Valentine’s Day is a celebration filled with love, affection, and, of course, delicious treats. While chocolates typically steal the spotlight, sometimes we crave something a little different.
In this recipe, developed by Jessica Morone of Jess Loves Baking, the spiced donut dough comes together quickly, so you don’t have to deal with the hassle of rolling and cutting out dough.
No waiting for the dough to rise, no frying—just pure simplicity and deliciousness. The combination of strawberry yogurt and the perfectly spiced dough makes for a light, fluffy treat.
Gather the Ingredients
To make these festive donuts, you’ll need the following ingredients:
For the donut dough:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract (divided)
- 2 eggs
- ⅓ cup white sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- ⅔ cup milk
- ½ cup strawberry yogurt
For the pink glaze:
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 2–3 drops red food coloring (or more for a darker shade)
For decoration:
- ¼ cup sprinkles (use pink or red for that extra Valentine’s touch)
The strawberry yogurt is key in this recipe. It adds a subtle, fruity flavor that pairs beautifully with the spice in the donut dough. Plus, it contributes to the light, fluffy texture of the donuts. If you want a thicker glaze, feel free to adjust the amount of cream or add more confectioners’ sugar to get the desired consistency.Directions
Step 1. Preparing the Donut Dough
Before diving into the dough, preheat your oven to 375°F and lightly grease your donut pans. For a special touch, heart-shaped molds make these donuts even more festive, but regular round donut pans will work just fine. If you don’t have a donut pan, don’t worry—you can easily make do with a muffin tin and some foil to create makeshift donut molds. However, if you’re planning on baking donuts frequently, investing in a donut pan is well worth it, as they usually cost about $10 online.
Next, in a large mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon. These simple ingredients are the base of your dough and will give the donuts a warm, comforting flavor.
Step 2. Mixing the Wet Ingredients
Now it’s time to add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. In the same bowl, add the vanilla extract, eggs, white sugar, brown sugar, melted butter, milk, and strawberry yogurt. Beat everything together until the mixture is smooth and well-combined. The strawberry yogurt is especially important here; it helps to give the donuts their characteristic lightness and a soft, pillowy texture.
Once everything is mixed, the dough should have a slightly thick consistency—just thick enough to hold its shape but smooth enough to pipe into the donut molds.
Step 3. Filling the Donut Pan
Now comes the fun part: filling the donut pans! We recommend transferring the batter into a piping bag (or a plastic zip-top bag with the corner cut off) for easy, mess-free filling. Pipe the batter into the donut pans, filling each mold about two-thirds full. This will leave room for the donuts to rise as they bake, giving them that perfect, fluffy texture.
Step 4. Baking the Donuts
Once the batter is in the pans, pop them in the preheated oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes. You’ll know they’re done when they spring back to the touch. To be extra sure, use a toothpick to check if they’re baked through; it should come out clean when inserted into the center of a donut.
Let the donuts cool completely in the pan. Be patient—this will allow the glaze to set properly later on.
Step 5. Making the Pink Glaze
While the donuts are cooling, you can prepare the glaze. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the confectioners’ sugar, heavy cream, and the remaining vanilla extract. Keep whisking until the glaze is smooth and lump-free. Add a few drops of red food coloring to achieve a lovely pink shade. If you prefer a darker glaze, simply add more food coloring until you reach the desired hue.
Step 6. Decorating the Donuts
Once the donuts are completely cool, it’s time to glaze them. Dip each donut into the pink glaze, making sure the surface is evenly covered. If you want to take these donuts to the next level, decorate them with sprinkles while the glaze is still wet. Red or pink sprinkles are perfect for Valentine’s Day, but feel free to get creative with your choices.
After dipping and decorating, let the donuts sit at room temperature until the glaze has fully set. This usually takes about 10 to 15 minutes.
Step 7. Serving and Storing the Donuts
Once the glaze has hardened, these donuts are ready to enjoy. Whether you’re serving them to family, friends, or that special someone, we guarantee they’ll be a hit. The combination of soft, spiced donuts with sweet, creamy strawberry glaze is sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face.
If you’re making them in advance, don’t worry—they can be stored at room temperature for up to three days or in the fridge for up to five days. However, we can almost guarantee they won’t last that long!
Final Thoughts
These Valentine’s Day donuts are the perfect way to show someone you care without going overboard.
The strawberry flavor, the pink glaze, and the heart-shaped design are all beautiful elements that make these donuts a special treat for the holiday.
Whether you’re baking for a loved one or making a batch to enjoy with friends, these donuts will make any occasion feel just a little more special.
So, keep this recipe in your back pocket for the next holiday, or simply as a fun weekend treat. Either way, you’re bound to fall in love with how simple and delicious these donuts are. Happy baking!
Sweeten Your Valentine’s Day with Strawberry Donuts
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract (divided)
2 eggs
⅓ cup white sugar
¼ cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons melted butter
⅔ cup milk
½ cup strawberry yogurt
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
¼ cup heavy cream
2–3 drops red food coloring
¼ cup sprinkles (for decoration)
Directions
- Preheat oven to 375°F and grease donut pan.
- Mix flour, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon in a bowl.
- Add vanilla extract, eggs, sugars, melted butter, milk, and yogurt. Beat until smooth.
- Pipe batter into donut pans, filling each ⅔ full.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, until donuts spring back. Let cool.
- For glaze, whisk confectioners’ sugar, heavy cream, vanilla, and food coloring.
- Dip cooled donuts into glaze and top with sprinkles.
- Let glaze set before serving.
