Name: Strawberry Cake Donuts Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon canola oil; ¾ cup granulated sugar; 1 large egg; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; ½ cup buttermilk (or milk of choice); 1 ½ cups all purpose flour; ½ teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon baking powder; ¼ teaspoon salt; 13-15 fresh strawberries (pureed roughly, about 1 cup); ½ cup fresh strawberries (pureed to your liking); 2 cups powdered sugar (adjust as needed for thickening); 1 tablespoon milk of choice (optional, for thinning glaze)

Jump to Recipe· 3.9 from 42 reviews

There is nothing quite as delightful as biting into a freshly baked, tender, and fruity treat, and that’s exactly what this Strawberry Cake Donuts Recipe brings to your table. These donuts are bursting with real strawberry flavor, offering a moist, cake-like texture and finished with a luscious strawberry glaze that feels like a sweet summer hug. Whether you’re baking for a cozy breakfast, a cheerful brunch, or just because you deserve a treat, these donuts are sure to become a beloved favorite. Let me walk you through every delicious detail of how to make and enjoy these irresistible strawberry cake donuts.

Ingredients You’ll Need

The image shows a stack of three glazed donuts with a light pink icing that has small red fruit pieces mixed in. The donuts have a soft, slightly textured dough in shades ranging from light beige to pale brown. They are stacked in the center of a white plate with gentle scalloped edges, which rests on a white marbled surface. Around the plate, some more donuts with the same pink icing and red fruit pieces are scattered, along with fresh red strawberries with green leaves, adding a pop of bright color. The focus is mainly on the stack, with a blurred background showing more donuts. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Creating these Strawberry Cake Donuts is surprisingly straightforward, and each ingredient plays a key role in crafting a perfect balance of flavor, tenderness, and color. From the fresh strawberries that impart natural sweetness and gorgeous hue, to the buttermilk that keeps the texture wonderfully moist, every component matters.

Canola oil: Adds moisture without masking the strawberry flavor and keeps donuts tender.
Granulated sugar: Provides necessary sweetness and helps with browning for a golden crust.
Large egg: Binds ingredients together and enriches the batter.
Vanilla extract: Enhances the overall flavor profile with warm, comforting notes.
Buttermilk (or milk of choice): Reacts with baking soda to give lightness and contributes subtle tanginess.
All-purpose flour: The structure-giving base essential for the cake donuts’ texture.
Baking soda: Leavens the donuts, helping them rise and stay soft.
Baking powder: Adds extra lift for a perfectly fluffy crumb.
Salt: Balances sweetness and elevates all the flavors.
Fresh strawberries (for batter and glaze): The star ingredient, providing juicy strawberry chunks and vibrant color.
Powdered sugar: Sweetens and thickens the glaze to a dreamy finish.
Milk of choice (for glaze): Helps achieve the perfect glaze consistency for dipping and coating.

How to Make Strawberry Cake Donuts Recipe

Step 1: Preheat and Prepare

Start by preheating your oven to 400°F, creating the ideal environment for the donuts to rise and bake to perfection. Lightly spray your donut pan with non-stick cooking spray—this ensures your donuts pop out effortlessly without sticking, setting you up for stunning presentations.

Step 2: Pulse the Strawberries

Grab those fresh strawberries and pulse them in a food processor or blender until you have a chunky puree. Aim for a texture with small pieces, not completely smooth, to keep bursts of strawberry flavor and pretty flecks throughout your donuts.

Step 3: Mix the Wet Ingredients

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together canola oil, granulated sugar, and the egg using an electric mixer on medium-high speed. This step aerates the mixture just enough for a light base. Once combined, stir in the vanilla extract, buttermilk (or milk), and strawberry puree until smoothly blended, infusing every bite with fresh berry goodness.

Step 4: Incorporate the Dry Ingredients

Next, gently add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into your wet mixture. Use low speed on your mixer and mix just until the flour disappears. Be careful not to overmix, as keeping the batter tender is key to those soft, melt-in-your-mouth donuts.

