offer a similar delightful fruity dessert experience to my Lemon Blueberry Blondies, but in a wonderfully soft, cake-like donut form!

• Simple Ingredients, Incredible Results: You’ll be amazed at the depth of flavor and tender texture achieved with just a few common pantry staples. The combination of sour cream, melted butter, and fresh blueberries creates a magical synergy, proving that extraordinary treats don’t require complicated components.

Essential Ingredients for Perfect Blueberry Cake Donuts

Gathering high-quality ingredients is the first step to creating truly delicious baked goods. For these Glazed Blueberry Cake Donuts, each component plays a vital role in achieving their signature fluffy texture and rich flavor:

• Unsalted Butter: Melted and cooled, unsalted butter is incorporated into the donut batter to provide richness and a delicate buttery flavor. Using unsalted butter allows you to control the total salt content in your recipe.
• Granulated Sugar: This provides the primary sweetness for the donut batter, caramelizing slightly during baking to contribute to the golden-brown edges and tender crumb.
• Large Egg: An essential binder, the egg helps to emulsify the batter, adding structure and moisture, resulting in a perfectly soft donut. Ensure it’s at room temperature for better blending.
• Vanilla Extract: A classic flavor enhancer, vanilla extract complements the blueberries beautifully and adds a warm, aromatic depth to the donuts.
• Sour Cream: This is the star ingredient for a super moist and tender crumb! Sour cream adds both fat and acidity to the batter, which reacts with the baking soda to create a light and airy texture. For optimal mixing, make sure your sour cream is at room temperature.
• All-Purpose Flour: The structural backbone of your donuts. For best results and accurate measurements, it’s recommended to weigh your flour using a kitchen scale.
• Baking Soda: Working in conjunction with the sour cream’s acidity, baking soda provides the lift and fluffiness characteristic of these cake donuts.
• Salt: A small amount of salt balances the sweetness and enhances all the other flavors in the donut, making them more pronounced and delicious.
• Blueberries: The hero ingredient! You can use either fresh or frozen blueberries. Frozen blueberries are often preferred because they are less likely to burst and “bleed” into the batter during mixing, maintaining their shape and flavor. There’s no need to thaw them beforehand.
• Milk (for batter): A touch of milk helps to adjust the consistency of the batter to ensure it’s perfectly pipeable or spoonable into the donut pan.
• Powdered Sugar (for glaze): This fine sugar is the base for our luscious vanilla glaze. Sifting it before mixing is a great tip if it’s clumpy, ensuring a super smooth, lump-free icing.
• Milk (for glaze): Used to thin the powdered sugar into a pourable or dippable glaze consistency. You can adjust the amount slightly to achieve your desired thickness.
• Vanilla Extract (for glaze): Adds a beautiful aromatic sweetness to the glaze, perfectly complementing the blueberry donuts.
• Unsalted Butter (for glaze): A small amount of melted butter in the glaze adds a subtle richness and gloss, making the glaze even more irresistible.

See the full recipe card below for exact measurements and detailed instructions.

Delicious Substitutions & Creative Variations

While these Glazed Blueberry Cake Donuts are absolutely perfect as is, you can easily adapt them to explore new flavor profiles or accommodate dietary needs. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Lemon-Blueberry Twist: For a bright and zesty spin on the classic, incorporate the timeless combination of lemon and blueberry. Simply mix 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon zest into the donut’s wet ingredients along with the vanilla extract. For the glaze, replace the vanilla extract with an equal amount of fresh lemon juice to create a vibrant lemon glaze. This adds a wonderful tang that perfectly complements the sweet blueberries.

• Almond Infusion: If you have a particularly sweet tooth or enjoy nutty undertones, try adding ¼ teaspoon of almond extract in addition to the vanilla extract in the donut batter (Step 1 of the instructions). This introduces a lovely, subtle almond flavor that pairs wonderfully with the blueberries.

• Different Berries: Feel free to experiment with other berries! Small diced strawberries or raspberries would make excellent substitutes for blueberries, offering a different fruity dimension. Just ensure they are chopped finely enough if they are large to distribute evenly in the batter.

