Best-Ever Baked Donuts Recipe

Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C). Grease two donut pans thoroughly to prevent sticking and ensure easy removal of the donuts after baking.

In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, kosher salt, baking soda, and optional nutmeg until evenly combined. This ensures your donuts will have a consistent texture and rise properly.

In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, packed brown sugar, granulated sugar, 1/2 cup of milk, sour cream, melted butter, vegetable oil, and pure vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and well blended.

Pour the wet ingredient mixture into the dry ingredients. Gently fold until just combined—lumps are acceptable as over-mixing can make the donuts tough. This step ensures a tender crumb.

Transfer the batter into a piping bag or a resealable plastic bag with a corner cut off. Pipe the batter into the prepared donut pans, filling each mold about three-quarters full to allow room for the donuts to rise.

Place the pans in the oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the tops appear dry and the undersides are golden brown, signaling doneness. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes before carefully turning the donuts out of the pans.

While the donuts cool, combine the semisweet chocolate chips and the remaining 1/4 cup of milk in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at half power in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until the chocolate is fully melted and smooth.

Dip each cooled donut into the chocolate glaze or spread it evenly over the top. Add colorful sprinkles immediately for a festive touch. Allow the chocolate to set for about 10 minutes before serving to ensure the glaze firms up nicely.