Step 5: Pipe and Bake

Transfer your luscious strawberry batter into a large piping bag or use a sturdy freezer bag with a small corner snipped off. Pipe the batter evenly into the prepared donut tins, filling each one without overflowing to leave room for rising. Bake on the middle rack for about 8 to 10 minutes until the donuts spring back to the touch and a toothpick comes out clean.

Step 6: Prepare the Strawberry Glaze

While your donuts bake, blend the quartered fresh strawberries to a smooth or chunky puree as you prefer. Mix in powdered sugar gradually and stir until the glaze thickens. If it’s too thick, add a splash of milk to get the perfect dipping consistency. This vibrant glaze will coat the donuts for an irresistible strawberry finish.

Step 7: Glaze and Cool

Once your donuts are completely cool, dip them into the strawberry glaze, ensuring a beautiful, even coating. Place them back on a rack to let the glaze set. Watching the glaze harden into a shiny, sweet shell is as satisfying as the first bite of these strawberry cake donuts.

How to Serve Strawberry Cake Donuts Recipe

A white plate holds ten round donuts arranged loosely in a circle, each donut topped with light pink glaze that has small red chunks scattered evenly across the surface, creating a speckled pattern. The donut base is a light brown color, visible at the edges and the hole in the middle of each donut. Four bright red strawberries with green leafy tops are placed around the donuts on the plate for decoration. The plate rests on a white marbled surface with hints of blue and beige patterns visible in the background. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Garnishes

Enhance your Strawberry Cake Donuts Recipe by adding fresh strawberry slices on top for an extra pop of color and fruity freshness or a sprinkle of finely chopped nuts for some delicious crunch that contrasts the soft donuts elegantly.

Side Dishes

Pair these donuts with a creamy iced coffee or a chilled glass of milk to balance the sweetness. They also complement a fresh fruit salad, making your brunch or dessert spread truly memorable.

Creative Ways to Present

Arrange your donuts on a wooden serving board lined with parchment paper for a rustic feel, or stack them in a pretty cake stand for festive occasions. You can also serve them with small bowls of extra strawberry glaze and whipped cream for guests to customize their treats.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

If you have leftover strawberry cake donuts (which might be rare!), store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days to retain freshness and softness.

Freezing

For longer storage, these donuts freeze beautifully. Wrap each donut individually in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe container. They’ll keep well for up to two months, so you can enjoy a strawberry treat anytime.

Reheating

To bring back that freshly baked warmth, let frozen donuts thaw for 30 minutes and then warm them in a preheated oven at 300°F for about 5 minutes, or use a microwave for 10-15 seconds. This revives the softness and intensifies the strawberry aroma wonderfully.

FAQs

Can I use frozen strawberries for this Strawberry Cake Donuts Recipe?

Absolutely! Frozen strawberries work well if fresh ones are out of season. Just thaw and drain excess liquid before pulsing to avoid a soggy batter.

What if I don’t have buttermilk?

No problem! You can easily substitute buttermilk by adding 1/2 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to half a cup of milk and letting it sit for 5 minutes before using.

Can I make these donuts gluten-free?

Yes! Replace the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free baking blend that includes xanthan gum for best results. The texture might vary slightly, but the flavor will shine through.

How thick should the glaze be?

The glaze should coat the back of a spoon and drip slowly. If it’s too runny, add more powdered sugar; if too thick, thin it with a bit more milk to get that perfect dip-and-glaze consistency.

Can I bake these donuts in a muffin tin?

While technically possible, a donut pan shapes the batter for that classic hole and even cooking. In a muffin tin, you’ll get mini cakes instead but still delicious!

Final Thoughts

Making this Strawberry Cake Donuts Recipe is such a joyous experience—from the fresh strawberry puree in the batter to the shimmering glaze that finishes every bite. It’s a simple, rewarding way to enjoy fruity, homemade donuts that impress family and friends alike. Give it a try, and I promise these strawberries aren’t just the taste of summer but the heart of your go-to baking adventure.