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Cranberry Donuts

Celebrate cranberry season with these dense, cakey white chocolate cranberry donuts. It’s a baked glazed donut recipe that brings together a smattering of tart cranberries and a delicious white chocolate glaze.

Cranberry White Chocolate Donuts

Please note: this post was originally published in November 2017. I’ve updated the text slightly but the recipe remains the same

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snoooooow!! Do these donuts scream Christmas, or what? I know it’s still only the beginning of November, but I am (THIS) close to turning on the Christmas carols and going on a mad decorating spree. I think it’s the winter wonderland outside – as much as I am a true summer worshiper, there is something very charming and magical about the white outside. The thick layering on the trees, the crunch of the snow under my shoes….some days it feels like your favourite children’s Christmas book come to life.

And cranberries? Cranberries are totally Christmas-y. I love, love being able to buy them fresh this time of year, and you would not believe all of the recipe ideas I have swirling around in my head that involves these beautiful little balls. I’m trying to refrain from going ALL in on the cranberry, but I have a few gems that I really must share.

First up, these cakey, sweet, dense cranberry donuts with a little pop of tartness. I love these donuts so much!!

cranberry white chocolate donuts

What makes these cranberry donuts cakey?

Normally my baked donuts are lighter in texture, but I really wanted a cakey, dense donut for this flavour combo. I’ve accomplished that by using melted butter instead of oil, milk and all white flour.  The texture of the donut feels like your favourite piece of white cake.

Do you have to use fresh cranberries in the donuts?

You could definitely use frozen cranberries for this recipe, but I love, love fresh!! You’ll want to chop them up into smaller pieces before adding them to the batter. If you are using frozen cranberries and you are finding them difficult to chop up, you can throw them into a food processor and pulse a few times. Just be sure not to overdo it!

The donuts only take 10 minutes to bake, so you can easily make a batch for a weekend (or weekday) morning treat!

Oh, this is the donut pan I always use.

What’s in the white chocolate glaze recipe?

The white chocolate glaze recipe is also dead easy – it’s literally just white chocolate and a teeny bit of coconut oil to smooth things out. I use my microwave to melt the chocolate, but you have to be careful doing this, because it’s easy to overheat the chocolate and cause it to seize up, making it very un-dippable!

I’m drooling a little even thinking about these donuts – they might be my favourite donut recipe yet! That sweet white chocolate goes OH so well with the tart cranberry and cakey texture. The recipe makes 8-10 donuts – just the right amount for your family or a few lucky co-workers. Or, save them all for yourself. I won’t judge 😉

cranberry white chocolate donuts

cranberry white chocolate donuts

Donuts! Who doesn’t love them? I’ve got a whole category dedicated to easy baked donuts, which includes:

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cranberry donuts

Cranberry Donuts


  • Author: Katherine
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 8-10 donuts 1x

Description

Celebrate cranberry season with these dense, cakey donuts filled with a smattering of tart cranberries and covered in a sweet, white chocolate glaze.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 tbsp melted butter, cooled
  • 1/2 cup cranberries, chopped*

White Chocolate Glaze

  • 4 oz white chocolate, chopped
  • 1 tsp coconut oil

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 F and lightly grease a donut pan with non-stick spray or butter
  2. In a medium mixing bowl, toss together the flour, baking powder and salt.
  3. In a separate bowl, beat the egg lightly with the sugar until combined. Whisk in the milk and vanilla extract, then slowly whisk in the melted butter.
  4. Combine the wet ingredients with the dry, and stir just until incorporated. Gently fold in the cranberries. Empty the batter into a piping bag or large Ziploc bag with the tip cut off, and fill each cavity in the donut pan about 3/4 full. You might have enough batter for 1-2 more donuts than what your pan holds, so after removing the first batch to a cooling rack, you can bake the next batch.
  5. Bake the donuts for 9-10 minutes, or until the donuts spring back lightly when poked. Cool the donuts in the pan for 2-3 minutes before removing from the pan to a wire rack to cool completely before glazing.
  6. While the donuts are cooling, melt the white chocolate and coconut oil together using a double boiler or in the microwave, heating in 30 second increments and stirring continuously until melted.
  7. Dip the donuts, one at a time into the glaze – I like to use a shallow bowl for this – and set back on the rack to harden. Enjoy immediately!

Leftover donuts can be kept at room temperature for 2-3 days, in a sealed container.

Notes

  1. If using frozen cranberries, add them (still frozen) just before baking
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: breakfast
  • Method: baked

Keywords: cranberry donuts // baked glazed donut recipe // holiday donuts // baked donut recipe

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cranberry white chocolate donuts

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56 Comments

  1. Katherine! I would love these for lunch, brunch or snacking! The tart cranberries with the sweet white chocolate glaze and I adore baked cake donuts! My all time favorite! These are sooo pretty and festive! LOVE!!!

