Baked Red Velvet Cake Doughnuts.
I didn’t want to buy a doughnut pan.
I didn’t want to bake doughnuts.
I especially didn’t want to bake doughnuts and post them on my blog.
I reallllly didn’t want to succumb to the doughnut pan trend.
I didn’t want to do something that I didn’t want to do.
You can see how well that all worked out. Obviously.
But seriously, I didn’t want to bake doughnuts when, let’s be real… they are pretty perfect all on their own after a big bath in the fryer. And they come out with a somewhat funky shape that looks like a doughnut but isn’t a real doughnut. See above.
And while we are on this topic, is it “doughnut” or “donut?” Is it maybe only “donut” because Dunkin’ Donuts says so? I like “donut” better but that’s simply because I’m lazy and would rather not type out an extra “ugh.” Truth!
So, remember when Ashley brought me those doughnuts last week? Yeah. The day after that I had to pack for a trip and work on a few recipes and do a bunch of other stuff that I normally do, but instead of that I drove over an hour just to buy a doughnut pan. Oh and that place didn’t even have a doughnut pan. So I had to drive somewhere else.
Then instead of doing all of the work I was supposed to do, I made about six batches of doughnuts. I took them to my parent’s house that night where they were promptly demolished. Then the next day, the morning of the day we were leaving for our trip, when I should have been doing laundry/cleaning/packing/showering/working, I made two more big batches of doughnuts to take as road trip snacks.
I was all excited and junk because now not only had I decided that I really loved doughnuts, but Mr. How Sweet already loved them. I mean… loved. I figured he’d be pumped. Until he came home from the airport that morning and relayed his breakfast and “power” snacks consisting of one jumbo blueberry muffin, one Cinnabon bun and two Krispy Kremes.
Anyway.
All I could think about on our trip was doughnuts. I wanted to make more and wanted to experiment and wanted to bake a billion apple cider doughnuts and live on them alone. But there were two very specific flavors that I couldn’t get out of my mind; two flavors that were really gnawing at my brain: mint chocolate chip and red velvet.
Mint chocolate chip was my number one choice, but someone in this house hates the chocolate + mint combo. And given my doughnut fixation, I did not think it would be wise to bake a large batch of doughnuts for me, myself and I. Apparently… doughnuts do not an everyday dinner make. Uh… who makes the rules here?
So. Instead of doing anything important last week, I baked red velvet doughnuts. I’m a total sellout. They were way too good not to share, and the good news is that I already own a deep fryer. Fried doughnuts coming up next! Me and the treadmill are BFF’s.
Baked Red Velvet Cake Doughnuts
[adapted from the doughnut recipe of the back of the Wilton pan]
makes 10-12 standard-sized doughnuts
1 cup cake flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/3 cup granulated sugar + 2 tablespoons
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/3 cup buttermilk + 1 tablespoon
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon red food coloring (I used “no taste red” gel)
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
In a large bowl, combine flour, cocoa, sugar, salt and baking powder, then mix with a spoon. Add in buttermilk and egg, mixing to combine. Stir in butter. In a small bowl, mix baking soda and vinegar together, then add in vanilla. Add the mixture to the doughnut batter, then stir in red food coloring. Using a pastry bag or spoon (I found a spoon was easier since this batter is more cake-like) fill each doughnut mold 2/3 of the way full. Bake for 7-8 minutes, thne let cool for 5 minutes before removing.
Notes: I tried these with all-purpose flour and while they did work, they weren’t nearly as cakey as the ones made with cake flour. Also, depending on your red food coloring brand, you may want to add it gradually and go by the color of the batter to determine the amount to add.
Whipped Cream Cheese Glaze
1/4 cup whipped cream cheese, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup powdered sugar
4-5 tablespoons heavy cream, or more depending on texture
In a bowl, whisk cream cheese vigorously until it smoothes out. Add in sugar, vanilla and cream one tablespoon at a time, whisking constantly. This glaze will be a bit thicker (almost like a thin frosting), so add more or less cream depending on your desired consistency. Either dip doughnuts or frost them with a small spoon, then cover in sprinkles or shaved chocolate.
P.S. The whipped cream cheese glaze will make you overdose. Just sayin’.
