Orange Donuts

Brighten your day with Orange Donuts topped with a sweet orange glaze! Freshly squeezed orange juice and zest give the light and fluffy donuts a moist citrus flavor that you won't be able to resist.

Jump to:

• Why Make Donuts with Orange Juice
• Key Ingredients
• How to Make Orange Donuts
• Storage Recommendations
• Tips and Tricks
• FAQ
• Other Baked Donuts
• Recipe

Do you have a favorite donut? Is it a classic glazed or the ever popular chocolate frosted?

Did you know donuts are really pretty simple to make? Whether it is a classic sour cream donut, apple cider donut, or even an old fashioned donut stick, you can bring that great donut store taste right out of your oven or air-fryer.

We all enjoy the traditional donuts, but what about fruit donuts? These orange donuts were inspired from the Orange Julius drink we used to get at the mall!

Why Make Donuts with Orange Juice

• Amazing flavor - Orange juice, zest, and orange pieces adds a tangy citrus flavor to the sweet fluffy donuts..
• Looks delicious - The light orange color topped with a white vanilla frosting and sprinkles is a thing of beauty.
• Easy to make - These donuts can be made in 30 minutes and are perfect for a morning snack.
• Orange overload - These orange donuts are made with fresh orange juice, orange pieces, and then topped with an orange glaze!

Whether you want a delicious snack for yourself or some special treats to share with friends for a weekend breakfast, our sweet and citrusy orange donuts are sure to be a hit.

Key Ingredients

Combine some basic baking ingredients with fresh orange juice to create an orange donut that will start your morning right.

• Sugars - Both granulated and powdered sugar add some sweetness to the donut
• Cuties - Get the fresh orange juice, zest, and orange pieces from this small delicious fruit.
• Yogurt - Gives the donuts a soft, fluffy texture.
• Extracts - This will use both vanilla and orange extract.

How to Make Orange Donuts

This baked orange donut recipe is quick and easy to make with just one bowl and one pan. A vanilla glazed topping and fun sprinkles make the donuts so pretty and delicious.

If you love orange, check out these orange sweet rolls!

Make Donut Batter

Step 1. Mix together the wet ingredients. In a mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar until creamy. Add the extracts, egg, and yogurt and mix again.

Step 2. Stir in the dry ingredients. In a large bowl, stir together the baking powder, baking soda, salt, and flour. Slowly beat the dry ingredients into the wet ones.

Step 3. Add the juice and zest. Slowly mix in the orange juice and orange zest to the thick dough making sure not to over mix the batter.

Step 4. Stir in the orange pieces. Gently stir the orange pieces into the batter.

Bake and Cool

Step 5. Fill the donut pan. Spoon the batter into the greased pan or use a piping bag to gently squeeze the batter into the pan, filling them at least ¾ full.

Step 6. Bake and cool. Place the filled pan in the oven and bake for 11-12 minutes or until the tops spring back when pressed. Cool in the pan for a few minutes, before placing on a cooling rack.

After 10 minutes use icing tip 1M to cut out the centers where the batter over baked. Cool completely.

Glaze and Decorate

Step 7. Dip the donuts in vanilla glaze. Stir together the powdered sugar and orange juice. Dip the tops of the donuts in the glaze and let set.

Step 8. Decorate with sprinkles. Spoon the rest of the glaze into a ziplock bag and cut one corner off. Drizzle over one side of a few donuts and add sprinkles and sugar.

Add sprinkles while the vanilla glaze is still wet. Continue until all the donuts are done.

Storage Recommendations

These orange donuts are great the day they are baked, but you may enjoy them even more the day after.

On day 1, they will be light like a muffin.  Store them in a sealed container, and they will absorb the moisture from each other making them more dense.

On the Countertop - Place any leftover donuts in an airtight container on the counter at room temperature for 3-4 days. 

In the Freezer - Before glazing, place any donuts you want to freeze in an airtight container and freeze for 1-2 months. Place the donuts on the counter top and bring to room temperature before glazing and adding sprinkles.

Tips and Tricks

Here are some of our favorite baking tips that will help you make the best orange donuts.

• Do NOT over mix the batter. If you over mix the batter the orange donuts could be tough and chewy.
• To get the batter neatly into the donut pan, place the batter in a large ziplock bag or a piping bag and squeeze it into the pan.
• The donuts will over flow in the pan if you fill them too much. Make sure you only fill them ¾ full for the best donut shape.
• If the donuts overflow and fill in the donut hole, use a large icing tip or a small paring knife to cut the centers out of the donut for that perfect donut shape.
• It is best to wipe and respray the donut pan after every batch of donuts or they might stick in the pan.
• Makes sure the baked goods are completely cool before dipping them in glaze or the glaze will melt off instead of setting.
• Do not over bake the donuts. If they are over baked they will be dry and crumbly and could ruin your donut experience.

FAQ

Other Baked Donuts

• Carrot Cake Donuts
• Chocolate Zucchini Donuts
• Pumpkin Caramel Donuts
• Baked Vanilla Glazed Donut
• Blueberry Jelly Donut Holes
• Chai Donuts

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*The post for orange Julius donuts was first published June 2013. It was updated and republished March 2023.