Sweet, Fluffy, and Fun: The Best Donut Recipes to Celebrate National Donut Day

Who needs a bakery when you can whip up incredible donuts right at home? Whether you’re into classic glazes, fruity fillings, or wild toppings, I’ve got something for every craving. From tangy sourdough donuts to fluffy red velvet and even air fryer biscuit donuts that come together in minutes, this roundup is pure donut joy. So grab your coffee, preheat that oven (or plug in the air fryer), and let’s dive into a lineup that’ll make National Donut Day your new favorite holiday.

Sourdough Donuts Recipe

Sourdough Donuts Recipe. Photo credit: Mama’s on a Budget .

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Soft, chewy, and full of that subtle sourdough tang, these donuts are a dream come true. They fry up golden with a pillowy center and just the right hint of flavor that sets them apart from your typical sweet treat.
Get the Recipe: Sourdough Donuts Recipe

Grinch Donuts

Grinch Donuts. Photo credit: Mama’s on a Budget .

These festive green donuts are pure holiday magic! Coated with sparkly sugar and topped with a big red candy heart, they’re as fun to make as they are to eat. Perfect for Christmas mornings or holiday parties.
Get the Recipe: Grinch Donuts

Red Velvet Donuts

Red Velvet Donuts. Photo credit: Mama’s on a Budget .

Baked instead of fried, these Red Velvet Donuts bring all the cocoa-rich flavor you love in a light, tender bite. Top with a sweet glaze or cream cheese icing for a gorgeous and guilt-free treat.
Get the Recipe: Red Velvet Donuts

Baked Gluten Free Cinnamon Spice Glazed Donuts

Baked Gluten Free Cinnamon Spice Glazed Donuts. Photo credit: Xoxo Bella.

Warm cinnamon spice meets tender, gluten-free perfection. These baked donuts are moist, flavorful, and finished with a sweet glaze that’s pure comfort in every bite.
Get the Recipe: Baked Gluten Free Cinnamon Spice Glazed Donuts

Air Fryer Lucky Charms Marshmallow Donuts

Air Fryer Lucky Charms Marshmallow Donuts. Photo credit: Xoxo Bella.

Sweet nostalgia in donut form! These air fryer donuts use canned biscuits for a quick hack, topped with Lucky Charms marshmallows for a fun, colorful crunch.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Lucky Charms Marshmallow Donuts

Easy Heart Shaped Mini Sugar Doughnut Holes – Cinnamon Roll Hack

Easy Heart Shaped Mini Sugar Doughnut Holes – Cinnamon Roll Hack. Photo credit: Xoxo Bella.

Made from cinnamon rolls and shaped into adorable hearts, these mini sugar donut holes are quick, cute, and totally irresistible. Perfect for Valentine’s Day or anytime you’re feeling sweet.
Get the Recipe: Easy Heart Shaped Mini Sugar Doughnut Holes – Cinnamon Roll Hack

Air Fryer Biscuit Donuts (Deliciously Easy!)

Air Fryer Biscuit Donut held by a slotted spatula.
Air Fryer Biscuit Donuts (Deliciously Easy!) . Photo credit: Trop Rockin.

A can of biscuits, a few minutes in the air fryer, and voilà—fresh, flaky donuts! Dip them in frosting, shower with sprinkles, and you’ve got a warm, easy breakfast that beats store-bought every time.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Biscuit Donuts (Deliciously Easy!)

Air Fryer Cinnamon Donuts (Quick & Easy!)

Three round donuts covered in cinnamon sugar are arranged on a white decorative plate.
Air Fryer Cinnamon Donuts (Quick & Easy!). Photo credit: Trop Rockin.

These air-fried beauties are buttery, crisp on the outside, and soft on the inside. Rolled in cinnamon sugar, they’re the ultimate 15-minute comfort fix for your morning coffee.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Cinnamon Donuts (Quick & Easy!)

Donut Strawberry Shortcake

Donut Strawberry Shortcake dessert on a white plate.
Donut Strawberry Shortcake . Photo credit: Trop Rockin.

Turn simple glazed donuts into a decadent dessert layered with whipped cream and juicy strawberries. It’s quick, fun, and guaranteed to steal the show at brunch.
Get the Recipe: Donut Strawberry Shortcake

Apple Cider Donuts

A close-up of several cinnamon sugar-coated Apple Cider Donuts stacked on a white surface, with a cinnamon stick and blurred background elements.
Apple Cider Donuts. Photo credit: Trop Rockin.

Spiced with cinnamon and made with real apple cider, these cozy donuts bake up soft, tender, and full of fall flavor. They’re great for breakfast, dessert, or gifting.
Get the Recipe: Apple Cider Donuts

Chocolate Chip Pancake Donuts

Hand holding a chocolate chip baked donut over a small bowl of sauce.
Chocolate Chip Pancake Donuts. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

When pancakes meet donuts, breakfast gets fun. These chocolate chip pancake donuts are sweet, fluffy, and totally kid-approved.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Chip Pancake Donuts

Strawberry Donuts

A stack of colorful, glazed doughnuts with sprinkles, displayed on a white surface surrounded by scattered candies.
Strawberry Donuts. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Made with cake mix for a shortcut, these strawberry donuts are light, fruity, and super easy. They’re bright, pink, and perfect for spring mornings or sweet snacks.Get the Recipe: Strawberry Donuts

Air Fryer Jelly Donuts

A plate of donuts on a table next to a cup of coffee.
Air Fryer Jelly Donuts. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Get the jelly donut flavor you love without the mess of frying. These air fryer donuts come out golden and soft, filled with sweet jam for a lighter take on a classic.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Jelly Donuts

Donut Holes

Three glazed donuts on a white plate.
Donut Holes. Photo credit: The Keto Option.

