Baked Carrot Cake Donuts (carrot cake in donut form!)

Treat yourself with these easy peasy carrot cake donuts! With plenty of shredded carrot, juicy pineapple and an icing sugar glaze generously sprinkled with nuts, this baked donut recipe is sure to be a favourite!

Hey friends!

I love baked donuts! You too? Some of my faves are these blueberry baked donuts and vanilla glazed donuts.

Today I’m sharing another easy donut recipe – carrot cake donuts, to be exact!

If you’re a fan of carrot cake, then I know you’ll love these too.

I grew up with pineapple in my carrot cake, so I used in these donuts. Plus, the pineapple juice is used for the simple icing sugar glaze.

And because there’s a veggie in these donuts, they’re practically considered a health food, right? Lol…ok, not really, but they are delicious.

These carrot donuts are great for a random, oh, I don’t know…Wednesday, but would also be a lovely Easter dessert or addition to brunch. Plus, who doesn’t love homemade donuts?

Now, all that’s left to do is put on a pot of coffee (or boil the kettle) and whip up a batch of these bad boys. Sound good 😉 ?

Why These Carrot Cake Donuts Are Great!

• They take about 5 minutes to prep!
• Baked donuts are an easier and healthier version compared to fried donuts.
• The ingredients are mostly those that one would find in their pantry/have on hand already.
• They’re an easier version of carrot cake, nice-n-portable too.
• You don’t have to visit your local coffee shop to enjoy fresh donuts. Homemade is always a good idea!
• So freaking delicious!

How to Make Baked Donuts

Full instructions on how to make donuts are in the recipe card below, but here are the basics –

1. To a bowl, add flour, sugar, shredded carrot, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Mix to combine.
2. In another bowl, whisk together milk, melted butter, egg and vanilla extract.
3. Now, pour the milk mixture into the flour mixture and whisk or blend to combine.
4. Add in chopped pineapple.
5. Spoon or pipe donut batter into a greased donut pan and bake.
6. Once baked, allow to cool in the pan for a little bit.
7. Then, place donuts onto a wire rack to completely cool before glazing.
8. Mix together icing sugar and pineapple juice in a bowl and invert donuts into the glaze to coat well.
9. Sprinkle over chopped nuts and enjoy!

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Do I Have To Use Icing Sugar Glaze?

Not at all!

The glaze adds an extra special touch to donuts, but you don’t have to use if you don’t want to. Alternatively, you can simply dust with a little icing sugar.

Tip: If you opt not to glaze (but still want to use nuts), mix some into the batter.

How Long Do These Donuts Last?

Like pretty much all baked goods, these are best enjoyed when they are made for optimal freshness and taste. Plus, the glaze is prettiest when these are made and enjoyed fresh.

However, leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for a few days.

Can I Freeze These Donuts?

Absolutely!

If you want to bake a batch and freeze some, that’s a ok too.

I would recommend glazing after they’ve thawed.

More Tips + Variations

Do not glaze the donuts until they are fully cooled. Otherwise, the glaze will melt right into the donuts.

Speaking of glaze, you want it on the thicker side. It’s best to add a little pineapple juice, mix in and see how you like the consistency. Then, add more as needed. And if you thin out your glaze too much, no worries! Just add a little more icing sugar to thicken things.

Canned pineapple was used, but you can totally use fresh if you prefer.

Another delicious add in to these carrot cake donuts is fresh orange zest. You can mix some into the batter, as well as top the glaze.

More Easy Desserts You May Enjoy

• Lemon Coconut Donuts – Zesty lemon with flavourful coconut for one delicious baked donut.
• Vanilla Glazed Donuts – A classic and for good reason! Decorate with plenty of colourful sprinkles for a fun treat.
• Key Lime Bars from Marcie of Flavor the Moments. If you’re a fan of citrus desserts, these are for you!

Hope you love these glazed carrot cake donuts as much as we do!

Until next time, take care and chit chat again soon,

Dawn

Make this baked donut recipe? That’s awesome! Love it if you left a comment and rating below. Many thanks!

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5 from 9 votes

Baked Carrot Cake Donuts (carrot cake in donut form!)

Treat yourself with these easy peasy carrot cake donuts! With plenty of shredded carrot, juicy pineapple and an icing sugar glaze generously sprinkled with nuts, this baked donut recipe is sure to be a favourite!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American, Canadian

Keyword baked donut recipe, Easter dessert, easy donut recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 12 minutes

Cooling Time 30 minutes

Total Time 52 minutes

Servings 8 donuts

Calories 277kcal

Author Dawn – Girl Heart Food

Ingredients

Carrot Cake Donuts

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup grated carrot (about 1 small carrot)
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup milk (dairy, almond or oat)
• 1/4 cup melted unsalted butter
• 1 large egg
• 1.5 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup canned pineapple slices (drained, but juice reserved) , roughly chopped into small pieces (about 3 slices)

Glaze

• 1 cup icing sugar
• 2 tablespoons pineapple juice (approximately)
• 1/3 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Instructions

Carrot Cake Donuts

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, in a bowl combine flour with sugar, grated carrot, baking powder, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg and salt. Stir to combine and lay to one side.
• In another bowl combine milk with melted butter (allowed to cool for a few minutes before adding to milk and egg mixture), egg, and vanilla extract, whisking to combine.
• Whisk or mix milk mixture into flour mixture until combined and there are no streaks of flour.
• Mix in pineapple.
• Grease a donut pan and pipe or smooth donut batter into it. Smooth tops and tap on a hard surface to settle things.

  Note: This recipe yields 8 donuts. If you have a 6 unit donut tin, you can bake in batches. Just make sure to wash/dry and re-grease your pan when you are baking your remaining donuts. Or, if you have a large count donut pan, even better!
• Bake for about 12 minutes or until a wooden skewer comes out clean from batter. Don't over bake.
• Let donuts cool in pan for about 5 minutes before inverting and allowing to fully cool on a wire rack before glazing.

Glaze

• To glaze donuts – combine icing sugar with pineapple juice until smooth. It's better to start with a little juice first and add as necessary. As you stir it, the glaze get smooth and should be thick.

  Note: If you add too much juice and your glaze is too thin, add a little more icing sugar to thicken.
• Invert each donut into icing sugar glaze and sprinkle with chopped walnuts. If you like, you can allow the glaze to set so let the donuts rest on a wire rack for a little bit (or you can dig in). Enjoy!

Notes

 

• Do not glaze the donuts until they are FULLY COOLED. Otherwise, the glaze will melt right into the donuts.
• Speaking of glaze, you want it on the thicker side. It’s best to add a little pineapple juice, mix in and see how you like the consistency. Then, add more as needed. And if you thin out your glaze too much, no worries! Just add a little more icing sugar to thicken things.
• Canned pineapple was used, but you can totally use fresh if you prefer.
• Another delicious add in to these carrot cake donuts is fresh orange zest. You can mix some into the batter, as well as top the glaze.

 

 

Tried this recipe? That’s awesome!Mention @dawn.girlheartfood or tag #girlheartfood

Nutrition (estimate only)

Calories: 277kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 40mg | Sodium: 166mg | Potassium: 155mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 1564IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition Facts

Baked Carrot Cake Donuts (carrot cake in donut form!)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 277 Calories from Fat 90

% Daily Value*

Fat 10g15%

Saturated Fat 4g25%

Cholesterol 40mg13%

Sodium 166mg7%

Potassium 155mg4%

Carbohydrates 44g15%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 30g33%

Protein 4g8%

Vitamin A 1564IU31%

Vitamin C 2mg2%

Calcium 50mg5%

Iron 1mg6%

* Nutrition estimate only. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.