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Donut Cake
Sana Yousaf

Donut Cake Recipe

A moist, tender cake that captures all the flavors of a classic glazed donut without the frying - perfect for feeding a crowd or special occasions!
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 10
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Cake:
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup whole milk
  • 1/4 cup melted butter
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Classic Glaze:
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a bundt pan or donut pan thoroughly.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk milk, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla until smooth.
  4. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and gently fold until just combined. Don't overmix.
  5. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 35-40 minutes for bundt pan, or 12-15 minutes for donut pan, until toothpick comes out clean.
  6. Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire rack to cool completely.
  7. For glaze: Whisk all glaze ingredients until smooth. Adjust consistency with more milk or powdered sugar as needed.
  8. Drizzle glaze over completely cooled cake. Add sprinkles or decorations while glaze is wet.

Notes

  • Storage: Store covered at room temperature for up to 3 days. Refrigerate if using cream cheese frosting.
  • Make Ahead: Bake the cake up to 2 days ahead. Store covered and glazed day of serving.
  • Freezing: Freeze unglazed cake wrapped tightly for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight before glazing.
  • Pan Substitutions: Use two 9-inch round pans (bake 25-30 minutes) or a 12-cup muffin tin (bake 18-22 minutes).
  • Flavor Variations: Try chocolate glaze, maple glaze, or add lemon zest to the batter for a citrus twist.
  • Nutmeg is Key: Don't skip the nutmeg - it's essential for authentic donut flavor!

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