Cake Mix Donuts are the easiest way to make donuts for a quick family breakfast! These strawberries and cream donuts are baked in the oven in no time, and then topped off with a delicious powdered sugar glaze.
What’s in a Strawberry Donut?
Turns out you can use cake mix to bake donuts at home. It’s so easy and quick, much better than trying to fry them or make them from scratch!
- Cake Mix: Grab a standard box of strawberry cake mix for these strawberry donuts.
- Eggs: Bind the cake mix together to create a rich batter.
- Butter: Unsalted butter adds fat and flavor to these donuts.
- Heavy Cream: Adds moisture to these donuts.
- Powdered Sugar: Mixed with more heavy cream to form the base of the icing.
- Strawberries: Fresh strawberries give the icing delicious, fresh flavor!
Pro Tip: You can also use white or yellow cake mix for a subtler strawberry flavor.
Variations on Cake Mix Donuts
You could easily change this recipe into other flavors simply by switching out the cake mix. We’re using strawberry here, but you could also buy vanilla, chocolate, or even birthday cake mix to make these donuts! That would be something fun to experiment with for family breakfasts.
Because baked donuts are made without yeast, they have more of a cake/muffin texture than a doughy, bread-like texture.
To make these donuts gluten-free, simply use your favorite brand of gluten-free strawberry cake mix!
I have only ever made these donuts in a donut tin, but I have heard of readers having success baking them in a muffin tin with a small ball of aluminum foil set in the middle. You’ll need to spray extra well with nonstick spray, though!
Sometimes, baked donuts have a tendency to be a little bit dry if cooked for too long. If you follow my recipe exactly, this should be easily avoided, but it can happen to even the best of us! Don’t worry, though. You won’t need to toss out the donuts. You can remedy their dryness by adding a little extra frosting on top!
How to Store and Reheat Baked Donuts from Cake Mix
These cake donuts should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll last 3-4 days, but will be best if eaten in the first 2 days. Don’t keep them anywhere too warm or the glaze will melt off. If you want to warm them up before eating, just pop them in the microwave for 10-20 seconds.
How to Freeze a Strawberry Frosted Donut
Freeze strawberry donuts in a single layer on a lined baking sheet until solid, about 1-2 hours. Transfer to an airtight container or Ziplock bag to store for up to 2 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
What to Serve with Donuts from Cake Mix
These strawberry cake mix donuts are the perfect breakfast treat! Serve them with a hot cup of coffee, an iced espresso, a chai tea latte, or a glass of oat milk. For a summery twist, enjoy them with a pineapple matcha or Starbucks pink drink!
These donuts make a great accompaniment to a hearty sausage breakfast casserole or a couple of Starbucks egg bites. Take one with a coffee smoothie on the go, or indulge in some PB&J overnight oats. Any way you serve them, these donuts are sure to be a hit!
Strawberry Donuts Recipe
Ingredients
For the Donuts
- 15.25 ounces Strawberry Cake Mix 432 grams (1 box)
- 2 large eggs 100 grams
- 2 tablespoons melted butter 28 grams (¼ stick)
- ¾ cup heavy cream 170 grams
For the Glaze
- 2 cups powdered sugar 226 grams
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream 14 grams, plus more if needed
- 1 cup finely chopped fresh strawberries 167 grams
Recommended Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F
- In a large bowl, stir the cake mix, eggs, butter, and cream together by hand until well combined.15.25 ounces Strawberry Cake Mix, 2 large eggs, 2 tablespoons melted butter, ¾ cup heavy cream
- Pour batter into greased donut pan, making sure to not overfill. The donuts will rise quite a bit!
- Bake for approximately 8-10 minutes or until you can insert a toothpick and it come out clean.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool on a cooling rack. Repeat as needed until all of the batter has been baked.
- While donuts cool, make the glaze: Beat the powdered sugar, cream, and chopped strawberries with a hand mixer until well combined. Make the glaze thicker or thinner by adding more or less cream.2 cups powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon heavy cream, 1 cup finely chopped fresh strawberries
- Dip each donut face down into the glaze and then allow to cool until the icing hardens a bit. It might not harden all the way because of the strawberries, but it will firm up quite a bit.
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
- Use a donut tin to make these. You can find one most places where cookware and bakeware is sold.
- Grease the tin before filling it with batter so they don’t stick while baking.
- The donuts will rise as they bake, so don’t overfill the tin.
- Make the glaze while the donuts are cooling on a rack.
- To glaze, just dip each donut face-down in the icing.
- If you want to warm them up before eating, just pop them in the microwave for 10-20 seconds.
Nutrition Information
More Donut Recipes We Love
Can i use half and half or milk instead of heavy cream in the donuts?
You can, it could mess up the texture though!
I went a bit crazy with the batter but they are delish.
Happy to hear you enjoyed it!
I wonder if you can use freeze dried strawberries puréed into a powder for the glaze?
I don’t see why not!
These look amazing!! What did you use for the white glaze drizzled on top?
A vanilla frosting!
Hi, I love that you came up with cake mix doughnuts! How many days in advance could I bake them? I’m planning a brunch for 30-40 people and I have the opportunity to use a 100 donut wall, which means that buying them it’s about 80 bucks! But since I have to cook a few dishes, i would like to save time and cook stuff days before!
I’d say 2-3 days in advance at the very most. I hope you and your guests love the recipe!!
Just wanted to stop by and say you are an amazing woman and your recipes make my grandchildren smile. Thank you so much and we love you!
Sincerely, Brenda
Oh my goodness, this comment made my day! Thank you so much for the kind words. Means more than I can say. Have a great week!!
I can’t see the actual recipe.
This sounds really delicious and something new to try. Thank you for sharing this.
Simon
Let me know if you try it!
What did you use to drizzle over the top after the glaze?
Hey Lauren…it’s a little white chocolate. Can’t get enough :)
Oh goodness these doughnuts look delicious! Perfect for national doughtnut day!
Thanks Kita!