Strawberry Buttercream Frosted Donuts (Printable Version)

Fluffy baked donuts topped with silky strawberry buttercream — a berry lover's dream treat.

# What You Need:

→ Donuts

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2/3 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 tsp baking powder
04 - 1/2 tsp salt
05 - 2/3 cup whole milk
06 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
07 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
08 - 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

→ Strawberry Buttercream Frosting

09 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
10 - 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
11 - 1/4 cup strawberry puree (blended fresh or thawed frozen strawberries)
12 - 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
13 - Pinch of salt

→ Garnish (optional)

14 - Fresh strawberries, thinly sliced
15 - Sprinkles

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease two 6-cavity donut pans and set aside.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt until evenly distributed.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together the whole milk, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract until smooth.
04 - Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and fold gently with a spatula until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the donuts light and tender.
05 - Spoon the batter into the prepared donut pans, filling each cavity approximately 3/4 full.
06 - Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into a donut comes out clean and the tops spring back when lightly touched.
07 - Allow the donuts to cool in the pans for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely before frosting.
08 - Using an electric mixer, beat the softened butter on medium speed until creamy and pale. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar, beating until light and fluffy.
09 - Add the strawberry puree, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt to the buttercream. Beat for 2 to 3 minutes until the frosting is smooth, light, and evenly colored.
10 - Once the donuts are completely cool, spread or pipe the strawberry buttercream generously on top. Garnish with thinly sliced fresh strawberries or sprinkles as desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The buttercream tastes like actual strawberries, not that artificial candy flavor that coats your tongue.
  • Baking instead of frying means you can eat two without feeling like you need a nap.
  • They look bakery professional but come together with zero fancy technique.
02 -
  • Do not rush the cooling step because even slightly warm donuts will melt the buttercream into a puddle.
  • If your strawberry puree is very wet, strain it slightly or the frosting will become too loose to hold its shape.
03 -
  • Use a zip top bag with the corner cut off to fill the donut cavities neatly and avoid the mess entirely.
  • Let your butter for the frosting soften naturally on the counter for at least an hour because microwaving creates hot spots that ruin the texture.

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