These two-ingredient Cake Mix Baked Cake Donuts are too good to be true! Just two ingredients for the donuts, a container of frosting for the glaze, and in less than 30 minutes you’ll have great cake donuts ready to enjoy!
Two Ingredients, One Delicious Donut
These incredibly easy and delicious Cake Mix Baked Cake Donuts with a 1-Ingredient Glaze are too good to be true! This recipe is for my semi-homemade, fear of frying, need something quick & easy but still want them to taste amazing, donut lovers out there. You’re gonna love these cake donuts!
Do or Donut, There is No Try
It’s no secret that I’m obsessed with donuts. I mean I wear donut shoes, donut shirts, a donut necklace and all the donut shops in town know me by name. Absolutely no shame in my donut loving game!
In honor of National Donut Day, I’m sharing these 2-Ingredient baked cake donuts! “How can that be??” you might be asking. What about the flour? The yeast? The powdered sugar? The salt? Surely there are eggs? Well, they’re actually made with a cake mix and one other ingredient mixed in. I don’t use cake mixes often because I love baking from scratch, but there’s absolutely nothing wrong with using a cake mix every once in a while to make life easier and to mix things up.
Stay tuned for some scratch-made, home-fried Blueberry Donuts that are still super easy and can be ready to enjoy in just 30 minutes. Once again, too good to be true!
Oh, and don’t forget about the Easy Old-Fashioned Donuts, Whole Wheat Baked Banana Donuts with a Peanut Butter Glaze, and Baked Banana Donuts with a Maple Glaze recipes that I’ve posted in the past.
Watch Me Make Baked Cake Donuts
Join me in the kitchen as I make a batch of these amazing 2-Ingredient Baked Cake Donuts!
So Many Options
So when I got this idea in my head to bake donuts with a cake mix and just one other ingredient mixed in, I ran with it and I love how they turned out! The options are plentiful when it comes to picking a flavor for these cake donuts. Just take your favorite cake mix and stir in either 2 cups mashed banana, 2 cups cinnamon applesauce, or a 15 ounce can (about 1 and 3/4 cups) of pure pumpkin to the dough.
And you’ll never believe it, but the glaze is just store-bought cake frosting that’s been microwaved for about 10 seconds. It works so perfectly as a donut glaze. I was literally doing the happy dance when this little idea of mine worked so well.
The donuts are soft and cakey and the sweet glaze coats and complements them perfectly. Oh my yum!
Ingredients and Supplies
(see recipe card at the bottom of this post for measurements and details)
Ingredients:
- 1 (13.25 ounce) boxed cake mix (any flavor, but just the dry mix): this is the key ingredient. The dry mix already contains flour, sugar, leavens, salt and flavoring to save time and guarantee a consistent result. You can use any flavor: chocolate, vanilla, red velvet, spice, lemon, etc. Gluten free cakes mixes also work if you need a gluten free option.
- Mashed banana, cinnamon applesauce, OR pure canned pumpkin: this replaces the oil and eggs usually required in cake mix directions. It provides moisture, sweetness, and binds things together to get a soft and tender donut. Greek yogurt is another mix-in option.
- Store bought cake frosting (any flavor): instead of a traditional powdered sugar + milk glaze, this hack melts store-bought frosting to create a dippable glaze. When it sets, it has that sweet, shiny finish. Any flavor of frosting works: chocolate, cream cheese, funfetti, etc. If you prefer something lighter, you can make a simple icing or even try a maple syrup drizzle.
- Sprinkles (optional): they’re a super fun add-on if you’re making them with the kids or for a party.
Supplies:
- Two 6-cavity donut pans
- Large mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Wire cooling rack
- Microwave-safe bowl
- Resealable baggie
How to Make Cake Mix Baked Cake Donuts
To make cake mix donuts, take 1 dry cake mix (any flavor), 1 mix-in (banana, applesauce, pumpkin), and 1 container of frosting (any flavor). Sprinkles are technically optional, but come on! Sprinkles are a given when it comes to donuts, am I right?! 😉 I made them three different ways to show you how.
Chocolate cake donuts: Use a chocolate cake mix and stir in any one of the 3 mix-ins and use any flavor of frosting for the glaze that you so desire! I chose chocolate pumpkin with a chocolate frosting glaze and rainbow sprinkles.
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Spray one (or two) 6 cavity donut pans with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, stir together the cake mix (just the dry mix, no other ingredients listed on the box) with one of the mix-in options until well combined. Transfer the batter to a gallon-size resealable baggie and seal shut.
