As the days grow longer and the sun shines brighter, our cravings naturally shift towards flavors that embody the spirit of the season. What could be more quintessentially spring or summer than the delightful pairing of sweet strawberries and tangy lemons? This unique combination is the star of our incredibly easy and utterly delicious Strawberry Lemonade Donuts recipe. Imagine biting into a fluffy, baked donut bursting with the vibrant taste of fresh strawberries, perfectly complemented by a zesty lemon cream cheese glaze. These aren’t just donuts; they’re a little ray of sunshine for your taste buds, promising to brighten any morning, afternoon snack, or even serve as a charming dessert. Kids and adults alike will find these homemade treats simply irresistible, making them a perfect addition to any gathering or a delightful indulgence for yourself.
Forget the long lines and generic offerings of traditional donut shops. With this simple recipe, you can create bakery-quality donuts right in your own kitchen. Using readily available ingredients, you’ll whip up moist, flavorful baked donuts topped with a luscious sweet and tangy cream cheese icing that elevates them to gourmet status. The beauty of these donuts lies not only in their incredible taste but also in their charming appearance. Their delicate pink hue makes them ideal for any celebration, from a whimsical tea party to a baby shower, bridal brunch, or even a heartfelt Valentine’s Day treat. Get ready to impress your family and friends with these vibrant, homemade delights that are as pretty as they are palatable.
Why You’ll Fall in Love with This Strawberry Lemonade Donut Recipe
There are countless reasons why these Strawberry Lemonade Donuts are destined to become a staple in your recipe collection. First and foremost, convenience is king. This recipe brilliantly utilizes a strawberry cake mix as its base, transforming what could be a complex baking project into an incredibly quick and straightforward process. With just a handful of ingredients for the donuts themselves and a few more for the exquisite lemon glaze, you can have freshly baked, warm donuts ready to enjoy in remarkably little time.
Beyond their ease, these donuts offer a healthier alternative to their fried counterparts. By baking rather than deep-frying, you significantly reduce the calorie and fat content without compromising on flavor or texture. The result is a wonderfully moist, cake-like donut that feels indulgent yet is a slightly lighter choice. This method also means less mess and no lingering frying odors in your kitchen – a win-win for any home baker.
But let’s talk about the flavor! The harmonious blend of sweet strawberry and tart lemon creates a refreshing and balanced taste that truly sings of warmer weather. Each bite delivers a burst of fruity goodness, enhanced by the creamy, bright lemon glaze that sets these donuts apart. This recipe isn’t just a standalone marvel; it’s also a fantastic template for culinary exploration. Once you master this base, you can easily experiment with other cake mix flavors and glazes, unlocking a world of delicious possibilities. If you’re enchanted by the strawberry and lemon combination, don’t stop here! You might also adore our Strawberry Lemonade Cake for a show-stopping dessert or our indulgent Chocolate Covered Strawberry Donuts for a different berry-infused treat.
Essential Ingredients for Your Baked Strawberry Lemonade Donuts
Crafting these delightful strawberry lemonade donuts requires a straightforward list of ingredients, most of which you likely already have in your pantry or can easily find at any grocery store. The magic truly lies in how these simple components come together to create something extraordinary. For your convenience, the complete ingredient list with precise measurements and detailed instructions can be found in the printable recipe card towards the end of this post.
For the Irresistible Strawberry Cake Donuts:
- Strawberry Cake Mix: This is your secret weapon for speed and consistent flavor. A standard 15.25-ounce box is perfect. Look for brands that offer a rich strawberry flavor. This shortcut allows you to achieve a perfectly tender and flavorful donut base without the hassle of measuring multiple dry ingredients.
- Large Egg: The egg acts as a binder, helping to create the cake-like structure and moist texture of your baked donuts. Ensure it’s fresh for the best results.
- Water: Used to bring the cake mix batter to the ideal consistency. Tap water is perfectly fine for this recipe.
- Vegetable Oil: Adds moisture and richness to the donuts, contributing to their soft crumb. Don’t worry, baking them keeps the oil content balanced compared to frying.
