Baked Lemon Doughnuts
These Baked Lemon Doughnuts are packed with lemony deliciousness!
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Now that the weather is thinking about getting warm again, I’ve been craving lemon-flavored everything. Lemon seltzer water. Lemon chicken. Lemonade. If it involves a yellow, football-shaped fruit, then I’m all about it lately. So I decided to make something sweet for dessert with lemon…and that’s where these Baked Lemon Doughnuts come in. Light, cakey doughnuts topped with lemon glaze and a pinch of lemon zest. I told you that I’m loving lemons lately!
The return of spring also means the return of baseball. Now I’m not a huge baseball fan. I’ve said that before, and I still hold to it. Baseball is just too boring for me to watch on tv. Plus, the pros only play 5,219 games a season…so remind me why I should care if they win or lose a single game? I used to be a huge baseball fan when I was a kid. I collected baseball cards. I knew all of the rosters. But then I transitioned over to football and college basketball, and I never looked back.
I did come across a really interesting job the other day, though. Mud collectors for baseballs. According to official major league baseball rules, baseballs must be “properly rubbed so the gloss is removed.” Rubbed with what, you ask? Well, mud, of course. And not just any mud. A special mud. A mud that is harvested by skimming the top layer off of riverbanks along the Delaware River.
There is only one company that is officially licensed to sell this mud, and every team (major and minor league) uses this mud. Talk about a monopoly! But I’m ok with this guy having his monopoly. He skims hundreds of pounds of mud and then strains and cures (i.e. lets it sit) in his backyard for months. I know there are some odd jobs out there (*ahem* food blogger *ahem*), but this one takes the cake. Err, maybe the pie. A Mocha Mississippi Mud Pie, perhaps?
At what point in the year do you crave lemon?
Have you ever harvested mud?
Baked Lemon Doughnuts
Ingredients
For the Doughnuts
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ⅓ cup sugar
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, cold
- ¼ cup milk
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ Tbsp lemon juice
- 1 large egg
- ½ Tbsp lemon zest
For the Glaze
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 Tbsp milk
- 1½ Tbsp lemon juice
- ½ Tbsp lemon zest
Instructions
For the Doughnuts
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease doughnut pan; set aside. (Note: If you don’t have a doughnut pan, you can bake these in a 6-cup muffin pan. The shape will just be a little different!)
- In a large bowl, add the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt; stir until well combined.
- Dice the butter into ¼” cubes. Using a pastry cutter or two table knives, cut the butter into the flour mixture.
- Add remaining ingredients (milk, sour cream, vanilla, lemon juice, egg and lemon zest); stir until just combined. (Note: Take care not to overmix batter.)
- Using a piping bag or spoon, fill each doughnut cup ¾ full. Bake at 350°F for 9-11 minutes, or until doughnuts are light golden brown and springy to the touch. Let cool before removing from the pan.
For the Glaze
- Whisk powdered sugar, milk and lemon juice together in a medium bowl. Once doughnuts have cooled, pour glaze on top and let sit until glaze has hardened. Garnish tops of doughnuts with lemon zest before serving.
Love these lemon doughnuts! I’m a big fan of baking doughnuts – they’re always so much lighter and fluffier! Loving the lemon flavour in these – so perfect for spring! 🙂
I totally agree, Jess! I mean I love a good fried doughnut, but baked doughnuts are quite tasty…and so much easier to make! 🙂
I had no clue baseballs were rubbed with a special mud! And, that there was actually a “Mud collectors for baseballs” job description out there! David, I can always count on you to teach me something new! Now…hmm…if this food blogging thing goes South for me, I could always go see if Chris Van Zan needs an assistant – and in the meantime, I’m gonna go through Lil Shashi’s ball collection and wash out any baseballs she might have! 🙂
Speaking of Lil Shashi, she has been on a major lemon kick recently – yesterday she put lemon in her cream cheese so she could make lemony cream cheese cucumber sandwiches – but her eyes might pop out of her head if these made an appearance in front of her! Deeelicious way to start off a Monday. my friend!
I know, right, Shashi? What a strange job! I also love how there is only one guy who is authorized to collect the right mud for baseballs. (He still doesn’t make very much money if I recall correctly…) And this food blogging thing isn’t going South for you, Shashi…it’s going North! As in, bring those treats you make up North to me. 🙂 And Lil Shashi with the lemon cream cheese cucumber sandwiches? She’s a little foodie in the making! What have you created down there? Haha!
Me too David I´m craving lemon everything!! These baked donuts are right up my alley!! 🙂 🙂
Thanks so much, Johlene! I mean I like lemon throughout the year…but this time of the year when it’s just starting to get warm? Lemon everything!!
Lemon doughnuts seem to be capturing summer… Color and the glaze is all perfect . feel like grabbing one rite now. Iam very poor at baking and my oven never supported me. So i admire baking people and their wonderful creations. I am looking at every minute part of the doughnut. Wonderful David
Why thank you so much, Smitha! You can just stare at these doughnuts all day. 🙂 Seriously, though, they aren’t very hard to make. And you could use a muffin tin if you don’t have a doughnut pan…you’ll just have to bake them a bit longer. Give it a shot! The only way to get better is practice!!
Mud collectors for baseballs? That’s interesting! All kinds of jobs out there, isn’t there? I crave lemon dessert all year round. A few years back I tried a lemon tart from a local place and was hooked ever since. Absolutely love it and I ALWAYS have lemons for lemon water (and may for making a dessert, lol). These donuts look delicious, David. I could eat like 1 or 5, lol!! Pinning 🙂 Have a great week!
Tell me about it, Dawn! I was so surprised about the mud collector thing. What an odd job! And I’m with ya on the lemon desserts. I do love a good chocolate dessert…oh, and cinnamon anything…but lemon is right up there at the top, too. Hope you have an awesome week yourself!