353 Comments on “Baked Red Velvet Cake Doughnuts.”
I could skip the actual donut part and just cut straight to the Whipped Cream Cheese Glaze. Overdose city, indeed. Happily!
I have not bought a donut pan…yet. I keep blogging that Im going to and then havent yet but now I think I HAVE to really get one.
Your photos are gorgeous…love the collage one. I’ve tried doing things like that in LR and it takes me oh, about 37 minutes to create 1 collage. You are a better woman than I!
my name is chelsey and i bought a donut pan last week. i couldn’t help myself.
Ya’ll are making me think I better get one now. Dangit!
Every morning when I see your latest post title, I think…”She’s done it again!” Oh my gaaaaawwwwsh this sounds good. I would be so battling the pounds if I was you :) I’m guessing you aren’t though! Ha…anyway, red velvet anything makes me drool, fantabulous!
I do not own a donut pan BUT I really want one! You are always out doing yourself girl!
Soooooooooo when is a book coming out?! You need one!
Happy Monday! : )
They look amazing! I am always disappointed by regular fried doughnuts, so maybe I might like baked doughnuts more. Not sure I have anymore space in my cupboards for a doughnut pan though!
It is definitely doughnuts, not donuts, at least in England. But it is well established that Americans butcher the English language anyway! ;)
okay wow you always seem to make Mondays so much better!
Did you read my mind??? Oh my gosh..it is crazy. So I was drying my hair getting ready for work reading twitter comments..as soon as I got to yours I literally threw everything down (including the hair dryer and straightener..oops! :) ) and HAD to click the link to this recipe. For over a week I have been talking about creating a recipe for red velvet donuts (or doughnuts :) ) on my blog..and then I see this on twutter! I about screamed in happiness,!! Not only was it a recipe I have been DYING to make, but its from my favorite recipe-inventer ever! (That would be you :) )
Thank you x a million. Its going to take a lot of resistant to not eat the entire pan of these when I’m done making them. You are the BEST..and quite a mind reader too! :D
Ahhh! You gotta try them girl!
I reallyreallyreally want a donut pan now. Like so much that I’m going to find it hard to think of anything else today. I try to comfort myself with the fact that baked donuts must surely be better for you than fried donuts and it’s all about making healthier choices. Indeed.
Red velvet…yes please.
in a doughnut….umm definitely
and with a cream cheese glaze…. holy cow!!!!
talk about a devilish treat, I bet these were outstanding.
and I just love how you are tackling the whole donut/ doughnut thing and I think you are right… let’s all just leave the duh out. lol
I love following your blog!
Thanks Laura!
I have been putting off buying donut pan for months…
I love homemade donuts… FRIED.
When they are baked to they get the slight crunch? Thats what I love most about the fried ones… then the soft center.
Not really, but I haven’t tried many other recipes, There may be a way to make it happen!
Great, thus begins my quest for a donut pan in Belgium…
Or maybe I will try my first time online shopping…
They look delicious, I went swimming today, I’m still sore from yesterday’s run, I earned one :)
Kat
Oh my, those look insanely good!
I am going to find a donut pan. My daughter and I will make these this weekend while she is home from college.. We will regret it horribly on Monday morning, but love, love, love it all weekend.
You had to do it, didn’t you? Great, now I have to buy a doughnut pan! ;-) These look AMAZING!
I love that you posted this on a Monday. Thank you. Now I can daydream about these at work. :D
I’ve been also thinking about getting a donut pan. Between this recipe and the ones on pure2raw I think I’m convinced!
Those donuts are seriously so adorable! I like red velvet ANYTHING so these are something I most definitely am going to have to try out. :)
You know what I love about baking? Since the things we make have no nutrition on labels it’s uber easy to pretend that they in fact have no caloric impact and eating 129,467 donuts will have 0 effect on our waistlines. I’m okay with that.
Yum-city. I will now buy myself a pumpkin donut when I get off the train and daydream it was as good as these :)
Every once in a while there is a post you can NOT let yourself read- simply because of the title. “oh crap” where the exact words in my thought bubble. I can not even fathom the deliciousness and would end up making the batch and eating the WHOLE darn thing BY MYSELF!
These are so gorgeous!
You’ve convinced me to go find a donut pan! These look AMAZING.
Also, can you pleeeeeeease make a mint chocolate chip variety? I promise I’ll help with eating them! It’s my favorite flavor/combination/ice cream flavor/candy/everything.
