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January 29, 2016

Red Velvet Donuts

Red velvet donuts topped with cream cheese frosting! Baked, not fried, they’re super moist and fluffy! Perfect for Christmas morning and ready in just 20 minutes!

Red velvet donuts topped with cream cheese frosting! Bonus: They're ready in just 20 minutes.

Baked Red Velvet Donuts

Happy Friday! I hope you have some fun on the books for this weekend? I’m currently on my way to PA for a much needed girl’s weekend. So basically a weekend of talking, wine drinking, and eating await me. #lifeisgood

Right before I packed my bags this morning I whipped up a batch of these red velvet donuts for the road. I actually made these donuts a few times last week, working hard on getting the taste and texture just right. Once I had those details down, it was time to make them again, photograph them, and share them with you! ← That last part is my favorite part.

Red velvet donuts topped with cream cheese frosting! Bonus: They're ready in just 20 minutes.

Red Velvet Donut Recipe

There are two simple steps to these delicious donuts. The moist and flavorful donut and the sweet and fluffy cream cheese frosting. Let’s start with the donut part.

These donuts are baked, making them easy and pretty foolproof. Important to know: you will need a donut pan to make this recipe. You can click HERE to see the donut pan I’ve been happily using for the past 3 years.

You’re also going to need all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, buttermilk, brown sugar, an egg, vanilla, butter, red food coloring, and a pinch of salt.

You’re going to melt the butter before whisking in the sugar and vanilla, and then the egg. From there you’ll add in the dry ingredients, whisk them into the wet mixture, then fold in the buttermilk and finally, the food coloring. The amount of food coloring you use is totally up to you. I used 2 teaspoons to achieve this vibrant red hue ↓↓↓

Red velvet donuts topped with cream cheese frosting! Bonus: They're ready in just 20 minutes.

For the cream cheese frosting you will need cream cheese (duh), butter, vanilla extract, a touch of salt, and confectioners’ sugar. You’ll want to make sure your cream cheese and butter are both very soft before beginning this process.

To bake the donuts you’re going to preheat your oven to 350 degrees (F). Pro tip: Make sure you generously grease your donut pan before filling the molds. If you don’t, they will stick.

Bake the donuts for 9-10 minutes, or until they’re just firm enough to spring back slightly when touched. Make sure you cool them completely before frosting them!

Red velvet donuts topped with cream cheese frosting! Bonus: They're ready in just 20 minutes.

Don’t be surprised if you find yourself dreaming up any excuse to bake these.

If you try this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment below and don’t forget to snap a pic and tag it #bakerbynature on Instagram! Seeing your kitchen creations makes my day. ♥

Red velvet donuts topped with cream cheese frosting! Baked, not fried, they're super moist and fluffy! Perfect for Christmas morning and ready in just 20 minutes!More Red Velvet Recipes:

  • White Chocolate Red Velvet Truffle Cake
  • One Bowl Red Velvet Cupcakes
  • Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Red velvet donuts topped with cream cheese frosting! Bonus: They're ready in just 20 minutes.

2 votes

Print

Red Velvet Donuts

Prep 10 mins

Cook 10 mins

Total 20 mins

Author Ashley Manila

Yield 6 baked donuts

Baked red velvet donuts topped with cream cheese frosting! Ready in just 20 minutes.

Ingredients

For the red velvet donuts:

  • 1 cup all-purpose baking flour
  • 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg, at room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons red food coloring

For the cream cheese frosting:

  • 3 ounces cream cheese, VERY soft
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, VERY soft
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
  • 1-2 tablespoons milk

Instructions

For the red velvet donuts:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Generously grease a doughnut pan and set aside.
  2. In a large bowl whisk together the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl whisk together the buttermilk, melted butter, vanilla, and egg. Gently fold the wet mixture into the dry mixture - don't over mix! Fold in red food coloring and stir until combined.
  3. Spoon mixture into prepared doughnut pan, and bake for 10 minutes, or until the doughnuts spring back when lightly pressed. Allow doughnuts to cool a few minutes in the pan before transferring to a wire wrack to cool for a few more minutes.

For the cream cheese frosting:

  1. In the bowl of a stand-mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl using an electric handheld mixer, beat the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla extract on medium-high speed until completely smooth; about 2 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and gradually add the sifted confectioners' sugar. Add in the milk. Once the milk is combined beat frosting on high-speed for 1-2 minutes.
  2. Spread frosting on cooled donuts.

Courses Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine Southern

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 baked donut

Amount Per Serving

% Daily Value

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

23K Shares

Filed Under: Breakfast, Donuts Tagged With: cream cheese, donuts, red velvet

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Deena says

    February 19, 2016 at 2:44 am

    These look fantastic, thanks for posting! I look forward to making them.

