Fluffy Lemon Sugar Baked Donuts Recipe: A Sweet Morning Treat

Sweet lemon sugar baked donuts elevate ordinary mornings into delightful culinary adventures.

Zesty citrus notes dance through these light, pillowy pastries with remarkable elegance.

Soft and tender, these donuts promise a delectable balance between tangy brightness and sugary comfort.

Baking these treats requires minimal effort but delivers maximum satisfaction for passionate home cooks.

Delicate crumb structures melt beautifully on your tongue, creating an instant sensory celebration.

Sunshine-inspired flavors burst through each carefully crafted bite, elevating simple ingredients into something extraordinary.

Perfectly golden and kissed with crystalline sugar, these donuts represent pure morning happiness.

Lemon Sugar Baked Donuts That Brighten Your Morning

• Burst of Citrusy Brightness: These lemon sugar donuts pack a zesty punch that wakes up your taste buds with vibrant, tangy lemon flavor perfectly balanced against sweet, delicate sugar coating.
• Effortless Baking Delight: Incredibly simple to make with minimal ingredients and quick baking time, these donuts are perfect for home bakers of all skill levels who want a fast, impressive treat.
• Textural Wonderland: Enjoy a soft, tender donut interior with a crisp, sparkling sugar exterior that creates a delightful contrast in every single bite, making each mouthful an exciting sensory experience.
• Versatile Crowd-Pleaser: Ideal for breakfast, brunch, afternoon tea, or casual dessert, these donuts bring sunshine to any occasion and will have everyone asking for seconds with their irresistible lemony charm.

What You’ll Need for Lemon Sugar Baked Donuts

• All-Purpose Flour: A basic baking staple that provides structure to the donuts.
• Cornstarch: Helps create a tender and soft texture in the baked goods.
• Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps with browning in the donuts.
• Baking Powder: Essential leavening agent that helps donuts rise and become fluffy.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances the sweetness.

• Buttermilk: Adds moisture and creates a tangy, tender crumb in the donuts.
• Eggs: Provides structure, richness, and helps bind the ingredients together.
• Unsalted Butter: Contributes to rich flavor and tender texture of the donuts.
• Lemon Juice: Adds bright, citrusy flavor and helps activate the baking powder.
• Vanilla Extract: Provides depth of flavor and complements the lemon notes.
• Lemon Zest: Offers intense, aromatic citrus flavor throughout the donuts.

• Granulated Sugar: Creates a sweet, crisp exterior for the donuts.
• Additional Lemon Zest: Adds extra citrus punch to the coating.
• Melted Butter: Helps the sugar coating stick to the donuts.

How to Bake Donuts That Are Light and Fluffy

Step 1: Prepare the Oven

Adjust the oven rack to the center position and preheat to 425°F. Generously spray 2 donut pans with nonstick cooking spray.

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients

• Flour
• Cornstarch
• Sugar
• Baking powder
• Salt

Step 3: Create Donut Batter

• Buttermilk
• Eggs
• Melted butter
• Lemon juice
• Vanilla extract
• Lemon zest

Step 4: Fill Donut Pans

Divide the batter evenly between the prepared donut pans.

Step 5: Bake the Donuts

Bake for 7-9 minutes until the donuts turn a light golden brown color.

Step 6: Cool the Donuts

Let the donuts cool in the pans for 5 minutes before removing.

Step 7: Prepare Zesty Coating

Combine sugar and lemon zest in a food processor, grinding until fine and well mixed.

Step 8: Finish the Donuts

Dip each donut first in melted butter, then roll in the lemon sugar mixture to coat completely.

Serve and enjoy your tangy, sweet homemade donuts!

Tips to Get a Zesty Sugar Coating Just Right

• Zest Like a Pro: Grate lemon zest carefully using a microplane or fine grater to avoid bitter white pith, ensuring only the bright yellow outer layer is used.
• Buttermilk Boost: Use room temperature buttermilk and eggs for smoother batter and more even baking, preventing clumpy or uneven donut texture.
• Pan Perfection: Spray donut pans generously with nonstick cooking spray, reaching every crevice to guarantee easy donut release without sticking.
• Baking Precision: Check donuts at 7 minutes to prevent overcooking; golden edges indicate perfectly baked donuts with a tender, moist interior.
• Coating Technique: Dip warm donuts quickly in melted butter and sugar mixture, allowing excess to drip off for an even, light coating that sticks beautifully.

