How To Make Perfect Baked Donuts

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and buy something from the website, I will receive a small commission. 

What task have you practiced, that you've finally mastered?

I'm sure dozens of things come to mind for you, like they do for me.
Let's see...

 Driving.
Oh wait, I backed out of the garage without opening the garage door. Scratch that.

 Putting on eyeliner in a straight line.
 Never mind - Junior Goo Shoes asked me why I had two black eyes.

Mastering the latest line dance.
Forget that, too. I'm always facing back when everyone else is facing front. 

Driving
Eyeliner
Line Dancing 

Baking donuts 

YES!!! 

After two years of practice, I can say with confidence that I have, in fact, 
become pret-ty, pret-ty good at baking donuts.

I'm willing to share my top secrets of success.
Well, it's not really rocket science, but I've googled this and believe it or not, 
I couldn't find step-by-step directions for making perfect baked donuts.
Fried doughnuts, yes...but not baked donuts.

By george, I think this could be an original.

Get your note pads out...or better yet, pin this for future reference.

Here's what works for me.
 

Red Velvet Donuts

1. Grease the donut pan.
Pretty much a no-brainer, but if you don't grease them, 
the  next four steps won't help. 
I give the pan a generous shpritz with cooking spray.
I don't need to show a photo of that, do I?
I've got one, but it's kind of boring.

2. Use a spoon (and your finger) to fill donut wells.

Cinnamon Donuts

 Some recipes that say the easiest way to fill the donut pan is to put the batter
into a pastry bag and squeeze it out.
That may work, but I've made recipes where the batter is quite thick. 

Apple Cider Donuts

 Besides, I'm too lazy to add that extra step.
I find it easiest, no matter what the consistency of the batter is, 
to fill a small spoon, and guide it into the well with my finger.

3. Fill the wells of the donut pan about 3/4 full.

Pumpkin Donuts with Nutella Glaze

I find that this makes a nice, full donut.
No one wants a donut that looks like its been rolled over by a car 
(and, no, I haven't done that -- thanks for wondering).

  4. Bake until donuts spring back to the touch.

Cinnamon Bun Donuts

 I always check on my donuts a few minutes early.
I find that it's easy to tell that they are done when they spring back to the touch.
You can also use a cake tester.

 5. Let the donuts cool 10-15 minutes in the pan.

Cinnamon Donuts

 Many recipes (including some that I have posted), 
say to remove the donuts after they cool 2 - 5 minutes in the pan. 
I'm sure that this is so they don't continue to cook.
But, I've had trouble getting them out without falling apart 
when they are too warm, especially those made with a thinner batter.
I have not had a problem with over-cooked donuts, 
by letting them cool longer in the pan.
Just sayin'. 

  6. Gently lift donuts out of the pan with a butter knife.

Cinnamon Donuts

I've tried pulling donuts out of the pan using my fingers.
Nope, didn't always work. 
 Now, I loosen the edges of the donuts with a butter knife, 
and then use the knife and my other hand to lift them out of the pan.
They are less likely to break when you do it this way, 

  9. Use a 3/4-inch round fondant cutter to make perfect holes.

Red Velvet Donuts

My early attempts at donuts looked messy in the centers.
I tried to compensate by filling the pans with less batter,
 so they wouldn't fill in the hole, but they came out too flat (see #3).
Even if the donut hole closes up while baking, no worries --
it's nothing a fondant cutter can't fix.

10. Make the bottom of the donut the top.

Apple Cider Donuts

Are you saying "huh?" 
The bottom of the donut (the part that was in the pan)
is perfectly shaped, whereas the top can be irregular. 
Just flip it over before icing.

11. Glaze donuts on a wire rack.

Apple Cider Donuts

The wire rack allows the glaze to drip through, 
so that it doesn't pool up.
The bottom of your donut stays nice and neat. 

Pumpkin Donuts with Nutella Glaze

Will you give baked donuts a try? 
You can buy a donut pan here, and fondant cutters here.

Maybe you will like my Cinnamon Donut recipe, coming soon.

I've been pinning lots of baked donut recipes, so maybe one will strike your fancy.

Clockwise, from top left: Red Velvet, Pumpkin with Nutella Glaze,
Cinnamon Bun, Apple Cider

 And now, if you'll excuse me, 
I've got to go practice putting on my eyeliner while doing the Electric Slide. 

LINKING WITH:
Best of the Weekend
Tweak It Tuesday
Wow Us Wednesdays
Cooking and Crafting with J & J
Share Your Style
What's It Wednesday
Home and Garden Thursday 
Foodie FriDIY  
Let's Get Real
Home Sweet Home
Simple and Sweet Fridays
Donut RoundUp: Love Bakes Good Cakes