Soft Muffin Tin Donuts (Printer-friendly)

Baked soft cake-style donuts in muffin tins with a sweet classic glaze for a nostalgic treat.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2/3 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 tsp baking powder
04 - 1/2 tsp baking soda
05 - 1/2 tsp salt
06 - 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

→ Wet Ingredients

07 - 2/3 cup whole milk, room temperature
08 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
09 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
10 - 2 tsp pure vanilla extract

→ Glaze

11 - 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
12 - 2 to 3 tbsp milk
13 - 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 12-cup muffin tin with nonstick spray or butter.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk milk, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth and fully combined.
04 - Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined, avoiding overmixing.
05 - Fill each muffin cup halfway with batter, distributing evenly among 12 cups.
06 - Bake for 14 to 16 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
07 - Allow donuts to cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
08 - Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Adjust milk to achieve desired consistency.
09 - Dip the top of each cooled donut into the glaze, let excess drip off, and return to rack until glaze sets.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They're soft and pillowy inside with a tender crumb that rivals any bakery donut, without the deep-fry commitment.
  • Ready in under an hour from start to finish, including cooling time.
  • The simple glaze hides a quiet sophistication—that hint of nutmeg in the cake makes all the difference.
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients blend seamlessly together, preventing lumps and ensuring an even, tender crumb throughout.
  • The moment you see flour streaks disappearing is the moment to stop stirring; every extra stroke makes the donut denser and chewier.
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients are non-negotiable; cold eggs and milk won't blend smoothly with the dry mixture, leaving your donuts dense and uneven.
  • Don't skip the sifting step for powdered sugar in the glaze; it takes 30 seconds and makes the difference between silky smooth and gritty.
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