Baked Strawberry Lemonade Donuts: Your Guide to Sweet, Tangy Homemade Treats
There’s something truly magical about the combination of sweet strawberries and zesty lemons, especially as the weather warms up and longer days invite lighter, brighter flavors. If you’re looking to capture that sunny essence in a delightful, easy-to-make treat, then this Strawberry Lemonade Donuts recipe is about to become your new favorite. Imagine sinking your teeth into a tender, flavorful donut, perfectly balanced with a vibrant cream cheese glaze – it’s a little bite of sunshine that will bring joy to everyone, from the youngest family member to the most discerning adult palate. These homemade donuts are perfect for a special breakfast, a charming brunch, or a refreshing midday snack, promising to brighten any moment.
Forget the long lines at your local donut shop like Krispy Kreme; with this recipe, you can create delicious baked donuts right in your own kitchen using simple, accessible ingredients. These aren’t just any donuts; they’re soft, moist, baked cake donuts crowned with a luxurious, sweet, and tangy lemon cream cheese icing. Homemade donuts have a special charm, and when they taste this good, they quickly become a cherished weekend tradition. They’re a treat that truly brings people together, making any gathering feel a little more special and a lot more delicious.
Why You Will Love These Irresistible Strawberry Lemonade Donuts
This Strawberry Lemonade Donut recipe is a true win-win for any home baker, offering a host of reasons to fall in love with it. First and foremost, the incredible ease of preparation is unmatched. With just four core ingredients for the donuts themselves, you can whip up a batch of freshly baked treats in an impressively short amount of time. The magic continues with the vibrant lemon glaze, requiring only three additional ingredients to transform these donuts into something truly extraordinary.
Beyond their mouthwatering taste, these donuts are also a feast for the eyes. Their pretty pink hue, courtesy of the strawberry cake mix, makes them visually appealing and perfect for any celebration or simply to brighten a gloomy day. This recipe cleverly utilizes a cake mix as its base, simplifying the baking process significantly and making it accessible even for novice bakers. This cake mix foundation also serves as a fantastic template, inviting you to experiment with a myriad of other cake donut flavors. Imagine chocolate, vanilla, or even spiced pumpkin donuts using the same straightforward method!
Another significant advantage of this recipe is that these donuts are baked, not fried. This means you get to enjoy all the deliciousness of a donut with fewer calories and less fat, making them a slightly healthier indulgence. Baking also means less mess in the kitchen and no lingering smell of frying oil. It’s a healthier, cleaner, and undeniably delicious way to enjoy your favorite sweet treat. If you adore the luscious combination of strawberry and lemon, you absolutely must try this Strawberry Lemonade Cake for another delightful dessert experience. And for the chocolate lovers, my Chocolate Covered Strawberry Donuts offer a rich, decadent twist.
Essential Ingredients for Your Baked Strawberry Lemonade Donuts
Creating these delightful strawberry lemonade donuts is straightforward, largely due to a concise list of easily found ingredients. Each component plays a vital role in achieving that perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and soft. You’ll find the complete, detailed ingredient list and step-by-step instructions in the printable recipe card at the very bottom of this post, but let’s explore the key players here.
For the perfectly pink and fluffy strawberry cake donuts:
- Strawberry Cake Mix: This is the hero ingredient that makes this recipe so incredibly easy and ensures a consistent, delicious strawberry flavor and a beautiful pink hue. You should have no trouble locating a 15.25-ounce box at any local grocery store. It provides the perfect foundation for a tender, cake-like donut.
- Egg: A single large egg acts as a binder, helping to hold the donut batter together and contributing to its rich structure and moist texture.
- Water: This liquid ingredient helps to achieve the right consistency for your donut batter, ensuring it’s smooth and easy to work with in the donut pan.
- Vegetable Oil: The oil is crucial for adding moisture and tenderness to your baked donuts, resulting in a delightfully soft crumb that melts in your mouth.
For the irresistible lemon cream cheese icing:
- Cream Cheese: For the smoothest, most luxurious icing, it’s essential to let your cream cheese soften to room temperature before mixing. This ensures it blends seamlessly with the other ingredients, preventing lumps and creating a silky-smooth glaze that clings perfectly to the donuts.
- Powdered Sugar: Also widely known as confectioner’s sugar, this finely milled sugar is key to creating a smooth, sweet icing that dissolves beautifully without any gritty texture.
