Baked Powdered Sugar Doughnuts
These Baked Powdered Sugar Doughnuts are a quick and easy classic!
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I have a history with doughnuts. More specifically, I have a history with powdered sugar doughnuts. So I’ve always enjoyed waking up early…even as a kid. Don’t ask me why. It’s just in my blood, I guess. For some reason, my parents didn’t really enjoy the fact that I woke up at 5:15am on weekends. I can’t imagine why not. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that I would sneak downstairs and stare at them until they woke up. Oh, and I grew up in an old house in downtown Charleston, SC…which meant you couldn’t go up or down the wooden stairs without waking the dead. (That included waking up the ghosts who lived in the house with us…but that’s a story for another time.)
My parents were pretty wily folks, though. They weren’t going to let a 5-year old steal valuable hours of sleep. At first, my mom would leave several comics or a Hardy Boys book laying by my bed. That worked…for a while. Then it turned into leaving stacks of comic books or random toys at strategic intervals between my room and their room. That also worked…for a while. Then my mom pulled out the big guns. Doughnuts. On Friday night, she’d leave a bag of those mini-powdered sugar doughnuts sitting on the kitchen counter. I’d run right past their room, grab a doughnut (or 4) and sit down to watch Saturday morning cartoons. It was probably the best $0.89 they spent each week. (Hey, it was the early ’80s…stuff didn’t cost as much back then.)
Much to my wife’s chagrin, I really haven’t changed all that much since I was a kid. I still wake up way too early on the weekends. (For the record, I often wish I could sleep in…but once I’m awake, I can’t go back to sleep.) Now I lay in bed and play on my phone for a while. But then I get bored. When I get bored, I get fidgety. Pretty soon, my wife is going to learn the trick of leaving doughnuts on the kitchen counter. But only powdered sugar doughnuts. None of those jelly-filled things. I’d just as happily stay in bed before eating one of those.
I was rummaging around in the basement the other day, and I re-found my doughnut pan. That reminded me of powdered sugar doughnuts. So I decided to get in the kitchen and make up a batch. These bad boys were fun (and incredibly easy!) to make. I just slightly adapted my recipe for Gingerbread Doughnuts, and I was good to go. You could seriously whip up a batch of these for breakfast in no time. Or, if you’ve got little rugrats who like to wake up early, then you might want to whip up a batch of these the night before and then leave them on the counter. It worked for me!
Baked Powdered Sugar Doughnuts
Ingredients
For the doughnuts
- 1¼ cups cake flour
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1¼ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 Tbsp unsalted butter melted
- 3 Tbsp heavy cream
- 1 cup powdered sugar for dusting baked doughnuts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Lightly grease doughnut pan; set aside.
- In a medium bowl, add all of the dry ingredients (cake flour, granulated sugar, baking powder and salt). Stir until well mixed.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, vanilla extract, melted butter and heavy cream.
- Add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients; stir until just mixed.
- Spoon or pipe the batter into the greased doughnut pan. (Tip: Fill each doughnut circle about half full of batter.)
- Bake at 425°F for 12-14 minutes, or until doughnuts begin to turn golden brown on the edges.
- Let doughnuts cool in the pan.
- Place powdered sugar in paper bag. Once doughnuts have cooled, shake doughnuts (one at a time) in the bag with the powdered sugar until well coated. Tap off any excess powdered sugar. Repeat with remaining doughnuts. Serve immediately. (Note: If you plan on serving these doughnuts later, store them uncoated in an air-tight container. Shake them in powdered sugar just before serving.)
Haha – I couldn’t help but bust a laugh at the thought of your young self scurrying down to stare your parents awake – only to be distracted by toys and doughnuts!!! I wish that had worked for my daughter – she would have grabbed a doughnut and come into my room to pull my eyes open, saying “mommy you awake now!”
David, these doughnuts look mouthwatering! I am gonna have to make these-with beets! Happy Friday my friend – hope y’all have a wonderful weekend (and your wife learns of your mom’s doughnut-distracting trick)!
Hehe…I haven’t changed a bit since childhood, Shashi! I’m still an early riser. And I still like my doughnuts! But I’m intrigued by the idea of making these with beets…I bet they would be a fun Valentine’s Day recipe because of the red and white! I hope you guys have a great weekend, too…maybe you should try the whole doughnuts in strategic locations thing with lil Shashi. 🙂
Ohmigerd! It’s like we were twins or something. Powdered doughnuts (or apple fritters) were the only things that prevented me from storming my parent’s bedroom on a Saturday morning!
