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    Home » Recipes » Donuts

    Easy Baked Red Velvet Donuts with Cream Cheese Frosting

    Published: Jul 3, 2017 · Last modified: Oct 8, 2022 by Leslie Kiszka / This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
    5 from 1 vote
    Red Velvet Donuts with Cream Cheese Frosting

    Fluffy red velvet donuts are made easy with boxed cake mix and topped with tangy cream cheese frosting! Perfect for Valentine’s Day and Fourth of July. Try my red velvet cake mix cookies next.

    Easy Red Velvet Donuts with Cream Cheese Frosting: Fluffy red velvet donuts are made easy with boxed cake mix and topped with tangy cream cheese frosting! | stressbaking.com

    Remember how I said that I hoped I’d have time to at least make one recipe with my beloved freedom sprinkles in honor of the Fourth of July?

    Well, BOOM GOES THE DYNAMITE. Or maybe boom goes the fireworks? Ya know, because Independence Day.

    Easy Red Velvet Donuts with Cream Cheese Frosting: Fluffy red velvet donuts are made easy with boxed cake mix and topped with tangy cream cheese frosting! | stressbaking.com

    How to make donuts with cake mix

    I wanted to do something quick and easy, and I feel like this is about as easy as it can get. All you need is a boxed cake mix (in this case, red velvet), buttermilk, egg and a little bit of oil.

    No need to measure out flour, sugar, cocoa powder, salt, etc.

    No fussing with red food coloring.

    What you get is fluffy red velvet donuts that are primed and ready for a slightly sweet, tangy cream cheese frosting. And, of course, buttloads of sprinkles.

    Donuts with or without a hole

    Here’s the thing about me and donuts. When it comes to anything that’s going to be topped with a frosting, icing or glaze, I prefer there not be a hole in the center.

    But I do NOT want it to be filled with anything, because the whole reason I don’t like the hole is that things fall out and it gets messy, and if it’s filled with stuff I’m guaranteed to be wearing it.

    Iiiiiiiiiiii know. Complete and total blasphemy. 

    So because of my personal preference, I overfill my donut pan (aff link) with batter so that it puffs up more and kinda closes off the hole in the center.

    If you’re still glaring at me through your screen, hear me out: that means you have more real estate for frosting and sprinkles.

    Easy Red Velvet Donuts with Cream Cheese Frosting: Fluffy red velvet donuts are made easy with boxed cake mix and topped with tangy cream cheese frosting! | stressbaking.com

    Are red velvet donuts healthy?

    Are these healthy? Oh god, no.

    Do I suggest feeding these to your children, family and friends on a regular basis? Deargodpleasedon’tdothat. 

    But do I think you should indulge yourself in a sweet treat because it’s a free country and you’re celebrating your independence? Oh hell, yeah.

    How many calories are in a red velvet donuts?

    I’m warning you… you asked for this information :)

    There are about 320 calories in each of these donuts.

    Easy Red Velvet Donuts with Cream Cheese Frosting: Fluffy red velvet donuts are made easy with boxed cake mix and topped with tangy cream cheese frosting! | stressbaking.com

    I’ve had an idea for a s’mores donut made the same way as these except with chocolate cake mix and a marshmallow frosting (and crumbled graham crackers instead of sprinkles) that will likely happen soon because I have no self control.

    My good friend Tegan will be the first person to save that recipe and make them while cursing me for fueling her s’mores habit, guaranteed.

    waves Hi, Tegan!

    Oh, quick side note: If anyone ever tells you you’re using too many sprinkles, cut that person loose because you don’t need that kind of negativity in your life.

    Planning a Fourth of July Party? Try these recipes, too:

    • Strawberry S’mores Icebox Cake
    • Blueberry Oatmeal Bars
    • Strawberry Rhubars
    • Copycat Ruby Tuesday Pasta Salad
    • Easy Connecticut Style Lobster Rolls
    • Shrimp Pasta Salad
    • Raspberry Rosé Sangria

    After you’ve made this recipe, please consider coming back to share your experience with others by leaving a comment below with a star rating!

    Red Velvet Donuts with Cream Cheese Frosting

    Easy Baked Red Velvet Donuts with Cream Cheese Frosting

    5 from 1 vote
    Fluffy red velvet donuts are made easy with boxed cake mix and topped with tangy cream cheese frosting. Top them with red, white and blue sprinkles for a 4th of July treat!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes
    Total Time 15 minutes
    Servings 6 donuts
        ✓ Read the recipe from beginning to end
          ✓ Check oven calibration
            ✓ Check expiration dates
              ✓ Properly measure ingredients
                ✓ Check butter temperature

    Recommended Equipment

    • Donut pan
    • Mixing bowls
    • Whisk
    • Pastry bag (reusable)
    • Pastry bags (disposable)
    • Hand mixer

    Ingredients
     
     

    Red Velvet Donuts

    • 1 ½ cups red velvet cake mix, dry and unprepared
    • 1 large egg, room temperature and lightly beaten
    • ⅓ cup buttermilk, (make your own!)
    • ½ tablespoon vegetable oil

    Cream Cheese Frosting

    • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
    • ½ – ¾ cup powdered sugar, sifted
    • 2 tablespoons vanilla almond milk, or milk of choice
    • Sprinkles

    Instructions
     

    Red Velvet Donuts

    • Preheat oven to 350° F. Spray donut pan with nonstick spray and set aside.
    • In a large bowl, whisk together cake mix, egg, buttermilk and oil until thoroughly combined.
      1 ½ cups red velvet cake mix | 1 large egg | ⅓ cup buttermilk | ½ tablespoon vegetable oil
    • Fill a pastry bag (or a plastic bag with a hole cut in the corner) with batter and pipe into prepared pan. If you want a hole in the center, fill each donut cavity ⅔ full – you’ll likely end up with 7 donuts. If you’re like me and want more surface area for toppings, just distribute the batter evenly until it’s all been used.
    • Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from pan and let cool in pan for a few minutes, then remove to cool completely on wire racks.

    Cream Cheese Frosting

    • In a medium bowl using a hand mixer, combine cream cheese, powdered sugar and milk and beat until completely combined.
      4 ounces cream cheese | ½ – ¾ cup powdered sugar | 2 tablespoons vanilla almond milk
    • Frost each donut and top with red, white and blue sprinkles. Serve and enjoy!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 320kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 50mg | Sodium: 340mg | Potassium: 154mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 37g | Vitamin A: 316IU | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 2mg
    Course Breakfast
    Cuisine American
    Author Leslie Kiszka
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating!

    Related Posts

    • Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
    • Red Velvet Oreo No-Bake Cheesecake
    • Easy Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies
    • Oreo Stuffed Brownies with Red Velvet Frosting
    • Fourth of July Recipe Roundup

    More Donut Recipes

    • Baked Apple Cider Donuts
    • Baked Eggnog Donuts
    • Baked Carrot Cake Donuts
    • Easy Maple Bacon Donuts (No Yeast!)
    Leslie Kiszka in a red dress

    About Leslie

    I'm the hot mess behind every recipe you see here! I use baking as an outlet for relieving stress and anxiety to provide you with approachable homemade recipes and a little humor, for good measure.

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