Carrot Cake Baked Donuts
Tender baked donuts loaded with warm spices and carrots, finished with a tangy cream cheese glaze. All the coziness of carrot cake in an easy morning treat.
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Servings:
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 0.5 cup packed light brown sugar
- 0.25 cup granulated sugar
- 1.5 tsp baking powder
- 0.5 tsp baking soda
- 0.5 tsp fine sea salt
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 0.5 tsp ground ginger
- 0.25 tsp ground nutmeg
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
- 1.5 tsp vanilla extract
- 0.33 cup neutral oil such as canola or vegetable
- 0.33 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 0.5 cup whole milk or buttermilk
- 1.5 cups finely grated carrots lightly packed
- 0.5 cup chopped walnuts or pecans optional
- 3 oz cream cheese for glaze, softened
- 0.75 cup powdered sugar for glaze
- 0.5 tsp vanilla extract for glaze
- 1.5 tbsp milk for glaze, as needed
Instructions
Preparation Steps
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease two 6-cavity donut pans or coat with baking spray.
- Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg in a large bowl.
- In another bowl, whisk brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, oil, applesauce, vanilla, and milk until smooth.
- Fold grated carrots into the wet mixture.
- Add wet ingredients to dry. Stir gently until just combined. Fold in nuts if using.
- Spoon or pipe batter into pans, filling each cavity about 3/4 full.
- Bake 10–12 minutes, until the tops spring back and a tester comes out clean.
- Cool 5 minutes in the pan, then transfer donuts to a rack to cool completely.
- Beat cream cheese and powdered sugar until creamy. Mix in vanilla and enough milk to make a pourable glaze.
- Dip cooled donuts in glaze or drizzle over tops. Let set a few minutes before serving.
Notes
Try adding a handful of raisins or swapping buttermilk for the milk for extra tang. For a lighter finish, dust cooled donuts with powdered sugar instead of glazing. Store glazed donuts covered in the fridge for up to 3 days; unglazed donuts keep at room temperature for 2 days.
This recipe is an original creation inspired by classic Carrot Cake Baked Donuts flavors. All ingredient ratios and instructions are independently developed.