- Lemon: The fresh flavor of lemon is paramount here. You’ll need both the vibrant juice and the aromatic zest from a fresh lemon. The zest provides a concentrated burst of citrus oil, while the juice adds that essential tangy brightness that cuts through the sweetness and elevates the overall “lemonade” experience.
How to Make Delightful Strawberry Lemon Donuts
Creating these delicious baked donuts is a straightforward process, broken down into a few simple steps. Follow these instructions carefully to ensure a perfect batch every time!
FIRST: Prepare Your Oven and Pan. Begin by preheating your oven to a steady 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius). While the oven heats, take out your donut baking pan and lightly grease each cavity. A little non-stick spray or a thin coat of butter and a dusting of flour will prevent your donuts from sticking and ensure they release cleanly after baking.
SECOND: Mix the Donut Batter. In a large mixing bowl, combine your strawberry cake mix, large egg, water, and vegetable oil. Using a whisk or an electric mixer on low speed, mix these ingredients until they are just combined and smooth. Be careful not to overmix; overmixing can lead to tougher donuts. The goal is a smooth, somewhat thick batter with no dry streaks of cake mix remaining.
THIRD: Fill the Donut Pan and Bake. Carefully spoon or pipe the batter into the prepared donut cavities, filling each about two-thirds full. This allows room for the donuts to rise without overflowing. Place the pan in your preheated oven and bake for approximately 12-14 minutes. Keep an eye on them; you’ll know they are ready when the edges are barely starting to turn a light golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of a donut comes out clean. Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and let the donuts cool in the pan on a wire rack for about 10 minutes. This cooling period helps them firm up and makes them easier to remove. If any feel stuck, give them another 5 minutes in the pan before attempting to remove them.
Cool Completely Before Glazing: While it’s tempting to glaze warm donuts, it’s crucial to let them cool completely on a wire rack before moving on to the icing step. Glazing warm donuts will cause the icing to melt and slide off, instead of setting into a beautiful, vibrant coating.
FOURTH: Prepare and Apply the Lemon Glaze. While your donuts are cooling, it’s the perfect time to prepare the tangy lemonade glaze. In a small bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and lemon zest. Whisk these ingredients together until smooth. Gradually add the fresh lemon juice, a little at a time, continuing to whisk until you achieve your desired lemon flavor intensity and glaze consistency. You want a glaze that is thick enough to coat the donuts but still pourable. Once the donuts are completely cool, gently dip the top of each donut into the prepared glaze. Allow any excess glaze to drip off, then place the glazed donuts back on the wire rack. Let them sit for a few minutes to allow the icing to set up before serving. Now, they’re ready to be enjoyed!
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If you’re already envisioning these delightful Baked Strawberry Lemonade Donuts gracing your table, make sure you don’t lose this fantastic recipe! Pin it to your favorite Pinterest recipe board right now so you can easily find it whenever a craving for sweet, tangy, homemade goodness strikes. Share the love and inspire others to bake up some sunshine too!
Explore More Donut Recipes to Love
Are you, like us, a passionate donut lover always on the hunt for your next sweet fix? Then you’re in for a treat! After mastering these Strawberry Lemonade Donuts, you’ll definitely want to explore my other incredible baked donut creations. Dive into the comforting simplicity of my Baked Powdered Sugar Donuts, or indulge in the unique sweetness of my Baked Banana Donuts. For another burst of citrus, try these bright and zesty Glazed Lemon Donuts. And for the ultimate chocolate enthusiast, you absolutely must give these rich Double Baked Chocolate Donuts and the surprisingly delicious Chocolate Kraut Donuts a try! You can find an extensive collection of all my donut and pastry recipes conveniently located right here, ready to inspire your next baking adventure.
Frequently Asked Questions About Homemade Donuts
Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting out, you might have a few questions when it comes to making delicious homemade donuts. Here are answers to some common queries to help you on your baking journey.
What can I use instead of a donut pan?
If you plan on making donuts regularly, investing in a donut pan is highly recommended, as it ensures perfectly shaped, consistent results. However, if you don’t have one on hand, don’t let that stop you! You can easily fashion a makeshift donut mold using a muffin pan and aluminum foil. To do this, take a square of aluminum foil and carefully fold the center around your finger to create a small cylinder. Then, fold up the sides of the foil to create a barrier. Press these foil molds into the center of each cup in a standard muffin tin. Fill the area around the foil mold with your donut batter, and you’ve got a clever substitute for a traditional donut pan. While they might not be perfectly uniform, they’ll still be absolutely delicious!
