Nothing makes me smile like biting into a delicious donut. I don’t know what it is about these ringed wonders, but they’re just so hard to resist. Donuts are the quintessential American treat. From baked to fried, with a cinnamon-sugar coating or something more colorful, it’s love at first bite. But then there are donuts that have exciting and unique flavors, which are so irresistible! Sure, the classics are amazing, but I’ve had everything from key lime to banana bread. One thing is for sure; having a donut is always a good idea. And if you’re looking for a fun twist on your favorite treat, you’ll certainly find it on this list of 20 daring donut flavors.
1. Baked Carrot Cake Donuts
As much as I love a good cupcake, I’ll choose a baked donut any day of the week. They’re just as tender, and they’re not smothered in frosting. Not that I don’t like frosting! But I prefer the lighter glaze you find on donuts because it means I can have more than one 🙂 This light carrot cake is the perfect consistency for a baked donut. It’s firm enough to hold its shape but is still lovely and moist inside. Plus, the excellent addition of toasted coconut makes for such a nice change.
2. Baked Lemon Donuts with Lemon Glaze
One of my favorite things about baked donuts is that I can have them for breakfast without a second thought. Being baked, not fried, they’re practically healthy! Ok, so maybe they’re not great to have every day, but for a mid-week pick-me-up, they’re perfect. For maximum, lip-smacking lemon flavor, use lemon extract instead of lemon juice.
3. Baked Cinnamon Sugar Donuts
These warm little bites are so good; you won’t be able to let them cool before you dig in. They’re easy to make and can be on the table in less than an hour. Coat your donuts while they’re still warm so that the sugar sticks all over, and feel free to drizzle with a little caramel.
4. Baked Funfetti Donuts
Classic, adorable, and funky, these will be the star of the show at any gathering. Nobody will be able to resist a plate full of cute glazed donuts covered in rainbow sprinkles. I love the colors against the white glaze, but you could use something colorful for extra pizazz.
5. Old-Fashioned Powdered Sugar Donuts
They might be old-fashioned, but they’re definitely not out of style. Between the sticky fingers and the powder on your nose, these will bring back so many fond childhood memories. Be gentle when mixing to keep the crumb tender, and don’t be shy with the powdered sugar. You could even add in a tablespoon of cocoa powder for a fun alternative to this classic.
6. Baked Jelly Donuts
We’ve all bitten into one of these only to have the jelly ooze out the other side. They’re messy but worth it. These have a yeast-based dough, which makes the final product fluffy and almost like fried donuts.
7. Chocolate Cake Donuts
This recipe looks just like a good chocolate cake recipe, using sour cream for maximum moisture. And they taste so much like a decadent chocolate cake. Baking in a donut shape, they will keep their body and make for a fantastic travel-friendly substitute for a big cake.
8. Chocolate Frosted Donuts
I adore the color contrast of a vanilla donut with a thick, dark chocolate glaze. Throw in some colorful sprinkles, and you’ll have one incredible snack. The frosting is essentially a chocolate ganache, so it has a rich flavor. The only difference is that it incorporates butter for an extra shiny finish.
9. Boston Cream Donuts
Nothing can compete with a soft donut filled with pastry cream. It’s as good as it gets! Hands down, this is my all-time favorite donut flavor. If you don’t have time to make a batch of pastry cream, use vanilla pudding instead. You’ll cut your prep time in half, and it will taste just as good.
10. Blueberry Baked Donuts
Just like blueberry muffins, these are such an excellent option for a brunch or afternoon tea. They’re full of sweet blueberries and pair perfectly with a good cup of coffee. These are great without any glaze, but if you want something a touch sweeter, try mixing a little blueberry juice into powdered sugar and drizzling over the top.
11. Maple Bacon Donuts
Having lived in Canada for a couple of years, I can attest to the fabulous combination of maple and bacon. Try it once, and you’ll be addicted. Be sure to use real maple syrup for the best flavor possible. And when making your bacon, save that grease! It will make a fantastic glaze, too.
12. Red Velvet Donuts
I make these once a year, on Valentine’s Day. They’re the cutest little treat for family and friends and even to bring to the office. With the cream cheese frosting, this vibrant donut is a must-try.
13. Key Lime Coconut Donuts
My love for key lime started years ago, down in Key West, and it’s only ground over the years. The lime and coconut in this recipe are tropical and refreshing, and you’ll want to make extra. The only thing that could make these better would be to fill them with key lime curd.
14. Banana Bread Donuts with Browned Butter Caramel Glaze
My eyes widened a little bigger with each new word in that sentence. Banana bread donuts? Browned butter glaze? I may have died and gone to heaven! If you’ve never browned butter before, don’t worry! It just takes a little patience. Swirl the pan and watch as it turns golden and nutty, and be prepared to use browned butter for everything else in the future!
15. Strawberry Cake Donuts
When I think of donuts, I usually think of a pink glaze. It just looks adorable and is so hard to resist. Strawberries offer such a light, sweet flavor to the donut. And paired with the strawberry glaze, this might become your new go-to.
16. Sticky Orange Olive Oil Baked Donuts
I love the fruity notes olive oil adds to a cake, especially mixed with fragrant orange. Be careful not to over-mix the batter, and feel free to use regular oil if you don’t have olive oil. For the decoration, a sprinkling of orange zest would be an easy and colorful option.
17. Mint Chocolate Donuts
It’s hard not to love the refreshing combination of mint and rich chocolate. They just balance each other flawlessly. If you want to boost the mint flavor, try using mint oil or melting some mint chocolates in with the glaze.
18. Peanut Butter Glazed Chocolate Donuts Recipe
So yes, chocolate and mint are a wonderful pairing. But peanut butter and chocolate might just take the gold. The glaze for this recipe will be thick and decadent, and I would suggest drizzling some salted caramel on top, too.
19. Pineapple Upside-Down Donuts
These donuts are too cute! Using sliced pineapple is a stroke of genius, ensuring every bite is bursting with flavor. If you’re missing a glaze, try using the pineapple juice and mixing it with powdered sugar.
20. Apple Fritters
If you don’t have a donut pan, these apple fritters are for you. Rustic, full of fruit, and covered in a sweet glaze, they’re to die for. Once the batter is ready and you’ve mixed through the apples, all you’ll need to do is drop spoonfuls into the hot oil. After a few minutes of cooking, you can either glaze or coat in cinnamon sugar. Click on a star to rate it!
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