Lemon Poppy Seed Donuts

These Lemon Poppy Seed Donuts are baked and are such a tasty and fun treat to make any day of the week. They are easy to make, have a mellow lemon flavor, and have just the right amount of crunch from the poppy seeds.

Donuts are great because they can be enjoyed for a sweet breakfast treat along with a cup of your favorite coffee or tea or you enjoy them as dessert any time of the day. Or do both, we don’t judge around here.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe 

• Made with common pantry staples, this recipe is perfect for those days you’re craving something homemade without needing to make a special trip to the grocery store.
• From start to finish, these donuts can be ready in under an hour, making them a feasible treat even on the busiest of mornings.
• Serve them plain, or decorate with a lemon glaze and zest for an extra special touch. They’re perfect for any occasion, whether it’s a family breakfast or a casual get-together with friends.
• Compared to traditional deep-fried donuts, this baked alternative offers a healthier option without compromising on taste or texture.

Do you love sweet lemon recipes? If so, next time give these Lemon Bars a try. They are such a great treat.

Ingredients

While this ingredient list may seem long these are simple ingredients that you most likely already have on hand, which means that you may not even need to take a trip to the grocery store to make this sweet treat.

• all purpose flour
• baking powder
• baking soda
• poppy seeds
• fine sea or kosher salt
• unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
• large egg
• granulated white sugar
• whole milk or 2 percent, you can use almond or oat milk too
• regular sour cream, don’t use fat free for this recipe
• pure vanilla extract
• fresh lemon juice
• lemon zest

Glaze:

• powdered sugar
• whole milk, 2 percent, almond, or oat milk can be used
• lemon juice
• pure vanilla extract
• unsalted butter

Equipment 

Here is a quick list of the kitchen tools that you will need to help you make this recipe:

• donut pan
• large mixing bowl
• medium bowl
• pastry bag or piping bag
• round tip

How to Make Lemon Poppy Seed Donuts

Making these delicious baked donuts is so simple. Just follow the step-by-step instructions or check out the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Step 1: Preheat the oven and prep the donut pan

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prep the donut pan with nonstick baking spray.

Step 2: Mix the dry ingredients

Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, poppy seeds, and salt in a large bowl. Whisk to blend.

Step 3: Mix the wet ingredients

Add the melted butter, egg, sugar, milk, sour cream, vanilla, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a bowl. Whisk until combined.

Step 4: Finish the batter

Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Mix until all ingredients are just combined. Spoon the batter into a pastry bag with a round tip.

Step 5: Bake the donuts

Fill each donut well to 2⁄3 rds filled. Bake at 350 degrees for 9-10 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned. Transfer the donuts to a cooling rack. Allow to cool completely.

Step 6: Make the glaze

Add butter, powdered sugar, milk, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a bowl. Whisk to mix.

Step 7: Glaze the donuts

Dip each donut in the glaze. Return to the cooling rack to allow the glaze to set.

Substitutions and Additions 

If you’re looking to switch things up a bit? There are several substitutions and additions you can make to this recipe.

• Almond milk or coconut milk can be used as a dairy-free alternative to whole milk.
• To lower the fat in these baked donuts you can swap out the sour cream for plain Greek yogurt instead.
• Feel free to add a teaspoon of poppy seeds to the glaze for extra crunch, or sprinkle some lemon zest over the glazed donuts for added zing and color.

Storage

Storage – You can store these donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Freezing – For longer storage, they can be frozen for up to 2 months and thawed before enjoying.

What to Serve With Baked Donuts

These delicious lemon donuts are a great treat when served on their own, however, if you are looking to pair them with something, try serving them with a glass of cold milk or a cup of your favorite coffee. You can also enjoy them for breakfast with a protein source such as these Copycat Starbucks Egg Bites.

Pro Tips

Here are a few tips that you can use to ensure that these donuts turn out perfectly for you when you make them.  

• Make sure that you prepare your donut pan with a nonstick baking spray to ensure that the donuts come out easily after baking.
• Be careful not to overmix the batter. Overmixing can result in tough and dense donuts.
• If you do not have a pastry bag, you can use a large ziplock bag with the corner snipped off as an alternative for piping the batter into the donut wells.
• For an extra burst of lemon flavor, substitute some of the milk in the glaze with fresh lemon juice.
• You can use bottled lemon juice in this recipe however I think that fresh will give you the best flavor.

More Donut Recipes You May Enjoy:

Looking for some different donuts to make for your feel? Check out these recipes below:

• Red Velvet Baked Donuts
• Mint Chocolate Chip Baked Donuts
• Baked Lemon Donuts
• Yogurt Baked Donuts

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you enjoy these delectable lemon poppy seed donuts. To save and collect this and any of your favorite recipes, you can pin on Pinterest. It’s a great way to save for later on.

Before leaving, don’t forget to scroll up to the recipe card to copy and print out todays featured recipe.

Please stop by again soon, there’s so many more recipes to see both sweet and savory. New ones too.

Bye for now…