19 Sweet Donuts You’ll Pretend You Made for Someone Else

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You weren’t really planning to share, right? These 19 sweet donut recipes are perfect for your snack stash, your “just one more” moment on a Tuesday night, or your accidental taste test of six. We’ve got baked and fried, filled and glazed, simple classics and fun twists. Whether you’re into old-school donuts or trying to pull off something bakery-worthy, there’s something in here with your name on it. Even if you say it’s for your neighbor.

Sourdough Apple Cider Donuts

Stacked sugar covered donuts.
Image Credit: Sourdough Brandon

Sourdough apple cider donuts put a fresh twist on a classic autumn favorite from New England. These donuts are fried to achieve a crispy outer layer, while the inside stays moist and cakey. Finish them off by tossing them in a generous coating of cinnamon sugar for an irresistible treat!

Get the recipe: Sourdough Apple Cider Donuts

Lemon Poppy Seed Donuts

Sugar covered doughnuts.
Image Credit: Quiet Baking Day

Good luck trying to eat just one of these lemon poppy seed donuts—they’re so light and fluffy! Filled with a perfectly balanced lemon cream, they’re bursting with flavor. With poppy seeds mixed in and a sweet lemon sugar coating, these donuts are truly next-level delicious!

Get the recipe: Lemon Poppy Seed Donuts

Brownie Donuts with Chocolate Frosting

Chocolate and sprinkle covered doughnuts on a wire rack.
Image Credit: Feasty Travels

Brownie donuts topped with chocolate frosting are both rich and delightful, yet surprisingly light. They’re super easy to whip up and can even be made gluten-free, making them a great treat for any chocolate fan!

Get the recipe: Brownie Donuts with Chocolate Frosting

Peppermint Mocha Donuts

Chocolate donuts with white icing and candy cane bits.
Image Credit: The Simple Sweet Life

Craving a fun and easy festive treat? These peppermint mocha donuts are a must-bake for the season! If you’re just starting out with donut-making, be sure to check out my favorite tips at the end to help you out.

Get the recipe: Peppermint Mocha Donuts

Bomboloni – Italian Doughnuts

A stack of three cream filled donuts.
Image Credit: xoxoBella

Bomboloni are delightfully airy Italian donuts stuffed with rich pastry cream, making them absolutely irresistible. These fried treats take deliciousness to a whole new level. The blend of bread flour and all-purpose flour gives them a wonderfully light texture that you can’t resist.

Get the recipe: Bomboloni Italian Doughnuts

Mochi Donuts

Donuts in the shapes of flowers iced in brown, white and green, with nuts, sesame seeds and red toppings.
Image Credit: The Heirloom Pantry

Mochi donuts offer a fun and chewy take on a classic favorite. They feature a crispy outside like a buttermilk donut, while the inside is sweet and spongy, just like Japanese mochi. 

Get the recipe: Mochi Donuts

Gluten Free Gingerbread Donuts

Doughnuts on a wire rack.
Image Credit: Basics with Bails

These gingerbread donuts are a fantastic holiday treat that’s both gluten-free and dairy-free! Baked to fluffy perfection and coated in cinnamon sugar, they’re packed with all those warm, festive spices. Enjoy them on Christmas morning for a delicious start to your day!

Get the recipe: Gluten Free Gingerbread Donuts

Pumpkin Spice Latte Donuts

Donuts with icing and a darker icing drizzle.
Image Credit: The Simple Sweet Life

Searching for a simple, delicious breakfast to brighten your busy fall mornings? Try these pumpkin spice latte donuts—they’re a delightful way to start your day on a sweet note!

Get the recipe: Pumpkin Spice Latte Donuts

Vegan Donuts Filled With Pistachio Pastry Cream

A cream filled donut stacked on another donut.
Image Credit: Addicted to Dates

These vegan donuts are light, airy, and stuffed with delicious pistachio pastry cream! Topped with a glaze made from vegan condensed milk and sprinkled with sweet pistachio sugar, they’re a real treat. You can choose to fry or bake them, making it super easy to whip up a batch just the way you like!

