Wild Blueberry Donut Recipe
If you’re craving something that feels like a warm hug with a burst of fruity sweetness, then this Wild Blueberry Donut Recipe is just the ticket. These aren’t your everyday donuts — they’re tender, cake-style donuts bursting with juicy wild blueberries and topped with a luscious blueberry glaze that’s just heavenly. Trust me, once you try these, you’ll want to keep a stash ready for breakfast or an anytime treat.
Why This Recipe Works
- Simple Ingredients, Big Flavor: You’re working with pantry staples and wild blueberries that shine bright in every bite.
- Moist Cake Donut Texture: Baked, not fried, these donuts are delightfully tender and not heavy or greasy.
- Easy Glaze with Real Blueberries: The fresh blueberry glaze adds a beautiful color and natural sweetness that elevate the donuts.
- Minimal Fuss: No deep fryer or complicated steps—just piping, baking, and glazing for a flawless treat.
Ingredients & Why They Work
The magic behind this Wild Blueberry Donut Recipe lies in its balanced simplicity. Each ingredient plays a crucial role to give those donuts their soft crumb, tender chew, and fresh berry pop. When you grab your toppings and fillings, aim for quality wild blueberries—they have a uniquely sweet-tart flavor that regular blueberries just don’t match.
- Salted Butter: Melting the butter lends richness and moisture, ensuring every donut feels soft without being greasy.
- Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the batter just enough without overpowering the blueberries’ natural tang.
- Whole Milk: Adds creaminess and helps create a tender crumb.
- Large Egg: Acts as a binder and helps trap air for a light texture.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances the sweetness and complements the blueberries beautifully.
- All-Purpose Flour: The perfect base for cake donuts—not too heavy, not too light.
- Baking Powder: Gives the donuts a gentle lift that keeps them fluffy.
- Table Salt: Balances flavors and accentuates sweetness.
- Wild Blueberries: The star of the show—fresh or frozen, they burst with flavor and provide lovely purple-blue swirls throughout.
- Powdered Sugar: Essential for a smooth, sweet glaze that holds onto the donuts wonderfully.
Tweak to Your Taste
This Wild Blueberry Donut Recipe is refreshingly adaptable. I’ve found that a few small tweaks personalize it perfectly—whether you want a little more zing or a different kind of sweetness. Don’t hesitate to experiment a bit to suit your flavor preferences or dietary needs!
- Variation: I sometimes swap in maple syrup for a touch of natural sweetness in the glaze, which gives the donuts a warm, cozy twist.
- Dairy-Free Option: Use almond or oat milk and coconut oil instead of butter for a vegan-friendly version—I’ve tried this and loved how the blueberries stayed front and center.
- Extra Spice: Adding a pinch of cinnamon or cardamom to the batter adds warmth that pairs surprisingly well with wild blueberries.
- More Blueberries: Feel free to toss in an extra ¼ cup of berries for even bolder bursts of fruity goodness.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Wild Blueberry Donut Recipe
Step 1: Prep Like a Pro
Start by preheating your oven to 350ºF (180ºC). While it warms up, lightly grease your 6-hole donut tin with butter — trust me, this step saves you from sticky, frustrating donuts later. Next, fit a piping bag with a large round tip. If you don’t have one, a zip-top bag with the corner snipped off works just fine. This trick helps you pipe the batter neatly and evenly into the tins.
Step 2: Mix the Batter
In a mixing bowl, whisk together melted butter, granulated sugar, whole milk, egg, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and glossy. Sifting your flour before adding it keeps lumps out and ensures a delicate texture. Gently fold in the sifted flour, baking powder, and salt until the flour is halfway incorporated — don’t overmix; a few streaks of flour are okay here.
Step 3: Fold in the Blueberries
Add your wild blueberries—fresh or frozen—and fold carefully until they’re spread evenly throughout the batter. If you’re using frozen, your batter might look a pretty shade of purple, which is totally fine and pretty much expected. This step requires a gentle touch to keep the berries intact and avoid staining your batter too much.
Step 4: Pipe & Bake
Spoon the batter into your prepared piping bag. Pipe full circles into each donut cavity, then divide any leftover batter evenly across the donuts. Use a damp fingertip to smooth over the tops gently—this keeps your donuts looking neat and lets them cook evenly. Pop the tin in the oven for 13 to 15 minutes until they’re golden and spring back when touched. Let them cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then gently turn them out onto a wire rack to cool completely before glazing.
Step 5: Whip Up the Blueberry Glaze
Heat 2 tablespoons of wild blueberries just until warm—about 15 to 20 seconds in the microwave does it. Mash them with a fork, then strain the juice through a fine sieve, leaving the solids behind. Mix your sifted powdered sugar with the vanilla and blueberry juice, adding more juice ½ teaspoon at a time until your glaze is thick but still pourable. Spoon this gorgeous glaze over each cooled donut and let set for 20 minutes before indulging.
Pro Tips for Making Wild Blueberry Donut Recipe
- Don’t Overmix: Folding the batter gently keeps your donuts light and tender instead of dense.
- Use Fresh or Frozen Blueberries: Both work great, just keep frozen berries mostly frozen until mixing to prevent a purple batter streak.
- Cool Completely Before Glazing: Glazing warm donuts causes the glaze to melt and soak in, losing that beautiful shine.
- Piping Bag Tips: If your batter seems thick, warm it slightly to make piping smoother and your donuts more uniform.
