I love donuts, and these Cake Mix Donuts are a quick and easy way to enjoy them at home anytime! With just a few simple ingredients, you won't need to spend much or make a trip to Dunkin' for a tasty frosted donut. I often make these on weekends, and they're always a hit with the family.
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These donuts are wonderfully fluffy in the middle, with a lightly browned exterior. They have a cake-like texture which makes them decadent and delicious. Adding Greek yogurt makes them extra moist and balanced, and finishing them with a melted frosting glaze truly takes them to the next level!
If you like easy homemade donut recipes, you will love Christmas Donuts and Maple Glazed Donuts.
Why You'll Love This Cake Mix Donuts Recipe
- Easy to make: This recipe is incredibly simple! It takes just a few minutes to prepare and only 15 minutes to bake.
- Budget-friendly: The ingredients are affordable, making homemade cake doughnuts a great choice for any budget.
- Only 5 ingredients: You need just 3 ingredients to make the donuts and 2 for decorating them.
Ingredients
Here are the essential components of these cake mix donuts. It's a simple recipe where you don't need to follow the directions on the back of the box!
- Funfetti cake mix: This is a vanilla cake mix with rainbow bits throughout for fun colors. Feel free to use plain white or yellow cake if you prefer.
- Greek yogurt: This adds moisture to the donuts as they bake, so they come out perfectly fluffy in the middle.
- Frosting: I chose a white vanilla frosting, but you can use any brand and flavor of frosting that you want.
- Rainbow sprinkles: This is a fun optional decoration for the finished donuts.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Chocolate: Use chocolate cake mix and chocolate frosting for an extra indulgent version.
- Lemon: Try this recipe with lemon cake mix and add fresh lemon zest as a garnish for zing.
- Red velvet: Make the cake donuts with red velvet cake mix and cream cheese frosting for a fun twist.
How to Make Donuts With Cake Mix
Preheat your oven to 325°F and generously spray your donut pan with nonstick cooking spray. I also recommend that you have your cooling rack ready since the baked donuts with cake mix don't take very long in the oven.
Step 1: Make the donut batter. Combine the cake mix, water, and yogurt in a large mixing bowl. Mix with an electric mixer for about 1-2 minutes on medium speed. It should be smooth and thick.
Step 2: Pipe into the pan. Scoop the batter into a piping bag and carefully pipe the donuts in the greased tray.
Step 3: Bake. Put the tray in the oven and bake it for about 15 minutes, or until the donuts are golden and the edges start to pull away from the tin.
Step 4: Rest and cool. Let the cake donuts rest in the tin for about 15 minutes to let them cool slightly. Then, transfer them to a wire rack until fully cooled, about 30 minutes.
Step 5: Melt the frosting and dip the donuts. Spoon the frosting into a microwave-safe bowl and heat to melt it for about 30 seconds. Dip the top of the donuts into the frosting and place them face up on the cooling rack.
Step 6: Add the sprinkles. Top the frosted donuts with sprinkles and then allow the icing to harden before serving.
⭐ Hint: If you try to remove the donuts from the pan while they are hot, they may fall apart. Give them plenty of time to rest and cool before transferring them to a wire rack.
If you love recipes that incorporate cake mix, you may also enjoy these glazed pumpkin donuts. Don't forget to check out these cake mix cookie bars. They're really quite delicious.
Storage Directions
- Storing: Place the extra donuts in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Freeze them for up to 2 months without the frosting for best results.
- Make Ahead: Bake the donuts and store them in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before frosting and decorating them. This is perfect if you're hosting a party or brunch!
Serving Suggestions
- Make a donut ice cream sandwich using Birthday Cake Ice Cream or Strawberry Crunch Ice Cream.
- Spread strawberry jam on the donuts or Raspberry Jalapeno Jam for a unique twist.
- Enjoy a donut with an adult beverage like this Spiked Dalgona Coffee.
- One of these donuts makes an extra special treat when paired with an Apple Cider Float.
Recipe Tips
- Don't overmix the batter: If you overmix the cake batter, it can make the donuts tough and dense.
- Make the piping bag: If you don't have a piping bag, simply cut a corner off a Ziploc bag. It's easier to use than a spoon!
- Don't overfill the pan: Since the donuts will rise as they bake, fill each cavity only about ⅔ of the way.
Recipe FAQs
This is likely because they are overbaked. If you bake them too long, they will become dry and crumbly.
Sure! You will have to adjust the baking time because mini donuts won't take as long as the regular-sized donuts.
Of course. The traditional frying method would work great for these cake batter donuts!
More Delicious Cake Mix Recipes
Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.
Homemade Cake Mix Donuts
Equipment
- Pipping bag
Ingredients
- 1 432-gram box rainbow chip cake mix
- 1 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
- ¾ cup water
- 6 ounces frosting
- 2-3 tablespoons rainbow sprinkles
Instructions
- Generously grease a donut tray (or 2 or 3 depending on the size you have) and preheat oven to 325°F.
- Add cake mix, Greek yogurt, and water in a large bowl, and mix on medium for 1-2 minutes with a hand mixer.
- Pipe or spoon into greased donut tray and bake for about 15 minutes (when the sides will start to pull away and have a little golden color, that when they are done!).
- Allow donuts to rest in their tray on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Remove donuts and cool completely on a wire rack (about 30 minutes) before frosting.
- Once donuts are cooled, in a microwave safe bowl melt frosting slightly (about 30 seconds).
- Dip donut upside down and place back on wire rack, add any sprinkles, and to allow the icing to harden.
Notes
- Don't overmix the batter: If you overmix the cake batter, it can make the donuts tough and dense.
- Make the piping bag: If you don't have a piping bag, simply cut a corner off a Ziploc bag. It's easier to use than a spoon!
- Don't overfill the pan: Since the donuts will rise as they bake, fill each cavity only about ⅔ of the way.
JT says
Hi Karin & Ken I just subscribed to your site Thank you for your recipes
Could I use sour cream instead of the yogurt in this recipe?
Karin and Ken says
Thank you for joining me on my food journey! Most definitely. Use the exact same amount of sour cream. Enjoy every bite! All the best. Karin