20 Fun Donut Recipes That Are Just as Fun to Make as They Are to Eat

Donut recipes bring happiness to any kitchen with their sweet flavors and fun shapes. These treats remind people of good times while being simple enough for anyone to make. From fruity cereal toppings to rich chocolate glazes, there’s a donut here for every taste. They’re great for sharing at breakfast or as a snack, and the recipes work for both baked and fried versions. Trying these ideas means fresh, homemade donuts that taste way better than store-bought ones.

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Fruity Pebbles Donuts with Cake Mix

A group of colorful donuts topped with fruity cereal pieces are arranged on a white marble surface. A plate with three additional donuts is on the right, next to a bottle of milk with a blue straw. The arrangement creates a bright and cheerful display. — Fruity Pebbles Donuts with Cake Mix. Photo credit: The Savory Cipolla.

These donuts use cake mix to make colorful Fruity Pebbles Donuts that come together fast. The cereal adds crunch and bright colors to the soft baked donuts, creating a fun breakfast that kids and adults both love for its sweet, nostalgic taste.
Get the Recipe: Fruity Pebbles Donuts with Cake Mix

Dulce de Leche Donuts

A close-up of several doughnuts coated in powdered sugar, arranged on a plate. The doughnuts have a golden-brown crust, and the powdered sugar is generously sprinkled, creating a sweet and inviting appearance. — Dulce de Leche Donuts. Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

Creamy caramel filling oozes out when you bite into Dulce de Leche Donuts, making them extra special. The soft fried dough pairs perfectly with the sweet, gooey center, creating a treat that disappears quickly at parties or weekend breakfasts.
Get Recipe: Dulce de Leche Donuts

Baked Chocolate Donuts

Donuts with pink icing and red and white sprinkles are resting on a black cooling rack. The icing has dripped slightly down the sides of the donuts, and the sprinkles are evenly distributed on top. The background is white, giving a contrast to the vibrant donuts. — Baked Chocolate Donuts. Photo credit: Baked Collective.

Rich chocolate flavor fills every bite of these Baked Chocolate Donuts that come out moist and cakey. A simple glaze on top adds just enough sweetness without being too much, making them great for when you want chocolate without heavy frosting.
Get the Recipe: Baked Chocolate Donuts

Healthy Chocolate Baked Donuts {Without Yeast}

A chocolate-glazed donut with colorful sprinkles is shown with a bite taken out of it, surrounded by other unbitten chocolate donuts on a light-colored surface. — Healthy Chocolate Baked Donuts {Without Yeast}. Photo credit: Haute & Healthy Living.

Healthy Chocolate Baked Donuts skip the yeast and oil but keep all the chocolate taste. They bake up light and fluffy with ingredients you can feel good about, perfect for when you want something sweet without too much guilt.
Get the Recipe: Healthy Chocolate Baked Donuts {Without Yeast}

Homemade Custard Donuts (Fried or Baked)

A wooden tray filled with an assortment of powdered sugar-coated doughnuts and doughnuts filled with custard or cream. A pair of tongs rests on the tray. A cup of coffee, a small bowl of sugar, and a blue cloth napkin are visible in the background. — Homemade Custard Donuts (Fried or Baked). Photo credit: The Cozy Plum.

Pillowy donuts stuffed with smooth custard make Homemade Custard Donuts worth the little extra effort. Whether baked or fried, the contrast between the soft dough and creamy filling makes these a classic favorite that never gets old.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Custard Donuts (Fried or Baked)

Zesty Grapefruit Baked Donuts

A round marble and wooden board with several pink-glazed donuts adorned with small white flowers, surrounded by halved ruby red grapefruits. A spatula with pink glaze rests beside the board on a white marble surface. — Zesty Grapefruit Baked Donuts. Photo credit: Baking Ginger.

Bright citrus flavor shines in Zesty Grapefruit Baked Donuts that taste fresh and different. The light glaze lets the tangy grapefruit flavor come through while adding just enough sweetness to balance the tartness perfectly.
Get the Recipe: Zesty Grapefruit Baked Donuts

Baked Ube Donuts

A top view of several vibrant purple donuts with various toppings, including shredded coconut and shredded yellow cheese, on a white surface. One of the donuts has a bite taken out of it. — Baked Ube Donuts. Photo credit: The Unlikely Baker.

