How to Make Coffee Baked Donuts?

Some things go perfectly together like butter and popcorn; spaghetti and meatballs; apple pie and ice cream; and coffee and donuts. Donuts are just perfect for dunking in your coffee. What could be better than that? There’s only one thing better, and that is coffee-baked donuts.

In these easy-to-make baked donuts, coffee is used in the batter and the glazing to create a great taste experience. In this article, we will share with you some of our favorite recipes for coffee baked donuts for you to make at home.

Why do coffee and donuts go together so well?

In a moment, we will share the recipes with you, but first, what makes coffee and donuts so irresistible? The short answer is that they have caffeine and sugar and our bodies crave both nutrients.

Glucose, the simplest form of sugar, is important for the neurons in our brains. They use glucose to communicate signals to and from the brain and to stay alive. Just a few minutes without sugar and they will start to die.

Have you noticed the times when you most crave something sweet? It’s often at the end of a long day. That’s your brain sending signals saying it needs more sugar to function properly. Or you might want it when you feel stressed because stress causes sugar depletion in your brain.

When the brain has plenty of sugar, it creates acetylcholine, a chemical that helps us to learn and focus. It is also the chemical behind us being in a good mood. However, our brains also produce a chemical called adenosine that shuts down the flow of acetylcholine.

This is where coffee comes in. Caffeine blocks adenosine from interfering with acetylcholine. So the caffeine from the coffee and the sugar from the donuts work together to lift our mood and keep us focused.

For more information on why coffee and donuts visit Cool Coffee Cats.

What do you need to make coffee baked donuts?

The first recipe we want to share with you is this recipe from Marsha’s Baking Addiction. It is simple to make and yields eight donuts.

Dry ingredients

All-purpose flour – it is important to measure the flour accurately. Too much and you will end up with a batter that is too thick and makes your donuts denser. Too little and your batter will be too runny. We recommend using a spoon to fill the cup and then leveling it off with a knife.

Sugar – You can use most granulated sugars for your donuts. Many people like using brown sugar for a softer texture. You can also use sugar substitutes such as Splenda.

Instant coffee granules – if you prefer you can also use the same amount of filtered coffee.

Baking powder – is a key ingredient as it will help the baked donuts to rise.

Salt – people might wonder about the use of salt in baked goods. However, salt helps to balance out the sweetness and improves the overall flavor.

Wet ingredients

Egg – if you keep your eggs in the fridge, take them out before using them in the batter. Room temperature eggs will be easier to incorporate into the batter.

Buttermilk – recipes with buttermilk are more tender than those with regular milk or water because buttermilk helps to break down gluten and proteins.

Vegetable oil – donuts made with oil are often more moist than butter-based donuts. It is also easier to use as it remains liquid at room temperature.

Vanilla extract (optional) – you don’t have to use vanilla extract but we highly recommend it as it enhances all the other flavors.

Ground nutmeg (optional) – you don’t have to use nutmeg in your batter. However, it adds a warm and nutty flavor to your donuts.

For the Glaze

Milk – this is used to thin out the glaze, so you can replace the regular milk with non-dairy milk or water.

Powdered sugar – gives a smooth texture to the glaze and adds sweetness.

You also need vanilla extract and instant coffee granules

What quantities of each ingredient will you need?

Now you know why each ingredient is used in this recipe, let’s have a look at the quantities.

Donuts

1 and 1/2 cups plain/all-purpose flour

1/2 cup caster/granulated/light brown sugar

2 tablespoons instant coffee granules

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 large egg

1/4 cup (60ml) vegetable oil

1/4 cup (60ml) buttermilk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)

Glaze

1/4 cup (60ml) warm milk

2 and 1/4 cups (281g) icing/powdered sugar

1 tablespoon instant coffee granules

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Step-by-step instructions to make Marsha’s donuts

1. Before you make the batter, set your oven to 400°F or 200°C. Grease a donut pan and set it aside.
2. If you are using coffee granules, dissolve them in a ¼ cup of hot water.
3. In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg.
4. Next, whisk together the egg and sugar in a separate large bowl. Once combined, add the buttermilk, oil, vanilla, and coffee and whisk again.
5. When all the wet ingredients are combined, you can add the dry ingredients and whisk until it is all combined. Avoid overmixing.
6. Take the donut pan you prepared earlier and spoon the batter in the molds almost to the top. Alternatively, you can use a freezer bag and pour all the batter into it. Cut out a corner of the bag and pipe the batter in the donut molds through the hole.
7. Bake your donuts for 8-10 minutes. You can use a toothpick to check they are done. Push it into one donut and pull it out. When your donuts are ready, the toothpick will come out clean.
8. Leave them to cool for about five minutes in the pan before transferring them to a wire rack where they can cool completely while you prepare the glaze.

Making the glaze

1. Warm your milk and then add the instant coffee granules and vanilla extract and mix until combined.
2. Add the icing sugar and mix until you get smooth, fully combined the mixture.
3. Dip the donuts into the glaze and then leave until the glaze has set before serving.

Other recipes to try

If you would like to try different variations of the coffee baked donuts, we recommend the following recipes:

The coffee toffee baked donuts from The Cozy Plum; in this recipe, the coffee is in the donut batter and the toffee in the glazing. And if that wasn’t enough of a treat, the donuts are topped with sprinkled pieces of homemade toffee.

Baked chocolate-coffee donuts from All Recipes; what could be better than coffee donuts. Donuts with coffee and chocolate of course! Chocolate and coffee are both used in the batter and you can add your favorite glaze.

Baked gluten-free coffee cake doughnuts from Strength and Sunshine, are also vegan and allergy-free. They have a buttery crumb topping with flavors of cinnamon and vanilla and are perfect at breakfast or as a dessert.

Peanut butter and coffee baked donuts from The Vegan Corner. The recipe in this video also combines banana with peanut butter and coffee and the result is delicious donuts.

Conclusion

Have you picked out your favorite recipe to try yet? The great thing about all the recipes is that they are easy to make and don’t take long to bake so you can even make them fresh for breakfast.

If you would like to ask us anything about coffee baked donuts, you can write your questions in the comment sections. We also recommend checking the frequently asked questions.

FAQ

Can I use any coffee?

Absolutely. Using different strength or flavored coffees will give you different flavor sensations each time.

How long can I keep these donuts?

Most baked donuts will last for a couple of days at room temperature as long as you store them in a sealed, air-tight container.

Can donuts be frozen?

Yes, you can freeze donuts. Use either freeze bags or an air-tight container. If you are freezing glazed donuts, freeze them in a single layer to avoid the glaze from sticking to the bottom of another donut. Alternatively, freeze the donuts before you have glazed them and then you can top them with fresh glaze when you are ready to eat the donuts.

When you take the donuts out of the freezer, they can either thaw overnight in the fridge or you can speed up the prosses by defrosting them in the microwave or the oven.

Is it easy to make your own buttermilk?

Yes, it is very easy to make buttermilk. All you need to do is to add one teaspoon of white vinegar or fresh lemon juice to 60 ml, which is about ¼ of a cup of milk. Stir to combine and then leave for five to ten minutes until the mixture is slightly curdled.

How many calories are there in coffee baked donuts?

The number of calories varies from one recipe to the next. The donuts from Marsha’s recipe we have shared with you have 345 calories. Other nutritional details: fat 8g, carbohydrates 67g, protein 4g, and sugar 48g.