How to Store and Reheat Baked Donuts

• Storage
• Wrap cooled donuts individually in plastic wrap or place in an airtight container. Keep at room temperature for up to 2 days to maintain freshness. Refrigerate for extended storage, which can preserve donuts for 4-5 days without losing their delightful texture.
• Freezing
• Carefully stack donuts between parchment paper layers in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for maximum 3 weeks, ensuring they're completely sealed to prevent freezer burn. Thaw at room temperature for 30-45 minutes before enjoying.
• Reheating
• Warm donuts briefly in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to restore their soft, tender texture. Alternatively, reheat in a preheated oven at 300°F for 3-4 minutes, which helps maintain their original crisp edges and prevents them from becoming tough or dry.

Pairing Ideas for Lemon Sugar Donuts

• Brew Citrus-Infused Tea Pairing: Complement the bright lemon sugar donuts with a hot Earl Grey tea or chilled lavender-lemon iced tea, enhancing the zesty flavor profile and creating a refreshing taste experience.
• Creamy Yogurt Sidekick: Serve these donuts alongside a small ramekin of Greek yogurt drizzled with honey, providing a tangy and silky counterpoint to the sweet, lemony pastry.
• Fresh Berry Companion: Garnish the plate with fresh blueberries or raspberries, which naturally highlight the citrus notes and add a burst of color and additional fruity brightness to the dessert.
• Pair with Light White Wine: For an elegant twist, serve these donuts with a crisp Moscato or Riesling, whose subtle sweetness and light body perfectly match the delicate lemon sugar coating.

Flavored Variations on Lemon Baked Donuts

• Citrus Bliss Donuts: Replace lemon with orange zest and juice for a tangy, vibrant flavor profile that brightens the whole recipe.
• Lavender Lemon Dream: Incorporate dried lavender buds into the sugar coating and batter for an elegant, aromatic transformation that elevates the classic donut.
• Coconut Lemon Crunch: Sprinkle toasted coconut flakes over the buttered donuts before rolling in lemon sugar, adding texture and tropical notes to the original recipe.
• Glazed Honey Citrus: Swap sugar coating with a light honey lemon glaze, drizzling a mixture of powdered sugar, honey, and fresh lemon juice over warm donuts for a softer, more liquid finish.

Lemon Sugar Baked Donuts Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.8 from 38 reviews

• Total Time: 19 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

Print Recipe

Description

Zesty lemon sugar baked donuts bring sunshine to breakfast tables with their delightful citrus charm. Sweet, tangy layers melt in your mouth, promising a cheerful morning treat that will make breakfast feel like a special celebration.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 1.75 cups (420 ml) all-purpose flour
• 0.25 cup (60 ml) cornstarch
• 0.75 cup (180 ml) sugar
• 2 eggs
• 0.75 cup (180 ml) buttermilk

Leavening and Seasoning:

• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon freshly-squeezed lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest

Fats and Liquid Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 6 tablespoons butter, melted

Coating:

• 0.5 cup (120 ml) sugar
• 4 teaspoons grated lemon zest

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Position the oven rack in the center and preheat to 425°F (218°C). Thoroughly coat two 6-cavity donut pans with nonstick cooking spray, ensuring complete coverage.
2. In a spacious mixing bowl, thoroughly combine the dry ingredients: all-purpose flour, cornstarch, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt using a whisk.
3. Create a smooth batter by incorporating buttermilk, large eggs, melted unsalted butter, fresh lemon juice, pure vanilla extract, and finely grated lemon zest. Stir until the mixture is completely uniform and free of lumps.
4. Carefully distribute the batter evenly across the prepared donut pans, filling each cavity approximately two-thirds full to allow proper rising.
5. Bake in the preheated oven for 7-9 minutes, watching for a light golden-brown color and a slightly firm texture. The donuts should spring back when gently touched.
6. Remove from the oven and let the donuts rest in the pans for 5 minutes, allowing them to set and cool slightly.
7. While the donuts are cooling, prepare the coating by processing granulated sugar and fresh lemon zest in a food processor until the mixture becomes a fine, fragrant powder.
8. Carefully remove donuts from the pans. Dip each donut first in melted unsalted butter, ensuring complete coverage, then roll in the lemon-infused sugar mixture until fully coated.
9. Transfer the coated donuts to a wire rack to allow any excess butter and sugar to drip off, creating a delicate, crisp exterior.

Notes

• Achieve perfectly golden donuts by watching them closely during the 7-9 minute baking window to prevent over-browning.
• Use fresh lemon zest for the most vibrant citrus flavor and brighten the entire batch of donuts.
• Ensure even coating by fully dipping each donut in melted butter before rolling in the lemon sugar mixture.
• Spray donut pans generously with nonstick cooking spray to guarantee easy donut removal without sticking.
• Let donuts cool slightly in the pan to help them set and maintain their delicate shape before removing.
• Mix wet ingredients just until smooth to keep the batter light and prevent tough, dense donuts.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 9 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 254 kcal
• Sugar: 20 g
• Sodium: 250 mg
• Fat: 12 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 33 g
• Fiber: 0.5 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 55 mg