Hi David! My doughnut pans are coming out! I always have lemons on hand as so many recipes call for juice or zest. Lemon juice can be frozen in ice trays and stored in a zip bag, the same as you do with broth. Bottled lemon juice should be banned! What a fun job playing with mud – I used to “bake” mud pies on the back porch when I was little, not too tasty but fun!
Yes, get those doughnut pans out! Wait, if you’re getting them out…that means they had to be put away at some point. Haha! Great idea about storing lemon juice in ice cube trays. I’ve never thought about that…but it would be an easy kitchen hack for whenever you need a bit of lemon juice for a recipe. And mud pies, huh? Always the baker, I see! 🙂
Lemon doughnuts, sounds very interesting…
Especially in summer when you don’t feel like eating anything, hence the addition of lemon into any recipe or drink for that matter develops your interest. Lovely recipe David. 🙂
I’m totally with ya, Puja! I love adding lemon to recipes when the weather starts to warm up. Glad to see you back up and running again. Hope you are doing well! 🙂
These donuts look so fresh and delicious! I actually adore lemon desserts, can never have enough!
I totally agree, Manali! The only thing that would make ’em better? Cinnamon! Haha. (Just kidding…well, sorta.)
David, I have started to worry. Donuts have been my thing to blog about so far, and you seem to enjoy this stuff too recently. Are you going to monopolize donuts? Please leave lavender for me at least:) But seriously, I understand you. I’ve been craving lemons too. These guys sound fantastic – I would love them, with a little of ground cardamom. Could you make some for me?;)
Oh please, you know I can’t monopolize doughnuts! I just found my doughnut pan buried in the cabinet, so I needed to give it some love. But it’s now put away again. Until I make my famous Triple Lavender Glazed Doughnuts. Sorry in advance for that one. 🙂
These are super gorgeous! I love the abundance of donut recipes I’ve been seeing recently and this is no exception 🙂
Thanks so much, Medha! Doughnuts (especially the baked version) are so easy and tasty, too. Bring on the warmer weather!! 🙂
There is no time of year I don’t crave lemon, these are calling my name — loudly!
sue…..Sue….SUE! You were right. These doughnuts are calling your name…and they’re getting rather impatient! 🙂
I always crave lemon. I wouldn’t admit to it without plausible deniability, but I like it better than chocolate. So if these donuts amount to little cakes that I can scarf down for breakfast, uh, hells to the yeah.
I’m holding you to that statement. Next time I make some sort of crazy chocolate dessert, you aren’t getting any. Because you like lemon better. But that means I have to share my lemon doughnuts with you, huh?
I know what you mean, I have been craving lemon, but then I love lemon anytime of the year. Your doughnuts look so delicious. I wish I had a doughnut pan, maybe it’s time to get one. I would love one for breakfast or right now!
Yeah I do love lemon all year long…but there is just something about the Spring that makes me crave lemon-flavored desserts. You totally need to grab a doughnut pan, Dawn! They aren’t too expensive, and there’s so many awesome things you can with ’em…like make doughnuts! 🙂
I want to be a mud collector.
Okay, maybe not. But dude…This is so random but I really want lemon chicken now. Obviously, these doughnuts (donuts?!) will be for dessert!
PS- Niki saw your pesto pasta recipe and has demanded it for dinner!
You should totally go out and collect a big bucket of mud…and then leave it at Niki’s door. Tell her it’s part of your new job as a mud collector. 🙂
Your blog really is the place to come for delicious donut recipes, David. I am all about the lemon flavours at the moment, especially when it comes to dessert. I think that is a sign that Spring is nearly here.
Haha! Thanks so much, Dannii! I go through doughnut phases, but the doughnut pan has been put away for a bit now. 🙂 Bring on Spring…bring on warmer temps, right?? (I saw your post about you guys doing yard work, and it kinda made me jealous. Is that bad?)
Mud harvesting??? Hmmmm….I will need to think on that one! I have harvested lemons 🙂 I do need to get myself a a doughnut pan. I love these baked doughnuts!
Haha! You definitely should get into mud harvesting, Kathy. That would be a new addition to your farm! 🙂 And yes, go get a doughnut pan ASAP. They aren’t too expensive at all…and then you can bake all sorts of doughnuts at home!
THAT GLAZEEEEEEE! Oh man, you perfected it!
Hah! Thanks, GiGi! You’re gonna have dreams about this lemon glaze tonight. 🙂
Interesting baseball trivia and that one guy with the mud monopoly should be swimming in the casholla! As for lemon, I’m with you – anytime in anything. These look quite tempting, but my workouts after vacation are telling me to be strong! 🙂
You’d think so, Kevin…but apparently a mud monopoly (and all that harvesting) only nets about 20k a year. I guess the stuff lasts a long time? Who knows. But he should totally make more for doing that kind of job! And as far as temptation, these doughnuts are baked not fried. That’s justification enough in my book! 🙂
I love having lemon anytime. This doughnut looks gorgeous. I love the glaze. Wish I could grab one right now 🙂 YUMMY!
Thank you so much, Kushi! You’re right…that glaze was pretty darned tasty. I kinda wanted to just eat a spoonful of it before I glazed those doughnuts. 🙂
OMG. Those look delicious! I was looking for a new doughnut recipe and I’m a lemon lover. Thanks for sharing. I am NOT a good baker but these look easy enough.
Yay for lemon, Kim! I love baking doughnuts…and lemon-flavored doughnuts are a totally fun treat! And this is indeed an easy recipe. The thing about baking is you just gotta practice. I’ve had plenty of “oops” moments in the kitchen, but over time you kinda get the whole baking thing. Give these doughnuts a shot. You can do it! 🙂