Baked Gingerbread Donuts with Lemon Yogurt Glaze
Bake up these gingerbread donuts for a special breakfast treat! The tangy lemon yogurt glaze is a great compliment to all the ginger and warm spice, and the whole wheat adds a subtle nuttiness.
Did you guys see the post I contributed to KitchenAid earlier this week? All those yummy cupcakes?
Do you know what really surprised me? Out of all the varieties in that selection, the one my kids loved the most was the gingerbread! I couldn’t believe it because my kids are so notoriously picky. And my gingerbread has a lotta bold flavor going on. ???
Mine is not to question why, I just know that when I land on something they actually like, I’d best be making more of it.
So I thought maybe they’d enjoy a leeeeetle bit of a healthier twist on that idea, for a special Christmas morning breakfast!
If you like a really pronounced, spicy gingerbread flavor, then you are going to luuuuuurve these baked donuts. They utilize 2 kinds of ginger, fresh and crystallized. Very gingery. Plus there’s lots of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove to really give you those warm holiday fuzzies.
If you like a milder flavor, you can cut back a little on the fresh ginger, and omit the crystallized ginger altogether. Or you could just replace the fresh ginger with ground.
I like to use whole nutmeg, which I just grate into my mixing bowl or whatever, using a microplane grater. The flavor is amazing! If you don’t keep whole nutmeg on hand, go a little heavier on the pre-ground stuff. It’s much less potent so you can get away with adding a little more.
I’m topping my gingerbread with a drizzly lemon yogurt glaze. The tangy lemon is a perfect foil to all the spice! But if you’re looking to keep your breakfast on the healthier side, a light dusting of powdered sugar would be lovely too…
The addition of whole wheat flour works really well with these donuts. I really think your family will enjoy the added texture and subtly nutty flavor.
The donuts can be made up to 2 days ahead, and stored at room temperature in an airtight container, or frozen up to 2 weeks ahead,. The glaze can also be made ahead, but you’ll probably want to wait until a few hours before serving to drizzle it on.
PS- If you don’t already have a donut pan, you can purchase one here. Or you can make these into muffins instead, but they will probably need a longer bake time. 😉
PPS- If you want to dress your gingerbread donuts up with sugar pearls, the way I did, you can purchase them here. Just sprinkle them on while the glaze is still wet!
Do you make a special Christmas morning breakfast? Or are you too busy fighting with wire packaging ties, searching for batteries, and picking up wrapping paper shreds off the carpet?
*This post was featured on Simply Gloria’s Showstopper Saturday Link Party*
*This post was featured on Little Miss Celebration’s Best of the Weekend Link Party*
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Baked Gingerbread Donuts with Lemon Yogurt Glaze
Ingredients
For the Lemon Yogurt Glaze
- 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons greek yogurt, (I used fat free)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon zest, (zest of half a lemon)
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
For the Baked Gingerbread Donuts
- 2/3 cup (83.33 g) all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup (40 g) whole wheat flour
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons crystallized ginger,, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 cup (118.29 ml) buttermilk, (or 1/4 cup milk + 1/4 cup greek yogurt)
- 1/4 cup (59.15 ml) vegetable oil
- 3 tablespoons molasses
- 1 egg, (large)
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
To Make the Lemon Yogurt Glaze
- Whisk all the glaze ingredients together until well incorporated.
To Make the Baked Gingerbread Donuts
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Lightly grease a donut pan.
- Combine the first 8 ingredients in a medium sized mixing bowl.
- Combine the remaining ingredients in a smaller bowl.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry, and mix just until barely combined. (Do not overmix or the donuts could come out tough. The batter should be lumpy.)
- Pipe or spoon the batter equally into the 6 wells of the donut pan.
- Bake for 14 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.
- Cool the donuts completely and top with Lemon Yogurt Glaze.
Just the best!!! So delicious! I try a ton of recipes & have been baking for decades, so hard to impress. Made these for a girlfriends’ Christmas breakfast party and everyone loved & begged for the recipe! Everyone thought they were so fancy & elaborate, but SOOOO easy! I made as directed, except didn’t have fresh ginger, so substituted about 1 teaspoon powdered, and made the icing a little thinner w/ little more lemon juice, & omitted pearls. I will make these every breakfast I host this holiday! Yum! Thank you!!!
I’m so happy you liked them Diane! Thank you so much for the positive feedback!
THese sound amazing. I’d like to make them to take to family Xmas this weekend… will they keep for a couple of days? Maybe put the glaze in a jar, heat up the donuts for 10 min in the oven and then glaze them just before serving?
Yes to everything Audrey! Just be careful about heating them in the oven, they could get dried out and glazing them warm might be tricky. I hope you enjoy!
My donut addiction continues, I must have these! Thanks for linking up with What’s Cookin’ Wednesday!
My pleasure, Karly! Thank you so much for stopping by, and for hosting the party 😉
Oh, wow, gingerbread donuts. I love these! Definitely going to make some 🙂
I hope you enjoy them, Rachel! My kids sure did 😉 Thanks for stopping by and for the sweet comment!
