Description
These baked lemon donuts are light, fluffy, and bursting with vibrant citrus flavor. Topped with a tangy lemon glaze, they’re perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a sweet treat any time of day. Quick, easy, and versatile, these donuts are baked—not fried—and ready in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
For the Donuts:
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup buttermilk
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
For the Lemon Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- Zest of ½ lemon
- (Optional) Yellow food coloring
Optional Garnishes:
- Lemon zest
- Sprinkles
- White chocolate drizzle
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven:
Preheat to 350°F (175°C) and grease a donut pan with non-stick spray. - Prepare the Donut Batter:
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In another bowl, whisk buttermilk, melted butter, egg, vanilla, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
- Combine the wet and dry ingredients, stirring until just combined (do not overmix).
- Fill the Donut Pan:
- Spoon batter into a piping bag or zip-top bag and pipe into the pan, filling each cavity ¾ full.
- Bake the Donuts:
- Bake for 8-10 minutes or until lightly golden and a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prepare the Lemon Glaze:
- In a bowl, whisk powdered sugar, lemon juice, and zest. Adjust thickness with more sugar or juice. Add food coloring if desired.
- Glaze the Donuts:
- Dip the tops of each cooled donut into the glaze and place on a wire rack to set. Garnish as desired.
Notes
- Avoid overmixing to ensure the donuts stay light and fluffy.
- For an extra citrus kick, add 1 tsp of lemon extract to the batter or glaze.
- Use a muffin tin if a donut pan isn’t available and mold parchment paper into rings.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8-10 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
