Baked Lemon Donuts

by Barbara on January 17, 2012

Baked Lemon Donuts
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A light, fluffy baked lemon donut drizzled with a tart lemon glaze. Made with whole wheat flour and lemon Greek yogurt makes me feel better about indulging in donuts in the morning. 

Kelley turned me on to the Chobani Lemon Greek Yogurt, tart but so creamy, smooth and delicious. With twice the protein of regular yogurt, I decided it would make a great ingredient for a baked lemon donut. I found a Baked Lemon Donut recipe, Chef Meg’s Light Lemon-Blueberry Doughnuts, on Shape.com that I adapted to create these donuts.

I was really surprised how light and fluffy these donuts baked up, even using whole wheat flour. My husband would have liked the donut to have an even more intense lemon flavor, so next time I’d substitute some of the milk with a bit of lemon juice, or maybe even a little lemon extract would kick it up a notch.

I’ve been seeing lots of baked donut recipes on line lately. I don’t know if there’s been more of them, or if I’m just noticing them more. I hope you’re enjoying them as much as I am because I’m just a little obsessed with them right now. Over the weekend I turned our favorite banana muffins in to fun banana cinnamon chip donuts.

Baked Lemon Donuts

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
6 oz container Chobani lemon Greek yogurt
1/3 cup canola oil
1/3 cup milk
zest of one lemon

Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
juice of one lemon

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325º. Lightly grease two 6 count donut pans with cooking spray or vegetable oil.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flours, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

In a small bowl, whisk together egg, yogurt, oil, milk and lemon zest. Add to dry ingredients and stir just until combined.

Divide batter evenly into 12 donut cups, filling each about half full. (Use a pastry bag or plastic bag with corner cut out to make filling the cups easier.)

Bake for 10-15 minutes, until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool for a few minutes in the pans.

Whisk together powdered sugar and lemon juice to create a thin glaze.

Remove donuts from pans and drizzle glaze on warm donuts. Cool on a wire rack.

Makes 12 donuts.

Print Recipe

More baked donut recipes:

Baked Orange Hard Wheat & Olive Oil Donuts, Farmgirl Gourmet
Peanut Butter Cake Donuts, Living in the Kitchen with Puppies
Strawberry Banana Doughnuts, Cafe Terra Blog
Pumpkin Spice Glazed Donut Holes, Burnt Apple
Eggnog Cranberry Donuts, Sugar & Spice and All Things Iced

{ 66 comments… read them below or add one }

Pru @ Perfecting Pru January 17, 2012 at 6:34 am

These look really, really good. Now I fancy a donut. Have never tried a baked donut before, is it just like cake?
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Barbara January 17, 2012 at 10:57 am

Thanks Pru! Some of the baked donuts I’ve made have had the texture of a muffin, these were perhaps a little more sponge cake like. Although, I’m still not sure where the line is between cake and muffins. :)
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Sarah, Maison Cupcake January 17, 2012 at 6:35 am

These look wonderful, I’ve never made my own doughnuts. I especially like that fabulous glass bottle of milk to go with it!
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Barbara January 17, 2012 at 7:45 am

Thanks! My grandfather owned Snow Dairy in Springville, Utah, and at a recent family reunion my sweet cousin brought the bottles for table decorations and let everyone take some bottles home.
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sue January 17, 2012 at 7:00 am

Oh yum, I have to try this.
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Cassie January 17, 2012 at 7:10 am

I love the tartness of lemon. Perfect for donuts…the texture of these looks dreamy!
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Jenny Flake January 17, 2012 at 7:11 am

These look so pretty Barbara!! I love lemon treats!
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Rosa January 17, 2012 at 7:29 am

Lovely looking! I love that flavor. I really have to buy one of those baked doughnut pans…

Cheers,

Rosa

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Chef Danielle @ Cooking Clarified January 17, 2012 at 10:12 am

Maybe doughnuts are the new cupcake! These look delish!
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Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl January 17, 2012 at 10:13 am

These look great–and are enticing me to get my donut pan out and put it to use. Think I might just have to do that this weekend! Great pictures, as always.
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Rocky Mountain Woman January 17, 2012 at 10:27 am

These look perfect! I love the flavor combo and have never made any kind of donuts, but may have to start with these….
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Annalise January 17, 2012 at 11:14 am

