Blueberry Glazed Cake Donuts are the things breakfast dreams are made of: soft, cakey centers flecked with juicy bursts of blueberry, all wrapped in a sweet, glossy glaze that shimmers with just the right amount of vanilla. Imagine the scent wafting through your kitchen—these donuts are irresistible straight from the cooling rack, and honestly, they even have bakery classics beat!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Bakery-Quality at Home: These donuts boast a tender crumb, bursting blueberries, and a rich glaze—no special equipment needed!
- Easy to Personalize: The recipe is wonderfully flexible for add-ins and glazes, so you can really make them your own.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: The dough chills beautifully overnight, letting you fry up donuts fresh for breakfast or brunch.
- That Iconic, Vibrant Glaze: The simple yet luscious blueberry glaze gives every donut a show-stopping finish and a pop of color.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of homemade Blueberry Glazed Cake Donuts is in the simplicity and quality of each ingredient. Every component—especially the combination of tender cake flour and tangy sour cream—plays an essential role in creating that soft bite and signature flavor that makes you reach for a second (or third) donut.
- Butter: Melted butter ensures the donuts are rich and tender, adding buttery flavor in every bite.
- Granulated sugar: Provides sweetness and structure to the donut dough, helping achieve a beautiful golden crust.
- Egg yolks: Only yolks are used for extra richness and to help keep the crumb soft and luscious.
- Vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste: Adds a lovely warmth and depth, shining in both the dough and the glaze.
- Sour cream: This is our secret to moist, plush donuts—don’t skip it!
- Cake flour (or all-purpose flour plus cornstarch): Cake flour gives you that classic, soft donut texture. The AP flour + cornstarch swap works, too.
- Baking powder: Leavens the donuts for a gentle rise and light, cakey interior.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and deepens all the flavors.
- Dried blueberries: Chopped and rehydrated—they hold their shape and pack a tasty burst of blueberry goodness throughout the donuts.
- For the Glaze: Milk, powdered sugar, and more vanilla create a satiny glaze that sets with a photo-worthy shine.
Variations
One of the best things about this recipe? Blueberry Glazed Cake Donuts are endlessly adaptable! Whether you want to tweak flavors, adjust for dietary needs, or just have some fun with the glaze, it’s so easy to play around and make these donuts truly your own.
- Lemon-Blueberry Donuts: Stir in a tablespoon of lemon zest and swap a bit of the milk in the glaze for fresh lemon juice for extra zing.
- Double Berry Twist: Use a mix of chopped dried cranberries and blueberries for a sweet-tart surprise.
- Chocolate Glazed: Swap the vanilla glaze for a simple chocolate icing and add a handful of mini chocolate chips to the glaze for extra indulgence.
- Baked Version: If you’d rather not fry, portion the dough into a greased donut pan and bake at 375°F until lightly golden and set (about 12–15 minutes).
How to Make Blueberry Glazed Cake Donuts
Step 1: Prep and Rehydrate the Blueberries
Start by chopping your dried blueberries into smaller pieces for even distribution, then soak them in boiling water for about five minutes. Once the berries are plump, drain them well—this quick step means every donut bite will burst with blueberry flavor (plus, no chewy bits!).
Step 2: Make the Donut Dough
Melt your butter, then beat it together with the sugar until it’s creamy and almost fluffy. Add in the sour cream, egg yolks, and vanilla, making sure you scrape the bowl so everything is fully blended—this ensures the donuts turn out moist and tender, never dry.
Step 3: Mix Dry Ingredients and Combine
Whisk together your flour, baking powder, and salt. Gently stir these dry ingredients into your wet mixture until just barely combined. Fold in those juicy rehydrated blueberries and mix until the last streaks of flour disappear—just be careful not to overwork the dough for the lightest texture!
Step 4: Chill the Dough
Shape the dough into a thick disc, wrap it in plastic, and refrigerate for at least an hour (or overnight, if you want fresh donuts in the morning!). Chilling makes the dough easy to roll, helps flavors meld, and gives you those perfectly crisp edges after frying.
Step 5: Roll, Cut, and Shape
On a well-floured surface, roll your chilled dough to about an inch thick. Use a 3-4 inch cutter to shape donuts and a smaller cutter for the centers. Gather scraps once or twice to cut as many donuts as possible—pro tip: avoid over-handling or your donuts may get tough.
Step 6: Fry the Donuts
Heat neutral oil to 375°F in a sturdy pot. Fry 2-3 donuts at a time for about a minute and a half per side until they turn deep golden. Let them drain on a rack, and test one to ensure it’s cooked through. (There’s nothing like watching them puff up and sizzle to golden perfection—truly magical!)
Step 7: Glaze While Warm
Whisk up your glaze from warm milk, powdered sugar, and a touch more vanilla. Dip each donut—while still a little warm—for a perfect coating. Let the glaze drip off, set, and then—finally!—enjoy the glorious crunch and that sweet, sticky top. That’s the Blueberry Glazed Cake Donuts magic.
Pro Tips for Making Blueberry Glazed Cake Donuts
- Dough Chilling Makes All the Difference: Don’t skip the chill—well-rested dough rolls better and fries up with picture-perfect, crisp edges.
