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Did Someone Say Donuts?

Did Someone Say Donuts?
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Make and decorate oven-baked donuts with simple batter, glaze, and sprinkles, practicing measuring, mixing, and safe kitchen skills with adult supervision.

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Step-by-step guide to make and decorate oven-baked donuts

What you need
1 egg, adult supervision required, all-purpose flour, baking powder, donut pan or muffin pan and paper liners, granulated sugar, measuring cups and measuring spoons, melted butter, milk, mixing bowl, oven mitts, powdered sugar, salt, spatula or spoon, sprinkles, vanilla extract, whisk or fork

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).

Step 2

Grease the donut pan with a little butter or cooking spray or place paper liners in a muffin pan.

Step 3

Measure and add the dry ingredients to the mixing bowl: 1 cup flour; 1/4 cup sugar; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1/4 teaspoon salt.

Step 4

Add the wet ingredients to the dry in the same bowl: 1/2 cup milk; 1 egg; 2 tablespoons melted butter; 1 teaspoon vanilla.

Step 5

Whisk the mixture until it becomes a smooth batter with no big lumps.

Step 6

Spoon the batter into each donut cavity filling about three quarters full.

Step 7

Place the pan in the oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes until the donuts are lightly golden and spring back when touched.

Step 8

Use oven mitts to remove the pan and let the donuts cool in the pan for 5 minutes.

Step 9

Transfer the donuts to a plate and let them cool until they are warm or room temperature before glazing.

Step 10

Make the glaze by stirring 1 cup powdered sugar with 2 to 3 tablespoons milk and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla until smooth.

Step 11

Dip the top of each donut into the glaze and sprinkle with sprinkles, then let the glaze set for a few minutes.

Step 12

Take a photo of your decorated donuts and share your finished creation on DIY.org.

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

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Help!?

What can I use if I can't find a donut pan or powdered sugar for the glaze?

Use a greased muffin pan with paper liners as the instructions suggest for the donuts, and if you don't have powdered sugar make a quick icing by blending granulated sugar into a powder or use a store-bought glaze to mix with the 2–3 tablespoons milk and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla.

My donuts turned out dense or didn't rise — what likely went wrong and how do I fix it?

Check that you measured 1 cup flour and 1 teaspoon baking powder correctly, avoid overmixing the batter when you whisk (the instructions say smooth with no big lumps), and make sure the oven was preheated to 350°F so they bake 8–10 minutes and spring back when touched.

How can I adapt this activity for younger kids or older kids?

For younger children, have them help measure dry ingredients and spoon batter into cavities while an adult handles the preheated oven and oven mitts, and for older kids let them whisk the batter, make the glaze (1 cup powdered sugar, milk, vanilla), dip and decorate, then photograph the decorated donuts for DIY.org.

What are simple ways to personalize or extend the donut recipe and decorations?

Stir 2 tablespoons cocoa or 1 teaspoon cinnamon into the dry ingredients for flavored donuts, pipe jam into cooled donuts with a small tip, mix flavored extracts or citrus zest into the glaze, and create sprinkle patterns before taking your photo to share on DIY.org.

Watch videos on how to make and decorate oven-baked donuts

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Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

Making Donuts with Super Kid | Donuts DIY | Kid Sized Baking | Learning For Toddlers | Learn To Cook

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Facts about baking for kids

🔥 Baked donuts usually use little or no oil, so they tend to be lower in fat than fried donuts.

🧁 Cake donuts are made with baking powder for a denser cake-like crumb, while yeast donuts use yeast and are lighter and airier.

🎉 Sprinkles are known as "jimmies" in parts of the U.S. and come in hundreds of colors and shapes for decorating.

🍩 The word "doughnut" appeared in print as "dough-nuts" in Washington Irving's 1809 book A History of New York!

🥄 There are 3 teaspoons in 1 tablespoon — tiny measuring changes can affect donut texture and rise.

How do you make and decorate oven-baked donuts in the 'Did Someone Say Donuts?' activity?

To make oven-baked donuts, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Whisk dry ingredients, mix wet ingredients, combine into a smooth batter. Spoon or pipe into a greased donut pan about three-quarters full. Bake 8–12 minutes until springy, cool slightly on a rack. Make a simple glaze (powdered sugar + milk or yogurt), dip or drizzle donuts, then add sprinkles. Always supervise children and let adults handle oven and hot pans.

What materials and tools do I need to make 'Did Someone Say Donuts?' at home?

You'll need basic ingredients: all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, milk, eggs, and butter or oil. For glaze: powdered sugar, milk or yogurt, vanilla. Decorations: sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, or colored sugar. Tools: mixing bowls, whisk, spatula, measuring cups and spoons, donut pan (or muffin pan), piping bag or resealable plastic bag, cooling rack, oven mitts. Keep first-aid kit nearby and always supervise children near the oven.

What ages is the 'Did Someone Say Donuts?' activity suitable for?

This activity suits different ages with supervision: toddlers (2–4) can help with pouring sprinkles and simple stirring while seated; preschoolers (4–6) can measure dry ingredients and mix with guidance; school-age kids (7–12) can follow a recipe, pipe batter, and decorate with less help; teenagers can handle more cooking steps but adults should always manage oven use and hot pans. Adjust tasks to each child's coordination and attention span.

What are the benefits and safety tips for doing the 'Did Someone Say Donuts?' activity, and how can we vary the recipe?

Making and decorating donuts teaches measuring, following sequences, fine motor skills, and basic kitchen safety. It builds confidence, math awareness, and creativity through decorating. Safety tips: always supervise near the oven, keep kids away from hot pans, pre-measure ingredients for little ones, use age-appropriate tools, and teach proper handwashing. For variation, try whole-wheat flour, cocoa batter, or fruit-based glazes for healthier twists.
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