Lemon Poppyseed Baked Donuts
These lemon poppyseed baked donuts are soft, moist, and bursting with fresh lemon flavor while popping with crunchy poppyseeds in both the tender donuts and the sweet lemon glaze.
This blog post was originally posted on March 31, 2014, and has been updated with new pictures.
Hey there, and welcome back, friends.
You are in for a treat!
I brought these lemon poppyseed baked donuts to a baby shower party. When I heard the theme of “pop,” my mind went straight to poppyseeds, and considering I am still baking my way into Spring, lemons were perfect for the occasion. Nothing screams Spring like lemon poppyseed!
Oh, I should mention I finally invested in a donut pan. And I am in big trouble. Guys, I am ADDICTED!! Like whoa!! Baked donuts are amazing. Soft, moist, delicious, and perfect with your morning cup of coffee or tea. I immediately made a second batch!
These lemon poppyseed baked donuts were the first donuts I made as soon as I got my pan, and they are everything I expected baked donuts to be: Moist, fluffy, and a little crunchy from the poppyseeds.
How do they compare to fried donuts? Well, for one, they are baked and much better for you. But also, they are really moist and have a great, tender texture.
But of course, fried donuts will always have a little edge because they are fried, but since these are pretty delicious and better for the soul, I will stick with them.
They are great for a quick breakfast and only took me 15 minutes to whip up, and they baked in 10 minutes.
Ingredients
- cake flour
- granulated sugar
- baking powder
- salt
- a few poppyseeds
- some buttermilk & milk
- lemon juice
- unsalted butter
- a large egg
- vanilla bean paste or seeds from a vanilla bean
- powdered sugar
How to Make Baked Lemon Poppyseed Donuts
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a doughnut pan and set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together cake flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and poppyseed.
In a measuring cup, whisk together the wet ingredients: buttermilk, melted butter, egg, lemon juice, and vanilla bean paste.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients.
Mix until just combined. Do not overmix, as you will have rubbery donuts.
Using a small spoon, scoop batter into the prepared donut pan, filling each about two-thirds full.
Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the donuts are baked through and spring back when lightly touched.
Let cool in the pan for 1 minute and then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely. While the donuts are cooling, make the glaze.
To make the glaze, combine all the ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk together. Add some more milk (one teaspoon at a time) if the glaze is too thick.
When the donuts are completely cooled, dip each in glaze and top with sprinkles. Let the glaze set for 30 minutes before stacking or serving. Donuts are best enjoyed within two days.
How to Store
Store leftover donuts at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
More Irresistible Spring Recipes
What do you think of this amazing lemon poppyseed baked donut recipe? What would you serve with these baked donuts? Let me know in the comment section below.
If you share across social media, make sure to tag #aclassictwist, so I can see your beautiful creation come to life!
Happy Spring baking, friends!
Lemon Poppyseed Donut Recipe
Lemon Poppyseed Baked Donuts
These lemon poppyseed baked donuts are soft, moist, and bursting with fresh lemon flavor while popping with crunchy poppyseeds in both the tender donuts and the sweet lemon glaze.
Ingredients
For the Donuts
- 1 cup cake flour, sifted
- ⅓ cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ tablespoon poppyseed
- ⅓ cup plus 1 tablespoon buttermilk
- ½ teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
- 1 large egg
- ½ tablespoon vanilla bean paste or seeds from ½ a vanilla bean
For the glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ¼ teaspoon lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons milk
- Poppyseed, for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a doughnut pan and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together cake flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and poppyseed. In a measuring cup, whisk together wet ingredients; buttermilk, melted butter, egg, lemon juice, and vanilla bean paste.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Do not overmix as you will have rubbery donuts. Using a small spoon, scoop batter into the prepared donut pan, filling each about ⅔ full.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the donuts are baked through and spring back when lightly touched. Let cool in pan for 1 minute and then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely. While cooling, make the glaze.
- To make the glaze, combine all the ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk together. Add some more milk (one teaspoon at a time) if the glaze is too thick.
- When donuts are completely cooled, dip each in glaze and top with sprinkles. Let glaze set for 30 minutes before stacking or serving. Donuts are best enjoyed within two days.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 199Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 37mgSodium: 279mgCarbohydrates: 39gFiber: 0gSugar: 21gProtein: 3g
That picture of the donuts stacked has me drooling…
So springy too! Now I want to make these like now, but I’ll have to wait for the weekend!
I love that you finally jumped on the donut pan train! Aren’t they awesome? This recipe definitely POPS and so do these gorgeous pictures!
Aaaaaw, this is such a wonderful and sweet surprise Zainab! Thank you so so much to you and the other sweet and fabulous ladies for throwing this virtual shower for Hilary and I. All the treats look sensational and I can’t wait to “pop” over and check them all out 🙂
I am so glad you got a donut pan and love it – baked donuts are so addictive 😉 I know I would have to make a double batch of these lemon poppyseed donuts too – they look sensational and that glaze is mesmerizing! Pinning – I love anything with lemon and these are perfect for spring and this shower. Wish we could enjoy a big batch of these with all of you amazing ladies 🙂
Congratulations to Hilary and can’t wait for the arrival of her sweet baby boy too. Thank you so much for being so sweet, generous and thoughtful and for taking the time to organize this shower Z – you are amazing my sweet dear friend! ♥♥*big big hugs*♥♥
These virtual parties are always so sweet! And these donuts are an awesome way to celebrate anything!
You are such a good friends and these new moms must be so touched by all of these wonderful recipes! I love this idea. I’ve never seen a lemon poppyseed doughnut before, but I do love lemon poppyseed muffins, so I’m sure I’d enjoy this even more!
How sweet to have a virtual baby shower with recipes! What a kind hearted idea! These lemon donuts, well sound near perfect. Lemon and poppyseed make a great muffin, so I can only imagine it in a donut form. I should invest in a donut pan! Thanks for sharing Zainab!
Omgosh, these are so cute. They’re so pretty and spring-y and they sound so light for a donut. I dig lemon ANYTHING! Gonna have to try these, for sure. YUM.
Love this variation you took on the donuts, m’lady! Wishing I had no less than three in front of me right for lunch dessert. 😉
I think it’s just so cute when bloggers do virtual baby showers! These donuts look amazing, Zainab! I love the poppyseed + lemon flavor combo that you went with. I’m looking forward to more donut recipes from you! 🙂
Beth it really is. I was very excited to be a part of this!! I already have a brown butter and chocolate donut ready to share 🙂
Aren’t baked donuts the best??? I love how easy and quick they are. Your lemon poppyseed version looks delish and perfect with a cup of tea, which I know you are all about 😉 That dripping glaze is so tempting, Zainab! Pinned!
Allie they are seriously the best!!! So quick and delicious. And yes, they have been perfect with my morning coffee!!
This baby shower is seriously the cutest idea. And I love your “pop”pyseeds!! Your donuts look perfect!! I am so happy you have a donut pan now – they are so easy to make and so much fun to eat! And to photograph! Yay for donuts!
Thanks Cate! You pretty much convinced me I had to have it and I’m so glad I did. Now I’m hooked. Just made those brown butter and chocolate ones you have on your blog. Delicious.
Ditto Kelly; congrats to the two new moms! That is so sweet! Oh girl, I have got a major thing for lemon poppyseed and putting it in donut form is GENIUS. I need a donut pan so badly, it is official. Pinning these for when that pan finally arrives!
I have a major thing for lemons and poppyseeds too. Knew we were connected 🙂