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Sprinkle baked donuts

Birthday Cake Donuts

Learn how to make birthday cake donuts that are soft, fluffy, baked—not fried—and frosted with sweet vanilla icing and rainbow sprinkles. This birthday cake donuts recipe is a fun and easy dessert for birthdays and beyond!
5 from 2 votes
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Course Breakfast, Dessert
Servings 6 Donuts

Ingredients
  

For the Donuts:

  • 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ cup granulated sugar you can also use 1/3 cup honey instead
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter melted
  • 1 tsp birthday cake extract
  • ⅓ cup milk almond or regular
  • ⅛ tsp salt

For the Frosting:

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 ½ tbsp heavy whipping cream
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • Nonpareil rainbow sprinkles

Instructions
 

Step 1: Preheat & Prep

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F. Prepare your donut baking pan by buttering the donut holes or spraying them with cooking oil.

Step 2: Make the Donut Batter

  • In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter.
  • Stir in the sugar and salt.
  • Whisk in the egg until well combined.
  • Mix in the birthday cake extract and milk.
  • Add the flour and baking powder, mixing until the batter is smooth and free of clumps. The batter should be thick, not runny.

Step 3: Bake the Donuts

  • Pour the batter into each donut cavity, filling about ¾ full.
  • Bake for 10 minutes, or until the donuts spring back when lightly touched.
  • Remove the donuts from the pan by flipping it upside down. They should release easily. Let them cool while you prepare the frosting.

Step 4: Make the Frosting

  • In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter.
  • Whisk in the vanilla extract, powdered sugar, and heavy whipping cream. If the frosting is too thick, thin it with 1 teaspoon of water at a time.

Step 5: Frost & Decorate

  • Using a spatula, spread the frosting over each cooled donut.
  • Top with rainbow sprinkles for the perfect finishing touch!

Notes

Tips for the Best Baked Donuts

  • Use a Piping Bag – For a mess-free experience, transfer the batter into a piping bag and pipe it into the donut pan.
  • Don’t Overmix – Mix until just combined to keep your donuts light and fluffy.
  • Let Them Cool – Frosting melts quickly on warm donuts, so be sure to let them cool before decorating.
  • Experiment with Flavors – Try adding a little almond or maple extract for a unique twist!
Keyword baked donuts, breakfast, donut, donuts, sprinkles, sweet breakfast