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Freshly baked donut cookies with colorful sprinkles

Delicious Donut Cookies in 10 Steps

These donut cookies are the perfect marriage of two beloved treats — the soft, chewy goodness of cookies with the sweet glaze and sprinkles of a classic donut. Baked, not fried, they’re simple to whip up and irresistibly fun to decorate. Whether you’re making them for brunch, a bake sale, or a cozy afternoon treat, this recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: Makes about 24 cookies 1x

Ingredients

Scale

For the Cookie Dough:

  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 tsp baking powder

  • ¼ tsp baking soda

  • ¼ tsp salt

  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened

  • ½ cup granulated sugar

  • ½ cup brown sugar

  • 2 large eggs

  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

  • ¼ cup whole milk

  • ¼ tsp ground nutmeg (optional)

For the Glaze:

  • 1 cup powdered sugar

  • 23 tbsp milk (adjust for desired thickness)

  • ½ tsp vanilla extract

  • Sprinkles (optional)

Instructions

·  Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

·  In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg.

·  In a large mixing bowl, beat butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy (about 2–3 minutes).

·  Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.

·  Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with milk, and mix until fully combined.

·  Scoop dough into tablespoon-sized balls, place on baking sheets, and slightly flatten. Use your finger or the end of a spoon to make a small center hole.

·  Bake for 9–11 minutes, until edges are lightly golden. Avoid overbaking.

·  Cool completely on a wire rack before glazing.

·  To make glaze, whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth.

 

·  Dip cooled cookies into glaze and top with sprinkles. Let set for 10–15 minutes.

Notes

·  Don’t skip the nutmeg — it adds authentic donut flavor.

·  Use dairy-free milk and vegan butter for a plant-based version.

·  Try flavored glazes like chocolate (add cocoa powder) or citrus (sub lemon juice for vanilla).

 

·  Cookies freeze well before glazing — perfect for make-ahead baking.

  • Author: Sophia Lane
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cookie
  • Calories: 160 kcal
  • Sugar: 14g
  • Sodium: 70mg
  • Fat: 6g
  • Saturated Fat: 3g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 2.5g
  • Trans Fat: 0
  • Carbohydrates: 24g
  • Fiber: 0.5g
  • Protein: 2g
  • Cholesterol: 25mg