Maple Donuts

Maple donuts are the cozy, sweet, and sticky treat you need to try for Thanksgiving and beyond. If you love maple syrup, you simply have to make this baked maple donut recipe, it is the most delicious breakfast the whole family will look forward to in the morning! The best part? Maple glazed donuts are actually really simple to make and takes less than 30 minutes!

Jump to:

• 🌟 Why this is the best Maple Donuts recipe
• 📝 Ingredient notes
• 👩‍🍳 How to make this recipe
• 📚 Flavor variations & Substitutions
• 🥣 Equipment Notes
• 🎓 Expert tips
• ❓Recipe FAQs
• 🍩 More Donut recipes
• Maple Donuts

🌟 Why this is the best Maple Donuts recipe

1. The taste: Every bite of these maple donuts has that classic maple syrup taste that makes them utterly irresistible. They're addictive!
2. The Texture: Fluffy on the inside, with a super silky maple glaze on the top. It's texture heaven!
3. The simplicity: Baked donuts are both healthier donuts and easier donuts to make than fried donut recipes. You don't need to leave them to proof, you don't need a deep fryer, and there's no oil to dispose of afterward.
4. The speed: These donuts come together fast! You can whip them up in just 30 minutes.

📝 Ingredient notes

For the donuts

Here are the ingredients you need to make these easy maple frosted donuts from scratch.

1. Unsalted butter: I always recommend using unsalted butter so that you have control of both the quality and quantity of salt in the recipe. The butter needs to be at room temperature.
2. Brown sugar: Light brown sugar still contains some molasses content, which gives a deeper flavor and some delicious caramel undertones.
3. Granulated sugar: Granulated white sugar sweetens this maple donut recipe and also acts as a tenderizer in baked goods like this.
4. Maple syrup: Pure maple syrup comes from the sap of maple trees, and it is delicious! Be careful of bottles labeled as 'maple flavor syrup' as they are not proper maple syrup and are instead full of artificial flavorings. The darker the syrup, the stronger the maple taste.
5. Eggs: Eggs act as a leavening and binding agent, as well as adding protein, moisture, and fat to baked goods. Always use room-temperature eggs in baking.
6. Greek-style yogurt: Greek yogurt adds moisture and acidity to your baked goods and helps keep the donuts duper soft. that really brings out all the flavors. Always bake with full-fat yogurt, and make sure it is at room temperature before you begin.
7. All purpose flour: AP flour (or plain flour) is excellent for baking cakes, brownies, and cookies as it has a medium protein content and is very easy to get hold of in grocery stores. Sift flour before using.
8. Baking powder: This is a yeast-free donut recipe, so we use another leavening agent to help your donuts rise.
9. Salt: A pinch of salt helps to bring out all the flavors and balances the sweetness in dessert recipes, so be sure to include it even if it might seem odd!

🛒 You’ll find detailed measurements for all ingredients in the printable version of the Recipe Card at the bottom of this post

For the maple glaze

1. Unsalted butter: Mixing butter and maple syrup together gives a deliciously rich and decadent flavor and smooth texture.
2. Maple syrup: A lighter-colored maple syrup will have a lighter flavor, and darker maple syrup will have a deeper flavor, so choose according to your personal preference.
3. Powdered sugar: Sieve your powdered sugar (also known as icing sugar) to avoid any lumps on top of your maple glazed doughnuts.

🛒 You’ll find detailed measurements for all ingredients in the printable version of the Recipe Card at the bottom of this post

👩‍🍳 How to make this recipe

1. Make the baked donuts

Baked donuts are much easier to make than traditional donuts, which need a yeasted dough, proofing time, and deep fat frying. Here's how to make this easy maple donut recipe.

1. Preheat your oven to 175 C / 347 F (no fan).
2. Cream the softened butter with the sugar (both the white sugar and brown sugar) and maple syrup using an Electric hand mixer.
3. When the mixture becomes fluffy, slowly add the eggs and then the yogurt. Turn off the mixer.
4. Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a separate mixing bowl.
5. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients by hand using a rubber spatula) just until combined.
6. Pipe or spoon the maple donut batter into your donut mold. The batter makes 6 donuts, but you can easily double the ingredients if wish to make 12.
7. Bake the maple donuts for 13-15 min or until a toothpick or skewer comes out clean when inserted with no wet batter on it. Do not over bake the donuts as they can dry out resulting in an unpleasant dry texture.
8. Allow the donuts to cool completely on a wire rack before moving on to the next stage; glazing with the maple syrup.

💡 Top Tip: Ensure that your eggs, butter, and yogurt are all at room temperature before you begin so that they properly emulsify.

2. Make the maple glaze

1. Gently heat the maple syrup and butter together in a saucepan over low heat.
2. Sift in the powdered sugar and stir to incorporate it into the melted butter and maple syrup mixture as it thickens.
3. If the glaze is too thick, add more maple syrup. If the glaze is too thin, add more powdered sugar.

💡 Top Tip: Some powdered sugar is a finer blend than others, and the humidity in your kitchen also plays a part in the ratio of maple syrup to sugar you will need to make the perfect glaze.

3. Glazing the maple donuts

1. Dip each donut into the glaze, holding the edges with your fingertips.
2. Move the donut around in the glaze for a few seconds before carefully lifting it up and removing any excess with your other hand.
3. Turn over and place the glazed maple donuts onto a plate or tray and allow them to be fully set at room temperature or in the fridge if your kitchen is warm.
4. Serve the donuts fresh at room temperature. Any leftovers can be stored at room temperature in an air-tight container for 2-3 days.

💡 Top Tip: Never glaze warm donuts; always let them come to room temperature or chill first.

📚 Flavor variations & Substitutions

I love to garnish these baked maple donuts with crunchy chopped pecans! Maple syrup and pecans are such a heavenly combination. But if you are feeling really adventurous, try some crispy bacon!

If you have a dietary restriction or preference (or have run out of ingredients), check my baking substitution guides to make sure you are making the best swaps.

I have plenty of other foolproof donut recipes for you to bake, like these classic pumpkin spice donuts or some tasty and aromatic baked cinnamon sugar donuts.

🥣 Equipment Notes

I always recommend weighing ingredients by the gram using a digital scale to ensure precision. Baking is a science, and you will get better results if you work this way rather than measuring by volume.

If you use an electric hand mixer and then switch to a rubber spatula, you will avoid overmixing the batter.

I love a silikomart donut mold for baking fresh donuts as it allows you to get the perfect ring donut shape every time. Always check the oven temperature with a digital oven thermometer. Baking in an oven that is too hot or too cold will cause problems with your doughnuts and other baked goods. I use a wire cooling rack to let the donuts cool completely before glazing and enjoying them.

🎓 Expert tips

1. Invest in a digital scale and an oven thermometer to be as precise as possible when baking.
2. Do not overwork the baked maple donut batter. Stop using the mixer once the wet ingredients are incorporated, and continue with a rubber spatula to add the dry ingredients.
3. Make sure to properly grease your tin or donut pan if you are not using a silicon mold. It can be hard to get the donuts out! Check out how to get a cake out of the mold to help you out if needed.
4. Overbaking will result in dry donuts. Use the toothpick test to check when they are done.
5. To achieve a neat glaze, the thickness of the maple icing is key. It needs to be not too thick but also not too thin. If it is too thin, the glaze will run over the donut, but if it is too thick, the glaze will be wrinkled.
6. You will need to make more maple glaze than you need in order to dip them into it. Use the extra drizzled onto brownies or cookies, or make these cute mini pumpkin bundt cakes with maple glaze.

❓Recipe FAQs

🍩 More Donut recipes