Yum! I love that these are lemon flavored. I actually posted a doughnut recipe today too, though there is absolutely nothing healthy about mine. Next I want to try a lighter baked recipe, going to keep this one in mind!
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Dana @ Cooking at Cafe D January 17, 2012 at 11:49 am

Those look amazing!
I need a donut pan. Pinned these so I remember.
The addition of greek yogurt is a great idea.
~
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Becca @ Crumbs and Chaos January 17, 2012 at 12:31 pm

YUM! These look fabulous. Lemon is one of my favorite flavors, yogurt sounds like a great addition!
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Baltic Maid January 17, 2012 at 12:38 pm

These doughnuts look amazing. I haven’t tried baked doughnuts yet but your pictures make me want one right now.
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Holly @ Life as a Lofthouse January 17, 2012 at 1:40 pm

I LOVE how you use whole wheat flour and greek yogurt in these fabulous doughnuts! My Mom gave me a mini-doughnut pan for Christmas, so maybe I’ll have to try these in the mini version! :)

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beti January 17, 2012 at 2:08 pm

they do look really fluffy and perfect! I would love to have them with a cup of coffee
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Hotly Spiced January 17, 2012 at 2:13 pm

What a beautiful milk bottle! Now where would you get one of those retro looking things? And I love the look of your donuts. What a great treat for hungry children (adults even!).
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Barbara January 17, 2012 at 2:37 pm

Thanks! My grandfather owned Snow Dairy in Springville, Utah, and at a recent family reunion my sweet cousin filled the bottles with flowers for table decorations and let everyone take some bottles home.
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Mimi January 17, 2012 at 3:50 pm

Your donut look wonderful. I have tried baked donuts before, but was disappointed by the texture, I need to revisit them.
Mimi
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Mercedes January 17, 2012 at 3:51 pm

You’ve got me again with your amazing donuts! I love Chobani yogurt! It’s by far my favorite greek yogurt that I have tried. I haven’t tried the lemon yet, but these look the perfect reason to buy some!
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Erin @ Texanerin Baking January 17, 2012 at 3:53 pm

Wow. I only found you about a week ago and already a second baked donut recipe. I like that. A lot. :)

I got so excited when I saw baked lemon donuts pop up in my Google Reader. And they use whole wheat? Oh boy. This is the fourth baked donut recipe I’ve added to my must-bake-ASAP list in the last week so I guess I’m going baked donut crazy. I can’t wait to make them!

I also admire the bottle you got from your family. I bet your grandfather would have never imagined that people would be marvelling at his milk bottles!
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Juliana January 17, 2012 at 3:56 pm

Anything lemon attracts me…your lemon donuts are not different, looks great especially drizzled with more lemon :-)
Have a great week Barbara!
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Margot January 17, 2012 at 4:13 pm

Oh, I must try this! I made baked donuts once, but this lemon glaze sounds very tempting :)

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Paula January 17, 2012 at 4:43 pm

Greek yogurt and whole wheat! You have just raised the bar for healthy and delicious donuts! Thank you.
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Lauren January 17, 2012 at 5:33 pm

Keep the lemon treats coming! Who doesn’t love a doughnut?
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Shelby January 17, 2012 at 5:50 pm

Chobani is my very favorite yogurt. They have a blood orange flavor now too and I love it! Your donuts look yummy. I will have to bake some donuts again. I haven’t made them in so long!
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Tracey January 17, 2012 at 6:17 pm

Ooooh yay, I love lemon treats and I’ve been trying to find more recipes to use my doughnut pan. Can’t wait to try these :)
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Stephanie January 17, 2012 at 7:11 pm

These lemon donuts look really good and I am going to try to make them this weekend. Last weekend I made another batch of your blueberry muffins. As always they were great.

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Alison @ Ingredients, Inc January 17, 2012 at 7:14 pm

oh my I’m in love with these! Hope to see you this week in Salt Lake!
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Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust January 17, 2012 at 7:50 pm

Delicious! I love baked donuts. Lemon sounds perfect.
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Peggy Clyde January 17, 2012 at 9:58 pm

I haven’t made baked donuts before, but I’m going to try these. Thanks.

