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    Home » Desserts » Doughnut Sugar Cookies

    Oct 19, 2015 · Modified: Jan 8, 2021 by Sues · This post may contain affiliate links, uses cookies, and generates income via ads · View privacy policy + disclosure statement linked in footer · 11 Comments

    Doughnut Sugar Cookies

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Cookies or doughnuts? How could you possibly decide the better dessert? With these Doughnut Sugar Cookies, you don't have to! Serve your doughnuts up in sugar cookie form. They're easy to bake and decorate!

    Overhead view of multiple doughnut sugar cookies with pink and brown frosting and sprinkles on baking rack with recipe title at top

    These doughnut cookies were actually a mistake. But one of those crazy beautiful mistakes that you later realize was totally meant to be. Like when you accidentally buy 2% fat Greek yogurt at the grocery store and then realize that it tastes so much better and keeps you full so much longer than fat-free (TRUE STORY). Sometimes mistakes are blessings.

    When I’m not feeling a lot of recipe inspiration, I often just get in the kitchen and start cooking or baking to see what happens. And I really wanted to bake something up so I could utilize these beauties (affiliate link):

    Doughnut Icing Decorations and Wilton sprinkles

    And I got the brilliant idea of adding them to doughnut-shaped cookies. But then I baked the cookies and well, I realized that putting doughnuts on doughnuts would just be silly.

    But then I realized that I really loved how the cookies came out. The doughnut icing decorations are still sitting in my pantry… But these cookies are sitting in my tummy. That’s what I’m calling an awesome mistake.

    How to Make Doughnut Sugar Cookies

    The doughnut cookies are made with a simple sugar cookie batter. My favorite recipe is easy and pretty much fool-proof.

    To start, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

    In a stand mixer (or in a large bowl with a hand mixer), blend together butter and sugar, until light and fluffy. Add egg, vanilla, and milk to the mixture and mix to combine.

    Turn mixer to low and add the flour. Mix until just blended, being careful not to over-mix.

    Divide dough into two and flatten each half into a disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and stick in the fridge for at least an hour. Chilling the dough is important, so don't skip this step!

    Collage showing sugar cookie batter, dry ingredients for sugar cookies, and sugar cookie dough discs wrapped in plastic

    Now, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and on a floured surface working with one dough disc at a time, roll the dough to ⅛-inch thickness.

    Using a round cookie cutter or biscuit cutter, cut circles from dough and set onto parchment covered cookie sheet. You can re-roll the dough out to form more cookies if you’d like.

    What to do with those little doughnut centers? Save them for Munchkins if you want! But probably not because a tiny circle cookie does not even come close to the joy that is a Munchkin.

    Collage showing sugar cookie dough rolled out with circle cut out and pastry tip placed in center and rounds cut out in dough with smaller circle cut out of center

    Bake cookies for 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees, until lightly golden. Move to wire rack to cool and don’t frost until completely cooled.

    How to Make Royal Icing for Cookies

    I should tell you that I cheated a little and use Wilton’s Royal Icing mix (affiliate link) for the frosting. It was so easy to mix and so worth it. All you need to do is add water and color.

    A thicker icing should be used to draw outlines on cookies. More water should be added (1 tsp at a time) to thin icing out for flooding cookies. So once you have your thick outlining icing, remove some to a separate bowl and add more water to it to create the thin flooding icing.

    Stir food coloring into icing with a toothpick. I recommend using Wilton’s Color Right Performance Color System (affiliate link) as it will not affect icing consistency.

    If you want to create multiple colors, simply divide icings into more bowls before adding color.

    There are obviously a lot of different ways to make royal icing, but if you're looking for a super quick and easy way, I recommend the mix! If you want to make it from scratch, I like this recipe.

    Overhead view of bright pink royal icing

    How to Decorate Doughnut Sugar Cookies

    I should preface this by saying that I am NOT a good cookie decorator. I just don't have the artistic skills needed to decorate cute sugar cookies. But these doughnut sugar cookies? These are easy!

    If I can do them, anyone can do them.

    Using thicker icing, pipe the outline of the doughnut frosting around the cookie. You just need to make a squiggly "blob" shape... No drawing skills necessary!

    Doughnut cookie with thick "blob" icing outline

    Using thinned out icing, flood the cookie inside the the outline. Add sprinkles on top.

    Let dry completely.

    And marvel at how you are now a cookie decorator.

    Overhead view of multiple doughnut sugar cookies with pink and brown frosting and sprinkles on baking rack

    Not only are these doughnut cookies adorable... But they also taste delicious! Which is always my goal when making decorated cookies.

    So often cookies that look cute don't taste great... But these ones are cute and tasty!

    These doughnut cookies would be perfect for a doughnut themed party (which is definitely a party I want to be invited to!).

    Bird's eye view of doughnut sugar cookies on a marble tray with baking rack with more donut cookies on it

    Perfecting my sugar cookie game has been a longtime goal, so I try to make them whenever I have the chance and a little extra time in my schedule. I’ve still been keeping them fairly simple, but simple definitely doesn’t have to mean boring.

    I’m almost certain I could eat a dozen of these doughnuts. I mean cookies. I mean doughnut cookies.

    Especially if they’re strawberry and chocolate frosted and loaded up on sprinkles. Only because I have no idea how to go about making a Boston creme doughnut cookie.

    Close-up of multiple doughnut sugar cookies with pink and brown icing on a baking rack

    The only problem? I still have those pretty doughnut icing decorations sitting in my pantry (I know... If that's really a problem, my life must rock).

