Gingerbread donuts are full of spicy flavor that will sweep you through fall and winter like your favorite, soft flannel jammies and woolie socks. Dark gingerbread cake is topped with a puckery lemon glaze for a cornucopia of sweet, tangy, spicy flavor no one can resist. Instructions to help you fry, air fry, or bake all included.
First published October 2007...Last Updated: November 8, 2019
Gingerbread Donuts Ingredients
This is a simple recipe that results in BIG flavor!
- Dark brown sugar helps the donuts stay moist and gives them more flavor.
- Eggs are pasture raised, organic, and large.
- Molasses used is unsulphured. This is super important - backstrap molasses will taste terrible.
- Sour cream helps the texture and keeps them moist without adding too much liquid. Do not use low fat or fat free sour cream ... or yogurt.
- Baking soda and baking powder are the leaveners here. They are used together to create a soft, dense texture.
- Ground ginger is the main flavor so make sure that it is fresh.
- Cloves add that Christmassy flavor we all love.
- Cinnamon gives the donuts a warm, comforting smell and autumn spice flavor. There are numerous varieties - I prefer Vietnamese cinnamon.
- Nutmeg it part of that whole autumn spice quartet. I like to use whole nutmeg and grate it fresh - so much more flavor!
- Salt could actually be left out if you want but it does make the flavor fall a little flat if you do. I use kosher salt so if you're using table salt use a little less.
- All Purpose Flour is the flour of choice. You can use unbleached if you like.
- Confectioner's Sugar (powdered sugar) is part of the lemon glaze.
- Lemon juice, freshly squeezed, gives this glaze that puckery goodness that lemon-lovers can't get enough of.
- Lemon zest adds more lemon flavor because, let's be real, can you ever have enough?
- Heavy cream is used for the glaze. It keeps it thick and rich. You could use all lemon juice if you like a thinner glaze.
- Oil for frying or to oil donut molds. (I use peanut oil which I feel is best for frying as long as there are no allergies)
A Crackling Fire. Soft Flannel PJs...And...
Gingerbread donuts are easy to make and delicious for autumn and winter treats - especially served still warm from the fryer with a cup of hot chocolate or coffee! Since they are old fashioned cake donuts they just couldn't be easier!
This recipe has been on Restless Chipotle since before it was Restless Chipotle! It's one of the first recipes I ever published and I had honestly forgotten about it!
When the weather gets chilly I start thinking about gingerbread! That had me going through the archives and I came across this recipe and realized that it had been way too long since I made these homemade cake donuts with all of the flavor of the holidays stirred right in.
Tips for Homemade Gingerbread Donuts
- To Fry: I like to deep fry donuts because I think they have a better texture. Make sure the oil is completely heated and don't overfill the fryer.
- To Bake: Just shape them and bake at 350F for about 20 minutes. They may lose their shape a little but hey - it happens to all of us eventually, right? You can also bake them in a special donut mold and they'll maintain their shape.
- To Air Fry: Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees F. Brush 1/2 of the melted butter over both sides of the donuts. Place a few donuts in the air fryer basket (don't crowd) and cook for 8 minutes.
- A pinch of cardamom added with the spices gives a warm, citrus flavor that's delicious.
- Add the glaze while they are still warm.
- Cooked donuts freeze well for up to three months. If you are going to freeze them don't add glaze until you're ready to serve.
- To serve donuts that have been frozen just thaw and heat in the air fryer or oven for a few minutes.
- Donuts taste best when they are freshly made so eat them the same day or freeze for another time.
How to Fry Perfect Cake Donuts
There are a few tricks and tips that will help you achieve the perfect cake donut every single time:
- Always cut the dough straight down - do not twist the cutter.
- Don't have a cutter? Use an empty (clean) tomato paste can and cut the donut center out with the wide open end of an icing tip or punch it out with your finger.
- Make sure the oil is hot. 370F to 375F is usually best.
- Don't overload the fryer. Fry a few at a time - no more than 2 for a small fryer.
- Flip the donuts as they rise to the top and are light golden on the underside but don't over-fry them or they will be tough and dry.
- Use the softest dough possible. Refrigerate it as needed to keep it workable.
- Use clean oil - peanut oil is best if you don't have allergies. Change it after every 2nd or 3rd frying session or when it starts to darken.
- Hold the fryer basket up over the fryer to let the finished donuts drain for a few minutes before removing them to drain on absorbent paper.
- Donuts are best served immediately or frozen. They get stale very fast.
Close Your Eyes and Say Gingerbread...
What came to mind?
Gingerbread is just one of those things that's cozy. It tastes like that feeling you get when you're wrapped in a blanket watching it snow outside... or curled up on the couch in front of the fire reading your favorite book.
Gingerbread is usually associated with happy things, warm comfort, and crackling fires. I said in cake post that gingerbread smells like a Hallmark Christmas movie.