For the Luscious Lemon Cream Cheese Glaze:
- Cream Cheese: The star of the glaze, providing a delightful tang and creamy texture. It’s crucial that your cream cheese is softened to room temperature before mixing. This ensures a smooth, lump-free glaze that drapes beautifully over your donuts.
- Powdered Sugar: Also known as confectioner’s sugar, this fine sugar dissolves easily, creating a silky-smooth glaze. It provides the necessary sweetness to balance the tart lemon and rich cream cheese.
- Fresh Lemon: You’ll need both the fresh lemon juice and the finely grated zest from one lemon. The zest carries the concentrated lemon oil, delivering an intense, bright citrus aroma and flavor, while the juice adds that essential tangy zing. Always opt for fresh lemons for the most vibrant taste.
How to Make Strawberry Lemon Donuts: A Simple Guide
Creating these delightful Strawberry Lemonade Donuts is a straightforward and rewarding process. Follow these simple steps to bring a burst of fruity sunshine to your kitchen.
Step 1: Prepare Your Workspace and Oven. Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius). While the oven heats, lightly grease your donut baking pan. A non-stick pan works best, and a quick spray with cooking oil or a brush with melted butter will ensure your donuts release easily.
Step 2: Whisk Up the Donut Batter. In a large mixing bowl, combine the strawberry cake mix, egg, water, and vegetable oil. Use a whisk or an electric mixer on low speed to gently blend these ingredients until the batter is smooth and free of large lumps. Be careful not to overmix; overmixing can lead to tough donuts. Mix just until everything is incorporated.
Step 3: Fill Your Donut Pan and Bake. Carefully spoon or pipe the donut batter into the prepared donut cavities, filling each about two-thirds full. This allows room for the donuts to rise without overflowing. Bake for approximately 12-14 minutes, or until the edges are just barely beginning to turn golden brown and a toothpick inserted into a donut comes out clean. Baking times can vary slightly depending on your oven, so keep a close eye on them.
Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and let the donuts cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. This crucial cooling period helps them firm up and makes them much easier to remove without breaking. If you find they’re still a bit sticky, give them another 5 minutes in the pan before attempting to transfer them. After 10 minutes, carefully transfer the warm donuts to a wire rack to cool completely. Allowing them to cool fully before glazing is essential to prevent the glaze from melting off.
Step 4: Craft the Zesty Lemon Glaze and Finish. While your donuts are cooling, it’s time to prepare the star of the show: the vibrant 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, whisking continuously until you achieve your desired consistency and lemon flavor. You want a glaze that’s thick enough to coat the donuts but still pourable. Once your donuts are completely cool, dip each one into the prepared glaze, allowing any excess to drip off. Place the glazed donuts back on the wire rack and let them sit for a few minutes to allow the icing to set beautifully. Now, they’re ready to be enjoyed!
Unlock the Best Flavor: Expert Tips for Homemade Donuts
To ensure your Strawberry Lemonade Donuts turn out perfectly every time, keep these expert tips and tricks in mind:
- Donut Pan Dilemmas: If your freshly baked donuts seem to be sticking to the pan, resist the urge to force them out immediately. Simply let them cool in the pan for an additional 5 minutes on a wire rack. The slight contraction as they cool often helps them release more easily. Ensuring your pan is thoroughly greased before baking is the best preventative measure.
- Mess-Free Filling: For a cleaner and more efficient way to fill your donut pan, transfer the batter into a piping bag. If you don’t have one, a large Ziploc bag with one corner snipped off works just as well. This method gives you greater control and minimizes drips and spills.
- Glaze Consistency is Key: If your lemon cream cheese glaze becomes too thick or stiff while you’re working with it, a quick 5-10 second blast in the microwave will loosen it right up. Stir thoroughly, and it will be ready to use again.
- The Art of Glazing: For a beautifully even coat, transfer your prepared glaze into a shallow bowl. Gently dunk the top of each cooled donut into the glaze, allowing any excess to drip back into the bowl before placing it back on a wire rack. This creates that iconic, smooth finish.
- Optimal Freshness: These homemade donuts are absolutely at their best when enjoyed fresh, ideally on the day they are baked. The flavors are most vibrant, and the texture is perfectly soft.
