Powdered Sugar Donuts Recipe

Homemade Powdered Sugar Donuts Recipe: Fluffy Joy in Minutes

Sweet powdered sugar donuts represent a delightful indulgence that changes ordinary moments into magical culinary experiences.

Bakery enthusiasts appreciate the delicate, cloud-like texture that melts effortlessly on your tongue.

Soft, pillowy rounds dusted with fine white powder create an irresistible visual and sensory delight.

These classic treats carry nostalgic memories of childhood breakfasts and weekend morning pleasures.

Crafting homemade versions allows you to control ingredient quality and customize flavor profiles.

Precise techniques ensure a light, airy consistency that distinguishes exceptional donuts from mediocre alternatives.

The perfect combination of technique, ingredients, and passion guarantees an extraordinary pastry adventure.

Powdered Sugar Donuts for That Classic Morning Treat

  • Effortless Baking Delight: These powdered sugar donuts offer a simple, stress-free baking experience that anyone can master, even without professional pastry skills.
  • Melt-in-Your-Mouth Texture: The soft, tender crumb creates a delicate sensation that practically dissolves on your tongue, delivering a cloud-like eating experience.
  • Quick Morning Treat: Perfect for busy mornings, these donuts come together in under 30 minutes, transforming ordinary breakfast moments into something special and indulgent.
  • Versatile Coating Hack: The clever ziplock bag coating method ensures an even, mess-free powdered sugar layer that makes these donuts look professionally prepared with minimal effort.

Ingredients Used in Powdered Sugar Donuts

Dry Ingredients:
  • All-Purpose Flour: Classic baking flour with ideal protein content for soft, tender donuts.
  • Nutmeg: Warm, aromatic spice that adds subtle depth and complexity to the donut flavor.
  • Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps with donut texture and browning.
  • Baking Powder: Essential leavening agent that helps donuts rise and become light.
  • Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances the sweetness of the donuts.
Wet Ingredients:
  • Milk: Adds moisture and helps create a smooth, tender donut batter.
  • Eggs: Provide structure, richness, and help bind the ingredients together.
  • Vanilla Extract: Adds classic, sweet flavor and aromatic depth to the donuts.
  • Vegetable Oil: Ensures moisture and creates a soft, tender donut texture.
Coating Ingredients:
  • Powdered Sugar, Melted Butter: Classic sweet coating that provides a soft, sugary exterior for the donuts.
  • Non-Stick Cooking Spray: Helps prevent donuts from sticking to the pan during baking.

Instructions to Fry or Bake Sugar-Coated Donuts

Step 1: Prepare the Oven and Pan

  • Preheat oven to 350°F
  • Spray donut pan with non-stick cooking spray
  • Gently spread spray evenly using a paper towel

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients

  • Gather these dry ingredients
  • All-purpose flour
  • Nutmeg
  • Granulated sugar
  • Baking powder
  • Salt
  • Combine all dry ingredients in a mixing bowl
  • Set aside the mixture

Step 3: Blend Wet Ingredients

  • Collect these wet ingredients
  • Milk
  • Eggs
  • Vanilla extract
  • Vegetable oil
  • Whisk ingredients together until smooth and well combined

Step 4: Create Donut Batter

  • Slowly add dry ingredients to wet mixture
  • Stir gently with a spatula
  • Mix until ingredients are just combined
  • Avoid overmixing the batter

Step 5: Fill Donut Pan

  • Transfer batter to a ziplock bag
  • Cut a small corner of the bag
  • Pipe batter into donut wells
  • Fill each well 1/2 to 3/4 full
  • Alternative method: Use a cookie scoop
  • Smooth tops of batter if needed

Step 6: Bake the Donuts

  • Place pan in preheated oven
  • Bake for 10-11 minutes
  • Check doneness with a toothpick
  • Toothpick should come out clean when inserted

Step 7: Cool and Release Donuts

  • Let donuts cool in pan for 10 minutes
  • Gently tap pan on counter
  • Carefully turn pan upside down
  • Release donuts from pan

Step 8: Coat with Powdered Sugar

  • Pour powdered sugar into a clean ziplock bag
  • Add warm donuts to bag one at a time
  • Shake gently to coat completely

Enjoy your freshly made powdered sugar donuts!

Tips for Getting the Fluffiest Donuts

  • Sift Sugar Smoothly: Use a fine-mesh sieve to sprinkle powdered sugar evenly, preventing clumps and creating a perfect, cloud-like coating.
  • Temperature Matters: Coat donuts while they're still warm to help the powdered sugar adhere better and create a more delicate, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
  • Bag Coating Trick: Gently shake the ziplock bag with powdered sugar to ensure complete and uniform coverage without messy handling.
  • Butter Boost: If sugar doesn't stick, lightly brush donuts with melted butter to help the powdered sugar cling perfectly and add extra richness.
  • Pan Protection: Always use non-stick cooking spray and carefully coat donut wells to prevent sticking and ensure easy donut removal.

Storing Donuts Without Losing Softness

  • Refrigeration: Seal donuts in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Place a paper towel between layers to prevent sticking and moisture buildup.
  • Freezing: Wrap individual donuts tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe bag. Freeze for maximum 2 weeks. Thaw at room temperature for best texture.
  • Reheating: Warm donuts in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or in a preheated oven at 300°F for 5 minutes. Dust with fresh powdered sugar after reheating to restore their delightful coating.

