Happiness is… a big stack of sugary donuts! Glazed donuts, filled donuts, donut holes, even fritters. With so many delicious ways to love them, what’s not to love about these sweet treats? And as luck would have it, making your own divine donuts from scratch is easy! Below you’ll find 26 Homemade Donut Recipes to whip up whenever a craving strikes.
Is it called a doughnut or a donut?
If we’re getting technical, the original, dictionary spelling of the word happens to be “doughnut”. Meanwhile, the simplified American spelling of “donut” has been in circulation since the 19th century. In the US, they’re actually interchangeable! So, in a nutshell, it’s not a doughnut or donut – it’s both.
Most Popular Donut Flavors
America is arguably the donut capital of the world! With so many topping and flavor options out there, a Ranker Poll from 2015 set out to discover the country’s best donuts. Based on all the feedback received, below are some of the USA’s most popular donut flavors:
1. Vanilla & Chocolate Glazed
If there’s one donut that you’ll find just about anywhere, it’s the simple glazed donut! No fancy sprinkles or toppings, just a vanilla or chocolate donut in its purest form. The simplicity is what wins people over: glazed donuts are perfectly delicious just as they are, which makes both versions the top-ranking donut flavors in the US.
2. Boston Cream
This “hybrid” of a chocolate-frosted donut and a custard-filled donut is a surefire favorite! Another popular staple in most donut shops, the Boston Cream (or Boston Creme) donuts are oozing with cream filling.
3. Frosting With Sprinkles
Chocolate frosted donuts with rainbow sprinkles also top the list. Classic and simple, with just enough fun color to brighten anyone’s day!
4. Strawberry Jelly
Ah, the jelly donut. A beautiful creation that sees a deep-fried donut filled with sweet strawberry filling, for the best breakfast ever! It’s no wonder that strawberry jelly donuts rank high in popularity.
5. Maple
A favorite of the North, the maple donut is definitely one of the states’ most popular flavors! Maple syrup makes everything better, and donuts are no exception.
One thing’s for certain, Americans are serious about their donuts! These are just a few of the most popular donut flavors. Others that make the list are powdered donuts, lemon cream, cinnamon donuts, and apple fritters!
26 Easy Homemade Donut Recipes to Try
Are you ready to get started with your very own heavenly homemade donuts? Here’s a round-up of easy donut recipes that come together without a hitch. Plus, they look and taste like they’re fresh from the bakery window!
Pink Old Fashioned Glazed Donuts
How cute are these pink-all-over homemade donuts? Pink on the inside and glazed pink on the outside, made with natural food coloring for a bright and fluffy treat.
Maple Pecan Baked Donuts
If you’re looking for a baked donut recipe that holds its own next to the fried variety, this is it! You won’t be able to resist these spiced donuts dipped in an amazing maple icing, sprinkled with crunchy crushed pecans.
Old Fashioned Sour Cream Donuts
There’s nothing better than a good, ol’ fashioned glazed donut, is there? And these don’t miss the mark! Made with sour cream (and no yeast required), this is an easy and classic donut recipe to make in the comfort of your own kitchen.
Apple Cider Donuts
A classic donut that’s filled with the flavors of fall, that you can easily make all year round! Coat these homemade apple cider donuts in cinnamon sugar, or glaze them with a mouthwatering apple cider glaze. Either way, they’re quick to prepare and insanely delicious!
Air Fryer Glazed Donuts (Gluten Free)
Donuts in the air fryer are a revelation. Dreamy donuts, every time, fried to perfection without the oil! This is the best recipe for donuts that are light, fluffy, and just so happen to be gluten-free.
Yeast Donuts with Fresh Raspberry Glaze
With a little effort, you’ll have these easy donuts freshly deep fried and ready to dip in their delicious raspberry glaze in no time! The reward is worth it: perfectly pink-glazed donuts so perfect, you’ll even impress yourself!
Nutella Stuffed Homemade Beignets
If a homemade donut filled with melty, ooey Nutella sounds incredible to you, that’s because it is! This easy stuffed beignet recipe makes the most soft deep-fried donuts you’ll ever sink your teeth into, with an extra burst of chocolate hazelnut goodness.
Salted Caramel-Glazed Pumpkin Donuts
A donut recipe that ticks all the boxes: glazed? Check. Pumpkin? Check. Salted caramel sauce? Check! You’ll love making these on a cozy afternoon – you can even bake these donuts in a muffin pan! I dare you to not gobble them up in one sitting.
Baked Cinnamon Donuts with Vanilla Glaze
The ultimate easy recipe for baked donuts that will make your day! Spiced with cinnamon and iced with a sweet vanilla glaze, these donuts are so easy, you’ll be enjoying them for breakfast, snacks, AND dessert!
Easy Lemon Donut Holes
With all these donuts going on, there has to be a recipe for donut holes! Filled with bright lemon flavor and so easy to make, if there’s one donut hole recipe you need, it’s this one.
Unicorn Baked Strawberry Donuts
These baked donuts pack all the color and flavor required to put a smile on your face! Bright unicorn sprinkles, mini marshmallows, and loads of sweet strawberries make these homemade donuts a delight for the senses!
Vanilla Cream Filled Donuts
One bite of these cream filled donuts and you’ll swear you’re in heaven! These homemade brioche donuts are light, airy, coated in sugar and filled with an unbelievable vanilla cream. You’ll be floating on Cloud 9!
Carrot Cake Baked Donuts with Cream Cheese Glaze
Bring two beautiful bakery staples together in your own oven with these baked carrot cake donuts! The best of both worlds is an understatement – you’re going to fall in love with the delicious cake-like texture and sweet cream cheese frosting!
Air Fryer Donuts
These homemade cinnamon sugar donuts only require four ingredients. You heard that right: four! Plus, they’re made in the air fryer. It just gets better and better! So easy, you can even get the kids involved.
Reeses Peanut Butter Cup Baked Buttermilk Donuts
This donut recipe can hold its own next to your local bakery! These homemade buttermilk donuts have mini Reese’s peanut butter cups on the inside and on the outside. Did we mention they’re glazed with chocolate ganache?
Green Velvet Baked Sprinkle Donuts
These green donuts are a St. Patrick’s Day dream. Green velvet donuts are glazed with vanilla and sprinkled with the luck o’ the rainbow. The perfect festive treat to make for a celebration!
Raspberry Cake Donuts
These raspberry cake donuts are so pretty, you may not want to eat them! Who are we kidding? Bake these sweet donuts for brunch and enjoy them all day. These 30-minute donuts flavored with raspberries are the hole-y grail of easy donut recipes!
Strawberry Buttermilk Donuts
Breakfast gets an upgrade with these strawberry buttermilk donuts. The flavor is so delicious! These babies are baked, not fried, so you can skip the fussing and go straight to enjoying fresh, sweet donuts filled with the taste of summer.
Easy Strawberry Shortcake Donuts
An easy donut recipe that channels another favorite dessert: strawberry shortcake! It doesn’t get easier than donuts made with store bought biscuit dough, filled with fresh berries and topped with whipped cream!
Maple Glazed Pumpkin Donuts
Whether you enjoy these pumpkin donuts as an easy breakfast or for dessert, one thing’s for certain. You’re going to swoon! Tender, fluffy pumpkin donuts glazed with a homemade maple glaze are the ultimate fall treat.
Mini Powdered Sugar Doughnuts
Powdered donuts are such a classic, and now you can make them from scratch! All the soft, sweet, and sugary perfection that a mini powdered donut should be, fresh from your own oven.
Home baking has never been easier! Visit the recipe finder to discover tons more sweet treats that you can make from scratch.