Vibrant purple Baked Ube Donuts have a unique sweet flavor from purple yam that’s not too strong. The soft texture and pretty color make them stand out at parties while still being easy to make like regular donuts.
Get the Recipe: Baked Ube Donuts

Apple Spice Baked Doughnut Holes

Six sugar-coated apple cider donut holes are arranged on a piece of brown paper, accompanied by three cinnamon sticks and several green apple slices. The background includes a glimpse of a newspaper. — Apple Spice Baked Doughnut Holes. Photo credit: Chew Out Loud.

Warm apple and cinnamon flavors pack into these bite-sized Apple Spice Baked Doughnut Holes. The mini size makes them great for sharing, and the cozy spice taste works anytime you want something sweet and comforting without being too heavy.
Get the Recipe: Apple Spice Baked Doughnut Holes

Boston Cream Donuts

A close-up image of a custard-filled doughnut topped with a shiny layer of chocolate glaze, resting on a wire cooling rack. The creamy custard is visible through a small opening in the golden-brown doughnut's side. — Boston Cream Donuts. Photo credit: Sugar Pursuit.

Classic Boston Cream Donuts sandwich rich custard between soft donut halves under shiny chocolate glaze. The mix of textures and flavors makes them feel fancy even though they’re simple to put together for a special breakfast or dessert.
Get the Recipe: Boston Cream Donuts

Baked Pancake Donut

A variety of baked donuts are scattered on a white surface and a white plate. The donuts are topped with different ingredients such as chocolate chips, blueberries, strawberries, and sprinkles. A small white bowl filled with a brown liquid is also present. — Baked Pancake Donut. Photo credit: Little Healthy Bites.

Fluffy Baked Pancake Donuts taste like morning pancakes in fun ring shapes. They’re light enough for breakfast but sweet enough to feel like a treat, especially when dipped in syrup or topped with fresh fruit for extra flavor.
Get the Recipe: Baked Pancake Donut

Baked Chocolate Mini Cake Mix Donuts with Chocolate Glaze

Four chocolate-glazed donuts, some with sprinkles, on a wire cooling rack next to a white bowl filled with chocolate sprinkles, all placed on a light-colored surface with a draped cloth. — Baked Chocolate Mini Cake Mix Donuts with Chocolate Glaze. Photo credit: Baking Ginger.

Tiny Baked Chocolate Mini Cake Mix Donuts covered in chocolate glaze make perfect party snacks. Their small size means you can eat a few without feeling too full, and the cake mix base keeps them quick and easy to prepare.
Get the Recipe: Baked Chocolate Mini Cake Mix Donuts with Chocolate Glaze

Caramel Apple Baked Donuts

A freshly glazed donut covered in shiny, rich caramel icing sits on a cooling rack. The caramel drips slightly down the sides, creating a mouthwatering appearance. The background is softly blurred, emphasizing the donut's delectable texture and color. — Caramel Apple Baked Donuts. Photo credit: Chew Out Loud.

Sweet apple flavor and gooey caramel come together in Caramel Apple Baked Donuts that taste like dessert. The soft baked texture works well with the sticky topping, creating a treat that reminds people of county fairs and autumn treats.
Get the Recipe: Caramel Apple Baked Donuts

The BEST Strawberry Cheesecake Donuts (with Graham Cracker Crust)

A collection of strawberry-glazed donuts topped with white icing and sprinkled with crushed strawberry bits and nuts surrounds a cup of coffee. Fresh strawberries are also scattered among the donuts on the parchment paper background. — The BEST Strawberry Cheesecake Donuts (with Graham Cracker Crust). Photo credit: The Virtual Caterer.

Creamy strawberry filling and graham cracker crumbs make Strawberry Cheesecake Donuts taste like the popular dessert. The donut base stays light while the toppings add rich flavor, making these great for when you want something sweet and special.
Get the Recipe: The BEST Strawberry Cheesecake Donuts (with Graham Cracker Crust)

Mini Chocolate Cake Mix Donuts with Mint Oreos

A cooling rack holds eight chocolate-glazed donuts topped with crushed chocolate mint cookies. The rack is placed on a white wooden surface, partly covered by a green and white checkered cloth. Nearby, broken mint cookies and green-striped straws are scattered. — Mini Chocolate Cake Mix Donuts with Mint Oreos. Photo credit: The Savory Cipolla.