Great Pairings for Sugar Donuts

  • Brew Creamy Coffee Companion: Pair these soft, sweet powdered sugar donuts with a smooth cappuccano or latte. The rich, velvety coffee balances the donuts' sugary lightness, creating a delightful morning treat.
  • Sip Fruity Beverage Boost: Complement the donuts with a chilled glass of fresh orange juice or a berry smoothie. The tangy fruit flavors cut through the powdery sweetness, offering a refreshing morning contrast.
  • Serve Vanilla Ice Cream Sidekick: Top warm donuts with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. The cold, creamy texture melts perfectly against the warm, sugary donut, enhancing each delicious bite.
  • Enjoy Tea Time Match: Select a mild black tea or Earl Grey to accompany these donuts. The subtle tea notes provide a gentle backdrop that doesn't overpower the delicate donut flavor.

Fun Twists on Powdered Sugar Donuts

  • Cinnamon Sugar Swirl: Replace nutmeg with ground cinnamon and coat warm donuts in a mixture of cinnamon and granulated sugar instead of powdered sugar for a warm, spicy flavor profile.
  • Chocolate Glazed Version: Add 2 tablespoons cocoa powder to the dry ingredients and drizzle cooled donuts with a simple chocolate glaze made from melted chocolate and heavy cream.
  • Lemon Zest Classic: Incorporate fresh lemon zest into the batter and dust with powdered sugar for a bright, citrusy version that adds a refreshing twist to the original recipe.
  • Almond Crunch Edition: Mix finely chopped almonds into the batter and sprinkle additional chopped nuts on top of the powdered sugar coating for extra texture and nutty flavor.
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Powdered Sugar Donuts Recipe

Powdered Sugar Donuts Recipe


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4.7 from 14 reviews

  • Total Time: 26 minutes
  • Yield: 12 1x

Description

Powdered sugar donuts deliver pure comfort with their cloud-like texture and delicate sweetness. Dusted with snow-white powder, these classic treats melt in your mouth, inviting pure indulgence with each tender bite.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Dry Ingredients:

  • 2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients:

  • ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons (150 ml) whole milk
  • 2 large eggs
  • ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons (90 ml) vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Coating:

  • Powdered sugar (amount not specified in original recipe)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the oven environment by heating to 350°F and thoroughly coating the donut pan with non-stick spray, ensuring even distribution using a paper towel.
  2. Combine all dry ingredients – flour, nutmeg, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt – in a mixing bowl, creating a uniform dry mixture.
  3. In a separate container, whisk liquid components including milk, eggs, vanilla extract, and vegetable oil until thoroughly blended and smooth.
  4. Gently fold the dry ingredient mixture into the liquid mixture, stirring with a spatula until ingredients are just incorporated without overmixing.
  5. Transfer the batter into a ziplock bag, snipping one corner to create a piping tool. Carefully distribute batter into donut wells, filling each cavity approximately two-thirds full.
  6. Place the prepared pan into the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, checking donuts’ readiness by inserting a toothpick which should emerge clean when done.
  7. Allow donuts to rest in the pan for 10 minutes, enabling them to set and cool slightly.
  8. Invert the donut pan over a clean surface, gently tapping to release the baked donuts.
  9. Create a coating station using a ziplock bag filled with powdered sugar. While donuts remain warm, individually tumble each donut in the sugar, ensuring complete coverage.
  10. For enhanced sugar adherence, optionally brush donuts with melted butter before the final powdered sugar coating.

Notes

  • These homemade powdered sugar donuts deliver bakery-style taste right from your home kitchen with minimal effort and maximum deliciousness.
  • Perfectly moist and tender, these donuts bake in just 10-11 minutes, making them a quick breakfast or delightful sweet treat anytime.
  • Coating the donuts while still warm ensures the powdered sugar sticks beautifully, creating a classic, nostalgic dessert experience.
  • Using a ziplock bag for both batter piping and sugar coating provides mess-free preparation and easy cleanup.
  • For best results, avoid overmixing the batter and fill donut wells only 1/2 to 3/4 full to prevent overflow during baking.
  • Lightly brushing donuts with melted butter helps powdered sugar adhere more effectively if the first coating doesn’t stick well.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 11 minutes
  • Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 12
  • Calories: 188
  • Sugar: 8g
  • Sodium: 145mg
  • Fat: 7g
  • Saturated Fat: 1g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 6g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 27g
  • Fiber: 0.5g
  • Protein: 3g
  • Cholesterol: 37mg
David Bennett

David Bennett

Founder & Head Recipe Developer

Expertise

Culinary Nutrition​, Recipe Development​, Nutritional Counseling​, Food Science​

Education

Johnson & Wales University

  • Degree: Bachelor of Science in Culinary Nutrition
  • Focus: Blending culinary arts with nutritional science to create health-focused cuisine.

Certified Nutrition Specialist® (CNS®)

  • Credential: Advanced certification in personalized nutrition therapy. ​

David Bennett is the lead recipe creator and nutrition expert at HealthyChoices.org, your friendly space for tasty meals that nourish body and mind. 

With a Culinary Nutrition degree from Johnson & Wales University and a Certified Nutrition Specialist® credential, David pairs practical nutrition with delicious cooking, creating recipes you’ll crave daily. 

At Healthy Choices, David shares easy, nutritious dishes and smart cooking tips to make healthy eating something everyone can enjoy, with no complicated diets needed.

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