- Cut a small piece off one corner off the bottom of the baggie and fill each donut ring almost completely full with batter. You can also use a piping bag, if you have one. (Should make 12 donuts)
- Bake donuts for 7-8 minutes or until donuts are set and spring back up when touched.
- Let donuts cool in pan for at least 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack set over a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to collect glaze drippings. Repeat process with remaining batter if you don’t have two donut pans.
Vanilla cake donuts: Add vanilla cake mix and apple sauce to a large mixing bowl.
- Stir together until well combined.
Strawberry cake donuts: I used mashed bananas for the mix-in and a strawberry frosting glaze! If you like a spice cake mix, go with applesauce or pumpkin and a cream cheese or plain vanilla frosting glaze! In a large mixing bowl, stir together the strawberry cake mix with mashed bananas until well combined.
Glazing the donuts:
- Heat frosting in a microwave-safe bowl for 10-15 seconds until of drizzling consistency.
- Dip one donut at a time into the frosting glaze and place upright back on the wire rack.
- If sprinkling with sprinkles, do so immediately after glazing each donut.
- Repeat with remaining donuts. Allow glaze to set for 5-10 minutes. Enjoy!
So many yummy options! The process for making these donuts is so quick and easy it’s ridiculous. You’ll be baking these bad boys (I mean that in a good way) every chance you get. You should definitely try apple spice cake mix with a cream cheese frosting glaze…sweet & simply delicious! Might be my fave!
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. They’ll stay soft, but the glaze might get a little tacky. If you’ve glazed them already, put a piece of parchment between layers to prevent sticking. If you know you won’t eat them all right away, I’d actually only glaze what you plan to serve, and freeze or store the rest unglazed — they hold up better that way.
Or you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. This helps the glaze set firmer, but the donuts themselves can dry a little faster, so I’d recommend letting them come to room temperature before eating.
You can freeze the plain baked donuts (without glaze) for up to 3 months. Wrap individually in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container or plastic bag. When ready to enjoy, thaw at room temperature and glaze fresh
More Homemade Donut Recipes
If you love donuts, you’ll go nuts for this collection of The Best Homemade Donut Recipes. They’re so easy and so delicious. And as a bonus, I share some creative ways to enjoy store bought donuts, too!
So what are you waiting for? Grab a cake mix, a mix-in, and a container of frosting and you’re less than 30 minutes away from baked cake donut deliciousness!
If you make my Cake Mix Baked Cake Donuts, be sure to snap a picture and share it with me on Instagram @thebakermama so I can see. If you’re on Facebook, be sure to join my Friends of The BakerMama group to connect and share all the fun and yummy recipes of mine that you make! 😍 I just love seeing how inspired and creative y’all get with the ideas I share. Enjoy!
xoxo,
Cake Mix Baked Cake Donuts
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 8 mins
- Total Time: 23 mins
- Yield: 12 Donuts
- Category: Breakfast
Description
These 2-Ingredient Cake Mix Baked Cake Donuts are too good to be true! Just two ingredients for the donuts and a container of frosting for the glaze and in less than 30 minutes you’ll have great cake donuts ready to enjoy!
Ingredients
- 1 (13.25 ounce) boxed cake mix, any flavor (just the dry mix)
- 1 mix-in (2 cups mashed banana OR 2 cups cinnamon applesauce OR 1 (15 ounce) can pure pumpkin)
- 1 container cake frosting, any flavor
- Sprinkles, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Spray one (or two) 6 cavity donut pans with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, stir together the cake mix (just the dry mix, no other ingredients listed on the box) with one of the mix-in options until well combined.
- Transfer the batter to a gallon-size resealable baggie and seal shut. Cut a small piece off one corner of the bottom of the baggie and fill each donut ring almost completely full with batter. You can also use a piping bag, if you have one. (Should make 12 donuts)
- Bake for 7-8 minutes or until donuts are set and spring back up when touched.
- Let donuts cool in pan for at least 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack set over a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to collect glaze drippings. Repeat process with remaining batter if you don’t have two donut pans.
- Heat frosting in a microwave-safe bowl for 10-15 seconds until of drizzling consistency. Dip one donut at a time into the frosting glaze and place upright back on the wire rack.
- If sprinkling with sprinkles, do so immediately after glazing each donut. Repeat with remaining donuts. Allow glaze to set for 5-10 minutes. Enjoy!