How to Serve Wild Blueberry Donut Recipe
Garnishes
I love finishing these donuts with a light dusting of powdered sugar or a few extra fresh wild blueberries on top of the glaze for that wow factor. Sometimes I toss a sprinkle of lemon zest on the glaze for a zingy contrast that wakes up the blueberries’ sweetness.
Side Dishes
Pair these with a cup of strong coffee or a frothy latte for a classic morning duo. If you’re serving brunch, a simple fresh fruit salad or yogurt parfait works beautifully alongside the sweet donuts without overwhelming your taste buds.
Creative Ways to Present
For special occasions, I like to arrange the donuts on a rustic wooden board or tiered stand with little bowls of extra glaze and fresh berries. Adding edible flowers or fresh mint leaves around the donuts brings a festive look perfect for brunch parties or birthdays.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you have any leftovers (which might be rare!), these donuts keep best in the fridge in an airtight container. The glaze can soften after a day, so try to keep them uncovered if you want to maintain the crunch of the icing for the first few hours.
Freezing
You can freeze the unglazed donuts wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and stored in a freezer-safe bag for up to a month. When you’re ready to enjoy, thaw at room temperature, then glaze fresh for best results.
Reheating
Warm your donuts gently in a microwave for about 10-15 seconds to bring back that fresh-baked softness. Add the glaze after reheating if you kept it separate to keep it fresh and shiny.
FAQs
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Can I use regular blueberries instead of wild blueberries?
Absolutely! Regular blueberries work just fine, though wild blueberries tend to be smaller and more intensely flavorful, giving your donuts a little extra zing. If using frozen, keep them mostly frozen until mixing to prevent too much color bleed in the batter.
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Can I fry these donuts instead of baking them?
This recipe is designed specifically for baked cake donuts, which gives a tender crumb and lighter texture. Frying requires a different dough recipe to handle the high heat and oil absorption. So to get the best results, I’d stick with baking these.
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What’s the best way to pipe the batter if I don’t have a piping bag?
If you don’t own a piping bag, no worries—use a sturdy zip-top plastic bag and snip off one corner to create a makeshift bag. It’s a handy kitchen hack I use all the time for batter and frosting!
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How do I know when the donuts are done baking?
Look for a lightly golden top that springs back when pressed gently. You can also insert a toothpick into a donut—if it comes out clean or with just a few crumbs, it’s ready.
Final Thoughts
Honestly, this Wild Blueberry Donut Recipe has become one of my favorite quick treats to whip up whenever I crave something sweet but not too heavy. It’s straightforward, fun to make, and most importantly, these donuts taste like a little celebration in every bite. I hope you enjoy making and sharing these as much as I do—grab your blueberries, your favorite coffee mug, and let’s bake some happy moments together!
Print
Wild Blueberry Donut Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Delight in these baked wild blueberry cake donuts, featuring a tender crumb infused with sweet blueberries and topped with a luscious blueberry glaze. Perfect for a scrumptious breakfast or a sweet snack, these donuts are easy to prepare and baked to perfection in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
For the baked blueberry donuts:
- 2 tablespoons salted butter (melted, plus extra for greasing the donut tin)
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup whole milk
- 1 large egg
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon table salt
- 3/4 cup wild blueberries (fresh or frozen)
For the blueberry glaze:
- 2 tablespoons wild blueberries (fresh or frozen)
- 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup powdered sugar (also called icing sugar or confectioner’s sugar)
Instructions
- Preheat and prep: Preheat the oven to 350ºF (180ºC). Lightly grease a 6-hole donut tin with butter, then fit a piping bag with a large round tip and set aside.
- Mix wet ingredients: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the melted butter, granulated sugar, milk, egg, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Add dry ingredients: Sift the all-purpose flour into the bowl through a fine mesh sieve. Add baking powder and salt, then fold gently with a rubber spatula until the flour is about halfway mixed.
- Incorporate blueberries: Add the wild blueberries and carefully fold until evenly distributed and no dry bits of flour remain. If using frozen berries, the batter will likely turn purple.
- Fill donut tin: Spoon the batter into the prepared piping bag. Pipe a full circle of batter into each donut hole, then divide any remaining batter evenly among them. Smooth the tops lightly with a wet fingertip.
- Bake and cool: Bake for 15 minutes. Cool the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then turn the donuts out to cool completely before glazing.
- Prepare blueberry glaze: Heat 2 tablespoons of blueberries in a small microwave-safe bowl for 20 seconds or until just warm. Mash with a fork and press through a fine mesh sieve to extract the juice, discarding solids.
- Mix glaze: Sift powdered sugar into a mixing bowl. Add vanilla and 1/2 teaspoon of blueberry juice, stirring well. Continue adding the juice 1/2 teaspoon at a time until the glaze is thick and ribbony.
- Glaze donuts: Spoon the glaze over the cooled donuts and let them set for 20 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Use a digital kitchen scale for precise measurements and an oven thermometer to ensure accurate oven temperature.
- If you don’t have a microwave, soften blueberries at room temperature before mashing and straining.
- A piping bag with a large round tip creates neat donut shapes; alternatively, use a zip-top bag with a snipped corner.
- Allow donuts to cool completely before glazing to prevent the icing from soaking in.
- These donuts are best enjoyed the day they are made; store leftovers in the fridge up to 4 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 donut
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
