Description
Enjoy these light and fluffy baked cottage cheese donuts with a tangy richness that balances their sweetness perfectly. Baked instead of fried, they offer a guilt-free treat topped with a shiny, irresistible vanilla glaze.
Ingredients
Scale
Donuts
- 1 cup cottage cheese (full-fat or low-fat)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- Pinch of salt
- Optional: ½ tsp cinnamon or nutmeg for extra flavor
Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2–3 tbsp milk (or heavy cream for extra richness)
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven. Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a donut pan or lightly spray it with non-stick spray to prepare for baking.
- Mix wet ingredients. In a bowl, combine the cottage cheese, eggs, sugar, and vanilla extract. Mix until the mixture is smoothish, small curds of cottage cheese are fine and add to texture.
- Mix dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and optional cinnamon or nutmeg for added flavor.
- Combine. Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Take care not to overmix, ensuring the batter remains light and fluffy.
- Fill the pan. Spoon the batter into the donut cavities of the prepared pan, filling each about three-quarters full for perfect donut shape and rise.
- Bake. Place the pan in the oven and bake for 15–18 minutes, until the donuts are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow donuts to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prepare glaze. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Adjust the consistency so that it is thin enough to drizzle but thick enough to coat the donuts.
- Glaze donuts. Either dip the cooled donuts into the glaze or drizzle the glaze over the top. Allow the glaze to set for 10–15 minutes before serving to form a thin, shiny shell.
Notes
- Use small-curd cottage cheese or pulse it in a blender for a smoother batter texture.
- Do not overbake to keep the donuts soft and light; they dry out quickly.
- Let the glaze sit and set for 10–15 minutes to create a nice coating.
- Try variations like chocolate glaze, adding fruit zest, or pumpkin pie spices for different flavor profiles.
- For a crunchy topping, sprinkle chopped nuts or toasted coconut over the glaze before it sets.
