Crumb Donuts

These Baked Crumb Cake Donuts are buttery, tender, and topped with the best coffee cake-like crumbs. Skip the mess of fried donuts!

These crumb donuts are the perfect combination of soft, fluffy donuts with a buttery crumb topping! My inspiration for this recipe was my love for Entenmann's crumb donuts growing up, eating one of those was such a treat and is so nostalgic to me now! When testing this recipe, I wanted to make a baked version of those donuts!

These coffee cake donuts are infused with warm cinnamon and vanilla, with a buttery streusel topping. Since they are baked instead of fried, they have a dense, cake-like texture to them which I love!

These crumb cake donuts are perfect for a big brunch, bake sales, or cozy breakfasts! Just like my Oreo Donuts, these are super simple to make. You could also try my Funfetti Donuts if you love chocolate! I also love my Pumpkin Spice Donuts for the fall.

Why You Need To Make These Crumb Donuts

• I’m using simple pantry ingredients for these crumb cake donuts, nothing fancy here!
• These donuts are baked and not fried, giving you a soft and fluffy cake-like texture. Plus, since they aren’t fried they’re healthier for you.
• These are like a coffee crumb cake but as a donut!
• It takes just 20 minutes to make these donuts. 
• No mixer required for these donuts, you just need some bowls and a whisk! 

Recipe Ingredients

Here are some notes on a few ingredients- please see the full ingredient list in the recipe card below!

• Butter: you’ll need unsalted butter for the donut batter and the crumb topping. If you only have salted butter on hand, use it and omit the added salt in the recipe!
• Greek Yogurt: I’ve used plain greek yogurt here, but you can also use sour cream. Using a tangy yogurt means your crumb donuts will be extra moist.
• Cinnamon: a hint of cinnamon is going to bring so much warmth to these donuts and really give them that classic crumb cake taste.
• Flour: I’ve only tested this donut recipe with all purpose flour. 
• Powdered Sugar: to get that crumb cake feel, dust the crumb cake donuts with powdered sugar after they're cool!

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350° Fahrenheit and spray your donut pan with a nonstick spray.

Step 2: In a small bowl, mix together the flour, brown sugar, sugar, and cinnamon. Pour the slightly cooled butter onto the dry ingredients and use a fork to mix until the flour is absorbed and a crumb starts to form. Don't over mix or you will turn the crumb into a mushy consistency. Put in the fridge and continue onto the batter.

Step 3: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.

Step 4: In another bowl or large measuring cup, whisk the brown sugar with the egg, milk, greek  yogurt, melted butter and vanilla extract. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.

Step 5: Spoon or pipe the donut batter into the prepared donut pan, filling each one halfway. I like to use a ziploc bag to pipe the batter mess-free into the pan.

Step 6: Take your crumb topping out of the fridge and sprinkle over each donut until covered. Gently press the crumbs in.

Step 7: Bake the donuts for 10-12 minutes, or until set and lightly brown. Let the crumb donuts cool in the pan for 3-5 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. Dust with powdered sugar once cooled.

What’s the difference between a cake donut and a regular donut?

Regular donuts are fried in oil while cake donuts are baked in the oven. Regular donuts are also usually a yeast based recipe, while cake donuts rise thanks to a mixture of baking soda and baking powder. 

Tips and Tricks

• I’m using a metal donut pan, but if you’re using a silicone donut pan I recommend placing the pan on a baking sheet when baking in the oven! 
• Don’t overfill the donut pan! You only want to fill each donut cup halfway, otherwise the donuts will overflow while baking. 
• If you’re making these for a crowd, you can double the recipe. 
• Make sure to place the crumb topping in the fridge once you’ve made it, as you want it to be cold. You don’t want the butter to get too soft and melt quickly as soon as it gets in the oven. 
• I like having larger pieces of the crumb topping on my donuts! To do this, squeeze pieces together to form larger pieces and place those on the donut batter.

Storing & Freezing

You can store these crumb cake donuts in an airtight container for up to 2 days at room temperature or in the fridge for 4 days. To freeze, place in an airtight container or ziploc bag and freeze for up to 1 month. Let it thaw at room temperature before enjoying.

Want to try more donut recipes?

📖 Recipe

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