  2. lindenandlavender

    These are so cute and a good take on the holiday season. I love that they are so quick whip together. Have a great weekend!

  3. Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen

    These totally scream Christmas! I totally get wanting to bake everything with cranberries right now. I’ve had to edit myself significantly too :). Cranberries really need to be a year-round thing! Have a great weekend, Katherine!

  4. Ben|Havocinthekitchen

    First of all, it’s not the beginning of November, Katherine. 1/3 of it has gone! So, although I’m personally not ready for Christmas, I support these delicious donuts. Besides, as food bloggers, it’s our direct responsibility to go slightly ahead with seasonal ideas, right? Anyway, I do love cranberries too. I prefer wild berries which are smaller and more succulent that farm-cultivated, but it’s quite hard to find them. I think I need these donuts to happen in my life (I would add a little of cinnamon too). Have a nice weekend!

    • You’re right Ben – how is that even possible? I looked at the date today and I couldn’t believe it was already the 15th. Now it’s half gone!! You’re also right about jumping ahead on the seasons. It’s a necessity in our world! Cinnamon would be a great touch for these donuts – I hope you try them out! Cheers!

  5. I have never baked with cranberries! But now you have me all motivated to try! These donuts look amazing. Perfect for Christmas 🙂 xoxo

  6. You make me feel like dancing ! Tank you dear !

  7. these look like such a perfect holiday treat! i’m trying not to get in the christmas mood just yet, because the anticipation would make the next month and a half very unproductive and antsy lol

  8. marcie@flavorthemoments

    I don’t normally get in the Christmas spirit until after Thanksgiving but these donuts are about to change that! I LOVE fresh cranberries and can’t think of too many other things I love more. These look just heavenly!

  9. just PERFECT!!!! Love the color, the flavour, everything! Thanks so much for sharing!

  10. Tart cranberries, sweet white chocolate glaze, cakey donuts sounds like the best thing ever!!!! Totally love it dear.

  11. These donuts totally scream Christmas Katherine! Love the flavors! Perfect for holiday brunches!

  12. YES! These totally scream Christmas and they are tempting me waaaaay too much cos they are so easy and quick to make. Plus, they look gorgeous!! I can’t believe how close we are to the big day! I feel like I have so much to do, but I’m sure it’ll all get done 🙂 Have a great week, Katherine 🙂

    • It is a bit of a problem, Dawn!! I wish I thought they were much harder to make 😉 Can you believe that it’s already the middle of November!? I just hope I’m not leaving my Christmas shopping until the last minute like I usually do 😉 Thanks Dawn!!

  13. These are so pretty and festive, Katherine! Not to mention that they sound SOOO good!

  14. These donuts are so cute and Christmas-y, Katherine! I’m salivating just thinking about biting into the tartness of the cranberries and the sweetness of the white chocolate!

  15. These donuts are like Christmas on a platter, I can already taste that tart pop of flavor from the cranberries and that white chocolate glaze… sign me up!! Take are.

  16. Yep – our Christmas music has been playing since November 1st, like it does every year! These donuts will be the sweetest addition to the breakfast table on Christmas morning!

  17. Katherine, these donuts absolutely scream Christmas! Cranberries and white chocolate are the ultimate Christmas combo. I’ve been baking up a storm with cranberries too. There are just so many possibilities and so little time! As for the Christmas music and decorating, go for it! I’ve already started 😉 !

  18. I love donuts! And such pretty festive donuts are always a big Yes!! The white chocolate glaze and the cranberries, everything about these delicious donuts is so lovely!!

  19. The Home Cook's Kitchen

    These look amazing!!!!! so festive! bring on Christmas!!!! yas

  20. Ashika | Gardening Foodie

    Oh these look so beautiful and festive Katherine. I also love baking with cranberries they are so pretty and taste so great so bring on all the cranberry recipes you have, I cannot wait 😋

  21. Hey Katherine…! amazing your donuts and i really like your donuts & photography. this best for Christmas. Thanks for sharing…!

  22. Oh my goodness. These are PERFECT.

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  25. Cranberry White Chocolate DONUTS Breakfast Buns are decadent and festive, and perfect to make ahead for a holiday breakfast or brunch! Thanks for sharing 🙂

  26. You bet these are Christmas-y! They look totally festive:) I should bake a batch before Christmas though, to be sure I’ve mastered the recipe. Picture perfect for Christmas breakfast.

  27. These are absolutely delicious! Best baked donut recipe I have tried so far. Thank you!

  28. Oh these look so beautiful and festive Katherine. I also love baking with cranberries they are so pretty and taste so great so bring on all the cranberry recipes you have, I cannot wait 😋

  29. Katherine these cranberry white chocolate donuts look so good and are so festive too for the upcoming holidays! Love this idea.

  30. The white chocolate glaze and fresh cranberry on top is so crazy amazing. These would make such a fabulous Christmas party dessert!

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