Robin’s Egg Easter Donuts
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Our robin’s egg Easter donuts are super special. These vanilla baked donuts are made in cozy hot oven, not deep-fried in fat. For a festive spring look, they boast a luscious, speckled-blue “robin’s egg” buttercream frosting.
📌 PIN ROBIN’S EGG EASTER DONUTS
Celebrate Easter and Mother’s Day with a homemade batch of these tender baked vanilla donuts. They have golden blonde exteriors that are delicately crisp, with interiors that feature a fluffy cake-like texture. And with frosting that looks like a speckled blue egg, these Easter egg donuts are irresistible!
Because these tasty vanilla doughnuts are baked not fried, there’s much less guilt when you enjoy them. Double the recipe to double the fun. Store leftover donuts in an airtight container to serve, share and eat them later.
If you think these Easter donuts are special, you’ll definitely want to look at our gorgeous robin’s egg Easter cupcakes and baked strawberry donuts. Serve on cake stands at your next celebration for a Pinterest-worthy look.
As a donut lover, you’ll also want to try these Krispy-Creme-style glazed donuts, our baked cinnamon donuts with vanilla glaze, and our baked apple cider donuts that are just like those sold orchard bakery stands. For special occasions, you’ll be delighted to make this rainbow donut recipe!
🛒 INGREDIENTS
Baked Easter Donuts
- ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR: Gives baked donuts structure and a pillowy soft interior. But too much flour can make the donuts dense and dry. Measure flour using the fluff/sprinkle/swipe (spoon-and-level) method.
- GRANULATED SUGAR: Gives these Easter donuts the perfect amount of sweetness to tickle the taste buds.
- BAKING POWDER: Helps the donuts rise in the oven so they’re light and fluffy, and tender in the middle.
- SEA SALT: In baked goods, this seasoning is important for flavor development.
- WHOLE MILK: Is a common ingredient for donuts. This dairy product adds moisture to the batter.
- VEGETABLE OIL: Adds moistness and slows down gluten formation so the baked donuts will have a tender fluffy texture.
- BUTTER: Adds rich flavor, softness and moisture.
- LARGE EGG: It helps bind all the ingredients together while tenderizing the batter. The egg white contributes liquid to produce a light airy donut. The yolk contributes color, and a rich savory flavor.
- PURE VANILLA EXTRACT: Enhances the flavors of the other ingredients.
Speckled Robin’s Egg Glaze
- POWDERED SUGAR: Is made by grinding granulated sugar into a very fine powder. This “confectioner’s sugar” quickly dissolves when mixed with milk, and produces icing with a smooth consistency.
- WHOLE MILK: Moistens the powdered sugar and thins it out to the correct consistency.
- VANILLA EXTRACT: Gives the glaze for these Easter egg donuts a lovely taste and sweet aroma.
- FOOD COLORING: I used AmeriColor soft gel paste #187 Robin’s Egg. (Or mix a few drops pastel blue with 1 drop pastel green food coloring, OR 1 drop blue and 1/2 drop black – in this ratio – until the desired color is reached.) For the speckled-egg look, I mixed black food gel (or you can use brown) with water and lightly flicked that over the glazed donuts.
👩🏻🍳 RECIPE STEPS
Baked Easter Donuts
RECIPE PREP: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease the wells of two (6 count) donut pans with non-stick baking spray. Pull out a (reusable or disposable) piping bag, or snip one corner of a large zip-top freezer bag.
- STEP 1: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and sea salt.
- STEP 2: In a second large bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients: milk, vegetable oil, melted butter, egg, and vanilla extract.
- STEP 3: Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients. Whisk just until no large lumps remain. Do not over-mix the batter!
- STEP 4: Transfer the batter to a piping bag. Fill each well of the prepared donut pans 1/2 way full. If you don’t have a piping bag, you can use a small metal scoop or 2 spoons.
- STEP 5: Bake Easter donuts 16 to 18 minutes, or until golden blonde and a skewer inserted into the middle of 2 donuts comes out clean. Transfer to a metal cooling rack.
Speckled Robin’s Egg Glaze
RECIPE PREP: Put on an apron. Protect all work surfaces and nearby areas with paper towels, or with old beach towels and rags. When applying dark speckles to the glaze, the dark mixture will stain clothes, walls, and surfaces.
- STEP 1: Add powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla to a shallow bowl. Whisk until smooth. The glaze should be thick yet pourable. If mixture is too thin, add more powdered sugar. If it’s too thick, thin it out with milk.
- STEP 2: Add 5 drops AmeriColor gel paste #187 Robin’s Egg. Or use a few drops pastel blue with 1 drop green until desired color is reached. Mix well to incorporate.
- STEP 3: Dip the surface of the donuts in the glaze, then put them back on the wire rack. Let the glaze set for 10 minutes.
- STEP 4: Make and apply the speckles. In a small bowl, combine 1 tablespoon water with 4 drops black or brown food coloring. Mix well to combine. Dip a pastry brush in the dark mixture and flick it onto the glazed donuts. Let the donuts sit another 10 minutes before serving.
👉🏻 EXPERT TIP: If possible, apply dark speckles to the donuts in an outdoor area. This will help protect your indoor areas and keep them speckle free.
