Posted on Tuesday, 9th November 2010 by Grace

I was back to making doughnuts this weekend, but not just any doughnuts, Baked White Chocolate Cake Doughnuts with Vanilla Glaze.  Unlike the Chocolate Glazed Doughnuts I made a little while back these doughnuts require no yeast, oil or deep-frying.

A photo of Baked White Chocolate Cake Doughnuts with pink Vanilla Doughnut Glaze and decorated with white nonpareils in a clear martini glass.

When I was in San Francisco a few weeks back I had the opportunity to visit one of my favourite kitchen stores, .  I was like a kid in a candy store, so many things to see.  Every time I walk into this store I feel like I am in kitchen heaven.  I could easily have filled 2 baskets with items I’d like to take home with me.

A photo of mini baked cake doughnuts with vanilla doughnut glaze and decorated with assorted sprinkles cooling on a wire rack.

One of the items that landed in my cart was a .  I was more than a bit skeptical.  How could the texture of a baked doughnut match up to the amazing, classic deep-fried version?  Well, it doesn’t!

A photo of mini doughnuts with pink doughnut glaze and decorated with white nonpareils in a Wilton mini doughnut pan.

But that doesn’t mean these mini doughnuts aren’t delicious, they’re just different. The texture is more like cake than doughnut.

The buttermilk adds flavour and it also helps to keep the doughnut moist.  That being said, these are minis, and they can dry out rather quickly, they are at their best when served immediately.  The nutmeg is essential and gives the doughnuts loads of flavour.

A photo of a plate of white chocolate baked doughnuts with vanilla glaze and decorated with various sprinkles.

I love my new mini doughnut pan.  Next time I plan on using the batter from the Sugar Donut Muffins recipe I tried a while back.  The sugar donut muffins were so light and airy and extremely moist and I am hoping I have the same result in the mini doughnut pan.

The first batch I made went so quickly I made a second.  A friend of mine sent a little inspiration my way, check back in a couple of days and see what I did with that second batch.

A photo of Baked White Chocolate Cake Doughnuts with pink Vanilla Doughnut Glaze decorated with white nonpareils on a white cake stand.

The countdown is on.  I am getting so excited!  Jamie Oliver’s live event is right around the corner. There’s still time to get your ticket.  Jamie is returning to Toronto on November 18th.  The Art of Cooking has graciously offered to provide a discount to La Mia Vita Dolce visitors.  Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity. Please click for preferred pricing for Jamie’s only Canadian appearance this year.

Baked White Chocolate Cake Doughnuts with Vanilla Glaze

  • Baked White Chocolate Cake Doughnuts
  • Vanilla Doughnut Glaze
  • Assorted Sprinkles

A photo of Baked White Chocolate Cake Doughnuts with Vanilla Glaze and decorated with sprinkles on a wire rack.

Baked White Chocolate Cake Doughnuts

(Makes 36 mini cake doughnuts)

  • 1¼ cups cake flour
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1¼ teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup buttermilk
  • 1 large egg
  • 1½ tablespoons butter, melted
  • ½ teaspoon clear vanilla extract
  • 4 ounces (100 g) white chocolate, melted
  1. Preheat oven to 425° F.  Spray mini doughnut pan with non-stick cooking spray, set aside.
  2. Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a small saucepan of just simmering water and using a spatula stir until chocolate is melted and smooth, set aside to cool.
  3. Into a large bowl, using a fine-mesh sieve, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, nutmeg and salt.  Whisk to combine.
  4. In a small bowl whisk together the buttermilk, egg, butter and vanilla.
  5. Add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture and whisk to just combine.
  6. Add the cooled chocolate and whisk to just combine.
  7. Place the doughnut batter into a large piping bag fitted with a small coupler and screw (no tip required).  Pipe batter into doughnut pan.  Tap doughnut pan lightly on counter.
  8. Bake until the tops of the doughnuts spring back when touched, about 4 to 6 minutes.  Remove from oven and cool in doughnut pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes before removing (do not miss this step).
  9. Remove from pan and place on wire rack to cool completely.
  10. Finish the doughnuts with glaze and sprinkles.

Vanilla Doughnut Glaze

  • ¼ cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract
  • 2 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
  • Gel paste food colouring (if using)
  1. Warm the milk and vanilla in a medium saucepan set over low heat.
  2. Add the confectioners’ sugar and whisk slowly until well combined.
  3. If tinting glaze, using a toothpick, add a drop of gel paste at a time, whisking to combine well, until you’ve reach the desired colour.
  4. Remove from heat and set over a bowl of warm water (you may have to reheat over low heat occasionally).

Assembling Doughnuts

  1. Dip doughnuts, one-at-a-time, in the glaze and set on a rack placed over a baking sheet.  Decorate with sprinkles (if using) immediately.
  2. Repeat with remaining doughnuts.  Let set 5 minutes before serving.