- Storage Solutions: If you happen to have any leftovers (a rare occurrence!), store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Be aware that the moisture from the glaze and the donuts themselves can make them a bit soggier over time.
- Freeze for Future Cravings: You can easily freeze these donuts without the glaze for longer storage. Once baked and completely cooled, wrap each donut individually in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe zipper bag. They will keep well in the freezer for 3-4 months. Thaw at room temperature and then apply fresh glaze when ready to serve.
- Amplify Strawberry Flavor: For an even more intense strawberry experience, consider folding a quarter cup of finely chopped fresh strawberries or 2-3 tablespoons of strawberry jam into your donut batter before baking. Alternatively, a sprinkle of fresh diced strawberries or a pinch of pink sanding sugar on top of the wet glaze makes for a lovely garnish and adds an extra layer of sweetness and texture.
Creative Flavor Variations & Substitutions
One of the joys of this strawberry lemonade donut recipe is its adaptability. While delicious as is, it also serves as a fantastic canvas for your culinary creativity. Don’t be afraid to experiment with these simple substitutions and variations:
- Alternative Oils: If vegetable oil isn’t on hand, you can easily substitute it with other neutral-flavored oils like corn oil or canola oil. Melted butter also works beautifully, adding a rich, buttery depth to the donut batter.
- Explore Cake Mix Flavors: The cake mix base is incredibly versatile! Try a lemon cake mix for intensely lemon-flavored donuts, perfect with a simple powdered sugar glaze. A yellow cake mix can give you a more traditional “vanilla” donut base, which pairs wonderfully with a classic vanilla glaze (simply omit the lemon juice and zest from the provided glaze recipe). Chocolate cake mix offers endless possibilities for chocolate lovers. You’ll find inspiration for many other cake donut recipes by exploring the “More Donut Recipes to Love” section above.
- Pure Strawberry Bliss: If you’re craving an unadulterated strawberry donut without the lemon tang, it’s an easy adjustment. For the icing, simply omit the lemon juice and zest. Instead, incorporate a puree of 4 fresh strawberries, finely diced strawberries, or 2-3 tablespoons of your favorite strawberry jam into the cream cheese and powdered sugar mixture. This will create a vibrant, sweet strawberry glaze that perfectly complements the strawberry donuts.
- Dairy-Free Options: For those with dietary restrictions, consider using a dairy-free cake mix and plant-based milk alternatives for the donut batter if the cake mix calls for milk. For the glaze, dairy-free cream cheese alternatives are widely available and can create a surprisingly similar texture and flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Homemade Donuts
You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers! Here are some common inquiries about making homemade donuts:
- What can I use instead of a donut pan? While a dedicated donut pan is a fantastic kitchen tool for donut enthusiasts, you can certainly improvise! If you have a muffin pan, you can create makeshift donut molds. Take squares of aluminum foil, carefully wrap the center around your finger to form a ring, and then gently press these foil rings into the muffin tin cavities. Fill the “donut” space with batter, ensuring the center hole is maintained. While not perfectly uniform, this method gets the job done in a pinch!
- Doughnut or Donut: Which spelling is correct? This is a fun linguistic debate! “Doughnut” is the original and more traditional spelling of this sweet concoction. However, “donut” has become widely accepted, particularly in American English, and is recognized by dictionaries like Merriam-Webster. The shorter spelling gained significant popularity in the mid-20th century, largely thanks to major chain establishments like “Dunkin’ Donuts.” So, whether you prefer the classic “doughnut” or the modern “donut,” rest assured, both are correct!
- Can I make these donuts gluten-free? Absolutely! Many brands now offer excellent gluten-free cake mixes that can be directly substituted in this recipe. Just ensure that all other ingredients, such as your vegetable oil, egg, and cream cheese, are naturally gluten-free as well. The baking method makes them perfect for gluten-free adaptations.
- How long do homemade baked donuts last? For the best quality, these donuts are best enjoyed on the day they are made. The texture is softest and the glaze is freshest. You can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, but they will become progressively moister. If you plan to keep them longer, freezing them unglazed (as described in our tips section) is your best bet.
