Baked Funfetti Donuts Are Fluffy & Delicious!

If you’re looking for a delicious donut recipe to make, these baked funfetti donuts will turn any day special with their fluffy texture and colorful sprinkles inside and out.

Sometimes going back to school can have a tiny rain cloud over it. Summer is ending, no more long pool days or late night s’mores, it’s back to a schedule and homework and books.

Because of that, I think it’s fun to try to make starting school into a little celebration! Especially with the pandemic going on . . . back to school is a little different this year. We take our celebrations and wins where we can, right?

Even if we can’t party with fellow students, we can celebrate another year of school in our family. And that’s how these baked funfetti donuts were born.

Sure, I love me a good fried donut – who doesn’t love a Krispy Kreme? However I also love making donuts from scratch and then baking them instead of frying. If you’ve never tried a baked donut, these baked funfetti donuts are an amazing place to start. They’re so delicious!

Baked Donuts

Before we jump into the recipe, I wanted to share some frequently asked questions with you that I’ve gotten about these donuts. If you find you’d rather just skip to the recipe, scroll down to the bottom of the page. Otherwise, I hope these help!

What is the difference between baked and “regular” donuts?

Baked donuts are baked in a donut pan, and regular donuts are typically fried in oil. At least if we’re talking about Krispy Kreme or Dunkin’ – those are fried. Baked donuts have a more muffin-like or cake consistency.

Note that cake donuts can be fried as well – the frying process is different, as the batter is usually piped onto the oil or similar. But just because a donut is a cake donut, that doesn’t mean it was baked. These are baked, hence the title.

Are cake donuts healthier than regular donuts?

Everyone has a different definition of what is healthy, but these have approximately 251 calories and 7 grams of fat per donut. Compare that to a chocolate iced donut at Krispy Kreme with 340 calories and 19 grams of fat.

Don’t forget that cake donuts can be fried too. So assuming we’re talking about cake baked donuts I would say yes, they are healthier. At least these are.

What can I use if I don’t have a donut pan?

Grab yourself a muffin tin and some aluminum foil. Tear off a piece of aluminum foil and form it over your thumb. Pull it off carefully and place it in the center of the muffin cavity. Repeat with all the cavities and enjoy your MacGyver’d donut pan!

Can these cake donuts be fried?

Yes – if you have a Fry Daddy, you can definitely fry these funfetti donuts if you choose. I don’t recommend trying to fry them in a pan if you don’t have previous frying experience. Which sounds funny, but oil will get everywhere if you don’t know what you’re doing (and you can burn yourself).

How do I make these baked funfetti donuts fluffier?

By doing the thing I always forget, which is to leave the cold ingredients (butter, milk, eggs, etc.) out to raise to room temperature before making this recipe. This makes all baked goodies fluffier, not just donuts!

How long will these donuts keep?

These baked funfetti donuts will be good for 3 – 4 days in an airtight container in the fridge. You can also freeze them. If you are planning on freezing some or all of them, then don’t frost the ones you are planning on freezing. They will store up to eight months in the freezer. Make the frosting when you decide to eat them.

Can I substitute any type of milk for the milk in these donuts?

Yes, you can use whole, nonfat, 1% – or even traditional milk substitutes like almond milk, soy milk, and rice milk.

Of all the advice I can give you, the biggest is not to forget the extra rainbow sprinkles when you’re done. Because that would be the biggest travesty ever and ruin the party (kidding!).

I found these fun cutouts here and here. If you don’t have a Silhouette you can print them off with a regular printer and cut them out with scissors. Then, attach to toothpicks and you’ve got these darling toppers!

Happy back to school to you and your families, and happy celebrating the little moments! I hope you enjoyed these baked funfetti donuts. And be sure to come visit my sister and me as we blog about style, food, and the things we love over at The Pretty Life Girls.

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If you enjoyed this baked donut recipe, I’d love if you’d check out these other delicious baked delights:

• Baked Apple Cider Donuts
• Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread
• Baked Donuts with Cake Mix
• Brown Butter Krispie Treats
• Pumpkin Spice Donut Holes