I need to get Brian to buy me a doughnut pan for my birthday. I only have one of those mini doughnut baking machines. It’s a novelty, but it’ll do in a pinch. I need some powdered sugar on my lips!
Haha…that’s totally the best part about powdered sugar donuts, Becca! The face and lap full of powdered sugar. 🙂 Yes, you totally do need a doughnut pan. I don’t think they’re very expensive at all…and so much more useful than an entire machine dedicated to only making doughnuts. My wife would call that a “uni-tasker” and make me get rid of it! Here’s to the weekend…and doughnuts!
I used to love powdered sugar doughnuts when I was growing up! They came in that white bag that folded over after you opened them. They had a clear panel on the front to so you could peep at the doughnuts before you devoured them. As you can tell, I really loved those doughnuts. LOL! I purchased a bag maybe in the last two years and I must say they didn’t have the same magic that I remembered. I guess my palate has changed. 🙂 Thank God for you and this recipe because I’m sure this homemade version of one of my childhood favorites is a winner!
I totally know what you are talking about, Tamara! The white bag that folded over…if there were any leftovers that is. Haha! I picked up a bag maybe a year ago, too, and they were good…but definitely not the magical treats I remember from childhood. Isn’t it funny how we remember everything from childhood as being amazing? Have a great weekend!
I have the same problem. I sometimes wake up earlier than 5:15 and once I’m awake it’s over. These look so good, David. I really want to make these this weekend for my gang. They will love them!
I totally know the feeling, Tori! I hate waking up and seeing the sun up…because I just know that I will never be able to fall asleep again. Oh well, that’s what doughnuts are for, right? 🙂
Totally takes me back, these are awesome. I tell my boys that cartoons were only on early on the weekends and they could not comprehend. The good ol’ days.
If only we could go back to the good ole days of cartoons, Matt! I don’t even recognize any of the cartoons anymore. Saturday morning cartoons were like a staple of my childhood…that and doughnuts. Haha! Have a great weekend!
Oh my god, NEED, like, right now!! These look SO yummy, pinned! 🙂
Hahaha…thanks, Christina! If you wake up early tomorrow, feel free to stop by…chances are that I’ll be up watching cartoons and eating doughnuts. 🙂
I read all the Hardy Boys books, great flashback and thanks for the recall of Saturday morning cartoons. Man the good old days of carefree living with no responsibilities! I have many a time pondered getting a doughnut pan and think these are quite motivating. The possibilities are endless and yes – NO jelly filled. Have a great weekend and thanks for the post.
You totally should pick up a doughnut pan, Kevin! There are so many awesome possibilities there. But more importantly, do you remember Chet from the Hardy Boys? He drove the yellow Jalopy named The Queen. That’s bound to be a trivia question one day.
I think I just pulled a muscle trying to remember that one! Frank and Joe rocked.
You are one of *those* people! Those “early morning, fresh as a daisy without coffee” people! I’ll have to remember the donut trick if I have a kid who is an early riser! Because early morning, no coffee Lindsey, is mean Lindsey.
My husband looked over at my screen this morning right as I was pulling up this post, and he said, “why don’t you ever make donuts?! Those look awesome. I just sent you a chocolate donut hole recipe!” I’m going to have to break down and buy a donut pan! Maybe it will entice him to come visit me in NYC! Starting with these because powdered cake are the way to go! Pinned!
Woah there, Lindsey! Just because I’m one of “those” people doesn’t mean I’m all happy and chipper in the morning. I need my coffee ASAP, or I’m grumpy. And a fidgety, grumpy David is just not pleasant to be around…ask my wife for proof. Haha!
Yes, you totally need a donut pan! They are kindof a uni-tasker, but they aren’t all that expensive. You might not have enough space in NYC to store it, though. Hmmm…maybe you can use it for other things, too. Like meatloaf rings. Doesn’t that sound like a good idea? 😉
We should have swapped parents- My mum has ALWAYS been an early bird and she would be up early and would ban me from watching TV!
Much like you these days, I’d kill to sleep in but I can’t- Literally as soon as I’m up, all bets are off. These look delicious and I ‘m heading back to Melbourne next week- where my donut pan is! (No joke!)
