Baked Cranberry Vanilla Donuts Recipe

Cranberry Vanilla Donuts are soft, tender, and delicious. They can be made in a jiffy and topped with anything you desire. When you need a quick, homemade breakfast, brunch, or after-school treat, this is a great recipe to have in your hip pocket.

The donut demon has been released. Since making the Dark Chocolate Baked Donuts recipe, I’ve been dreaming up other ways to show my once-neglected donut pan some love. We’ve now got over a half dozen donut recipes. The truth is I’m a donut lover. Especially when they’re bakery-beautiful like this Cranberry Vanilla Donuts recipe, or our baked Red Velvet Donuts, Sourdough Donuts, and our fried Blueberry Donuts recipes. Who says you can’t make traditional donuts at home?

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Cranberries. Cranberries are delicious and can be used in many ways. It used to be that I bought a bag at Thanksgiving and made a delicious sauce. The small amount that was left went to waste. I don’t like wasting food, so I always think of other ways to use ingredients. Unfortunately, unlike other fruits, they are just too sour to eat as is.

Delicious. Last year, I made Cranberry Orange muffins. They were so delicious that I knew Cranberry Donuts would be delicious too, and I wasn’t wrong. The delicious vanilla flavor comes through and blends so well with the citrus of the cranberry. The crumb is delicate and melts in your mouth. They make a great food gift during the holiday season too.

Versatile Baked Donut. I glazed these babies and dipped a few in-ground walnuts. You could top them any way you please, dust them with powdered sugar, or skip the topping altogether.

Skip the donut shop. Instead of a traditional fried donut, this easy recipe makes perfect vanilla donuts with a soft tender cake-like texture in less than 30 minutes.

Items you may need to make the best Cranberry Vanilla Donut recipe!

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• Donut pans – These non-stick donut pans are so easy to use and the baked donuts pop right out.
• Cooling racks – I love these large racks. I can get an entire batch od cookies on one and they’re tough enough to hold large loaves of bread. It fits into my half-sheet pan for baking bacon too!

Please note, that the printable recipe card has the full list of ingredients, quantities, complete instructions, and nutritional information. The following is a quick overview of the recipe.

Ingredients for Vanilla Donuts

All-Purpose Flour – You can use bleached or unbleached flour. One doesn’t act or taste any differently from the other. Unbleached flour is less processed since it doesn’t go through the bleaching step.

Baking soda is a leavening agent that gives baked goods the right texture and rise. We recommend that it be replaced every 6 months or tested for potency. We show you how in our Basic Baking Techniques document.

The acidity in Buttermilk works with the baking soda making a light and tender donut with a moist cake-like texture.. If you don’t have buttermilk, make your own. You can also substitute it with sour cream or plain yogurt. The acidity works with the baking soda making a light and tender donut with a moist cake-like texture.

Canola Oil. Or another neutral oil such as vegetable oil would be a great substitution. Use coconut oil for a subtle coconut flavor.

Eggs – Using fresh grade A large eggs creates structure and stability within the batter and adds moisture to cakes and other baked goods.

Vanilla – We prefer pure vanilla extract. However, you can use imitation vanilla extract if that’s what you have.

Cranberries. Fresh or frozen, thawed and chopped. We don’t use dried cranberries also called craisins.

How to Make Vanilla Donuts

Get it all ready.

Preheat your oven and prepare the pan by brushing it with oil or cooking spray. Set out all your ingredients ahead of time for the best results.

Mix the dry ingredients.

Combine flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. Whisk together.

Mix the wet ingredients.

In a medium bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer, combine egg, egg yolk, and buttermilk. Whisk to combine. Add oil, vanilla, and vanilla bean seeds or paste.

Combine the wet and dry ingredients.

Mix the two bowls together first, then fold in the cranberries.

Fill the donut pan.

Carefully spoon the donut batter into the donut cavities or use a reclosable plastic bag or disposable piping bag. Fill the prepared donut pan.

Bake your cranberry vanilla donuts.

Bake until golden brown. Do not overbake. Cool before glazing.

Glaze the vanilla donuts.

Mix the glaze in a shallow small bowl and dip each donut. Add nuts, coconut, or sprinkles to the tops of the donuts immediately if desired.

FAQ’s

How to store

Leftover baked Vanilla donuts without vanilla icing can be stored at room temperature and lightly covered with plastic wrap. After glazing, store in the refrigerator. Glaze can be kept refrigerated and applied right before serving for the freshest flavor.

Can I freeze Homemade Donuts?

Yes, you can freeze homemade donuts with or without the glaze. Freeze donuts on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper in a single layer and then move them to an airtight container after they are frozen. Thaw in the microwave for thirty seconds each or at room temperature.

The vanilla glaze can be frozen separately and applied to thawed donuts.

Hostess Tips

When glazing donuts, set the donuts on a cooling wire rack to dry, with a cookie sheet, lined with parchment paper or a paper towel, underneath it to catch the drips. This makes cleaning up a breeze!

If you want to add topping to your donuts, dip the donuts in the topping immediately after dipping the donuts in the glaze. I’ve shared some topping ideas in the “Variations” section.

Variations

Possible donut toppings are infinite! If you don’t love glaze, you can toss the donuts in powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar, or just plain white sugar by putting the sugar and donuts into a bag and giving it a good shake.

To vary the sweet vanilla glaze flavor, you can add 1/2 teaspoon of another extract such as lemon, orange, vanilla, almond, maple, or your personal favorite. You could also add cinnamon or nutmeg to the donut batter.

You can make a thick glaze or frosting by adding less liquid. 

Make mini donuts instead of full-sized donuts using a mini donut pan. You can even use a mini muffin pan.

Instead of fresh cranberries, you can use dried cranberries (Craisins) or another dried fruit.

A fun activity for a birthday party. Instead of cake, pre-bake and cool the donuts. Separate the glaze into two or three bowls and color each with food coloring. Set out separate toppings and gather the kids. Let them make and eat their own sprinkled donut.

Other topping ideas to add to glazed donuts include:

• Crushed walnuts, pecans, or slivered almonds
• coconut flakes
• sprinkles
• crushed cereal such as Fruity Pebbles
• old-fashioned oats

I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe as much as we do. Drop me a comment below, and don’t forget to give it a star rating. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Your comments and ratings help others decide if this recipe is for them too.

This recipe was originally shared on 11/23/2016 and has been updated to share tips and variations. No changes were made to the recipe.

Welcome to #CranberryWeek, hosted by Caroline’s Cooking. We’ll be sharing cranberry-inspired creations all week long in celebration of National Cranberry Day. Search #CranberryWeek to keep up to date and follow the #CranberryWeek Pinterest board for more cranberry inspiration. But first, see all the other cranberry recipes being shared today:

• Braised Short Ribs with Hoisin-Cranberry Sauce and Asian Coleslaw from Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Cranberry Borscht from Palatable Pastime
• Cranberry Glazed Pork Loin from Sew You Think You Can Cook
• Mixed Berry Sorbet from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Cranberry Lemon Curd Tart (no bake, GF) from Caroline’s Cooking
• Cranberry Smoothie from The Chef Next Door
• Grilled Brie with Cranberries from Full Belly Sisters
• Cranberry Vanilla Bean Donuts from Hostess At Heart
• Orange Cranberry Turnovers by The Bitter Side of Sweet
• Panko Crusted Chicken with Maple Cranberry Sauce from Family Around The Table
• Sweet Heat Cranberry Spread from Cooking With Carlee

Did you enjoy this recipe? Don’t forget to pin it for later and follow me on Pinterest for more delicious recipes like this one!