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    Home » All Recipes

    Published: Dec 29, 2020 · Modified: Jan 20, 2022 by Kelly Hamilton · This post may contain affiliate links

    Baked Red Velvet Donuts

    Jump to Recipe

    These Red Velvet Donuts topped with cream cheese frosting are baked, not fried, and so easy to make! Super fluffy and delicious, these are a perfect way to start your day.

    overhead shot of red velvet donuts on cooling rack
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients needed:
    • Step by Step Instructions
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Tips & Tricks
    • Storing & Freezing
    • Want to try more recipes?
    • 📖 Recipe

    Baked donuts were the best thing I discovered in 2020. Prior to that, my donut-making skills were nonexistent (although my donut-eating skills were an A+++++).

    These red velvet donuts are SO delicious and topped with the rich cream cheese frosting - It's the perfect combo. If you are a fan of red velvet cake, you're going to want to make these!

    Ingredients needed:

    Some key ingredients for red velvet cake:

    • Buttermilk: see notes below on substitutes for homemade buttermilk.
    • Vinegar: distilled white vinegar is key for this recipe. It helps in the chemical reaction that gives red velvet it's distinct flavor.
    • Cocoa powder: unsweetened cocoa powder gives red velvet that distinct chocolate-y taste.
    • Oil: I used canola, but you can also use vegetable. This helps keeps our donuts moist.
    • Powdered sugar: measure 2 cups first, then sift!
    • Milk: this is used for the icing, I used 2% but you can use any milk you have on hand. If you want thinner icing, add an extra teaspoon at a time to make it thinner.
    • ingredients for donuts
      donut ingredients
    • ingredients for icing
      icing ingredients

    Step by Step Instructions

    step one: make the donut batter

    In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. In another bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, oil, egg, vanilla, and vinegar. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and gently fold together, try not to overmix. Pour in 2-3 teaspoon of red food coloring and mix. You can leave the red food coloring out altogether if you don't want the bright red coloring.

    Spoon the batter into the donut molds and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the donuts spring back when lightly pressed. Allow the donuts to cool for 5-10 minutes before removing them from the pan and transferring them to a wire cooling rack.

    • dry and wet ingredients mixed together separately before combining
    • all ingredients mixed together and red food coloring added
    • donut batter spooned into donut molds

    step two: make the cream cheese icing

    In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the butter and cream cheese together until smooth and creamy, about 2-3 minutes. Mix in the vanilla. Slowly add the sifted powdered sugar until completely combined, and then add in the milk. Beat on high for 1-2 minutes to finish.

    Either spread the frosting on the cooled donuts with a knife or spoon the icing into a ziploc bag and pipe onto donuts.

    • icing ingredients ready to be mixed together
    • use a piping bag or ziploc bag to pipe icing onto donuts

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What flavor is red velvet?

    Red velvet is made with buttermilk, vinegar, and cocoa powder. These 3 key ingredients have a chemical reaction that gives the cake a deep red color. Red velvet cake is often enhanced with red food coloring to make the color brighter.

    What if I don't have buttermilk?

    If you don't have or can't find buttermilk, you can actually make your own! Pour 1 tablespoon of white vinegar (or lemon juice) into a measuring cup and fill with milk to the 1 cup line. Mix and let sit for 5 minutes.

    Tips & Tricks

    • Don't over mix your batter! You want to fold the dry ingredients into the wet just enough that there are no more streaks of flour left.
    • If food coloring isn't your thing, you don't have to add it. The donuts will look more like a chocolate color, but still taste exactly the same!
    • Make sure to coat your donut pan/mold with non-stick spray, and make sure to get the middle part too. You don't want the donuts to stick when taking them out.

    Storing & Freezing

    These donuts will stay fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can freeze the donuts for up to 1 month.

    red velvet donut iced with cream cheese frosting with a glass of milk

    Want to try more recipes?

    • Baked Crumb Cake Donuts
    • Cinnnamon Roll Donuts
    • Homemade Toaster Strudels
    • Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop-tarts

    If you made this recipe, I would love to know what you thought! Leave me a star rating and a comment below ⭐️ Your reviews not only help my business but other bakers as well!

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    📖 Recipe

    Baked Red Velvet Donuts

    Kelly Hamilton
    These fluffy, moist Red Velvet Donuts topped with cream cheese frosting are baked, not fried, and so easy to make!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12 servings
    Calories 329 kcal

    Equipment

    • Mixing Bowl Set
    • Electric Hand Mixer
    • Donut Molds

    Ingredients
      

    • 1¼ cup all-purpose flour
    • ¾ cup granulated sugar
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 2 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
    • ½ cup buttermilk , at room temperature
    • ½ cup oil , canola or vegetable
    • 1 large egg
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ½ teaspoon distilled white vinegar
    • 2-3 teaspoon red food coloring

    cream cheese frosting

    • 4 oz cream cheese , at room temperature
    • 3 tablespoon unsalted butter , at room temperature
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 2 cups powdered sugar , sifted
    • 2 tablespoon milk

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 350° F. Spray donut molds with non-stick spray and set aside.
    • In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. Set aside. In another bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, oil, egg, vanilla, and vinegar. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and gently fold together, try not to overmix. Pour in 2-3 teaspoon of red food coloring and mix.
    • Spoon the batter into the donut molds, filling them about halfway. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the donuts spring back when lightly pressed. Allow the donuts to cool for 5-10 minutes before removing them from the pan and transferring them to a wire cooling rack. Allow donuts to cool completely before icing.

    Make the cream cheese frosting

    • In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the butter and cream cheese together until smooth and creamy, about 2-3 minutes. Mix in the vanilla. Slowly add the sifted powdered sugar until completely combined, and then add in the milk. Beat on high for 1-2 minutes to finish.
    • Either spread the frosting on the cooled donuts with a knife or spoon the icing into a ziploc bag and pipe onto donuts.

    Notes

    • Don't over mix your batter! You want to fold the dry ingredients into the wet just enough that there are no more streaks of flour left.
    • If food coloring isn't your thing, you don't have to add it. The donuts will look more like a chocolate color, but still taste exactly the same!
    • Make sure to coat your donut pan/mold with non-stick spray, and make sure to get the middle part too. You don't want the donuts to stick when taking them out.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 329kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 191mg | Potassium: 49mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 33g | Vitamin A: 251IU | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was! Share on Instagram and tag @bake.andbacon
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    Hi, I'm Kelly! I'm the self-taught baker, food photographer, and dog mom behind Bake & Bacon. I'm here to bring you easy recipes for my favorite things- delicious breakfasts and decadent desserts!

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