Wait…why do I want to swap mums? Your mum bans cartoons!! Haha. I’m thinking you should call ahead and request your donut pan to have some of these powdered sugar bad boys waiting on you when you land in Melbourne. That would work, wouldn’t it??
David!!! so much temptation going on here!!! these doughnuts look soooo good!!! I am totally an early riser . . I wake up at 6am everyday. . and try, like you, to sleep in on the weekends. . thankfully my kids sleep in so it’s nice to have some “me” time in the mornings! 😉 love these doughnuts!!! just pinned so I hope you get a TON of re-pins! 🙂 because these were meant to be shared!!! happy weekend!!!
Alice! You are the best…seriously! Thank you so much for the pins. 🙂 But back to the more important stuff…donuts. I agree with you 100%. Now that I don’t watch the classic cartoons in the morning, I at least enjoy having the “me time” to relax and get my thoughts in order. Of course, me time is way better when there are donuts by my side. Haha!
Seriously, yes yes yes yes yes. I am such a donut fanatic so these powdered donuts get me all excited! Must add to the baking list!
Yes! There’s nothing better than waking up to warm donuts…especially when they involve powdered sugar. The classic is still the best in my book! Thanks, Pamela!
These are so nostalgic for me. I used to eat so many of these as a kid and loves having my face covered in sugar and trying to eat the whole thing without licking the sugar off haha
Hahaha…I had totally forgotten about licking the sugar off. So fun…except then you were left with this boring donut. The best part of these bad boys is having a whole lapfull of powdered sugar when you’re done. For some reason, the dogs love when I stand up after eating these…I have no idea why! 😉
These look incredible! I just want to grab a paper bag full and run! They have been on my must make list forever, I must try these.
Thank you so much, Jessica! But I must warn you…if you grab the paper bag full of these doughnuts and run, I might be forced to chase you down. Unless there are some old-school cartoons on tv. Then you might actually be able to get away. 🙂
Hello childhood! These look awesome, David.
PS… Those stairs must’ve been a real pain when you were in high school.
Hahaha…I just totally busted out laughing at your comment, Sean. Thanks, man! 🙂
I’m an early riser also… I just can’t let half the day go to waste sleeping in bed. And now I can’t think of any better way to wake up then by eating these donuts. I’m a huge fan of powdered sugar doughnuts. So much so that I need to remember to slow down when eating them or else I’ll get a big inhale of the sugar and almost choke to death haha
I totally agree, Chris! As soon as the sun is up, I’m ready to get up and do stuff. By “stuff,” I mean sit on the couch with a cup of coffee and some powdered sugar doughnuts. Oh, and watch some retro cartoons on tv, of course. Please don’t choke to death eating doughnuts…that would be sad. But it would make for a pretty funny epitaph. 🙂
Did I miss where it says how many donuts this makes?
This recipe will make 6 baked doughnuts. Thanks for asking!!
Oh my with my grand rugrats I’ll have to quadruple this. lol loved reading your story sounded like my youngest grand. He saw the picture and said ooohhh make some of those gammaw. I’ve pinned and am following thanks a bunch for the laugh. I too remember watching early Saturday morning cartoons back when they were actually cartoons!
Haha…I totally get quadrupling this one, Nicki! Most doughnut pans only make 6 which is why I scaled this recipe to make 6…but we usually double it whenever we make a batch! 🙂 And, yes, what happened to all of those classic cartoons?? I’ve been watching cartoons with Robbie a little bit lately, and they just aren’t the same at all!
My mom has said she was so happy when I could reach the kitchen counter. She would make the fried-biscuit donuts with powdered sugar on Friday night and leave them on the counter. That way, I could get them for me and my sister on Saturday morning and she and my dad could sleep. 🙂
Ohhh…fried biscuit donuts sound incredible, Jessie. I don’t think I’ve come across those, so I just googled them…and now I’m hungry. And for some reason, I really want to turn the computer off and go watch cartoons. Hah! Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting!
If I missed this I apologize but please note how many donuts this recipe yields. Thanks.
Hey Gail! Great question. This recipe makes 6 doughnuts. The standard doughnut baking pan is 6, so it works out just right. I hope you enjoy these as much as we do! They really take me back to my days growing up. 🙂
I’m sitting here eating powdered donuts… I’m going to have to make your recipe! Sounds delicious!
Haha! That’s perfect, Jennie. I do love these powdered donuts…kinda fun to make your own version, too. Happy baking, and thanks so much for leaving a comment!