Related posts:

  1. Chocolate Glazed Doughnuts
  2. Butterscotch-Glazed Chocolate Bundt Cake
  3. Chocolate Éclairs with Vanilla Bean Crème Pâtissière
  4. Martha Stewart’s Black Forest Cupcakes
  5. Ferrero Rocher® White and Dark Chocolate Cake

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Baking & Pastry, Baking Mise en Place, Fillings, Frostings & Dessert Sauces, Pastry Doughs & Batter, Recipes

Comments (39)

39 Responses to “Baked White Chocolate Cake Doughnuts with Vanilla Glaze”

  1. Says:

    What cute little doughnuts. They look wonderful. I so desire one of these mini doughnut pans. ;)

  2. Grace Says:

    It was so cute I couldn’t resist.

  3. Liz @ Blog is the New Black Says:

    gorgeous and adorable!

  4. Natalie Says:

    I had the pleasure of trying these mini donuts and they were wonderful! The icing on top was so yummy.

  5. Says:

    My co-workers will love this.

  6. Says:

    These are beautiful! I love that they are baked!

  7. Says:

    [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mark Fullerton, elena cestafe. elena cestafe said: Baked White Chocolate Cake Doughnuts with Vanilla Glaze – [...]

  8. Says:

    These are so cute! I wanna go buy a donut tin now. :)

  9. Says:

    I love it when you get new baking dishes…so we can benefit with new recipes and pictures! These baked donuts look SO cute! Bite-size deliciousness!

  10. Says:

    These are so adorable! I like how you styled the shot. Tiny and cute but some how sophisticated. Congrats on making the top nine… again!

  11. Says:

    I always love your desserts :) This one’s no exception!

  12. Says:

    Those donuts are so cute and beautiful!!!

  13. Says:

    Wow..these looks absolutely delicious

  14. Says:

    i saw these pictures and went “OMG, these are so pretty!” Your pictures are amazing!

  15. Says:

    I’ve always wanted a mini doughnut pan! These look so adorable and I’m sure they tasted wonderful!

  16. Says:

    Lovely!!!

  17. Says:

    they looks so cute but also… yummy!!! :D

  18. Says:

    Those are so cute!

  19. Says:

    These are gorgeous! Nothing like pink icing. Your presentation is extraordinary. I’m going to buy this pan and make your delicious sounding recipes!

  20. Says:

    These are absolutely adorable!!!!

  21. Grace Says:

    Thank you Kori

  22. Grace Says:

    Thank you Sandy

  23. Grace Says:

    Thanks Jenny I had fun with this one.

  24. Says:

    These look fantastic! I love the pink frosting :) I have made the sugar donut muffin recipe before and added pumpkin to the batter.It was a huge hit!

  25. Says:

    How adorable and delicious-looking are these?!

  26. Says:

    OMG the pink donuts with the white little candy balls are so lovely. Fabulous for a party for your gall palls. Love em.

  27. Says:

    You had me at White Chocolate!

  28. Says:

    These look so adorable. Can’t wait to make them. Thanks for this fun recipe…

  29. Says:

    WOW. I’m going to have to see if my local toy store (Orson Gygii Kitchen Store) has this great pan. I really want to try to make a low calorie version for my blog. Thanks for the ideas.

  30. Says:

    Your little mini donuts are just adorable! Almost too cute to eat! Congrats on making the Foodbuzz Top 9!

  31. Says:

    These are so adorable. Nice presentation. :)

  32. Says:

    Omg, could these be any cuter?!!!?
    How great would these be for a girl themed baby shower?! I love them. I’ve been a little hesitant about the donut pans out there, but now I’m reconsidering getting one!! Beautiful!

  33. Says:

    You have inspired me to make a french vanilla layer cake today :) I’m gonna try a grapefruit icing that looks pink like yours! Thanks! Needed this project today :)

  34. Grace Says:

    Thanks Emily!

  35. Grace Says:

    Speaking of cakes, wait till you see my next post.

  36. tcmaryf Says:

    Now I absolutely need to go buy this donut pan, you’ve talked me into it. Then I can make these beauties. They do look so lovely and upscale. Thnx

  37. Says:

    OMG i’m drooling over these right now.. i’ve been staring these ALL day whenever i logged onto foodbuzz! They’re so cute and amazingly delicious looking!!

  38. Chocolate Layer Cake and White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe | La Mia Vita Dolce Says:

    [...] cake.  I carried on with the “pretty in pink” theme and decorated the cake with Baked White Chocolate Cake Doughnuts with pink tinted Vanilla Glaze. To top it all off, I sprinkled them with the white [...]

  39. Says:

    Stunning presentation! Thank you for sharing.

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