But if wood floors, red flannel shirts, crackling fires, and thick wool socks had a flavor?
Gingerbread would be it.
More Cozy Comfort Food Recipes
I love fall and winter recipes! Here are some of my favorites from here on Restless Chipotle.
- Hubbard Squash pie is so unique. It's a little like pumpkin but the flavor is more nutty and delicate.
- Chocolate Glazed Donuts are so easy to make and they are absolutely addictive with that shiny chocolate glaze.
- Apple Whiskey Bundt Cake is so good warm with a drizzle of whiskey caramel sauce!
- Grandma's Dutch Apple Pie has a thick layer of crumble over buttery-sweet, tender apples. Just like you remember!
- Plain Yeast Donuts are full of old fashioned flavor. You can glaze these, frost them, or shake them in a bag of powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar. No matter what you do, they're delicious!
You May Need
The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
What’s new? Check out my Restless Chipotle & Co. Store on Amazon where you'll find all kinds of nostalgic goodness! Thanks so much for being a part of Restless Chipotle!
This is the deep fryer I have and it's held up well for almost 10 years so far! It's a good size so if you are making fried food for more than one or two people you don't have to stand at the fryer for hours.
If a #HallmarkMovie had a flavor I guess gingerbread would be it, don't you think?Click To TweetHomemade Gingerbread Donuts Recipe
Cake donuts are so easy and my sour cream gingerbread donut recipe is no exception! Your family will love these for a weekend brunch...and next week try the gingerbread waffles!
These easy, homemade donuts freeze really well for up to 3 months. Just leave the glaze off and when you're ready to serve them warm them up for about 10 minutes in a 375F oven.
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Gingerbread Doughnuts
Print Add to CollectionEquipment Needed
- Electric Fryer
Ingredients
Gingerbread Donuts
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, dark, firmly packed
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/2 cup molasses, unsulphured
- 1/2 cup sour cream, regular not low fat
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 3 teaspoons ginger, ground
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, kosher
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, ground
- 1/4 teaspoon cloves, ground
- Pinch nutmeg, freshly grated
- 2 1/2 cups flour, you may need a little more
Lemon Glaze:
- 1 cup confectioner's sugar
- 1 tablespoon cream, heavy cream or half and half
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
Instructions
Gingerbread Donuts
- Combine all the donut ingredients except flour mixture and stir well.
- Add just enough flour to make a soft dough, it should leave the sides of the bowl and be JUST firm enough to shape.
- Roll out lightly on a floured counter (well floured, this is sticky dough) and cut with a doughnut cutter.
- Fry in deep, hot oil (360F) turning once.
- Drain on paper towel or brown paper bags.
- Repeat with all of the dough, and then fry the doughnut holes.
Lemon Glaze
- Mix all of the glaze ingredients together until smooth.
- Glaze doughnuts while warm.
To Bake
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Shape the donuts and lay them on a well greased cookie sheet or in a donut pan.
- Bake for 20 minutes, or until done.
Air Fryer
- Preheat the air fryer to 350F.
- Brush the donuts with melted butter.
- Add a few shaped donuts to the air fryer - don't crowd.
- Air fry for 8 minutes, or until done.
- Remove, brush with melted butter and add glaze or sugar.
- Repeat with remaining donuts.
Notes
- Always cut the dough straight down - do not twist the cutter.
- Don't have a cutter? Use an empty (clean) tomato paste can and cut the donut center out with the wide open end of an icing tip or punch it out with your finger.
- Make sure the oil is hot. 370F to 375F is usually best.
- Don't overload the fryer. Fry a few at a time - no more than 2 for a small fryer.
- Flip the donuts as they rise to the top and are light golden on the underside but don't over-fry them or they will be tough and dry.
- Use the softest dough possible. Refrigerate it as needed to keep it workable.
- Use clean oil - peanut oil is best if you don't have allergies. Change it after every 2nd or 3rd frying session or when it starts to darken.
- Hold the fryer basket up over the fryer to let the finished donuts drain for a few minutes before removing them to drain on absorbent paper.
- Donuts are best served immediately or frozen. They get stale very fast.
- A pinch of cardamom added with the spices gives a warm, citrus flavor that's delicious.
- Add the glaze while they are still warm.
- Cooked donuts freeze well for up to three months. If you are going to freeze them don't add glaze until you're ready to serve.
- To serve donuts that have been frozen just thaw and heat in the air fryer or oven for a few minutes.
- Donuts taste best when they are freshly made so eat them the same day or freeze for another time.
Lynn
Can you freeze them?
Marye
Yes! Unfrosted and unglazed they freeze very well.
Catherine G
Those look beautiful! I love gingerbread. I will have to try these with a nice creamy latte!
Marye Audet
That sounds AMAZING!