Easy Baked Iced Vanilla Donuts
Iced vanilla donuts are soft cake-style or yeast donuts topped with a smooth vanilla icing or glaze. They’re known for their light texture, sweet flavor, and classic bakery-style finish.
In light of January as National Hot Tea month in the United States, what better way to celebrate with tea inspired donuts!
A thick cakey bite that is baked and not fried is taliored to my liking,
I chose to add both tea and leaves in the recipe to really pack in the flavor of the teas. They do not give off a pure tea feel but you get a hint of tea on the back end of the bite.
See recipe notes at the bottom of the recipe card for suggestions and substitutions. I love using vanilla bean because it brings out the natural vanilla flavor more, extract works just as well!
I have link the gluten free flour I use in the notes section!
Lastly, when dunking the donut, it gets messy and have fun with it! You dunk straight down and turn to lift the donut to make for a easier landing back on the cooling rack. I double coat mine to use up most of the glaze and because the donut/glaze ratio is perfect.
Thank you Tea Council for allowing me to show case you!
If you love sweet breakfast treats, try these Cake Batter Donuts
Why You'll Love This Easy Baked Iced Vanilla Donuts
- Soft, fluffy, bakery-style texture
- Sweet vanilla glaze that sets perfectly
- Easy baked version — no frying needed
- Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert
- Customizable with sprinkles or toppings
For another bakery-style treat, try these Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Key Ingredients You'll Need
For the donuts:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour*
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 large egg
- 1/3 cup milk (any)
- 1 1/2 tablespoon brewed green tea
- 1 vanilla bean, seeded**
- 1/2 teaspoon green tea leave, finely ground
For the glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1-2 tablespoons milk
- Dried lavender leaves for topping
- Optional: food coloring gel
How to Make Easy Baked Iced Vanilla Donuts
For the donuts:
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray donut pan, set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- In a small bowl, beat butter, egg, milk, tea, and vanilla together.
- Add wet mixture into the dry mixture. Using spatula, fold to combine green tea leave in.
- Divide mixture evenly among the 6 donut cavities, filling about 3/4 of the way.
- Bake 8-10 minutes.
- Let cool completely on cooling rack.
For the glaze:
- In a medium bowl, mix sugar, vanilla, milk and coloring together (if using).
- Carefully dunk cooled donut into mixture about half way down. Turn counter-clock wise as you lift donut and return to wire rack.
- Repeat twice for 2 coats. Sprinkle tops with lavender leaves.
- Let sit 5 minutes until glaze as set.
- Enjoy!
- Store in air tight container in refrigerator.
*For Gluten-Free, use Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 flour.
**Use vanilla extract in place of vanilla bean.
Want to see these recipes in action? Follow Stacie on YouTube for step-by-step videos and even more kitchen secrets!
For another fun breakfast recipe, try these Cinnamon Roll Cake
Stacie’s Tricks & Tips
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Do not overmix batter
-
Let donuts cool before glazing
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Adjust glaze thickness to preference
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Double-dip for thicker icing
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Add sprinkles for a classic bakery look
If you’ve been eyeing those beautiful pans in my videos, you can find them at Caraway Home. Use my affiliate code STACIE at checkout to support the blog and get a discount!
For more baking techniques, explore
Frequently Asked Questions
What are iced vanilla donuts?
Iced vanilla donuts are soft donuts topped with a sweet vanilla glaze or frosting, often decorated with sprinkles.
Are iced vanilla donuts baked or fried?
They can be either, but homemade versions are often baked for simplicity and a lighter texture.
How do you make donut icing harden?
Donut icing hardens as it dries due to the powdered sugar base. Letting donuts sit uncovered helps the glaze set.
Can I make iced vanilla donuts without a donut pan?
Yes, you can bake them in a muffin tin and shape them after baking or pipe into rings on a baking sheet.
How long do iced vanilla donuts last?
They last 2–3 days at room temperature in an airtight container.
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