Home » Baked Carrot Cake Donuts

Baked Carrot Cake Donuts

Baked Carrot Cake Donuts are such a delicious breakfast treat for Easter or any day. Made using simple ingredients, real carrots, and topped with a homemade cream cheese frosting.

baked carrot cake doughnuts image with text overlay (1)

I rarely give in to my cravings for donuts as it’s just something I can’t just eat one of. I know you know what I mean! But when I can BAKE donuts, I don’t feel as bad eating two! These carrot cake donuts are baked in the oven and while you can eat as is, I frost them with a homemade cream cheese frosting and top with some chopped pecans. Classic carrot cake flavors in donut form!

Having donut shop donuts at home is definitely cheaper and a bit healthier when baked. Plus they are delicious to have for breakfast or even as a dessert. The baked donuts would make be a wonderful Easter brunch treat.

baked carrot cake donuts with chopped pecans on wooden board

Bake Carrot Cake Donuts

Most likely you have everything you need at home to make a batch of these carrot cake donuts. If you love carrot cake, you will love these donuts. They’re perfectly spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Baking donuts creates a cake-like taste and texture. They bake up light and fluffy. You can also feel good that you are sneaking in some vegetables!

I use this nonstick donut pan for all of my donut recipes. My pumpkin spice donuts, as are the chocolate cake donuts with sprinkles, are also made with this pan. I’ve even made these Gluten Free Apple Cider Donuts in this pan.

What can I use instead of a donut pan?

The best donut pan substitute would be a muffin panUse some aluminum foil to make a donut mold, which will help to bake donuts into the right shape, with the hole in the middle.

carrot cake donuts with icing and pecans

How Do I Store the Donuts?

Donuts are best consumed the day of, they will last in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/3 cup buttermilk
  • 1/4 cup vegetable or canola oil
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup finely grated carrots

For the icing:

  • 3 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 2 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon milk
ingredients for carrot cake donuts

How to Make Baked Carrot Cake Donuts

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare two oven-safe doughnut pans with nonstick cooking spray.

Step 2

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt.

whisking dry ingredients in glass bowl

Step 3

In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, oil, brown sugar, egg, and vanilla extract until well blended.

whisking wet ingredients for carrot donuts in glass bowl

Step 4

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir just until combined. Fold in the carrots.

folding in shredded carrots into donut batter

Step 5

Transfer the batter to a piping bag or gallon-sized freezer bag with the end snipped. Squeeze the batter into the prepared doughnut pan, dividing the dough between 10 or 12 molds depending on how thick you desire the doughnuts to be.

piping carrot cake donut batter into baking pan

Step 6

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake returns clean.

Step 7

Place the doughnut pans on a wire rack to cool for 5 minutes before flipping the doughnuts out to continue cooling.

baked carrot cake donuts cooling on wire rack

Step 8

In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and milk and continue to mix until smooth and creamy.

Step 9

Pipe or spread the frosting over the doughnuts. Sprinkle with chopped pecans if desired.

piping the icing on the donuts

In place of the pecans, you could use sprinkles, or use both!

close up of baked carrot cake donuts with pecans
overhead shot of carrot cake donuts

Love carrot cake? Try these recipes!

close up of baked carrot cake donuts with pecans

Printable Recipe Card

carrot cake donuts with icing and pecans

Baked Carrot Cake Donuts

Baked Carrot Cake Donuts are such a delicious breakfast treat for Easter or any day. Made using simple ingredients, real carrots, and topped with a homemade cream cheese frosting. Sprinkle chopped pecans on top.
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Course: Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Carrot cake, carrot cake donuts, donuts
Servings: 12 donuts

Ingredients

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • cup buttermilk
  • ¼ cup vegetable or canola oil
  • ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup finely grated carrots

For the frosting

  • 3 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 2 tablespoons butter, softened
  • ½ cup powdered sugar
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon milk

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare two oven-safe donut pans with nonstick cooking spray.
  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, oil, brown sugar, egg, and vanilla extract until well blended.
  • Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir just until combined. Fold in the carrots.
  • Transfer the batter to a piping bag or gallon-sized freezer bag with the end snipped. Squeeze the batter into the prepared doughnut pan, dividing the dough between 10 or 12 molds depending on how thick you desired the doughnuts to be.
  • Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake returns clean.
  • Place the doughnut pans on a wire rack to cool for 5 minutes before flipping the doughnuts out to continue cooling.
  • Meanwhile, beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and milk. Beat until creamy.
  • Pipe or spread the frosting over the doughnuts. Sprinkle with chopped pecans if desired. In place of the pecans, you could use sprinkles, or use both!

Nutritional Disclaimer

“Blogghetti” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

carrot cake donuts with icing and pecans

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