Get the recipe: Vegan Donuts

Maple Donuts

Iced donuts with pecan bits.
Image Credit: Spatula Desserts

Maple donuts are a delightful treat that’s perfect for Thanksgiving and beyond. If you enjoy maple syrup, this baked maple donut recipe is a must-try—it’s a breakfast favorite for the whole family! Plus, you can whip them up in less than 30 minutes!

Get the recipe: Maple Donuts

Raspberry Glazed Donut

Pink doughnuts.
Image Credit: Recipes From a Pantry

You can’t beat these raspberry glazed donuts—they’re absolutely delicious! Made with just a few simple steps, these baked treats are not only easy to whip up but also a healthier option. Once you try them, you’ll be hooked!

Get the recipe: Raspberry Glazed Donut

Oreo Donuts

Iced doughnut with Oreo bits on top.
Image Credit: Organically Addison

These Oreo donuts are super soft and fluffy, and they taste just like the classic cookies! Topped with a creamy vanilla frosting, they’re perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert. They’re a hit with kids and super simple to make—the frosting comes together in just two minutes with only three ingredients!

Get the recipe: Oreo Donuts

Lithuanian Farmer’s Cheese Doughnuts (Varškės Spurgos)

Powdered sugar shaken onto a stack of donut holes.
Image Credit: Taste of Lithuania

Farmer’s Cheese Doughnuts, or Cheese Curd Doughnuts, are a delightful Lithuanian treat that everyone loves, from kids to adults! These traditional donuts, known as Varškės Spurgos, are best enjoyed fresh on the same day they’re made. Plus, they’re easy to whip up with just a few simple ingredients!

Get the recipe: Lithuanian Farmer’s Cheese Doughnuts

Boston Cream Donuts

Closeup of Boston cream doughnut with chocolate on top and pastry cream dripping out.
Image Credit: Rich and Delish

Boston cream donuts are a delicious treat featuring soft yeast dough filled with rich vanilla custard and drizzled with chocolate ganache. They’re the perfect combination of flavors and textures that make for a delightful snack or dessert!

Get the recipe: Boston Cream Donuts

Chocolate Baked Donuts {Without Yeast}

Chocolate and sprinkle covered donuts.
Image Credit: Haute and Healthy Living

These baked donuts are a chocolate lover’s dream! Made from scratch with oat and almond flour, they’re fluffy and glazed, giving you a rich treat without the frying. Plus, they don’t need any yeast, making them super simple to whip up for breakfast, a snack, or dessert!

Get the recipe: Chocolate Baked Donuts

Robin’s Egg Chocolate Donuts

Blue doughnuts with chocolate speckles.
Image Credit: Cupcake Savvy Kitchen

These Robin’s Egg Chocolate Donuts feature a deliciously soft chocolate base topped with a vibrant blue glaze. The combination of cocoa powder and instant coffee really boosts the chocolatey goodness. With those cute brown speckles, they not only taste amazing but also look super fun!

Get the recipe: Robin’s Egg Chocolate Donuts

Baked Red Velvet Donuts

Red Doughnuts on a wire rack.
Image Credit: Homemade Hooplah

These baked red velvet donuts are incredibly moist and fluffy, and you can top them with either powdered sugar or a smooth vanilla icing. They’re a delicious treat that speaks for itself!

Get the recipe: Baked Red Velvet Donuts

Honey Donuts with Vanilla Honey Glaze

Honey glazed donuts on parchment paper.
Image Credit: Live to Sweet

These Honey Donuts with Vanilla Honey Glaze are a delightful tribute to the sweet, floral notes of honey! While mixing flavors can be fun, sometimes a single flavor deserves the spotlight, and these donuts are a perfect example of that. They’re simple yet incredibly tasty!

Get the recipe: Honey Donuts

Easy Vegan Air Fryer Donuts Recipe

Three stacked donuts with icing dripping down.
Image Credit: The Veggie Yaya

These vegan yeast donuts are super easy to whip up with just 5 simple ingredients and only take 5 minutes in the air fryer! They come out fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside. Drizzle them with a quick glaze made from just 3 ingredients for the perfect finishing touch!

Get the recipe: Easy Vegan Air Fryer Donuts

Still hungry? Try this!

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