Gingerbread is amazing, and I’m sure these donuts are too!
My kids sure thought so, lol! Surprisingly… So glad you enjoyed; thanks for the sweet comment Laura!
Now another excuse to break out the donut pans! I have more than one pan… just so I can get the job done. And, this recipe with the buttermilk and molasses is definitely calling for a super moist donut! The glaze also looks like the perfect combination for all the action going on in the donut itself…so decadent, Allie! Hope you are having a great start to your weekend!
I am! I’m so happy you like the recipe, and yes, I should have mentioned that they are very moist. I hope you get a chance to try the recipe, with your multiple donut pans! Take care and enjoy the season. Love to you and your boys…
Oh, how lovely! My name is Katie and I host Fall Into the Holidays, now open. All entries get pinned. I would love to have you link up!
Thanks for inviting me Katie! I’ll head right over to link up!
Oh my goodness, these look SO BEAUTIFUL and so delicious!!!! YUM!!!
I’m so happy you think so, Maria! My family went gaga for these. Thanks so much for reading and for the great comment! Hope you had a fun weekend 🙂
Hi! I love the combination of lemon and gingerbread – very creative! Pinning this one. your photos are marvelous. Thanks for sharing on Show Stopper Saturday.
Gingerbread and lemon go together like peas and carrots! They bring out the best in each other. I’m so happy you liked the recipe and the photos too! I got really lucky with some nice light on that day. Love when that happens! Thanks so much Janet, for stopping by and for the positive feedback! And thank you for sharing on Pinterest too 😉
Wow. I cannot WAIT to try these! Also, you get bonus points for using the term “lurve” 🙂
I luuuuuurve “lurve.” One of the best words ever 😉
So glad you liked, Nora. Hope you had a great weekend, dear! xoxo
These donuts look very moist! And the fact that they have the addition of whole wheat flour makes them a little healthy and like you said with a wonderful texture… 🙂 Thanks for the post I can’t wait to try them out!
My pleasure, Katy! I hope you enjoy them. My family really loved them. They’re just perfect for this time of year! Thanks so much for reading and for the positive feedback. Have a great week!
Allie, those donuts are gorgeous!! I am sure they are just as delicious as they look. 🙂
Thanks, Lisa! I hope you get a chance to try making them~ they come together really quick and they’re so delish! Thanks for stopping by and for the sweet comment 😀
the lemon glaze is a nice touch! yum!
Thanks, Dina! The glaze is sweet and it really brings it all into balance. I’m so glad you liked! Thanks for the sweet comment! <3
They look fantastic Allie I love the sound of them, I’ve been meaning to try ginger and Lemon together. Thanks for the mention 🙂 it’s so sweet of you. I haven’t had a chance to make any Christmassy breakfast treats yet, although I just made some peppermint cookies tonight that could find their way into our mouths first thing in the morning lol.
Ha ha, I hear you, Laura! I eat cookies for breakfast more often than I’d care to admit. Thanks so much for the inspiration, dear! Your glaze was a perfect way to top of the donuts!
Oh My – These donuts look absolutely delightful, and they’re so so beautiful with that glaze and the sugar pearls! I love the fact that they’re healthy too. I can’t say no to donuts for breakfast, but, really, who can? ;–)
Have a lovely weekend!
((And pinning, of course!)) xo
Thanks, Consuelo! They are a little healthier, I guess, because of the whole wheat flour and yogurt, and they’re baked of course, but they are still on the indulgent side 😉 Especially with the sweet glaze. They are super delish and a fun treat for a special occasion! I’m so glad you liked! Hope you’re having a fun weekend 😉
They look awesome Allie! You make everything look so gourmet!
Hee hee thanks Melanie! They aren’t really all that gourmet but I’m glad they look that way! These were a snap to bake. Easy peasy! I’m so glad you enjoyed and thanks for the sweet comment. Have a fun weekend! 🙂
These look incredible Allie! Hehe, I love that you snuck in some whole wheat flour in here too, I do the same when I make treats for my lil guy 🙂 I love that these are like gingerbread cookies in donut form and the glaze is mouthwatering. They sound perfect for Christmas morning breakfast and so festive for the holidays. Pinning 🙂
Thanks Kelly! It’s only a little bit of whole wheat flour but it eases my conscience a little bit, lol! That and the yogurt 😉 I’m so happy you like them! Thank you so much for pinning. Have a great weekend, sweetie!
Again – we have the same flavor on our minds! I just love gingerbread! Love love love these donuts!!! Gorgeous! And the glaze – simply stunning! Pinning these beauties!
I’ve done more gingerbread this year than any other year before- it’s really growing on me and the fact that my kids love it is even more motivation! I’m so happy you like them so much. Anna! Thank you for pinning 🙂
I’m definitely baking this to take to our Christmas party! My mother-in-law likes to make the Christmas dinner herself so I only have worry about dessert and other bits and bobs to munch on whilst we wait 🙂
Nice! Easier and fun for you! These are quick to make and they’ve got tons of Christmassy flavor. I hope your family enjoys, Erika! <3