    Thank goodness it’s essentially impossible for me to get sick of doughnuts. In absolutely any form. Feel free to test me on that.

    More Fun Cookie Recipes

    If you like these doughnut cookies and are looking for more fun cookie recipes, check out some of my favorites:

    • Margarita Shortbread Cookies
    • Fruity Pebbles Cookies
    • Banana Split Cookies
    • XL Peanut Butter Cookies
    • Strawberry Lemonade Shortbread Cookies
    • Strawberry Milk Cookies
    • Kitchen Sink Cookies (from Jen Around the World)
    • Black Sesame Chocolate Chip Cookies (from Cooking Therapy)
    Close-up of a pink frosted doughnut sugar cookie with sprinkles on a baking rack

    Would you choose a cookie or a doughnut? Or would you opt for a doughnut cookie, too?

    Doughnut Sugar Cookies -- Cookies or doughnuts? How could you possibly decide the better dessert? With these Doughnut Sugar Cookies, you don't have to! Serve your doughnuts up in sugar cookie form. They're easy to bake and decorate! | wearenotmartha.com #donuts #doughnuts #cookies #sugarcookies

    Doughnut Sugar Cookies

    Cookies or doughnuts? How could you possibly decide the better dessert? With these Doughnut Sugar Cookies, you don't have to! Serve your doughnuts up in sugar cookie form. They're easy to bake and decorate!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Decorated Cookies, Donut Cookies, Doughnut Cookies, Sugar Cookies
    Prep Time: 45 minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
    Makes: 24 cookies
    Author: Sues

    Ingredients

    • 2 cup all-purpose flour
    • ½ tsp baking powder
    • ¼ tsp salt
    • ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • 1 large egg
    • 1 tsp vanilla extract
    • 2 Tbsp milk
    • Royal Icing (see below)
    • Colored sprinkles

    Royal Icing

    • 1 box Wilton Royal Icing Mix
    • Water
    • Food coloring

    Instructions

    • Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
    • In a stand mixer (or with a hand mixer), blend together butter and sugar, until light and fluffy.
    • Add egg, vanilla, and milk to the mixture and mix to combine.
    • Turn mixer to low and add the flour. Mix until just blended, being careful not to over-mix.
    • Divide dough into two and flatten each half into a disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and stick in the fridge for at least an hour.
    • Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
    • On a floured surface working with one dough disc at a time, roll the dough to ⅛-inch thickness. Using a round cookie cutter or biscuit cutter, cut circles from dough and set onto parchment covered cookie sheet. You can re-roll the dough out to form more cookies if you'd like.
    • Bake cookies for 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees, until lightly golden. Move to wire rack to cool and don't frost until completely cooled.
    • Using thicker icing, pipe the outline of the doughnut frosting around the cookie.
    • Using thinned out icing, flood the cookie inside the the outline. Add sprinkles on top.
    • Let icing dry.

    Royal Icing

    • In a stand mixer (or with a hand mixer) at medium speed, beat royal icing mix with about 3 Tbsp of water for about 6-9 minutes, until stiff peaks form.
    • You can continue to add water, 1 tsp at a time, until desired consistency is reached. A thicker icing should be used to draw outlines on cookies. More water should be added (1 tsp at a time) to thin icing out for flooding cookies.
    • Stir food coloring into icing with a toothpick. I recommend using Wilton's Color Right Performance Color System as it will not affect icing consistency.
    • Icing can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days.

    Notes

    Sugar cookie recipe adapted from Martha Stewart
    Share a Photo of Your Finished Recipe!Mention @wearenotmartha and share a photo if you've made the recipe!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tandy | Lavender and Lime says

      October 20, 2015 at 1:36 am

      doughnuts will always be my first choice. These look amazing and I would not say no to a few of them 🙂

    2. [email protected] 'N Spice says

      October 20, 2015 at 7:50 am

      These are the cutest cookies, Sues! So fun!

    3. Victoria says

      October 20, 2015 at 12:41 pm

      Litrally the cutest food I have ever seen. I'm team donut for life, but I won't turn down a cookie.

    4. Alyssa @ My Sequined Life says

      October 20, 2015 at 10:34 pm

      Sues these are the most adorable cookies ever! Having to pick between donuts and cookies is hard...good thing you've solved that for me. 🙂 On my to-do list is to practice my royal icing skills. I so love the looks of perfectly decorated cookies like these but currently lack the patience (and skill!) to do them myself. These motivate me!

    5. Nicole @ Young, Broke and Hungry says

      October 21, 2015 at 1:24 pm

      Doughnut shapes cookies are better than regular cookies - FACT.

      Also, yes to the full fat greek yogurt.

    6. Katalina @ Peas & Peonies says

      October 21, 2015 at 10:42 pm

      5 stars
      OMG extremely cute, I love how they look and the idea of donut cookies. Must make it for a kids tea party, the kiddos and moms will love them.

    7. Jessica - The Novice Chef says

      October 21, 2015 at 11:29 pm

      Ahh! You know how I feel about donuts! These are seriously the cutest "mistakes" ever!

    8. Culinary Flavors says

      October 22, 2015 at 2:04 am

      Why not both? They look lovely and the colors are amazing!

    9. Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor says

      October 22, 2015 at 8:54 am

      Wow, these are the best mistake! Seriously, they are so cute. I love decorated sugar cookies and the fact that these are donuts are even better!

    10. Justine says

      October 22, 2015 at 5:14 pm

      How cute are these!

    11. Dani @ House in Tillford says

      October 24, 2015 at 12:01 am

      What a wonderful mistakes because these cookies are soo cute! They look almost cartoonish

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