I told myself I wouldn’t hop on the donut pan tray either. I haven’t bought one yet, but these do look really good! I spell it donut, I’m lazy too. Too bad there is a little read squiggly line underneath telling me it’s wrong. Oh well :)
Ok, I don’t think I can put off the purchase of a donut pan any longer! You and Ashley have got me convinced. (And ps. I really do hope you make that mint chocolate chip version!!!!)
gah, now i’m going to bite the bullet and order a donut pan on amazon. dang you! :)
Red Velvet cake doughnuts may be my ultimate downfall…especially with that glaze…
Now I have to sell out and buy the darn donut pan!
YUM! I haven’t succombed to the donut trend yet either but everyone is making is REALLY hard on me! ha! Not you too!! :)
Now I want to go out and buy a doughnut pan, torture!
Yep, got on the donut pan trend, too. I made apple cider donuts in them this weekend but they were a little blah – I think those NEED to be fried. Pretty please say that those are the ones you have coming up next!!!!
I have also been holding out on buying a donut pan. So your telling me its time huh?
1. I love apple cider doughnuts! 2. red velvet = win 3. who in their right mind hates chocolate & mint?!
I know.
O.M.G. – I have a donut pan and now I am toast!
Noooooooooo… I have been resisting the donut pan trend as well, mostly because I don’t get why you can still call it a donut if it’s not 100% deep-friend and fattening… but these are so… beautiful… and the possibilities are so… endless… you are not helping me here!
I’ve had a couple of donut pans just sitting in my cupboard, waiting (for a couple of years) to be used. I think it’s time they get a little action with these gorgeous donuts. :)
My eyes have just contacted my heart about hiring a band and having a party in my stomach. S’gonna get TOW UP.
I heart you….:)
I’ve been going back and forth about buying a do(ugh)nut pan because I think I prefer the fried to baked. I’m very intrigued by the mint chocolate chip flavor. You can make batches and I’ll be over to share them with you!
As always, GREAT pictures!!
Yummm. I want a donut pan so badly. This? Not helping ;)
I feel like I should be going out an getting a donut pan! My boyfriend would probably love it if I did! These donuts look absolutely delicious!
I know you’re over your pumpkin phase, but please, please, please, could you do pumpkin and apple cider donuts for Halloween????? My kids would LOVE them!!!
You’re killing me Terry!
Oh my God! You’re my food bible, are you telling me donuts are trendy now?! I love it. I wrote a post on how I wanted donuts to be the next trendy desert!
http://douxrousse.blogspot.com/2011/10/sugar-high.html
XO,
Doux Rousse
douxrousse.blogspot.com
Hahaha, well I certainly don’t know anything, but I think the baked doughnut pans are pretty trendy. :)
They look pretty good Jessica, but I’m sort of still fighting the feeling to buy a doughnut pan. I reeeeaaaaally love doughnuts just the way they are-fried and smothered in glaze :)
Aww I know it’s not even Halloween yet, but these would make a gorgeous Christmas dessert! They look wonderful!
Love love love! I’m so glad you gave into the donut trend! :)
These photos are making me want to run out of my building right now, find the nearest Dunkin’ Donuts (there is only one Krispy Kreme in all of Manhattan, btw. That should be illegal), and buy like a dozen donuts just for me. Because I do not yet have a donut pan. Note the use of the word “yet.”
Girl, you crack me up! I feel the same about french macaroons. I WOULD NOT make them for the blog last year, but I do secretly shovel them down as often as possible. These donuts sound amazing!
Oh yeah! I feel the same way about macarons too!
you horrible horrible horrible person you! i love every recipe you post…which is not really good for my thighs or butt. :) oh and i did go to trader joes and bought some chocolate coconut water. it. is.really. good!
Isn’t it?!
Um yes please. Sometimes it’s such good things come out of giving in. Like obviously these doughnuts.
You are so funny! I don’t even like donuts, but I could probably be persueded to like them. Your’s look delicous! Chocolate Mint sounds good…that is my favorite ice cream!
I’ve got one on my wishlist. I’ll be late on the trend but I figure there will be plenty of mouth watering recipes like these to get me on my way and I don’t mind being a straggler.
oh dear another thing i have to make…yikes