Notes
If using a mini donut pan, bake for about 5 minutes before testing for doneness.
i was very excited to try this donut recipe this morning. i followed your instructions exactly using applesauce and blueberry muffin mix. the inside of the donut was gummy and pasty even though they were in the oven for well over the 7-8 minute bake-time. do you have any idea what may have gone wrong?? thanks !!
Hi Julie! I’m guessing it’s because you used a muffin mix instead of a cake mix. I have only tested the recipe with a cake mix.
Yep, the problem was the muffin mix! I tried again this morning with funfetti cake mix and applesauce, & they turned out wonderfully!! Huge hit with the kiddies!! Thanks for the recipe & the help!! 🙂
Yay! So happy to hear. Enjoy! 🙂
Hi just wondering if I can transfer the batter to a cake pan..thank you⚘
Hi Lucia! Yes, you’ll just need to bake it longer. Check the suggested baking time on the back of the cake mix box for the size of cake pan you use, but check it often to make sure it doesn’t over-bake. Enjoy!
Hi there so are these supposed to be vegan?
As long as the cake mix you use is vegan, they certainly could be. Enjoy!
I made devils food donuts dipped in chocolate icing and yellow cake donuts dipped in strawberry icing. I also used the recipe with my whoopie pie pans and used carrot cake and cream cheese icing. I didn’t heat the icing for the whoopie pies. The donuts and whoopie pies all turned out fantastic. I’m so glad I found your recipe. Thank you from me, my hubby and his coworkers!
Made donuts using cinnabon cake mix, homemade applesauce and pumpkin pie spice. Instead of using frosting I rolled the donuts in Splenda mix (part Splenda and regular granulated sugar) . Did not have a donut pan so instead used a mini bundt cake pan. They came out looking absolutely beautiful, smelled so great and the taste was fantastic!! Thank you for such a simple and quick way to make these!????
Spice cake mix with 15 oz can of pure pumpkin with a couple heaping tablespoons of healthy flax seeds! 20 minutes at 350 degrees..top with cream cheese icing!
Sounds delish, Meem! So happy you made them your own and are enjoying them! 🙂
This sounds healthy. I buy sugar free cake mixes at Walmart which are healthy. A little pricey.
Used the spice cake mix with applesauce . Followed directions carefully. Bought a donut pan just to try the recipe out.
The results are doughnut shaped but taste nothing at all like a cake doughnut! They are soft and taste like a spice cake not like a doughnut.
Very disappointing!
Oh Donna, I’m sorry they didn’t turn out like you wanted them to. They are definitely a soft and cake-y donut (as stated in the post) with a thin crisp exterior to them thanks to baking them at 425 degrees.
Does this have to be made into donuts or muffins? I would like to make it in a cake pan. Maybe adjust the baking time??
Hi Kylie! Absolutely, you can bake the recipe in a cake pan. I would recommend decreasing the oven temperature to 350 degrees and baking for about 15 minutes, watching it closely. Let me know how it turns out! Enjoy!
I used a triple chocolate cake mix and bananas. Baked at 350 in a 13×9 cake pan for about 20-25 min. It was delicious. Very moist w only a hint of banana taste that I didn’t mind at all. I didn’t frost it but I bet if I had it would mask the banana taste. Only problem I had was I ate half the pan myself!
Can I use with a baby cakes donut maker?
Hi Raven! I’ve never used a baby cakes donut maker before, but I don’t see why not. Certainly worth a try! I hope they turn out just as great. Enjoy!
They did. Thank you!
Oh I want to know this too!
You can use it! I did and they were great
I tried this with questionable results. First, I used silicone pans, and only got ten donuts. I used applesauce and spice cake mix. (Used what was in the pictures). First, I had to double the baking time to 16 minutes. Then I let them cool for almost 20 minutes, and still had issues getting them out. I think if I had used a metal pan, it might have turned out differently. The flavor is good, but I am not sure I will try this again. I will see if I let them sit out overnight if the glazing will work or not.
Hi Tom! I’m sorry to hear this. Something definitely went wrong with either the ingredients you used or the pan you used because they certainly shouldn’t bake much longer than 8 minutes. Did you use just 2 cups of the applesauce? Did you use a standard spice cake mix (just the dry mix, NO oil, water, eggs, etc.)?
I did spice cake and applesauce in a silicone pan as well. It took about 15 minutes to cook and I let them cool for about 20 minutes. They turned out delicious but I did have to bake them for double the amount of time.