Doughnut or Donut? What’s the correct spelling?
For those who appreciate linguistic details, the spelling of this beloved treat can sometimes be a point of debate. Historically, “doughnut” is the original and more formal spelling for the sweet, fried pastry. However, language is ever-evolving, and both versions are now widely accepted. The Merriam-Webster dictionary, for instance, includes both “doughnut” and “donut.” The shorter, more phonetic spelling “donut” gained significant popularity, particularly in the mid-20th century, largely due to major commercial companies like “Dunkin’ Donuts” adopting the simplified version. In American English, “donut” is a very common and perfectly acceptable spelling, especially in casual contexts and marketing. So, whether you prefer “doughnut” or “donut,” rest assured you’re referring to the same delightful confection!
Smart Substitutions and Creative Variations
One of the best things about this baked donut recipe is its incredible versatility. While the strawberry lemonade flavor is a classic winner, don’t hesitate to get creative with substitutions and variations to suit your taste or what you have on hand.
Vegetable Oil Alternatives: If you don’t have vegetable oil, or simply prefer a different option, you can easily substitute it with other neutral oils like corn oil or canola oil. Melted butter also works wonderfully, adding a rich, buttery flavor to the donut base. Just ensure it’s slightly cooled before adding to the batter.
Flavor Play with Cake Mixes: The strawberry cake mix is fantastic for its vibrant color and flavor, but it’s just the beginning! This recipe is a perfect template for experimentation:
- Lemon-Forward Donuts: Craving even more lemon? Try using a lemon cake mix for a double dose of citrus in your donuts.
- Classic Cake Donuts: For a more traditional, comforting donut, opt for a yellow cake mix. You can then omit the lemon juice and zest from the glaze for a simple vanilla or plain sweet glaze, or keep a touch of lemon for a hint of brightness.
- Decadent Chocolate: A chocolate cake mix would be absolutely divine, especially if paired with a simple vanilla glaze or a rich chocolate ganache. You’ll find many more cake donut ideas and recipes, including chocolate varieties, linked above in the “More Donut Recipes to Love” section.
Pure Strawberry Bliss: If you desire a donut that’s purely strawberry-flavored without the lemon tang, it’s an easy adjustment. Simply omit the fresh lemon juice and zest from the cream cheese icing. Instead, infuse your glaze with strawberry flavor! You can add a puree of 4 fresh strawberries, finely diced strawberries, or 2-3 tablespoons of good quality strawberry jam to create a luscious strawberry glaze. A tiny drop of pink food coloring can also enhance the vibrant color.
Expert Tips and Tricks for Perfect Donuts Every Time
Achieving bakery-quality donuts at home is easier than you think, especially with these handy tips and tricks:
- Donut Release: If your freshly baked donuts seem stubborn and stick to the pan, don’t force them. Simply return the pan to the cooling rack and wait an additional 5 minutes. The slight further cooling often helps them contract just enough to release easily. Placing your hot pan directly on a cooling rack when it comes out of the oven also aids in proper cooling and minimizes sticking.
- Mess-Free Filling: For a clean and efficient way to fill your donut pan cavities, use a piping bag. If you don’t have one, a sturdy Ziploc bag with one corner snipped off will work just as well. This method offers much more control than spooning, preventing drips and ensuring evenly filled molds.
- Reviving Glaze: If your lemon cream cheese glaze starts to stiffen in the bowl before you’ve finished glazing all your donuts, don’t worry! A quick zap in the microwave for about 10 seconds will soften it right up. Give it a good stir, and it’ll be ready for dipping again.
- Simple Glazing Technique: The easiest way to glaze your donuts is to place the prepared glaze in a shallow bowl. Then, simply dunk the top of each cooled donut into the glaze, allowing any excess to drip back into the bowl before placing it on a wire rack to set.
- Optimal Freshness: These baked strawberry lemonade donuts are truly at their peak when enjoyed fresh, ideally on the day they are made. The flavors are brightest, and the texture is perfectly soft.
- Storage: If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Be aware that the moisture from the glaze can make them a bit soggy over time, so consuming them quickly is recommended.
