4th of July Donuts: A Salute to a Breakfast Recipe
Give your breakfast a patriotic twist with these delicious 4th of July Donuts. When this recipe was first published in 2018, it was inspired by the new Captain America movie, but you don’t need a superhero to make these cake-like treats.
These donuts are the star of any breakfast spread or dessert table, perfect for celebrating the 4th of July or any time you want to add a dash of American spirit to your day.
National Donut Day Delight
While you don’t need an excuse to enjoy these red, white, and blue donuts, National Donut Day is the perfect opportunity. Celebrated on the first Friday of June, this day was created by the Salvation Army in 1938 to honor the volunteers who served donuts to soldiers during World War I. Today, it’s a day of sweet indulgence, with big chains like Dunkin’ and Krispy Kreme offering free donuts. However, store-bought treats aren’t an option for many food allergy and peanut-free families.
Who Invented Donuts?
Hanson Gregory, an American, claimed to have invented the ring-shaped doughnut in 1847 when he was 16 and aboard a lime-trading ship.
What US state is known for donuts?
Illinois is the number one state known for donuts. Renowned for its exceptional donut shops, Chicago’s Doughnut Vault is celebrated as one of the best in the country. This popular spot offers a unique specialty donut daily, which it announces in a weekly lineup on its website. Be prepared to wait in line, as the demand often extends out the door!
What is the most sold donut in the US?
An informal 2021 poll found that cream-filled donuts are the most popular flavor, followed by plain glazed. The least popular donuts include chocolate-covered (surprise) and jelly-filled.
4th of July Donuts Are Perfect For Any Occasion
You don’t need a national holiday to make these 4th of July Donuts. I first whipped them up a few years ago when the Avengers movie hit theaters – at the time, we called them Captain America Donuts. I admit it—I’m a die-hard superhero fan. Sharing a love for Marvel with my family makes for some epic movie nights.
But you don’t have to be a Marvel geek to enjoy these simple yet festive treats. On the 4th of July, homemade donuts are perfect for pre-movie snacks, birthday parties, and patriotic celebrations. They also make great nut-free classroom treats, ensuring all kids can enjoy the fun.
Captain America stands for patriotism; these donuts let you celebrate that spirit deliciously. So, whether you’re gearing up for fireworks or want a fun and tasty way to show your American pride, these donuts are a star-spangled hit.
Enjoy these patriotic treats and let your taste buds feel the power of yum!
No Yeast Donuts
This is a great first-time recipe if you’re new to donut making. You likely already have most of the ingredients for this recipe in your fridge or pantry. The only baking equipment you will need is a donut pan.
Ingredients You Need to Make 4th of July Donuts
- Flour
- Baking Powder
- Baking Soda
- Salt
- Sugar
- Powdered Sugar
- Vanilla Extract
- Milk
- Melted Butter
- Sour Cream
- Eggs
- Vegetable Oil
- Red and Blue Gel Food Coloring
- Red, Blue and White Sprinkles
- 2 Disposable Piping Bags
How to Make 4th of July Donuts at Home
Preheat the oven to 400°F, spray a donut pan with non-stick spray, and set it aside. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar. In a second bowl, whisk the milk, sour cream, and eggs, then add the melted butter, vegetable oil, and vanilla. Gradually combine the wet and dry ingredients, stirring just until combined. Divide the batter into three bowls.
Add several drops of green food coloring to the first bowl, mix red and blue to make purple in the second bowl, and stir blue coloring evenly into the batter in the third bowl—spoon equal amounts of each colored batter into the donut pan. Bake at 400°F for 9-10 minutes or until the donuts spring back when touched. Allow the donuts to cool for a few minutes in the pan before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Creating the Perfect Patriotic Glaze for Your Donuts
Achieving the vibrant coloring effects of this glaze is an art, not a science. Start by whisking together milk, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until the mixture is silky smooth.
Next, spoon about 1/8 cup of the icing into two separate bowls. Add red food coloring to one bowl and blue food coloring to the other, mixing until the colors are thoroughly blended.
Transfer each colored mixture into separate piping bags, snipping off the tips for a steady icing flow. Drizzle the red and blue icings into the white icing in a crisscross pattern, 2-3 times vertically and horizontally.
Dip each donut into the glaze, giving it a 90-degree twist to create a marbled effect. Place the glazed donuts on a wire rack and repeat the process for the remaining donuts.
Finish with a generous sprinkle of patriotic-colored sprinkles. Allow the donuts to dry for an hour before indulging in your beautifully decorated treats!
4th of July Homemade Donut Recipe
Equipment
- Doughnut Pan
Ingredients
4th of July Donuts
- 2 2/3 cups flour
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 red and blue gel food coloring
4th of July Donut Glaze
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 red and blue gel food coloring
- 2 disposable piping bags
- 1/2 cup patriotic sprinkles (for top of donuts)
Instructions
4th of July Donuts
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees and prepare a donut pan with non-stick spray. Set aside.
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar in a large bowl.
- Whisk together milk, sour cream and eggs in a second bowl. Add the melted butter, vegetable oil, and vanilla to the second bowl.
- Gradually whisk the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir just until combined.
- Divide the batter into three bowls.
- Add several drops of green food coloring in the first bowl; combine red and blue (to make purple) in the second bowl; stir blue coloring evenly into the batter in third bowl.
- Spoon equal amounts of the three batter mix into the doughnut pan.
- Bake at 400 degrees for 9-10 minutes (or until the donut spring back).
- Allow donuts to cool a few minutes in the pan; transfer donuts to a wire rack to cool completely.
4th of July Donut Glaze
- Whisk together the milk, powdered sugar and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth.
- Spoon about 1/8 cup of icing into two bowls.
- Add red food coloring to one bowl and blue food coloring to another bowl.
- Mix until mixtures in both bowls are combined.
- Spoon each color mixture into separate piping bags, and cut the tips off to allow flow of icing.
- Drizzle the colors into the white icing 2-3 times in a vertical and horizontal direction.
- Dip the donuts into the icing mixture and turn the donuts 90 degrees.
- Place donuts back on the wire rack and repeat previous step for remaining donuts.
- Sprinkle the patriotic colored sprinkles on the donuts. Let the donuts dry for an hour before enjoying!
Notes
I would love to hear about your favorite food allergy-safe and nut-free recipes. Feel free to comment below or connect with me on my Facebook page.