Made with low-carb dough and finished with a sugar-free glaze, these donut holes hit that sweet spot without the guilt. A fun little bite for keto-friendly dessert lovers.
Get the Recipe: Donut Holes

Chocolate Glazed Donut Bites

Chocolate glazed donut bites with rainbow sprinkles.
Chocolate Glazed Donut Bites. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Tiny, rich, and chocolatey, these baked donut bites come together fast—no special pan needed. Perfect for portion control… if you can stop at one.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Glazed Donut Bites

Chocolate Pumpkin Donut Holes

Chocolate pumpkin donut holes on crumbled brown paper drizzled with amaretto glaze.
Chocolate Pumpkin Donut Holes. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Fried to perfection and drizzled with amaretto glaze, these chocolate pumpkin donut holes bring a fall twist to your dessert table.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Pumpkin Donut Holes

Chocolate Glazed Blood Orange Donuts

Chocolate Glazed Blood Orange Donuts. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Bright, citrusy, and chocolate-dipped, these baked donuts have a cream cheese filling that makes every bite luscious and unexpected.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Glazed Blood Orange Donuts

Strawberry Donuts

Image shows a freshly dipped strawberry donut held over the glaze.
Strawberry Donuts. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

Real strawberry flavor, naturally pink color, and a tender crumb—these donuts are fruity, beautiful, and taste like sunshine.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Donuts

Mocha Donuts

Image shows Mocha donuts on a wooden board with one missing a bite.
Mocha Donuts. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

For coffee lovers, these mocha donuts blend deep cocoa and espresso flavors for that perfect morning pick-me-up.
Get the Recipe: Mocha Donuts

Cinnamon Sugar Donuts

Image shows Baked cinnamon sugar donuts on a wooden table.
Cinnamon Sugar Donuts. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

Classic, simple, and comforting—these baked donuts are soft, warm, and rolled in sweet cinnamon sugar. Perfect with coffee or a cold glass of milk.
Get the Recipe: Cinnamon Sugar Donuts

Lemon Glazed Donuts

Image shows Baked lemon mini donuts held over more on a wire rack.
Lemon Glazed Donuts. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

Fresh and zesty, these lemon glazed donuts wake up your taste buds. Soft, bright, and finished with a sweet citrus drizzle.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Glazed Donuts

Chocolate Frosted Donuts

Image shows a Chocolate frosted mini donut held in a hand.
Chocolate Frosted Donuts. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

Fluffy, chocolatey, and topped with sprinkles, these homemade chocolate frosted donuts are bakery-worthy and fun to decorate.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Frosted Donuts

Cereal Topped Donuts

Image shows a Cereal topped donut held over more.
Cereal Topped Donuts. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

Crunchy cereal meets cinnamon-scented donuts for a playful texture combo that’s as good for breakfast as it is for dessert.
Get the Recipe: Cereal Topped Donuts

Pumpkin Donuts

Image shows a blue Bowl of pumpkin donuts on a wooden board.
Pumpkin Donuts. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

Soft, spiced, and full of cozy fall flavor, these pumpkin donuts make any morning feel special.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Donuts

Baked Apple Cider Donuts

Overhead of a stack of baked apple cider donuts.
Baked Apple Cider Donuts. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

These baked donuts are packed with apple cider goodness and a sweet cinnamon sugar coating. Perfect for cozy weekends or holiday mornings.
Get the Recipe: Baked Apple Cider Donuts

Strawberry Cereal Donuts

Image show a Hand holding a strawberry cereal donut with a bite taken out with more donuts on a white tray in the background.
Strawberry Cereal Donuts. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

Sweet strawberries meet crunchy cereal in this fun mash-up that’s both pretty and delicious.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Cereal Donuts

Glazed Chocolate Donuts

Image shows a stack of glazed chocolate donuts sits on a white plate atop a wooden surface, with a tiled wall in the background.
Glazed Chocolate Donuts. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

Rich chocolate donuts with a silky glaze that sets just right—these are for serious chocolate lovers only.
Get the Recipe: Glazed Chocolate Donuts

Peanut Butter Chocolate Donuts

Stack of donuts on a wooden surface.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Donuts. Photo credit: Ginger Casa.

Peanut butter and chocolate come together for the ultimate flavor duo in these soft, sweet donuts.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Chocolate Donuts

Donut Bread Pudding

Donut bread pudding on a plate and in a baking dish.
Donut Bread Pudding. Photo credit: Downsizing Dinner.

Use leftover donuts to make the most indulgent bread pudding ever—gooey, custardy, and oh-so-satisfying.
Get the Recipe: Donut Bread Pudding

Apple Cider Donut Cake

Overhead shot of this apple bundt cake on a cake stand with apples in the background.
Apple Cider Donut Cake. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

This cake has all the best parts of apple cider donuts, from the cinnamon sugar coating to that warm apple spice aroma.
Get the Recipe: Apple Cider Donut Cake

Mochi Donuts with Brown Butter & Sea Salt

A close-up of a mochi donuts with brown butter glaze.
Mochi Donuts with Brown Butter & Sea Salt. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

Chewy, golden, and a little nutty, these mochi donuts are next-level. The brown butter adds richness, and a sprinkle of sea salt ties it all together beautifully.
Get the Recipe: Mochi Donuts with Brown Butter & Sea Salt

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