Easy Cake Donut Recipes for Any Occasion

I make these cake donuts on days when I want everyone to think I’m artisanal and five minutes later realize I forgot the baking powder. They’re cake-y, slightly cakier than my pride when a donut collapses, and perfect for dunking in coffee until your problems become a glaze. Try them because they’re forgiving, quick, and look impressive even if you hid the evidence of the kitchen disaster. Yes, this pan is too small. No, I won’t wash fewer dishes.
I once brought a dozen of these to a family brunch and my husband, in a move that can only be described as “helpful chaos,” tried to rearrange them into a smiley face. He smushed three together, declared it “modern art,” and the kids crowned him Donut Picasso. I applauded him for creativity and then quietly swept the sticky remains into a Tupperware labeled “for compost” (which later became my lunch). Parenting win: everyone fed. Baking fail: everyone fed, then asked for more.
MORE OF OUR FAVORITE…
Why You’ll Love This Easy Cake Donut Recipes for Any Occasion
– They’re fast enough for mornings when you’ve already hit snooze twice—and louder than the kids.
– Texture? Tender and cake-like, but not like the shoe-like cake in Aunt Gertrude’s wedding buffet.
– Toppings are optional and forgiving: powdered sugar, glaze, or a napkin smuggled behind your back.
– Perfect for pretending you woke up early and planned this. The trick is conviction.
Time-Saving Hacks
– Shortcuts that work but feel a little wrong.
– Use store-bought glaze if your oven timer is judging you.
– Hacks to avoid dishes (because who washes those?).
– Mix in the bowl you plan to serve from. Then lie about your staging.
– The sneaky tricks you actually use when rushing.
– Pipe batter with a resealable bag instead of a piping bag. Duct tape for dignity not included.
Serving Ideas
– Pair with coffee if you want to be boring and effective.
– Serve with tea if you’re trying to look refined while secretly adding sprinkles.
– Serve with wine if the kids drove you nuts (or if you just want donuts and wine—no judgment).
– Honest note: sometimes I just eat one in the car on the school run. Multitasking meets decadence.
What to Serve It With
Prep time: 15 minutes.
Yield: About a dozen, unless your family is faster than math.
Tips & Mistakes
– Don’t overmix the batter. It’s a cake, not a tire.
– If the donuts are too dense, blame the oven and then check the baking powder date.
– Glaze too thin? Add a little powdered sugar. Glaze too thick? Microwave a spoonful of milk like you mean it.
Storage Tips
Store it in the fridge… if there’s any left. Cold midnight leftovers? Sometimes better than fresh.
Variations and Substitutions
Swap whatever you want—sugar ↔ honey, soy sauce ↔ tamari, or skip steps and call it “deconstructed.” It still counts.
Frequently Asked Questions

Easy Cake Donut Recipes for Any Occasion
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour sifted
- 1 cup granulated sugar "not null"
- 2 large eggs "not null"
- 0.5 cup milk "not null"
- 0.25 cup unsalted butter melted
- 2 teaspoons baking powder "not null"
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract "not null"
- 0.5 teaspoon salt "not null"
Instructions
Preparation Steps
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a donut pan.
- In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, melted butter, and vanilla.
- Combine the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Spoon the batter into the donut pan, filling each mold about 2/3 full.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until golden brown.
- Allow to cool for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack.