Red Velvet Donuts
These Red Velvet Donuts are a fun way to put a festive spin on the classic baked powdered sugar donuts. Bake up a batch for Valentine’s Day!
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“I hate when I think I’m buying organic veggies, but when I get home they are just regular donuts.”
Recently, a friend gave me a grocery notepad with this written on the top…and it couldn’t be more accurate! I cracked up laughing when I first read it, and I still chuckle every time I pull my shopping list out.
On a side note, does anyone else have a strange affinity for notepads? I do. I collect them. I mean I use them, too, but I have a drawer full of extra notepads in my office. You know, in case I need to write something down. I know I’m a bit strange, but please tell me I’m not the only one who loves notepads!?
Despite the hilarious shopping notepad, I don’t actually buy donuts at the store that often. On the few occasions when I have broken down and bought them, I’m always disappointed. They’re bready and bland. And our area is sorely lacking in good donut shops, too. Down South, we had our favorite donut shops in Atlanta (Krispy Kreme), Baton Rouge (Mary Lee Donuts) and Nashville (Fox’s). But up here in upstate New York? Eh.
We actually prefer to make our own donuts here at home. We have a 6-cavity donut pan (aff. link), and I enjoy pulling that pan out on occasion to make fun donuts. I’ve even been known to fry up donuts, too, although that’s a much rarer occasion. (Frying donuts might be the authentic way to do it, but cleaning up the oil afterwards is fairly low on my priority list.)
Red Velvet Donuts
Red Velvet DonutsI’ve always been partial to a good powdered sugar donut. One bite of a powdered sugar donut takes me back to my childhood…and it also leaves me covered in powdered sugar. But, hey, that’s a small price to pay for a delicious donut, right? With Valentine’s Day approaching, I thought it might be fun to pull out that powdered sugar donut and put a red velvet spin on it.
To make these Red Velvet Donuts, I started with my tried-and-true powdered sugar donut recipe. I replaced the milk with buttermilk and I added a bit of cocoa powder. Other than that, the only addition was red food coloring. I used red gel food coloring because that’s what I happened to have in the pantry. (As a bonus, gel colorings hold their color better when baked, too.)
Once baked, I let those Red Velvet Donuts cool in the pan while I dumped a cup of powdered sugar into a brown paper bag. Then came the fun part! *shake* *shake* *shake* Just add one donut at a time to the bag and gently shake it until the donut is covered with powdered sugar. Tap off the excess sugar, and you’re all done. One important tip: make sure to wait for the donuts to fully cool before shaking them with the powdered sugar. In the words of Tom Petty, the waiting is the hardest part. However, if those donuts are still warm when they go into the bag, you’ll end up with sticky, gooey donuts.
If you’re looking for a fun Valentine’s Day treat, then whip up a batch of these Red Velvet Donuts! They’re a tasty way to get into the holiday spirit. Happy baking!
Did you make a batch of these Red Velvet Donuts at home? Leave a comment, or snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@Spicedblog). I’d love to see your version!
Red Velvet Donuts
Ingredients
- 1¼ cups cake flour see note
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ Tbsp cocoa powder
- 1¼ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup buttermilk
- ½ Tbsp vanilla extract
- 3 Tbsp unsalted butter melted
- 3 Tbsp heavy cream
- red food coloring
- 1 cup powdered sugar for dusting baked doughnuts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Lightly grease donut baking pan; set aside.
- In a medium bowl, add all of the dry ingredients (cake flour, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt); stir until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, buttermilk, vanilla extract, melted butter, heavy cream and red food coloring. (Tip: Add a small amount of food coloring at first and then continue adding more until the batter turns bright red. You can always add more food coloring, but you can't take it out!)
- Add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients; stir until just mixed.
- Spoon or pipe the batter into the prepared pan. (Tip: Fill each well about half full of batter.)
- Bake for 12-14 minutes, or until donuts just begin to turn light brown on top.
- Let donuts cool in the pan.
- Place powdered sugar in paper bag. Once donuts have cooled, shake donuts (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.)
Notes
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We don’t buy donuts at grocery stores either. If you want something delicious like a cake or donuts, it’s better to splurge a bit and grab them from a normal bakery (Or even better make yourself). I agree that almost all baked goods we’ve tried from a grocery store, tasted bland. No matter what was it, a lemon muffin, cinnamon donut, or banana bread, you cannot really tell the difference, right?
Anyway, these red velvet donuts don’t look anything like a store-bought version. I am slightly surprised you didn’t use a cream cheese frosting (You’re a cream cheese frosting guy, aren’t you?), but simply powdered donuts are great too, for a change. Nicely done!
Ah, you make a good point about grocery store baked goods vs. bakery baked goods. Grocery store versions are just never that good, right? They might look good, but they always end up disappointing me. And you’re right – it all tastes the same no matter what the flavor was supposed to be!