- Freezing for Later: You can easily freeze these donuts (without the glaze!) to enjoy at a later date. After baking and ensuring they are completely cooled, wrap each donut individually in plastic wrap. Then, place the wrapped donuts into a freezer-safe zipper bag or airtight container. They will maintain their quality in the freezer for 3-4 months. When ready to enjoy, thaw at room temperature and then prepare the fresh glaze.
- Boost Strawberry Flavor & Garnish: To enhance the strawberry goodness even further, consider folding a small amount of finely chopped fresh strawberries into the donut batter before baking. Alternatively, once glazed, garnish your donuts with extra fresh strawberry slices or a sprinkle of pink decorative sugar for an extra pop of color and flavor.
Delicious Strawberry Recipes to Try
With strawberry season in full swing, there’s no better time to celebrate this beloved berry! If you’re a true fan of strawberries, you’ll adore these “berry-licious” recipes that showcase their sweet and vibrant flavor. From classic desserts to delightful baked goods, these dishes are perfect for enjoying the abundance of fresh strawberries.
- Strawberry Pie: A timeless classic, bursting with fresh strawberry flavor in a delicious crust.
- Strawberry Rhubarb Dessert: The perfect balance of sweet strawberries and tart rhubarb, a delightful seasonal treat.
- Glazed Strawberry Bread: A moist, flavorful quick bread elevated with a sweet glaze, ideal for breakfast or a snack.
- Strawberry Cream Cheese Bars: Layers of deliciousness featuring a buttery crumb, tangy cream cheese, and sweet strawberry filling.
- Strawberry Cupcakes: Light, fluffy cupcakes infused with real strawberry flavor, topped with delightful frosting.
Don’t wait to bake up a batch of these glorious Strawberry Lemonade Donuts today! They are more than just a sweet breakfast treat; their vibrant flavors and beautiful pink color make them versatile enough to be served as an elegant dessert for almost any occasion. Imagine them as a charming addition to a garden tea party, a delightful offering at a baby or bridal shower, a festive highlight for Valentine’s Day, or the perfect themed treat for a pink-themed birthday party. These donuts are sure to impress and satisfy, leaving everyone asking for the recipe!
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Print Recipe
Baked Strawberry Lemonade Donuts
Equipment
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12-Piece Black Sharp Knife Set with Covers, Cutting Board and Sharpener
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Manual Juicer Citrus / Lemon Squeezer
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Citrus Zester
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Whisks for Cooking, 3 Pack Stainless Steel Whisk
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Wilton Non-Stick 6-Cavity Donut Baking Pans, 2-Count
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Glass Batter Bowl
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Kitchenaid Stand Mixer
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KitchenAid Hand Mixer
Ingredients
- For the donuts:
- 1 box (15.25 ounce) Strawberry Cake Mix
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup water
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- For the Icing:
- 2 ounces of cream cheese (softened to room temperature)
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 2 Tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 C). Lightly grease your donut baking pan to prevent sticking.
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In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the strawberry cake mix, water, egg, and vegetable oil until the batter is smooth and well combined. Be careful not to overmix.
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Fill each donut hole cavity in the baking pan about two-thirds full with batter. Bake for 12-14 minutes, or until the edges are barely starting to brown and a toothpick comes out clean. Cool the donuts in the pan for 10 minutes before carefully removing them to a wire rack. If they are sticking, allow 5 more minutes of cooling in the pan.
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It is crucial to cool the donuts completely on a wire rack before attempting to glaze them. Warm donuts will cause the glaze to melt and run off.
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While the donuts cool, prepare the lemon glaze. In a small bowl, whisk together the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and lemon zest. Gradually add the fresh lemon juice, a little at a time, until your desired lemon flavor and glaze consistency are reached. You want a thick yet smooth glaze.
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Dip the top of each completely cooled donut into the glaze. Allow any excess to drip off, then place them back on the cooling rack. Let the donuts sit for a few minutes to allow the glaze to set up before serving. Enjoy your homemade Strawberry Lemonade Donuts!
Notes
If your glaze thickens too quickly while you’re working, simply microwave it for about 10 seconds, then stir well to loosen it back to the desired consistency.
For the best taste and texture, these donuts are ideally eaten fresh. You can store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days, but they may become quite moist due to the glaze.