4th of July Doughnuts

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Whip up a dozen of these delicious 4th of July doughnuts and everyone will be wowing over more than just the fireworks!

Do we need a holiday celebration so we can enjoy a few tasty doughnuts? I don’t think so. But if you wanna look for one – how about July 4th?! Doughnuts are great for outdoor gatherings, picnics in the park or even for a fun treat after the fireworks show!

4th of July doughnuts

And these cinnamon baked doughnuts are about the easiest doughnuts ever to make. I love that they are baked and not fried. To me, they taste better – more like cake – and they’re less greasy!

4th of July doughnuts

The sweet cinnamon spice is a fun unexpected twist on your classic doughnut taste. It takes this simple recipe to the next level with no extra effort on your part!


  • EASY – These baked doughnuts can easily be made in about 17 minutes – with staples you probably already have in your kitchen!
  • KID FRIENDLY – If you love to bake with your little ones, this recipe is simple and great for beginner bakers.
  • INEXPENSIVE – The only special items needed are the doughnut pan and the candy melts. All of which, are very low cost!
4th of July doughnuts

What Ingredients Do I Need To Make These Doughnuts?

So now you might be asking, what do I need to make these yummy doughnuts? I’m willing to bet if you look in your kitchen right now, you are already stocked and ready to make a dozen (or two) of these yummy 4th of July doughnuts!

Just a few ingredients is all you need…

  • flour
  • sugar
  • baking powder
  • cinnamon
  • nutmeg
  • salt
  • egg
  • milk
  • butter
  • vanilla

Basically you mix the dry ingredients together and then mix the wet. Then you stir the wet mixture into the dry ingredients until just combined. Finally, spoon the mixture into your baking doughnut pan and bake.

When you remove the doughnuts from the oven, allow them to cool on the counter for about 5 minutes. Then all you need to do is tap the doughnuts out onto a sheet pan. And if you’re lucky, they should all fall out beautifully intact. Mine do every time!

4th of July doughnuts

How Did You Decorate The Doughnuts?

I decided to get really festive this 4th of July and create not one but three different decorated doughnut looks. And surprise, I didn’t use traditional icing to get the fun designs. Instead I used candy melts.

Candy Melts candy is a sweet confectionary coating that can be used to dip treats. It’s available in a variety of colors and flavors, can be melted to a semi-liquid state and sets hard with a smooth and shiny finish. So basically, it’s a great option when it comes to easily frosting doughnuts!

Candy Melts Tips & Tricks

  • I’ve found the microwave to be the easiest and quickest way to melt the Candy Melts.
  • Be sure to let your melted candy stand in the microwave for 30 to 60 seconds before removing. This lets the residual heat from the bowl or bag melt any remaining candy without over heating the melts.
  • Continually stirring the melts will help distribute any residual heat. When the candy is nice and smooth, it’s ready to use!

The covered white doughnut is obviously the easiest look of all to achieve. Just dip the doughnuts into the melted white candy melts, add a few sprinkles and done!

The blue doughnut is a tad more difficult to create. Just dip a doughnut into the melted blue candy melts, set aside and allow to harden. Then using mini squeeze bottles filled with melted candy melts, add the red and white stripes across the top of the doughnut.

And ta-da – you got a firework doughnut look!

4th of July doughnuts

Now that you’re feeling confident, let me show you how I made the last design featuring a flag styled doughnut on top of a sweet glaze! First make the glaze, then dip your doughnuts and allow to cool.

Then using bottles filled with red and white candy melts, draw red and white stripes across 2/3 of the top of the doughnut. Then using the blue bottle filled with melted candy melts, zig-zag the remaining 1/3 of the doughnut top. Then all that’s left to do is add sprinkles on top of the blue area. And now you have completed all three of the stylin’ 4th of July doughnuts!

4th of July doughnuts

The frosting is really the fun part of these festive 4th of July doughnuts. You can definitely copy my looks here or create some fun patriotic looks of your own!

4th of July doughnuts

But really, no matter how you decorate them, there’s no doubt you will absolutely love how they taste. Give these 4th of July doughnuts a try and let me know how much you liked ’em!

4th of July doughnuts

4th of July Doughnuts

Yield: 12 Doughnuts
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 17 minutes
Total Time: 32 minutes

Whip up a quick dozen of these delicious 4th of July doughnuts and everyone will be wowing over more than just the fireworks!

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 extra-large egg, lightly beaten
  • 1 1/4 cups whole milk
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • Doughnut Glaze
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup confectioners' sugar
  • Candy Melts Frosting
  • 1 bag Wilton red candy melts
  • 1 bag Wilton white candy melts
  • 1 bag Wilton blue candy melts
  • patriotic sprinkles

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray 2 doughnut pans well.
  2. Into a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, melted butter, and vanilla. Stir the wet mixture into the dry ingredients until just combined.
  3. Spoon the batter into the baking pans, filling each one a little more than three-quarters full. Bake for 17 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool for 5 minutes, then tap the doughnuts out onto a sheet pan.


For Glaze:

Combine milk and vanilla in a medium saucepan and heat over low heat until warm. Sift confectioners' sugar into milk mixture. Whisk slowly, until well combined.

Remove the glaze from the heat and set over a bowl of warm water. Dip doughnuts into the glaze, 1 at a time, and set on a draining rack placed in a half sheet pan for 5 minutes before serving.

For Candy Melts:

Place white candy melts into a microwave-safe container and microwave at 50% power or defrost setting for 1 minute. Stir thoroughly in container. Return to the microwave, stirring at 30-second intervals until candy is mostly melted.

Let your melted candy stand in the microwave for 30 to 60 seconds before removing. Continue stirring and when candy is nice and smooth, it’s ready to use.

Transfer the melted white candy into shallow bowl that will easily allow you to dip the donuts into. Dip donut, allowing the excess to fall off. Place the donuts on a cooling rack, top with sprinkles to complete the doughnut.

Repeat the melting and dipping process with the blue candy melts except no sprinkles, just set aside to harden.

Then repeat melting process with red but when completely melted, transfer into a small squeeze bottle. Create bottles with melted blue and white candy melts as well.

Using the bottles draw red and white lines on the blue covered doughnuts to complete doughnut.

On the glazed doughnuts cover about 1/3 side of doughnut with blue color, add sprinkles. Then draw red and white stripes to complete the doughnut.

If you are looking for even more fun 4th of July recipes, be sure to check out my friends great recipes below!

  1. Patriotic Fruit Pizza Dessert from Tatertots & Jello
  2. Homemade Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bars from Pass the Butter
  3. 4th of July Fruit Tart from Happy Happy Nester
  4. American Flag Sheet Cake from Modern Glam
  5. Individual Skillet Strawberry Shortcake from Most Lovely Things
  6. Festive 4th of July Gluten Free Muffins from My 100 Year Old Home
  7. Easy Fourth of July Watermelon Salad from Robyn’s French Nest
  8. Red Velvet Brownies from Paint Me Pink
  9. Marshmallow and Chocolate Dipped Ice Cream Cones from My Sweet Savannah
  10. 4th of July Donuts from Inspiration for Moms
  11. No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Bites from Twelve on Main

10 Comments

  1. Such a cute idea Laura! I love that the donuts are baked. And so festive looking! Pinned and saved to make for the fourth!

    xoxo

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