🧑🏼🍳RECIPE FAQ
These are the most commonly-asked questions when making robin’s egg Easter donuts, and the most helpful answers for recipe success.
Add 1/4 teaspoon mace to the dry ingredients. Mace is the dried lacy covering of the nutmeg seed that’s ground into a spice. Sweet, warm and aromatic, it’s the primary taste in donut-shop doughnuts.
Air fry after baking! Let the freshly-baked donuts cool 5 to 10 minutes. Lightly spray both sides of the donuts with cooking spray. Arrange them in a single layer “puffy side up” in an air fryer basket. Air fry 3 to 5 minutes at 400°F. After shedding heat for a bit they’ll feel crisp.
Baked and fried donuts taste somewhat similar, but are definitely not the same. Fried donuts are crispier and have a light savory taste from the oil they’re fried in. The exterior of baked donuts are more cake-like.
While fried donuts are best enjoyed immediately after they’re made, baked donuts can stay fresh longer. After cooling and glazing, arrange them in a single layer inside an airtight container. Stored in a cool place away from heat and sunlight, they can stay fairly fresh for up to 3 days.
🐣 MORE EASTER RECIPES
If you enjoyed these baked Easter donuts with a tasty glaze, you’ll also want to make these irresistible spring recipes. Each is a time-tested favorite that’s perfect for breakfast or brunch. Print them out now or pin them to Pinterest.
- Robin’s Egg Easter Cupcakes
- Orange Muffins
- Hot Cross Buns
- Lemon Blueberry Scones
- Easter Cheesecake Bites
- Lemon Bundt Cake
- Bacon Egg Cups
- Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
- Lemon Blueberry Muffins
- Bunny Cookies
RATE THIS RECIPE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
California friends are super huge fans of these golden baked Easter donuts. They love the fluffy texture and flavor of the doughnuts, and the look and taste of the robin’s egg glaze. They say this is the BEST baked donuts recipe.
If you agree these Easter egg donuts are irresistible, give them a 5-star rating in the comments. Then be a recipe hero! Share it with a friend.
robin’s egg easter donuts
- Total Time: 1 Hour
Description
Robin’s Egg Easter Donuts are baked, not fried. They boast golden exteriors, and tender fluffy middles. With a pastel speckled-blue glaze, they’re a welcome celebration of spring.
Ingredients
BAKED EASTER DONUTS
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
ROBIN’S EGG GLAZE
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons whole milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 5 drops AmeriColor gel paste #187 Robin’s Egg*
DARK SPECKLES ON GLAZE
- 1 tablespoon water
- 4 drops black or brown gel food coloring
*BLUE FOOD COLORING: If you don’t have Robin’s Egg food color on hand, there are 2 great options. 1. Use a few drops pastel blue with 1 drop green. Mix well to incorporate. 2. Use 1 drop blue and 1/2 drop black – in this ratio – until the desired color is reached.
Instructions
BAKED EASTER DONUTS
RECIPE PREP: Put on an apron. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease the wells of two (6 count) donut pans with non-stick baking spray. Pull out a piping bag, or snip one corner of a large zip-top freezer bag.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and sea salt.
- In a second large bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients: milk, vegetable oil, melted butter, egg, and vanilla extract.
- Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients. Whisk just until no large lumps remain. Do not over-mix the batter. Transfer batter to a piping bag. Fill each well of the donut pans 1/2 way full. If no piping bag, use a metal scoop or 2 spoons.
- Bake Easter donuts 16 to 18 minutes, or until golden blonde and a skewer inserted into the middle of 2 donuts comes out clean. Transfer to a metal cooling rack.
SPECKLED ROBIN’S EGG GLAZE
RECIPE PREP: Protect all work surfaces and nearby areas with paper towels, or with old beach towels and rags. When flicking black speckles onto the glaze, the dark mixture will stain clothes, walls, and surfaces.
- Add powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla to a shallow bowl. Whisk until smooth. The glaze should be thick yet pourable. If mixture is too thin, add more powdered sugar. If it’s too thick, thin it out with milk.
- Add 5 drops AmeriColor gel paste #187 Robin’s Egg. Or use a few drops pastel blue with 1 drop green until desired color is reached. Mix well to incorporate.
- Dip the surface of the donuts in the glaze, then put them back on the wire rack. Let the glaze set for 10 minutes.
- Make and apply the speckles. In a small bowl, combine 1 tablespoon water with 4 drops black or brown food coloring. Mix well to combine. Dip a pastry brush in the dark mixture and flick it onto the glazed donuts. Let the donuts sit another 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
HOW TO STORE BAKED DONUTS: After cooling and glazing, arrange donuts in a single layer inside an airtight container. When stored in a cool place away from heat and sunlight, they can stay fairly fresh for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 20 Minutes
- Rest Time: 20 Minutes
- Cook Time: 20 Minutes
Robin’s Egg Easter Donuts > Join the conversation
Have you ever experienced the joy freshly-baked, robin’s egg Easter donuts? Would you like to bake up a batch for Easter or Mother’s Day? Share your thoughts on these gorgeous Easter egg donuts in the comments below.