Crushed mint cookies top these Mini Chocolate Cake Mix Donuts for a cool flavor twist. The chocolate and mint combo tastes refreshing while the small size makes them fun to eat at parties or as an afternoon pick-me-up.
Get the Recipe: Mini Chocolate Cake Mix Donuts with Mint Oreos

Delicious Gluten Free Donuts

Two chocolate-coated cupcakes with colorful sprinkles are set on a dark surface. One cupcake has a bite taken out of it. Brightly colored sprinkles are scattered around the cupcakes on the surface. — Delicious Gluten Free Donuts. Photo credit: The Clean Happy Life.

Soft and tasty Gluten Free Donuts prove you don’t need wheat flour to make good donuts. They bake up light and fluffy with the same great texture as regular donuts, just without the gluten for those who need to avoid it.
Get the Recipe: Delicious Gluten Free Donuts

Powdered Donuts Recipe

A plate of powdered donuts is arranged on a table. One donut has a bite taken out of it, and a red cloth with a white pattern partially covers the plate. There's also a white milk pitcher and a mug visible next to the plate. — Powdered Donuts Recipe. Photo credit: Recipes Simple.

Simple Powdered Donuts get their sweetness from a thick coating of powdered sugar that sticks to every bite. The soft inside and sweet outside make them a classic that people love for its nostalgic, no-fuss deliciousness.
Get the Recipe: Powdered Donuts Recipe

Cinnamon Sugar Baked Apple Donuts

A wooden table displays a large white platter with cinnamon sugar-coated donuts, cinnamon sticks, and a halved apple. Additional donuts are on small plates nearby, with a white and blue-trimmed cloth partially visible in the bottom right corner. — Cinnamon Sugar Baked Apple Donuts. Photo credit: The Forked Spoon.

Warm cinnamon and apple flavors fill these Cinnamon Sugar Baked Apple Donuts that taste like fall. The sugar coating adds crunch while the soft inside stays moist, making them great with coffee or milk for a comforting snack.
Get the Recipe: Cinnamon Sugar Baked Apple Donuts

Glazed Baked Pumpkin Donuts

Glazed doughnuts on a wooden cutting board. One doughnut has a bite taken out of it, revealing a golden, fluffy interior. Additional doughnuts are visible on the gray, marbled surface around the board. — Glazed Baked Pumpkin Donuts. Photo credit: An Affair from the Hearts.

Pumpkin spice flavor shines in Glazed Baked Pumpkin Donuts that stay moist and cake-like. The sweet glaze on top complements the warm spices inside, creating a balanced treat that works for breakfast or dessert whenever you want pumpkin flavor.
Get the Recipe: Glazed Baked Pumpkin Donuts

Vegan Baked Pumpkin Donuts

Two plates with glazed donuts are set on a table. One plate has three donuts, the other has two donuts and a cup of coffee. Cinnamon sticks and small decorative pumpkins surround the plates, along with fall leaves, creating an autumn-themed scene. — Vegan Baked Pumpkin Donuts. Photo credit: Veggie Inspired.

Dairy-free and egg-free Vegan Baked Pumpkin Donuts still deliver all the cozy pumpkin spice taste. They bake up fluffy and light with plant-based ingredients, proving you don’t need animal products to make delicious donuts full of autumn flavors.
Get the Recipe: Vegan Baked Pumpkin Donuts

Baked King Cake Donuts

A white rectangular platter holds five large donuts decorated with purple, green, and yellow sugar sprinkles. Each donut has a small plastic baby figure on top. A donut on the right has a bite taken out of it, and a yellow cloth is partially visible at the bottom. — Baked King Cake Donuts. Photo credit: An Affair from the Hearts.

Colorful icing and sprinkles turn Baked King Cake Donuts into festive Mardi Gras treats. The baked version keeps things easier than traditional king cake while still delivering the same sweet, celebratory flavors in fun donut form for parties or special mornings.
Get the Recipe: Baked King Cake Donuts