Name: Funfetti Birthday Cake Donuts
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 cup flour; 1/3 cup organic cane sugar; 1/2 tsp baking soda; 1 tsp baking powder; 4 tbsp coconut oil ((or butter, both room temperature)); 1/2 cup dairy-free milk; 1/2 tbsp lemon juice; 3 tbsp apple sauce (unsweetened); pinch of salt; 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg ((for bakery shop flavor)); 1/2 tsp vanilla extract; 1 1/4 cup powdered sugar; 2 tbsp dairy-free milk ((or more if glaze is too dry)); 1/4 tsp vanilla; Donut pan - 6 wells

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Baked funfetti birthday cake donuts are a wonderful alternative to a birthday cake, fluffy with a light vanilla glaze, festive sprinkles, dairy free and easy to make in one bowl using wholesome ingredients.

Baked funfetti birthday cake donuts are easy to make in one bowl, and have them baked and iced in under half an hour. Mine have a fluffy light inside texture, and firm structure that allows them to easily be coated.
These donuts are topped with a vanilla glaze, but you can also use a chocolate glaze like my chocolate frosted donuts or powder them like my powdered sugar donuts here.

Celebrate with Birthday Donuts

Celebrating a birthday can go beyond a cake. These birthday cake donuts are one example. Stack them in a pile and put a candle on top. I also have used birthday cupcakes, and my birthday sugar cookie bars and even my funfetti sugar cookies although those are usually in addition to the cake.

Of course you can still opt for a vanilla cake or my chocolate fudge cake - both are healthy, dairy-free, and made from easy wholesome ingredients. But donuts are easier to prepare and decorate. Stack the festive donuts, and pop a candle on top for the big happy birthday chorus and then dispense.

Equipment & Ingredients

Regarding equipment, you'll need a bowl, mixer and a donut pan. Then you'll need ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen.

Flour. I used all purpose, or baking 1-to-1 gluten-free.

Sugar. I used organic cane sugar but regular cane sugar is fine. Organic just tastes better.

Milk + lemon juice. This helps replace eggs and lift the donut texture.

Applesauce. Egg replacer.

Coconut oil. Or butter as a binder to give the donuts structure. The coconut oil can be solid. Butter should be room temperature.

Leaveners. Baking soda, baking powder

Flavors. vanilla, salt, and a pinch of nutmeg to give the donut's a bakery flavor.

For the glaze:

Powdered sugar, milk and sprinkles

Steps to Make

Step 1: Cream together your milk + lemon juice, applesauce, coconut oil, vanilla, and sugar.
batter
Step 2: Add the leaveners, salt and spices, and flour, and mix until smooth. I use my hand mixer.

Step 3: Put the batter into a cake frosting bag or a ziplock bag, snip the bag tip, and pipe the batter into a donut pan.

Step 4: Sprinkle on sprinkles. Bake at 375 F for 12-15 minutes.

Step 5: Let the donuts cool for 10 minutes, then tip them out onto a rack. Allow them to cool completely before making the frosting.

Storage

Store these donuts at room temperature for 2 days, or refrigerate in a sealed container for a week, or freeze for three months.

Recipe Tips

Don't forget the nutmeg. A dash of ground nutmeg will give your donut's the after taste of a delicious bakery shop donut.

How to prepare your pan. Use a non-stick spray or simply run coconut oil on the inside of your donut pan wells and even on top to catch donut overflow.

How to fill your donut pan. Make it easier to fill your frosting bag by tucking the bag into a tall glass. Fill it with batter, then twist the top of the bag, cut the tip about 1 inch from the tip, and pipe the batter into your donuts to just under the rim.

How to glaze. Mix up the powdered sugar, milk and vanilla in a bowl. Dip the donuts when they are cooled, sprinkle and set on a cooling rack over a piece of parchment paper to catch the drips.

Variations

Increase the protein in these already healthier donuts by replacing half the flour with chickpea flour, or replacing 4 tablespoon of flour with a protein powder. And you can always add in a teaspoon of flaxseed or chia seeds. These changes should add nutrition with no impact on baking.

FAQS

What Are gluten free donuts made of?

These birthday donuts are gluten free because of gluten free flour. You'll also want to be sure your baking powder is gluten free.

Can donuts be baked instead of fried?

Yes, this recipe produces a batter that bakes into a donut that has the texture of a cupcake. It's sturdier than a donut fried in oil, and healthier.

How do you keep donuts fresh at a party?

Baked donuts stay fresh in a sealed container at room temperature for 2 days.

How to make a doughnut birthday cake

Have you every celebrated a birthday with a donut cake? Try it! Just bake 14-16. Decorate festively with icing and sprinkles.

Pile them in a pyramid, and put a candle into each donut.

Are baked donuts healthy?

Baked donuts are healthier because they are not submerged in unhealthy oils, but they are still a cake with sugar so should be eaten as a dessert.

More Healthy Donuts

Chocolate Mini Donuts
Chocolate Frosted Donuts
Cinnamon Sugar Donuts
Pumpkin Spice Donuts
Chocolate Baked Donuts
Apple Cider Donuts
Breakfast Donut Recipe Collection with more information on why baked is better than fried.

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