Vanilla Bean Baked Donuts with Vanilla Bean Glaze

Delicious vanilla bean baked donuts drizzled with a warm vanilla bean glaze.

There's something special about a warm, freshly baked donut that just can't be beat. Whether you prefer them glazed, frosted, or plain, there's no denying that a good donut is a treat worth savoring. And when you add the rich, comforting flavor of vanilla bean to the mix? Well, that's a whole new level of delicious.

Making Baked Donuts

Baked donuts are perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a sweet treat any time of day. they are easy to make and even easier to eat!

If you don't believe me, it's true. Snickerdoodle baked donuts make the perfect breakfast. During fall, baked caramel apple cider donuts are perfect for cold crisp nights. Chocolate lovers will love some toffee donuts.

These vanilla bean donuts are more like donut holes, and we have some delicious pumpkin spice glazed donut holes too!

Ingredients

Let's grab our ingredients! You'll need:

For the Donuts:

• 2 ⅔ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp baking soda
• ¾ tsp salt
• ½ cup nonfat plain greek yogurt
• ¾ cup sugar (substitutions okay but may change the texture of the donuts. If using coconut sugar, sitr the ¾ cup coconut sugar and greek yogurt together in a bowl and allow sugar to dissolve in the yogurt for five minutes).
• 1 vanilla bean, scraped
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract

For the Glaze:

• 1 cup milk
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• ¼ cup milk
• 2 tsp vanilla
• ½ vanilla bean, scraped

Instructions

To Make the Donuts:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly grease a mini muffin pan, mini donut pan, or donut pan.
2. In a bowl, stir to combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. In a mixing bowl stir together the yogurt, sugar, scraped vanilla bean, eggs, vanilla extract and milk until combined. Slowly stir in the flour mixture and continue until smooth.
4. pour batter into lightly greased mini muffin pan or donut pan, filling approximately ½ full. bake at 325 degrees for 8-10 minutes for mini muffin pan and donuts, or 10-14 minutes for a regular donut pan. Donuts are ready when you push the top of the donut lightly and it springs back.
5. Remove from oven and allow to cool for several minutes in the pan before removing donuts from pan and allowing to cool completely on a wire rack.
6. Glaze when cooled.

To Make the Glaze:

1. In a saucepan on low heat, stir together the powdered sugar, milk, vanilla and vanilla bean. Stir until mixture is smooth and warm. Dip the tops of the cooled donuts in the glaze, then onto a cooling rack to allow glaze to set. If making mini muffins (aka donut holes as we call them in our house) we double the glaze amount and cover the entire muffin in glaze before placing on a cooling rack to set.

Help! I Have Some Questions...

My donuts are sticking to the pan!

Having trouble with your donuts sticking when you try to remove them? Try lightly greasing than flouring your pan. It seems to work better.

Can I substitute the all-purpose flour for another type of flour?

It's possible to substitute all-purpose flour with other flours, but it may affect the texture of the donuts slightly. You can try using whole wheat flour or a gluten-free flour blend.

Do I need a donut pan to make baked donuts?

While it's ideal to use a donut pan to get the classic donut shape, you can still make baked donuts without one. You can use a muffin tin instead, but be aware that the donuts will be more round and not have the classic hole in the center.

How do I store baked donuts?

Baked donuts are best stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2-3 days. You can also freeze them for up to a month, but be sure to wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil before freezing.

Can I make the donuts ahead of time?

Yes, you can make the donuts ahead of time and store them in an airtight container until you're ready to serve. However, it's best to wait until just before serving to glaze the donuts, as the glaze can become sticky and lose its shine if it sits for too long.

Can I make these donuts without a mixer?

Yes, you can make these donuts without a mixer. Simply mix the wet ingredients together in a bowl and then stir in the dry ingredients until just combined.

How do I know when the donuts are done baking?

It's possible to make a glaze without powdered sugar, but it may not have the same texture or sweetness. You can try using a mixture of granulated sugar and cornstarch blended in a food processor until it resembles powdered sugar.

Can I make these donuts without eggs?

It's possible to make these donuts without eggs by using a vegan egg substitute such as applesauce, mashed banana, egg replacer or flaxseed meal mixed with water.

Can I add other flavors to the donuts?

Yes, you can add other flavors to the donuts such as cinnamon, nutmeg, or cocoa powder. Just be sure to adjust the amount of flour and liquid accordingly to maintain the right consistency of the batter.

Tips for Making the Perfect Vanilla Bean Baked Donuts

• Be sure to scrape out the seeds of the vanilla bean for maximum flavor. You can also use vanilla bean paste or increase the amount of vanilla extract you are using if you don't have a vanilla bean on hand.
• Don't overmix the batter. Overmixing can result in tough, rubbery donuts. Just stir until the wet and dry ingredients are combined.
• Be careful not to overfill the donut molds. The batter will rise as it bakes, so fill the molds only about ⅔ full to avoid overflow.
• Use a piping bag or zip-top bag with the corner snipped off to fill the donut molds neatly and evenly.
• Dip the donuts into the glaze while they are still warm. This will help the glaze adhere better and create a smooth, shiny finish.
• If you don't have a donut pan, you can use a muffin tin or mini muffin tin instead. Just be sure to adjust the baking time accordingly.