These Baked Carrot Cake Donuts are a fun and delicious twist on classic carrot cake! Light, fluffy, and baked to perfection, these heart-shaped donuts are dipped in a sweet vanilla glaze and decorated as adorable bunny faces with white chocolate ears and colorful sprinkles.
Jump to RecipePerfect for Easter, spring parties, or a special weekend treat, these easy-baked donuts bring all the flavors of a traditional carrot cake into a handheld, bite-sized dessert. Whether you’re baking with kids or preparing a festive brunch, these bunny donuts are guaranteed to impress!
PRO TIPS for the Best Baked Carrot Cake Donuts
✔️ Grease the donut pan well – Prevents the donuts from sticking and ensures easy removal.
✔️ Use room temperature eggs – Helps the batter mix evenly for a light, fluffy texture.
✔️ Fill the donut pan only 1/3 of the way – This prevents overflow and gives the donuts a perfect shape.
✔️ Allow the donuts to cool completely before dipping in glaze – Helps the icing set properly.
✔️ Create a hole for the bunny ears with a toothpick to make assembly easier.
Healthy carrot cake donuts
One of the best things about this Baked Carrot Cake Donuts recipe is how easy it is to customize!
Change the Flavor: Use spice cake mix, vanilla, or red velvet for a different twist.
Try Different Coatings: Instead of vanilla glaze, dip the donuts in white chocolate, cream cheese icing, or colored candy melts.
Add Toppings: Swap the Easter sprinkle mix for shredded coconut, crushed nuts, or mini chocolate chips.
Make It Dairy-Free: Use dairy-free chocolate melts and coconut cream instead of heavy whipping cream.
Ingredients
- Carrot Cake Mix (1 Box) – The base of this recipe, providing rich, spiced carrot cake flavor with minimal prep.
- Eggs (3 large eggs) – Adds structure and moisture, keeping the donuts light and fluffy.
- Oil & Water – Combine with the cake mix to create a smooth, pourable batter.
- White Melting Chocolate (2 ounces) – Used to create adorable bunny ears for a festive touch.
- Powdered Sugar (1½ cups) – Essential for the sweet vanilla glaze that coats each donut.
- Heavy Whipping Cream (1½ tablespoons) – Adds creaminess to the glaze, helping it set with a smooth finish.
- Vanilla Extract (1 teaspoon) – Enhances the flavor of the glaze with a warm, sweet note.
- Salt (½ teaspoon) – Balances the sweetness of the glaze and enhances all the flavors.
- Easter Sprinkle Mix – Adds a pop of color and fun texture to the bunny donuts.
Baked Carrot Cake Donuts Recipe
Step 1: Prepare the Batter
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C) and grease the donut pan with non-stick baking spray.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine carrot cake mix, eggs, oil, and water. Mix according to the box instructions until the batter is smooth and well-combined.
Step 2: Fill & Bake the Donuts
- Using a piping bag or spoon, fill each heart-shaped donut cavity in the pan 1/3 of the way full.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, checking doneness with a toothpick (it should come out clean).
- Set the donuts aside to cool completely before glazing. Repeat this step if needed to use all the batter.
Step 3: Make the Bunny Ears
- Melt white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl in 15-30 second intervals, stirring until smooth.
- Transfer the melted chocolate to a piping bag, cut a small tip, and pipe 2-inch ovals on parchment paper to create bunny ears.
- Use a toothpick to make the tips of the ovals pointy, and allow the ears to dry for 5-8 minutes.
Step 4: Prepare the Glaze
- In a clean mixing bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, salt, heavy whipping cream, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- If the glaze appears too dark, add 1-2 drops of white food gel coloring to brighten it.
Step 5: Glaze & Decorate the Donuts
- Dip each cooled donut into the vanilla glaze, allowing excess to drip off.
- Place the donuts on a flat surface and immediately stick two chocolate bunny ears into the top of each donut.
- While the icing is still wet, add the Easter sprinkle mix randomly over the donuts.
Step 6: Serve & Enjoy!
- Once the icing has set, your Bunny Heart Donuts are ready to serve. Enjoy!
Different Methods of baking:
cake mix donuts in air fryer
- Preheat to 325°F (160°C).
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, checking with a toothpick.
Mini Donuts:
- Use a mini donut pan and reduce baking time to 6-8 minutes.
Different Ways to Serve
Add Color: Use colored candy melts for the bunny ears.
Chocolate Coating: Dip in melted chocolate instead of vanilla glaze.
With Ice Cream: Serve alongside a scoop of vanilla or carrot cake ice cream.
Baked Carrot Cake Donuts Recipe: FAQ’s
Can I use homemade carrot cake batter instead?
Yes! Use your favorite homemade carrot cake recipe in place of box mix.
How do I keep the bunny ears from falling off?
Create small holes in the donuts with a toothpick before inserting the ears.
Can I make these donuts dairy-free?
Use dairy-free white chocolate and coconut cream instead of heavy whipping cream.
Can I freeze leftover batter?
Yes! Store in a freezer-safe bag for up to 1 month.
Baked Carrot Cake Donuts recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Box of Carrot Cake Mix
- 3 Eggs
- Oil
- Water
- 2 Ounces White Melting Chocolate
- 1 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons Heavy Whipping cream
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
- Easter Sprinkle Mix https://a.co/d/0QMmNkM
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease a heart-shaped donut pan with baking spray.
- Mix the batter: Combine carrot cake mix, eggs, oil, and water until smooth.
- Fill pan: Pour batter into donut pan, filling 1/3 full.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, checking with a toothpick for doneness.
- Melt white chocolate, pipe 2-inch ovals on parchment paper for bunny ears, and let dry.
- Mix powdered sugar, salt, heavy whipping cream, and vanilla to make the glaze.
- Dip donuts in glaze, add bunny ears, and sprinkle with Easter mix.
- Serve & enjoy!
Notes
- The times in this recipe are based off having 2 donut pans. If you only have one the times will double.
- If the bunny ears are too difficult to stick in the donuts, try creating a tiny hole in the donuts using a toothpick 1st.
- These bunnies can be stored in air tight container in a cool dry place for 2 days and in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- I only used half the batter for this recipe. You can use the whole bag to get double the amount or freeze the left over batter in a freezer safe ziplock bag for up to a month.
- If you would like scream cheese icing, only use a 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract and a 1/2 teaspoon of cream cheese emulsion.
More donut recipes on the blog
Recipes incorporating carrots on the blog
Carrot top Ice cream cone cupcakes
Roasted carrots and air fryer glazed carrots.
These Baked Carrot Cake Donuts are a fun, festive, and flavorful dessert perfect for Easter and spring celebrations! Light, fluffy, and easy to make, this recipe is sure to become a family favorite. Give it a try and enjoy a sweet, carrot cake-inspired treat today!
About the Author
I am Seun, and I love to share my first-hand experience using multiple air fryers. Stick around for yummy delicacies made from the air fryer and many amazing tips on using your newfound Kitchen appliance – the air fryer!