    Reply
    • bakerbynature says

      February 21, 2016 at 2:27 pm

      Yay! Enjoy, Deena!

      Reply
  2. Zena says

    April 19, 2016 at 1:07 am

    These look absolutely delicious! I’ll be sure to make them soon 🙂

    Reply
  3. anka says

    July 14, 2016 at 11:37 am

    do i have to use a donut pan ??? can i use something else, like cutting??

    Reply
    • bakerbynature says

      July 14, 2016 at 1:30 pm

      Hi Anka. A donut pan is required for this recipe.

      Reply
      • Braedon Grove says

        February 25, 2019 at 5:28 pm

        Can definitely use a muffin pan with a ball of foil in a middle….

        Reply
  4. Gaby says

    July 14, 2016 at 10:18 pm

    What would you suggest to substitude food colouring?

    Reply
    • Andy Page says

      January 30, 2017 at 8:46 pm

      You don’t need to add the colour at all but they will be more ‘brown’ velvet than red. The taste will still be the same which is what’s important

      Reply
  5. ChristyK says

    August 20, 2016 at 10:30 pm

    Just made these! OMG! Delicious! Beautiful! Lovely texture!

    Reply
  6. Lishen says

    January 24, 2017 at 12:20 am

    Hi, can I use a donut maker instead of a donuts pan?

    Reply
  7. Jae | Dreaming of Leaving says

    February 1, 2017 at 3:39 pm

    I absolutely love this recipe, so much so I included it in my Ultimate Homemade Donut Recipes Roundup! Great post, have a great day xo

    http://dreamingofleaving.com/2017/01/01/the-ultimate-homemade-donut-recipe-roundup/

    Reply
  8. Pilus Maximus says

    February 11, 2017 at 7:55 pm

    You should have specified the kind of food coloring. I’ve used gel instead of liquid and the donuts turned out more brown-ish than reddish when baked.

    Portion sizes are a bit off as well. I’ve used only about half of the frosting.

    The frosting was DELICIOUS. THE BEST donut frosting I’ve ever had in my life, but the donuts lacked flavor. They taste of nothing at all. I used pure cocoa powder, should I’ve used the sugared one instead?

    Reply
    • bakerbynature says

      February 14, 2017 at 1:23 am

      Hi Pilus. You should use unsweetned cocoa powder.

      Reply
  9. Roberts says

    February 15, 2017 at 4:18 am

    I think i,m gonna make this and sell it..thank my dear.

    Reply
  10. Ridhi says

    March 11, 2017 at 3:08 am

    Heyy donut looks uber delicious but can you suggest any alternative for egg???

    Reply
  11. May says

    July 26, 2017 at 3:35 pm

    How much do we fill the pan ?

    Reply
  12. S says

    October 5, 2018 at 11:38 pm

    Is there an option to fill the donuts instead of icing them? Sorry. I haven’t read the comments and I’ve been searching for a recipe catered to filling the donuts instead. TIA!

    Reply
    • bakerbynature says

      October 6, 2018 at 5:34 pm

      Hi S! Unfortunately this recipe cannot be filled.

      Reply
  13. Ashley says

    January 19, 2019 at 6:46 pm

    Hi! These look absolutely delicious! I have a question though: How do you take your flour? Spoon and levelled or straight from the jar? Thanks! Also, do you use gel food coloring or liquid?

    Reply
  14. Fiona says

    February 17, 2019 at 11:18 pm

    Thank you. These are fantastic. I have made them twice. My family love these.

    Reply
  15. Robin says

    June 7, 2020 at 5:13 pm

    i’m wondering if the icing will harden enough that I can put these in a bag and not have it get messed up.
    Thanks. Looks beautiful and tasty!

    Reply
  16. cheg says

    June 12, 2020 at 8:35 am

    Fabulous! super easy & super delicious!!

    Reply
  17. Tara 5280 says

    July 15, 2020 at 4:54 pm

    Any special instructions or adjustments to the recipe for those of us that are at high altitude?

    Reply
  18. Cassandra G. says

    December 8, 2020 at 3:08 am

    Can I freeze the frosting leftover ? By the way, over 20 people tasted the donuts and everyone loved it. I personnaly reaaaally like the frosting.

    Reply

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Meet Ashley

Hey! I’m Ashley, a creative spirit with a major sweet tooth. Most days you can find me in my happy place: the kitchen. If I’m not there, I’m probably snapping photos of food, planning a party… or dreaming about my next trip to Paris (AKA my favorite place in the entire world). I’m a story teller, recipe developer, and photographer who firmly believes that a homemade life is a happy life. Learn More.

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