• Cinnamon Sugar Coating: For a glaze-free alternative, instead of making the vanilla glaze, toss the warm donuts in a mixture of cinnamon and granulated sugar. This creates a comforting, classic donut shop experience.

• Streusel Topping: Before baking, sprinkle a simple streusel topping (made from flour, sugar, butter, and a pinch of cinnamon) over the donut batter in the pans for added texture and flavor.

Please note that this recipe has not been extensively tested with other substitutions or variations. If you try replacing or adding any ingredients, we’d love to hear how it turned out in the comments below! Your feedback helps other bakers in our community.

Essential & Helpful Equipment

These baked blueberry donuts are designed to be simple, meaning you won’t even need a stand mixer!

• Donut Pan: This recipe absolutely requires a donut pan. I highly recommend using a non-stick metal or flexible silicone donut pan to ensure your donuts release easily and maintain their perfect shape. A good quality pan makes all the difference in achieving those classic donut rings.

• Mixing Bowls: You’ll need at least two mixing bowls – one for your wet ingredients and another for the dry ingredients. This allows for proper integration of components before combining them.

• Whisk & Spatula: A good whisk is essential for thoroughly combining dry ingredients and initially mixing wet ingredients. A sturdy rubber spatula is perfect for gently folding the dry into the wet, ensuring you don’t overmix the batter.

• Measuring Cups & Spoons (or Scale): Accurate measurements are key in baking. While measuring cups and spoons work, for the most precise results, especially with flour, I always recommend using a digital kitchen scale to weigh ingredients in grams.

• Piping Bag (Optional but Recommended): A piping bag makes filling the donut pan a significantly cleaner and more efficient process, ensuring even distribution of batter into each mold. However, if you don’t have one, a spoon will also work just fine, though it might be a bit messier.

• Wire Rack: Essential for cooling your baked donuts evenly and allowing the glaze to set properly without sticking to surfaces.

Looking for more recipes to put your donut pan to good use? Don’t miss my Cinnamon Roll Donuts, Banana Baked Donuts, or Maple Chai Donuts!

How To Make Fluffy Glazed Blueberry Cake Donuts

Creating these blueberry cake donuts is a straightforward process, even for beginners. Follow these simple steps for perfectly baked, glazed treats:

Step One (Picture 1 above) – Prepare the Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, start by thoroughly stirring together the melted and cooled unsalted butter with the granulated sugar until well combined. Next, crack in the large egg (ensure it’s at room temperature for better emulsification) and mix until fully incorporated. Finally, add the vanilla extract and room-temperature sour cream, stirring until the mixture is smooth and homogenous. This creates the rich, moist base for your donuts.

Step Two (Picture 2 above) – Combine Dry Ingredients and Coat Blueberries: In a separate, medium-sized bowl, use a whisk to gently combine the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. This ensures all leavening agents and seasoning are evenly distributed. Once the dry ingredients are whisked, add your fresh or frozen blueberries to this mixture. Toss them lightly to coat them with flour. This crucial step helps prevent the blueberries from sinking to the bottom of the donut batter during baking, ensuring even distribution throughout each donut.

Step Three (Picture 3 above) – Gently Mix Batter: Now, carefully add the dry ingredients with the coated blueberries into the wet ingredients. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the mixture until just a few streaks of flour remain visible. It’s vital not to overmix at this stage, as overworking the gluten in the flour can lead to tough donuts. Finally, add the tablespoon of milk and stir just until everything is combined and no dry pockets of flour are left. The batter should be thick but spoonable.

Step Four (Picture 4 above) – Fill Donut Pans and Bake: Lightly grease your donut pan. Using either a piping bag (with the tip snipped off for easy dispensing) or simply a spoon, carefully fill each donut mold about two-thirds to three-quarters of the way full. This recipe typically yields about 6-7 standard-sized donuts, but the exact number may vary slightly based on the depth and capacity of your specific donut pan.

Place the filled donut pan on the middle rack of a preheated 350°F (177°C) oven. Bake for approximately 20-30 minutes, or until the edges of the donuts are a beautiful light golden brown and the tops spring back gently when lightly poked. Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and let the blueberry cake donuts cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. This helps them firm up and makes them easier to remove. After 10 minutes, carefully invert them onto a wire rack to cool completely before glazing.