These red velvet donuts, though? So much better than store-bought! You’re right about the cream cheese frosting. That would’ve been a good idea here. Although I was kinda going for a twist on the classic powdered sugar donuts. Maybe another batch is in order??
These vibrant red velvet donuts are a great treat for Valentine’s day!
That is a funny quote on your notebook. I have to admit that I use the notepad app on my phone for lists, which always makes me look like I’m glued to my phone at the grocery store, lol!
Ah, I tried using the phone app for my grocery lists, but I ended up going back to the old-timey pen and paper. Call me old, I guess – haha! Thanks, Marissa!
Perfect treats for the V day, attractive bright color and I like the baked texture of these donuts! I’m sure these will not even last longer in our home to even powder coat it. Krispy Kreme donuts is my favorite too, but I don’t have one close by, so I really miss eating good one. I used to write my grocery list on a notepad before, but recently moved to a groceries app, because I remember to take my phone and the notepad, ha ha!
Yeah, we don’t have Krispy Kreme up here, either. I’ve had rumors that there was one here, but it only lasted a year before it closed. That confuses me as our donut options are very limited. Oh well. Homemade donuts it is!
As far as shopping, I tried the app on the phone, but I just like the old-fashioned pen and paper better. Call me crazy! Thanks, Aarthi!
I do have a few notepads around, but not a collection. I use them all the time, but they never really seem to get all used up! These red velvet donuts are so fun! Love that red color and it’s kind of a hidden surprise under all that powdered sugar!
Haha – I know what you mean, Kathy! It feels like a momentous day when you actually finish a notepad. 🙂 Happy February, my friend!
These red velvet donuts are so vibrant! Perfect for V-Day! My kids are not gonna let up when they see these. 😛 And I hoard my notepads… they’re great for writing down recipes when they that flash of inspiration hits!
Haha – there is something so fun about red velvet anything. But if you hide that red velvet behind a layer of powdered sugar? Well, count me in on that one! And cheers to being a notepad hoarder like me! 🙂
i love notepads! and all sorts of stationery. i think there are lots of us around – the secret stationery hoarders. And love your beauteous bright red doughnuts. how delicious!
Yes – cheers to being a secret stationary hoarder! I’m glad I’m not the only one. 🙂
Lol, were on the same boat but with a slight difference. I do collect them as well but they just sit in the drawer and never used them.
Haha – well, I collect them at a faster rate than I use them, so I too have a drawer full of notepads. 🙂 Maybe I just need to start taking more notes?
I don’t usually make donuts at home, I have to get one of those donut pans. These would be the perfect treat for Valentine’s Day! Love the bright red color.
Yes! You absolutely need to get a donut pan, Dawn. It’s fun to bake donuts at home. We’ll fry donuts on occasion, but that’s pretty rare – the ability to bake them makes it so much easier!
LOL, that is quite funny!! Not necessarily notepads, but notebooks. I have what seems like a bazillion of them. And, for some reason, I don’t finish one and go to another, it’s like I have a bunch on the go at the one time. Oh well! Anywho, these donuts! How perfect are they for Valentine’s Day or, I don’t know, a random Wednesday 😉 Delicious, my friend!
Oh, I totally get it, Dawn – the number of notepads around this place is astonishing! But we do use them – slowly. (I think I collect them faster than we use them, though. Hah!) Also, I support your idea for Donut Wednesday. If they can have Taco Tuesday, then why can’t we have Donut Wednesday? Let’s make it happen! 🙂
I’ve actually been craving donuts lately! When I was visiting family in NJ a few weeks ago I wanted to stop in at this crazy donut place, but they wound up being shut down for the week due to a COVID exposure.. so, my craving has not yet been satisfied. I’m with you though, I’m not a big fan of run of the mill donuts. And I do have a donut pan as well, so I should whip these up ASAP!
Haha – welcome to my life, Nicole. A good donut craving is a way of life around here! 🙂 Oh no – so sad about that crazy donut place in Jersey. Perhaps on a return trip some day? Since you have a donut pan, I highly recommend making a batch of powdered sugar donuts at home. These red velvet ones are just a slight twist off of my go-to powdered sugar treats – I love ’em!
So, I happen to have a notepad collection too – but it wasn’t intentional. People just keep giving me notepads and I keep adding them to a drawer! But – what is intentional is my love of sweet things for breakfast – like these gorgeous donuts! I have tried your powdered sugar donut recipe and LOVE it (even “beetified” your recipe in an old blog post! And, gosh, could I do some damage to a batch of these beauts!
Ah, I’m glad you and I both share the love for a drawer full of notepads! 🙂 Also, I totally remember your beetified powdered sugar donuts. Maybe add a bit of buttermilk and cocoa powder in there for a true red velvet treat? Thanks, Shashi!!