More Irresistible Donut Recipes to Explore
If you’re a true donut aficionado, your culinary adventure doesn’t have to end here! We’ve got a treasure trove of other delicious donut recipes that are just waiting to be discovered. Each one offers a unique flavor profile and the same homemade goodness you’ve come to love.
- Baked Powdered Sugar Donuts: A classic for a reason, these simple yet satisfying donuts are coated in a delightful dusting of powdered sugar.
- Baked Banana Donuts: Experience the comforting flavors of ripe bananas in a moist, tender donut – perfect for breakfast or a sweet snack.
- Glazed Lemon Donuts: If you adore the citrus kick in our strawberry lemonade version, you’ll love these intensely lemony, perfectly glazed treats.
- Double Chocolate Baked Donuts: For the ultimate chocolate indulgence, these rich, decadent donuts are a must-try.
- Chocolate Kraut Donuts: An unexpected but surprisingly delicious combination that offers a unique twist on a classic.
You can find an extensive collection of all our donut and pastry recipes right here, ready to inspire your next baking project!
Embrace Strawberry Season: More Berry-licious Recipes
When strawberry season arrives, it’s time to celebrate with all things berry-licious! If you’re a fan of these juicy red gems, you’ll want to explore these other fantastic strawberry-focused recipes that highlight their fresh, sweet flavor in various delightful ways.
- Fresh Strawberry Pie: A vibrant, classic pie featuring a mountain of fresh strawberries in a delectable, jello-free filling.
- Strawberry Rhubarb Dessert: The perfect balance of sweet strawberries and tart rhubarb in a comforting, crumbly dessert.
- Glazed Strawberry Bread: A moist, tender bread studded with strawberries and topped with a sweet glaze, ideal for breakfast or a snack.
- Strawberry Cream Cheese Bars: Layers of sweet strawberry, creamy cheese, and a delightful crumb topping make these bars irresistible.
- Strawberry Cupcakes: Fluffy cupcakes bursting with strawberry flavor, perfect for any celebration.
Don’t wait for a special occasion to whip up a batch of these glorious Strawberry Lemonade Donuts! They are truly a versatile treat, perfect as a cheerful breakfast, a delightful midday pick-me-up, or even a charming dessert. Their beautiful pink hue and inviting flavors make them an ideal choice for any event, from an elegant tea party to a joyous baby or bridal shower, a sweet Valentine’s Day gesture, or a whimsical pink-themed birthday celebration. With minimal effort and maximum flavor, these homemade baked donuts are sure to bring smiles all around. So, grab your apron and get baking – a taste of sunshine awaits!
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Baked Strawberry Lemonade Donuts
Bake up a batch of these Strawberry Lemonade Donuts today! They are a sweet breakfast treat or could even be served as dessert. Their pretty pink color would be perfect for a tea party, baby or bridal shower, Valentine’s Day, or a pink-themed birthday party.
Equipment
- 12-Piece Black Sharp Knife Set with Covers, Cutting Board and Sharpener
- Manual Juicer Citrus / Lemon Squeezer
- Citrus Zester
- Whisks for Cooking, 3 Pack Stainless Steel Whisk
- Wilton Non-Stick 6-Cavity Donut Baking Pans, 2-Count
- Glass Batter Bowl
- Kitchenaid Stand Mixer
- 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
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 2 Tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. and grease your donut baking pan.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together cake mix, water, egg, and oil until smooth.
- Fill the donut holes about ⅔ full of batter. And bake for 12-14 minutes. Pull them when the edges barely begin browning. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing them. If they feel like they are stuck, wait 5 more minutes.
- Cool the donuts completely before glazing them.
- Prepare the glaze by whisking the powdered sugar, cream cheese, and zest together, adding the lemon juice a little at a time until your desired consistency is reached.
- Let the donuts set for a few minutes to allow the glaze to set up.
Notes
If the glaze sets up too fast in the bowl, pop it in the microwave for about 10 seconds, stir, and proceed.
The donuts are best if eaten right away. You can store them for up to 3 days in an airtight container, but they get pretty moist.