• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Broken Oven Baking
  • Recipes
  • Contact
  • About
  • Resources
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Summer
  • Recipes
  • Newsletter
  • Coaching
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Summer
    • Recipes
    • Newsletter
    • Coaching
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Broken Oven Baking » Recipes » Donuts & Muffins

    Baked Lemon Donuts with Icing

    Published: Apr 6, 2023 by Kayla Burton · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

    96 shares
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    Jump to Recipe

    Lemon Donuts are bright and citrusy baked donuts with a zesty lemon icing. They are great for a lemony start to your day, as a sweet treat to go with afternoon coffee or tea, or as a zingy dessert. If you love lemons, you will love these lemon glazed donuts!

    A stack of baked lemon donuts with icing.

    These easy baked donuts are nearly mess-free thanks to the use of donut pans instead of frying them in oil. Baking donuts is one of my favorite shortcuts to delicious, fluffy donuts in about 30 minutes! With these, there's no need to let your dough rise or deal with dangerously hot oil. Filled with zesty lemon flavor, these baked lemon donuts do not disappoint!

    This recipe is sponsored by Lifeway Kefir. Their organic whole milk kefir is up to 99% lactose-free, gluten-free, and comes in so many delicious flavors! I love using their lemon kefir in these donuts and my Lemon Snack Cake for extra flavor and fluffiness!

    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Substitutions & Variations
    • How to Make Lemon Baked Donuts
    • Expert Baking Tips
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Storage
    • More Recipes You'll Love
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    • Triple lemon flavor from lemon juice, zest, and Lifeway Organic Lemon Whole Milk Kefir.
    • You'll learn how to make lemon glaze with just 3 ingredients.
    • No pot of hot oil needed for these baked lemon donuts.
    • Fluffy, citrusy baked cake donuts.

    Ingredients

    Ingredients needed to make baked lemon donuts with icing.
    • This recipe uses both the lemon zest in the donut batter and lemon zest and juice in the glaze.
    • Lifeway Organic Lemon Whole Milk Kefir adds moisture, tang, and lemon flavor.
    • Vegetable oil makes the donuts rich and moist.
    • Baking powder keeps the donuts light and fluffy.

    See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

    Substitutions & Variations

    • Instead of the lemon glaze, brush melted butter on the donuts and dip them in a lemon sugar mixture made by rubbing lemon zest into granulated sugar.
    • Bake the batter in a muffin pan and fill the muffins with lemon curd.
    • For a sweeter version, drizzle the donuts with white chocolate in place of the lemon glaze.
    • Add a teaspoon of poppy seeds into the batter before baking for a lemon poppy seed donut.
    • If you absolutely can't find Lifeway Lemon Kefir, their Plain Whole Milk Kefir can be used instead. You can also substitute it with buttermilk.

    This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations. If you replace or add any ingredients, please let us know how it turned out in the comments below!

    How to Make Lemon Baked Donuts

    Whisking flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.

    Step 1: In a medium bowl, whisk the all purpose flour, baking powder, and salt together.

    Whisking vegetable oil, sugar, lemon zest, egg, vanilla extract, and lemon kefir in a bowl.

    Step 2: In a large bowl, whisk the vegetable oil, granulated sugar, lemon zest, egg, Lifeway Organic Whole Milk Lemon Kefir, and vanilla together to fully incorporate.

    Lemon donut batter in a bowl with a spatula.

    Step 3: Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until no ribbons of flour remain.

    Piping lemon cake batter into a donut pan.

    Step 4: Pipe the batter into a greased donut pan and bake at 350°F. Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool.

    Whisking lemon flavored icing in a bowl.

    Step 5: To make the icing, whisk together the powdered sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest.

    Baked lemon donuts with lemon icing.

    Step 6: Dip the cooled donuts in the glaze or drizzle it on top of them and allow the icing to dry.

    Expert Baking Tips

    1. Bake time and donut quantity may vary based on the size of donut pan used. Fill donut pan about ⅔ of the way up. Remove the donuts from the oven when they spring back with a gentle poke.
    2. Don't overmix or overbake your donuts to ensure they come out light and fluffy.
    3. If you use a silicone donut pan, I recommend placing a baking sheet underneath it in the oven so that it doesn't bend while handling it.

    Recipe FAQs

    What is lemon zest?

    Lemon zest is the yellow, outermost rind of the lemon, surrounding the white pith. It contains oil which has an intense lemon flavor.

    Can I fry the batter instead of baking?

    No. This batter is designed to be baked and will not work fried.

    Where can I find Lifeway Kefir?

    This can be found at lifewaykefir.com or in the dairy section of most grocery stores.

    Iced lemon donuts stacked in front of a bottle of Lifeway Lemon Kefir.

    Storage

    Room Temperature

    Best enjoyed the same day they are made, unglazed lemon donuts can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

    Refrigerator

    Store leftover donuts with icing in the refrigerator for up to a week.

    Freezing Instructions

    Freeze fully cooled, un-iced donuts in a freezer bag for up to 2 months. Defrost and glaze donuts.