Make the Vanilla Glaze: While your delicious donuts are cooling, prepare the simple vanilla glaze. In a small to medium-sized bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and the melted butter until the mixture is completely smooth and free of any lumps. If your powdered sugar is clumpy, sifting it beforehand will ensure a silkier glaze. You can adjust the milk amount slightly to achieve your desired glaze consistency—thicker for a more opaque coating, thinner for a delicate drizzle.

Glaze the Donuts: Once the baked donuts have cooled completely, it’s time to glaze! Hold the bottom of a donut and dip its top into the prepared vanilla glaze. Allow any excess glaze to drip off. Alternatively, if you prefer a lighter coating or a more rustic look, you can use a spoon to drizzle the glaze over the tops of the donuts. Place each glazed donut back on the cooling rack to allow the icing to fully set before serving. Enjoy your freshly baked and glazed blueberry cake donuts!

Expert Baking Tips for Flawless Donuts

Achieving bakery-quality baked donuts at home is easier than you think with these expert tips:

1. No Piping Bag? No Problem! While a piping bag (or a large Ziploc bag with a corner snipped off) offers the cleanest and most efficient way to fill your donut molds, it’s not strictly necessary. If you don’t have one, simply use a spoon to carefully scoop the batter into each mold. It might be a little messier, but the results will still be just as delicious.

2. Avoid Overmixing Your Batter at All Costs! This is perhaps the most crucial tip for any cake-based baked good, including these donuts. Overmixing the batter develops the gluten in the flour too much, which can lead to a dense, tough, and chewy donut instead of a light, fluffy, and tender one. For perfectly fluffy blueberry cake donuts, mix the wet and dry ingredients only until just combined, with a few streaks of flour remaining before the final milk addition. Stop mixing as soon as no dry pockets are visible.

3. Support for Silicone Donut Pans: If you’re using a flexible silicone donut pan, which is excellent for easy release, I strongly recommend placing it on a sturdy baking sheet before filling and putting it into the oven. This provides essential support, preventing the flexible pan from flopping around when you transfer it in and out of the hot oven, ensuring your batter stays put and your donuts bake evenly.

4. Room Temperature Ingredients are Key: Ensure your egg and sour cream are at room temperature. Room temperature ingredients emulsify much better, creating a smoother, more consistent batter that bakes up more evenly and yields a superior texture.

5. Weigh Your Dry Ingredients for Accuracy: For the most consistent and professional baking results, especially with flour, invest in a kitchen scale and weigh your dry ingredients in grams. Volume measurements (cups) can be notoriously inaccurate due to variations in how ingredients are packed.

6. Don’t Overfill the Molds: Filling your donut pan molds more than two-thirds to three-quarters full can cause the batter to overflow during baking, resulting in misshapen donuts. Leave enough room for them to rise beautifully.

Frequently Asked Questions About Baked Blueberry Donuts

Storage and Freezing Tips for Freshness

To enjoy your Glazed Blueberry Cake Donuts for as long as possible, proper storage is key:

Room Temperature: Whether glazed or unglazed, these delicious donuts can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-5 days. To maintain their freshness and prevent them from drying out, ensure the container is sealed tightly. If glazed, a single layer in the container is best to prevent sticking.

Refrigerator: For extended freshness, especially in warmer climates or if your home is particularly warm, store glazed blueberry donuts in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Keep in mind that refrigeration can sometimes alter the texture of baked goods slightly, making them a little firmer, but they’ll still be delightful.

Freezing Instructions: These donuts freeze beautifully, allowing you to enjoy homemade treats whenever you desire. For best results, freeze the blueberry cake donuts *before* glazing. Once they are completely cooled, individually wrap each donut tightly in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 1 month. When you’re ready to enjoy them, thaw the donuts at room temperature for a few hours, or gently warm them in the microwave for 15-30 seconds. Once thawed and slightly warmed, you can then prepare and apply the fresh glaze for that perfect finish.

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Glazed Blueberry Cake Donuts

Kayla Burton