4th of July Doughnuts
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!
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!
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!
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…
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!
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!
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!
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!
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
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
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray 2 doughnut pans well.
- 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.
- 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.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Writer Bottles - 6 Easy Squeeze Applicator Bottles - 3 each (1 and 2 Ounce) - Cookie Cutters and Cake Decorating, Food Coloring and Royal Icing Supplies
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Sprinkles | Patriotic sprinkles | Red white and blue sprinkles | American sprinkles | Cookie sprinkles | July 4th sprinkles | Manvscakes
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Wilton Candy Melts Flavored 12 Oz, Royal Blue, Vanilla
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Wilton Craft Supplies, Multi-Colored
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Wilton 1911-6065 Craft Supplies, Bright white
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Wilton 6-Cavity Doughnut Baking Pan, Makes Individual Full-Sized 3 3/4" Donuts or Baked Treats, Non-Stick and Dishwasher Safe, Enjoy or Give as Gift, Metal (1 Pan)
If you are looking for even more fun 4th of July recipes, be sure to check out my friends great recipes below!
- Patriotic Fruit Pizza Dessert from Tatertots & Jello
- Homemade Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bars from Pass the Butter
- 4th of July Fruit Tart from Happy Happy Nester
- American Flag Sheet Cake from Modern Glam
- Individual Skillet Strawberry Shortcake from Most Lovely Things
- Festive 4th of July Gluten Free Muffins from My 100 Year Old Home
- Easy Fourth of July Watermelon Salad from Robyn’s French Nest
- Red Velvet Brownies from Paint Me Pink
- Marshmallow and Chocolate Dipped Ice Cream Cones from My Sweet Savannah
- 4th of July Donuts from Inspiration for Moms
- No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Bites from Twelve on Main
My kids are going to LOVE these! Thanks for joining us Laura. xoxo
I hope they do! Always happy to join in the fun! 😉 xoxo
Oh man these look delicious and are too cute! Pinned!
These are absolutely gorgeous! Pinned and will be making soon!
Thank you, Annie! They were fun to make!
I love doughnuts so I’m looking forward to giving this recipe a try!
How fun are these?!?! Can’t wait to try!
Stop it, Laura!! How fun and festive are these doughnuts! Definitely making them with my kids!
I’m pretty sure they are gonna love ’em! My boys do! 🙂
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