    More Recipes You'll Love

    • Lemon snack cake with lemon cream cheese frosting.
      Lemon Snack Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
    • Lemon Cupcakes with Strawberry Filling
    • Lemon zucchini cupcakes with lemon cream cheese frosting.
      Lemon Zucchini Cupcakes
    • Mini lemon cheesecakes with lemon curd, whipped cream, and Biscoff cookie crust.
      No Bake Mini Lemon Cheesecakes

    Did you try this recipe? Leave a ⭐️ review below and tag @brokenovenbaking and @lifewaykefir on Instagram!

    📖 Recipe

    A stack of baked lemon donuts with icing.

    Baked Lemon Donuts with Icing

    Kayla Burton
    Enjoy these easy baked lemon donuts for brunch or dessert! This quick 30 minute recipe is zesty and delicious with a sweet lemon icing!
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save for LaterSaved!
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6 donuts
    Calories 321 kcal

    Equipment

    • Donut pan
    • Mixing bowls
    • Measuring spoons
    • Scale/measuring cups
    • Whisk
    • Spatula
    • Piping bag optional

    Ingredients
     
     

    Lemon Donuts

    • 1¼ cups all-purpose flour weighed in grams or spooned and leveled
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • ⅛ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ cup vegetable oil or other neutral oil
    • ⅓ cup granulated sugar
    • 2 teaspoons lemon zest
    • 1 large egg room temperature
    • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ½ cup Lifeway Organic Lemon Whole Milk Kefir room temperature

    Lemon Icing

    • 1 cup powdered sugar
    • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
    • ½ teaspoon lemon zest
    • 1-2 tablespoons milk or water more/less depending on consistency preference

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a donut pan.
    • In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
    • In a large bowl, whisk together the vegetable oil, sugar, and lemon zest really well. Mix in the egg, vanilla extract, and lemon kefir.
    • Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients just until the flour streaks disappear.
    • Pipe or spoon batter into the prepared donut pan so that they're each about ⅔-¾ full.
    • Bake on the middle rack until the donuts spring back after a gentle poke (about 10-15 minutes). Let them cool in the pan for about 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.
    • Make the icing by mixing together the powdered sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, and milk/water until smooth. Dip the cooled donuts in the icing or drizzle it over them.

    Notes

    Kefir: This recipe is sponsored by my favorite kefir brand, Lifeway. Their organic plain whole milk kefir is best in this recipe.
    Donut pan: The bake time and yield may vary based on donut pan size and material.
    Storage: Store uniced donuts at room temperature for 3 days or in the freezer for 2 months. Iced donuts can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
    Nutrition: The provided nutrition information is an estimate per iced donut, assuming 6 donuts are made. The calorie accuracy is not guaranteed.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 321kcalCarbohydrates: 52gProtein: 4gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 34mgSodium: 142mgPotassium: 43mgFiber: 1gSugar: 32gVitamin A: 86IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 74mgIron: 1mg

    The provided nutritional information is an estimate per serving. Accuracy is not guaranteed.

    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below & tag @brokenovenbaking on social!

    More Donut & Muffin Recipes

    • Blueberry banana muffins in a basket with a towel.
      Best Blueberry Banana Muffins
    • Close up of a red velvet cake donut stack.
      Red Velvet Cake Donuts with Cream Cheese Icing
    • Banana muffins with Nutella swirled on top and in the middle.
      Swirled Banana Nutella Muffins
    • A stack of orange poppy seed muffins with glaze.
      Orange Poppy Seed Muffins with Glaze

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lauren says

      April 12, 2023 at 7:10 pm

      5 stars
      Wow are these ever good. The donut is soft and the glaze has a great tang to it. Can't get enough!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hey, I'm Kayla!

    I'm a self-taught baker, recipe developer & food photographer in Chicago. I created this blog to share simple, sweet recipes that bakers of any level can enjoy! I hope you find your new favorite brunch or dessert recipe here! If you have any questions or want to connect, I'd love to hear from you!
    About Kayla →

    Featured On

    Good Morning America logo
    Sur La Table logo

    Bake With Me!

    Summer Recipes

    • A mixed berry galette with a slice cut out.
      Easy Mixed Berry Galette Recipe
    • Raspberry and White Chocolate Blondies
    • No Bake Cheesecake Bites
    • Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie
    • Honey Vanilla Cake
    • Chocolate Malted Crunch Ice Cream

    Favorite Cookies

    • Edible Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
    • Soft Almond Sugar Cookies
    • Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Soft M&M Sugar Cookies

    Trending Recipes

    • Cinnamon Streusel Muffins
    • Sourdough Discard Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Mini Brownie Bites
    • Almond Poppy Seed Muffins

    Did you try a recipe?
    Tag @brokenovenbaking and #brokenovenbaking on Instagram, Facebook, & TikTok!

    1-on-1 Coaching with Kayla

    Looking to start or grow your own food blog? I provide personalized guidance to help you achieve your goals!

    Baking & Photography Essentials!

    Let's Connect!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    About Me
    Privacy Policy
    Terms of Service
    Accessibility Policy

    Resources

    Food Blog Coaching
    Free Food Blogging Tips
    Traffic and Income Reports

    Connect

    Newsletter
    Contact Page
    Work With Us
    Baking Collaboration

    At no cost to you, I may earn from qualified purchases made through affiliate links on my website.

    Copyright © 2020-2023 Broken Oven Baking Company LLC