Baked Carrot Cake Donuts

Easy Baked Carrot Cake Donuts made from cake mix and topped with cream cheese frosting are perfect for Easter Brunch or a special treat!

Baked carrot cake donuts are basically 2 ingredient donuts that are made with cake mix and applesauce. If you’re looking for a super easy donut recipe for Easter breakfast or brunch, this is it!

My oldest daughter has been experimenting with different baked donut recipes, and she made these incredibly easy carrot cake donuts the other day. These cake mix donuts are made without oil or eggs, so they’re lighter than most baked donut recipes but just as delicious!

The kids are donut connoisseurs, and they practically inhaled these carrot cake donuts. We topped them off with homemade cream cheese frosting, and they really do taste like carrot cake!

How to make carrot cake donuts from cake mix

For the basic two ingredient donuts, you need a box of carrot cake mix and applesauce.  Just mix the cake mix and applesauce together until it’s well blended.

We used unsweetened applesauce, but you can use whatever you have. We also added a touch of cinnamon for extra flavor.

Can you make donuts without a donut pan?

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You can use a mini bundt pan or improvise by adding a foil insert to a muffin tin. We tried this, but honestly a donut pan is so much easier.

We use Wilton donut pans and love them! Next, pipe or spoon the batter into two donut pans. If you don’t have a pastry bag, use a gallon freezer bag, and cut a small piece off of one corner.

Pop the donuts into the oven, and bake for 10 to 12 minutes. The donuts should be a light golden brown, and the tops should spring back lightly when touched.

After the donuts cool down a little, transfer them to a cooling rack or plate. We used a basic homemade cream cheese frosting to top these beauties off. You can also use a glaze or your favorite frosting here.

Don’t forget the sprinkles! Donuts have to have sprinkles, right?!

More Easy 2 Ingredient Recipes

• 2 Ingredient Bagels 
• Two Ingredient Banana Muffins
• Lemon Lime Soda Cake
• Orange Crush Soda Cake

Easy Baked Carrot Cake Donut Recipe

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5 from 5 votes

Baked Carrot Cake Donuts

By: Dee

Easy Baked Carrot Cake Donuts made from cake mix and topped with cream cheese frosting are perfect for Easter Brunch or a special treat!

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cooling Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 12

Ingredients  

1x2x3x

For the donuts

• ▢ 1 box carrot cake mix
• ▢ 1 ⅔ cups applesauce
• ▢ dash of cinnamon optional

For cream cheese frosting

• ▢ 8 ounces cream cheese softened
• ▢ ½ cup butter softened
• ▢ ½ teaspoon vanilla
• ▢ 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
• ▢ 3 tablespoons whipping cream or 2 tablespoons milk

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Instructions 

For the donuts

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees
• Spray donut pans with non stick baking spray
• Mix cake mix and applesauce in a large mixing bowl until well combined. Add a dash of cinnamon, if desired
• Spoon batter into a piping bag or a gallon freezer storage bag, and cut the tip off of one corner
• Pipe batter into each cavity about two-thirds full
• Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until donuts bounce back lightly when pressed 
• Remove from oven and allow to cool for about 5 minutes before removing to a baking rack to cool completely

For the frosting

• Cream butter and cream cheese together until smooth
• Add in the vanilla and stir until fully combined
• Gradually mix in the powdered sugar
• Stir in the whipping cream
• Spread frosting over the donuts and top with sprinkles 

Notes

Add milk instead of whipping cream for a thinner frosting.

For thick frosting, omit  cream or milk.

Nutrition

Calories: 378kcal, Carbohydrates: 54g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 17g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Cholesterol: 46mg, Sodium: 429mg, Potassium: 77mg, Sugar: 36g, Vitamin A: 555IU, Vitamin C: 0.3mg, Calcium: 119mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

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I hope you enjoy this easy donut recipe as much as we do!