- Check Your Oil Temperature: Use a thermometer to keep the fry oil at 375°F for donuts that are crisp but not greasy—if it’s too cool they’ll absorb oil, too hot and they’ll darken too fast!
- Rehydrate Blueberries Properly: Make sure to chop and soak the berries so they evenly dot the dough, avoiding dry, chewy bites and helping keep the donuts soft.
- Glaze While Warm: Dipping donuts while they’re just slightly warm helps the glaze set evenly and creates that classic, crackly finish you crave.
How to Serve Blueberry Glazed Cake Donuts
Garnishes
After glazing, take your Blueberry Glazed Cake Donuts to the next level with a sprinkle of extra chopped dried blueberries, a dusting of lemon zest, or even pretty edible flowers for a special touch. Each of these simple garnishes adds visual flair and a pop of flavor without overpowering those delicious blueberries!
Side Dishes
These donuts love company! Serve them alongside a fresh fruit salad, tangy yogurt parfaits, or a big pot of good, strong coffee. For a true brunch spread, pair with scrambled eggs or crispy bacon to balance the sweetness with something savory.
Creative Ways to Present
Display Blueberry Glazed Cake Donuts on a tiered cake stand for a party, stack them artfully with donut holes on skewers for brunch kabobs, or package a couple in a cute bakery box tied with ribbon as thoughtful homemade gifts. These eye-catching beauties are perfect for celebrations—or for brightening up an ordinary morning!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
To keep your Blueberry Glazed Cake Donuts fresh, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. Place a layer of wax or parchment between each one to prevent the glaze from sticking, and always let them cool completely before covering to avoid sogginess.
Freezing
Want to stash some for later? Freeze unglazed donuts in a zip-top bag or freezer-safe container for up to a month. To enjoy, simply thaw them at room temperature and dip in fresh glaze—just like bakery-fresh all over again!
Reheating
To bring back that just-fried softness, reheat donuts in a 300°F oven for 6–8 minutes, or microwave in 10-second bursts. Warm donuts are always a win, but be gentle so the glaze doesn’t melt away completely.
FAQs
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Can I use fresh or frozen blueberries instead of dried?
For this recipe, dried blueberries work best because they’re easy to chop, evenly distribute, and don’t leak moisture into the dough. Fresh or frozen blueberries can make the dough too wet and may cause uneven pockets, so stick to dried for the perfect result.
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Is it necessary to chill the dough before frying?
Absolutely! Chilling helps solidify the butter, making the dough easier to handle and resulting in donuts that hold their shape and fry up with a lovely texture. Rushing this step can lead to sticky dough that’s tricky to work with.
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What type of oil is best for frying donuts?
Choose a neutral, high-smoke-point oil like canola, vegetable, peanut, or sunflower oil. These options won’t add unwanted flavors and can withstand the high heat needed for crisp, golden donuts.
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Can I make Blueberry Glazed Cake Donuts ahead of time?
Definitely! The dough can be made and chilled overnight, so you can roll, cut, and fry them fresh the next morning. Leftovers, if you have any, will keep well for a couple of days stored properly.
Final Thoughts
If you’re craving pure comfort and a little kitchen fun, Blueberry Glazed Cake Donuts deliver every single time. They’re a treat to bake, beautiful to serve, and absolutely unforgettable to eat—so go ahead, treat yourself and someone you love to a batch soon!
PrintBlueberry Glazed Cake Donuts Recipe
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours
- Yield: 12 donuts + donut holes 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Blueberry Cake Donuts are a delightful treat that perfectly balances sweetness and tanginess. The soft, fluffy donuts are studded with plump, dried blueberries and coated in a sweet glaze, making them a perfect indulgence for any time of day.
Ingredients
Dough:
- 3 Tablespoons (42 grams) butter, melted
- 2/3 cup (132 grams) granulated sugar
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
- 2/3 cup (160 grams) sour cream
- 3 1/4 cups (370 grams) cake flour or 315 grams all-purpose flour + 55 grams cornstarch
- 2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (80 grams) dried blueberries
Glaze:
- 1/2 cup milk
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
Instructions
- Making the Dough – Chop and soften blueberries, mix wet ingredients, incorporate dry ingredients and blueberries, chill dough.
- Rolling Out and Cutting the Donuts – Roll out dough, cut into circles, cut out centers, re-roll and repeat if needed.
- Frying the Donuts – Heat oil, fry donuts until golden brown, drain on a rack.
- Glazing the Donuts – Heat milk, whisk in powdered sugar and vanilla, dip donuts in glaze.
Notes
- Do not re-roll the dough more than twice to prevent toughness.
- Check donuts for doneness by cutting one open before glazing.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 donut
- Calories: Approx. 300
- Sugar: Approx. 25g
- Sodium: Approx. 200mg
- Fat: Approx. 6g
- Saturated Fat: Approx. 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: Approx. 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: Approx. 55g
- Fiber: Approx. 1g
- Protein: Approx. 3g
- Cholesterol: Approx. 40mg