14 Baked Doughnut Recipes, Because Frying Is Overrated (and Messy!)

Updated on June 18, 2018 at 7:23 PM

There's no doubt that fresh-from-the-fryer doughnuts are amazing, but cleaning up the splattered oil is definitely not so fun. (Plus, disposing of the large amount of spent oil is kind of a hassle.) Baked doughnuts are a fantastic (and pretty easy) alternative. While you won't get the airy texture of a classic yeasted doughnut, baked cake doughnuts are nearly as delicious as their fried counterparts and a lot less hassle. With flavors like carrot cake, red velvet, chai spiced, and double Nutella, these 20 recipes will have you in a trance. No trip to your favorite doughnut shop required!

Double-Chocolate Cake Doughnuts

Treat your inner child to a half dozen double-chocolate cake doughnuts.

Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Pecan Pie Doughnuts

It's hard to believe these tender, nutty sweet potato pecan pie doughnuts are gluten free, but they are!

Rhubarb Poppy Seed Doughnuts

Less dense in texture than some baked doughnuts, these rhubarb-glazed beauties are a great recipe for those who typically prefer them fried.

Funfetti Doughnuts

Side effects of eating funfetti doughnuts include glee, delight, and smiles all around.

Cinnamon Roll Baked Doughnuts

Why choose between a cinnamon roll and a doughnut for breakfast when you can have both in one tidy package?

Samoa Minidoughnuts

Drizzled with a combination of homemade caramel and melted chocolate, these mini Samoa doughnuts might even be better than the Girl Scout Cookie from which they draw inspiration.

Baked Vanilla-Bean Doughnuts

Just because this recipe is vanilla doesn't mean that it's plain.

Rose Sugar Doughnuts

With their floral flavor and stunning looks, rose sugar doughnuts would be perfect for a bridal-shower brunch.

Gingerbread Doughnut Muffins

Gingerbread doughnut muffins are an ideal Christmas morning treat.

Baked Nutella Doughnuts

Nutella makes an appearance in both the batter and the glaze for these chocolate-hazelnut baked doughnuts.

Baked Pretzel Doughnuts

Not only are these baked doughnuts topped with crunchy pretzel bits, but the batter is also infused with pretzel-y goodness.

Baked Lemon Poppy Seed Doughnuts

Lemon poppy seed cake and baked doughnuts combine easily into one hybrid recipe, as baked doughnuts tend to be on the cakier side of things to begin with.

Baked Strawberry-Glazed Doughnuts

These pretty-in-pink pastries get their rosy hue from a strawberry glaze.

Eggnog Doughnut Muffins

We can think of few cozier breakfasts than an eggnog doughnut muffin.