Sprinkle Donuts Recipe

Is there anything more joyful than a batch of homemade Sprinkle Donuts? Soft, cakey, and brimming with rainbow color in every bite, these beauties are impossibly easy to bake, extra festive, and guaranteed to put a smile on everyone’s face—no bakery run required!

Ingredients You’ll Need

You only need a handful of pantry ingredients to create Sprinkle Donuts with a plush crumb, classic flavor, and bright flecks of fun. Each component plays its own delicious role—here’s how the magic happens!

• All-purpose flour: The foundation for that soft, cakey texture we all crave in homemade donuts.
• Baking powder: Gives the donuts essential lift and a light, airy crumb.
• Salt: Just a pinch sharpens the sweetness and balances all the flavors.
• Large egg: Provides richness and helps bind the batter for a tender bite.
• Vanilla extract: Clear vanilla makes the donuts extra “bakery pretty,” but classic vanilla tastes just as lovely.
• Granulated sugar: Sweetens the donuts and creates that irresistible golden edge.
• Sour cream or Greek yogurt: Adds moisture and a subtle tang that makes the donut crumb plush and fluffy.
• Unsalted butter (melted): Delivers buttery richness and keeps every donut soft.
• Vegetable oil: Rounds things out for the ideal moist, tender texture.
• Sprinkles: The show-stopping stars! Rainbow jimmy sprinkles work best for bright, defined color speckles throughout.
• Powdered sugar & milk (for glaze): Optional, but essential for that classic bakery finish and even more sprinkle fun on top.

Variations

Don’t be afraid to let your sprinkle-loving spirit run wild—these donuts are practically begging to be customized! A quick ingredient swap or a creative topping tweak can make them uniquely yours, every single time.

• Chocolate Dipped: Skip the classic glaze and dip the cooled donuts into melted chocolate, then shower with extra sprinkles for chocolate-lover bliss.
• Gluten-Free: Use a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend in place of regular flour for the same soft texture without the gluten.
• Holiday Twist: Match your sprinkles to the season—red & green for Christmas, pastels for Easter, or orange & black for Halloween festivities!
• Dairy-Free: Swap the butter, sour cream, and milk with plant-based options to make Sprinkle Donuts everyone can enjoy.

How to Make Sprinkle Donuts

Step 1: Prep Your Pan and Oven

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F. Give your donut pan a generous coating of nonstick cooking spray with flour—this ensures the donuts pop right out, keeping them picture-perfect. If you don’t have a donut pan, a mini muffin tin will work in a pinch for “donut holes.”

Step 2: Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt—this keeps the leavening even. In a larger bowl, combine the egg, vanilla, sugar, sour cream, melted butter, and vegetable oil. Whisk well until smooth and glossy; the batter should smell absolutely dreamy already!

Step 3: Combine & Add Sprinkles

Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir gently with a spatula or wooden spoon. When your batter is almost, but not quite, combined, sprinkle in those rainbow jimmies. Fold lightly—no vigorous mixing, please!—to keep your Sprinkle Donuts delightfully fluffy and the color streak-free.

Step 4: Pipe Into Pan

Transfer the thick, colorful batter into a piping bag or a large zip-top bag with the tip snipped off. Pipe the batter neatly into each donut cavity, filling each one about half to three-quarters full—they’ll puff up magically in the oven!

Step 5: Bake and Cool

Bake for 12–15 minutes, until the donuts are lightly golden and a toothpick comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. Let them rest in the pan for about 5 minutes, then turn them out onto a wire rack to finish cooling. If you’re glazing, wait until they’re completely cool for the best finish.

Step 6: Glaze & Sprinkle

Whisk powdered sugar and milk to form a smooth, pourable glaze—add milk a little at a time until you reach the right consistency. Dip, drizzle, or dunk your cooled donuts, then immediately top with a fresh shower of sprinkles. Voila! Bakery-level Sprinkle Donuts at home.

How to Serve Sprinkle Donuts

Garnishes

Let those extra sprinkles shine! While the base donuts already boast a spectrum of tiny rainbows, a final flourish of sprinkles over the glaze makes your Sprinkle Donuts truly bakery-worthy. For even more pizzazz, drizzle a little melted white or dark chocolate on top before adding the sprinkles.

Side Dishes

Sprinkle Donuts are delightful solo, but they’re also a perfect partner for a cup of coffee, oat latte, fruity smoothie, or cold glass of milk. For brunch spreads, serve alongside a fresh fruit salad, crispy bacon, or a fluffy egg casserole—the color and cheer make them a fun centerpiece.

Creative Ways to Present

Stack your donuts high on a cake stand for birthday parties, or wrap them individually in clear cellophane with ribbon for festive party favors. For a playful brunch, build a “donut wall” or skewer mini Sprinkle Donuts on coffee stir sticks for breakfast kabobs!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Keep your baked Sprinkle Donuts soft and fresh by storing them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. If glazed, let the glaze dry fully before stacking layers with parchment between each donut to prevent sticking.

Freezing

Sprinkle Donuts freeze beautifully! Wrap unglazed (or lightly glazed) donuts individually in plastic wrap, then seal in a freezer bag for up to two months. Thaw at room temperature for an hour—perfect for grab-and-go treats or prepping ahead for a special brunch.

Reheating

To revive that just-baked softness, zap unglazed donuts in the microwave for 8–10 seconds, or warm them in a 300°F oven for 5 minutes. If you’ve already added glaze and sprinkles, let them come to room temperature on their own to keep toppings intact and pretty.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Making Sprinkle Donuts at home is pure, effortless delight—each one is soft, colorful, and bursting with playful flavor. I hope you’ll bake a batch soon and share the magic of these happy little treats with someone you love!

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