What makes cake donuts different?

Cake donuts, like these Carrot Cake Donuts, use baking powder or baking soda for lift instead of yeast. As a result, they have a tender, cake like crumb and bake quickly.

What are the ingredients for carrot cake?

Classic carrot cake includes flour, sugar, eggs, oil or butter, shredded carrots, warm spices, and often nuts or pineapple. These Carrot Cake Donuts use similar ingredients in an easy donut form.

What is a cake donut called?

A cake donut refers to any donut made with cake style batter instead of yeast dough. Because of that, it feels more like a small frosted cake in donut shape.

Can you make donuts from a cake mix?

Yes, you can make donuts from cake mix. However, homemade Carrot Cake Donuts give you better texture and flavor since you control the ingredients and moisture.

Carrot Cake Donuts Easy and Amazing Easter Treat

Name: Carrot Cake Donuts Easy and Amazing Easter Treat
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: ½ cup unsalted butter, softened; ½ teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon vanilla extract; ⅔ cup packed brown sugar; 1 large egg; ⅔ cup Greek yogurt; ⅔ cup crushed pineapple, drained (juice reserved for frosting); ⅔ cup freshly shredded carrots; 2 teaspoons cake spice or cinnamon-nutmeg blend; 1½ teaspoons baking powder; 1½ teaspoons baking soda; 2 cups all-purpose flour; 4 ounces cream cheese, softened; 4 tablespoons unsalted butter for frosting; 2 tablespoons reserved pineapple juice; ¾ cup powdered sugar; ½ cup finely diced walnuts; Orange sprinkles optional

Description

Carrot Cake Donuts are soft, moist baked donuts filled with warm spice, shredded carrots, Greek yogurt, and crushed pineapple. They are topped with a sweet pineapple cream cheese frosting and finished with walnuts for a classic Easter dessert treat.

Ingredients

Scale

½ cup unsalted butter, softened

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

⅔ cup packed brown sugar

1 large egg

⅔ cup Greek yogurt

⅔ cup crushed pineapple, drained (juice reserved for frosting)

⅔ cup freshly shredded carrots

2 teaspoons cake spice or cinnamon-nutmeg blend

1½ teaspoons baking powder

1½ teaspoons baking soda

2 cups all-purpose flour

4 ounces cream cheese, softened

4 tablespoons unsalted butter for frosting

2 tablespoons reserved pineapple juice

¾ cup powdered sugar

½ cup finely diced walnuts

Orange sprinkles optional

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Instructions

1. Heat oven to 375°F and coat donut pan with nonstick spray and flour.

2. Beat butter, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt until creamy.

3. Mix in egg, Greek yogurt, drained pineapple, and shredded carrots.

4. Whisk flour, cake spice, baking powder, and baking soda together, then gently fold into wet ingredients.

5. Transfer batter to a large bag, snip corner, and pipe into donut wells halfway full.

6. Bake about 10 minutes until set. Cool briefly in pan, then transfer to rack to cool completely.

7. Beat cream cheese, butter, and pineapple juice until smooth. Add powdered sugar and mix until creamy.

8. Dip cooled donuts into frosting and top with walnuts and optional sprinkles.

Notes

Freshly grated carrots provide better moisture than packaged shreds.

Drain pineapple well to prevent dense donuts.

Do not overfill molds or donuts may bake unevenly.

Allow donuts to cool completely before frosting.

Store frosted donuts in refrigerator and bring to room temperature before serving.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: Easter Desserts
Method: Baked
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 donut
Calories: 226
Sugar: 14g
Sodium: 237mg
Fat: 12g
Saturated Fat: 6g
Unsaturated Fat: 5g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 26g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 4g
Cholesterol: 38mg