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Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella January 17, 2012 at 10:19 pm

Your donuts look perfect mum and I always thought you had to deep fry them (which I’m a bit scared of) so I like the idea of baked donuts! :D xxx
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Jeffrey January 18, 2012 at 2:30 am

the donuts look so very delicious. thank you for sharing this recipe, I really love donuts. i use to try different varieties of it.
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jess white @athriftyfoodie January 18, 2012 at 3:36 am

love this so much! lemon donuts, yum!

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Asmita January 18, 2012 at 4:25 am

Wow, baked lemon doughnuts sound mouthwatering. The photographs look amazing! I love the little milk bottle.
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Linda @ Lemon Drop January 18, 2012 at 5:22 am

These look absolutely lovely. I must bake these!
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Kasha January 18, 2012 at 11:30 am

You had me at “baked lemon donuts!” LOL. So yummy and I love the baked part. You’re a genius in the kitchen!

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Becki's Whole Life January 18, 2012 at 1:20 pm

There have been a lot of donuts out there lately – but yours are the first lemon ones and I love that you used yogurt in these. I seriously need to buy a donut pan…if they are relatively healthy like these I won’t feel so bad eating a bunch of them. I love that you used the lemon flavored chobani – that is such a good idea.
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Sandy January 18, 2012 at 2:03 pm

Now these look yummy! I could have lived happily on my diet for years without knowing that Baked Lemon Donuts exist. Now, I will have to find an excuse to take a “day off.”

PS- I would love to cook for you if you will bake for me :). We should plan on a get together. I vote for Donna’s house… Her kids are fantastic at washing dishes!
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Barbara January 20, 2012 at 1:58 pm

I vote for Donna’s house too! Thanks!
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Shumaila January 18, 2012 at 4:55 pm

Barbara these look outrageously good! What I would give to have one!
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gloria January 18, 2012 at 5:41 pm

look delicious Barbara!!

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Lynn January 18, 2012 at 8:29 pm

Im always looking for whole wheat recipes; these donuts are going on my list for this weekend. Thanks!

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Deeps @ Naughty Curry January 18, 2012 at 11:38 pm

first time im hearing of baked donut & love the idea! these look so soft & fluffy :)
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Katy January 19, 2012 at 2:29 am

Baked. Lemon. Donuts. You have completely won me over!!!

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Blond Duck January 19, 2012 at 5:26 am

Love the idea of baked donuts!
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Angie@Angie's Recipes January 19, 2012 at 5:37 am

They look so lovely, esp. with the drizzled tangy lemon icing.
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teresa January 19, 2012 at 11:11 am

baked and lemon?! two great things working for these donuts!
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Dahlia Owen January 19, 2012 at 11:47 am

I’m actually hungry right now because of those mouth-watering doughnuts. I haven’t tried making doughnuts at home. I would just normally buy them at the store. What’s your favorite kind of commercial doughnut? In my case, I like the Krispy Kreme. It’s really popular here and people are going gaga over it.

Thanks for the cooking tips! Can’t wait for more.

-Dahlia
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Barbara January 20, 2012 at 1:57 pm

I’ve waited in line for hot Krispy Kremes and they are light and heavenly. My favorite though is a local chocolate cake donut with chocolate icing from Dunford Donuts. Their bakery is only a few miles from my house. Dangerous! Thanks!
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Claire @ Claire K Creations January 19, 2012 at 12:53 pm

You have seriously got me convinced that I need a doughnut baking tray. I can’t wait to get one so I can whip up your doughnut recipes!

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Maria January 19, 2012 at 3:45 pm

Lemon and donuts-Josh’s dream:)
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Dezire January 19, 2012 at 9:46 pm

I had some Greek yogurt left over that I wanted to use up, and did a search for recipes. I’m so glad I found your website. I made a batch last night to have for breakfast this morning, even had a plate to bring over to my Friend. Well I wasn’t feeling well this morning (21 weeks pregnant) so I didn’t get any. I hear they were really good though my house of picky eaters ate them all.

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Barbara January 20, 2012 at 1:54 pm

Hi Dezire! I’m so glad you found me too. Congratulations on the baby on the way. I hope you’re feeling better. So glad to hear that your picky eaters gobbled up the donuts. You’ll have to make another batch when you’re feeling better so you get to try them too. Thanks for taking the time to let me know you made them!

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Jerri January 19, 2012 at 11:39 pm

Oh my! These look yummy! I wish my husband was a fan of lemon so I could make more lemon desserts!

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