Dunkin’ Old Fashioned Donut Recipe (Easy Baked Copycat)

If the plain Old Fashioned is your go-to at Dunkin’, this is the baked homemade version I make in a donut pan. It’s a simple cake donut: no yeast, no rising time, no pot of oil. The batter comes together in one bowl, bakes in about 10 to 12 minutes, and you can eat it plain like the classic or dip it in a quick vanilla glaze.

To be upfront: this isn’t Dunkin’s actual recipe (they’ve never published it), and because it’s baked instead of deep fried, you won’t get the cracked, crunchy edge of a fried old fashioned. What you do get is that same tender, lightly sweet cake donut with a fraction of the mess, and a batch of 12 from pantry staples.

These old fashioned donuts are perfect with a hot cup of coffee for breakfast or an afternoon treat. Their golden outsides and tender, cakey centers bring that classic Dunkin’ flavor home.

What Is a Dunkin’ Old Fashioned Donut?

An old fashioned donut is a cake donut. Instead of yeast, it’s leavened with baking powder, so the texture is denser and more crumbly than a fluffy glazed ring. Dunkin’s version is fried and served plain, which is exactly why people love it: it’s simple, not too sweet, and perfect for dunking in coffee.

This copycat keeps the cake donut base and the plain-or-glazed approach, but swaps the fryer for the oven and a donut pan.

Why You’ll Like This Copycat

• No yeast, no proofing. Batter to donut in about 30 minutes.
• No deep frying. No pot of hot oil to deal with or dispose of.
• Pantry ingredients. Flour, sugar, baking powder, egg, milk, oil, vanilla.
• Plain or glazed. Eat them plain like a classic old fashioned or glaze them in a minute.

Dunkin Donuts Old Fashioned Donut Ingredients

• All-purpose flour – gives the classic cake donut crumb. Spoon and level it; packed flour makes dense donuts.
• Granulated sugar – sweetens the batter and helps the outside brown.
• Baking powder – the only leavener. Make sure it’s fresh (it should fizz in hot water).
• Egg – structure and richness.
• Whole milk – keeps the crumb tender.
• Vegetable oil – moisture without butter.
• Vanilla bean paste – the main flavor. Vanilla extract works in the same amount.

For the glaze: powdered sugar and milk.

Exact amounts are in the recipe card below.

Equipment

• Two 6-cavity donut pans. Metal or silicone both work. With only one pan, bake in two batches. [Keep your existing affiliate product boxes here.]
• A large mixing bowl and whisk
• A wire rack for cooling

How to Make Baked Old Fashioned Donuts

Step 1: Preheat the Oven and Prep the Pan

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray each donut cavity with nonstick baking spray, including the center post.

Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and baking powder.

Step 3: Add the Wet Ingredients

Add the egg, milk, oil, and vanilla bean paste. Stir only until no big pockets of flour remain. A few small lumps are fine, and overmixing is the number one reason cake donuts turn out tough.

Step 4: Fill the Donut Pan

Add about ¼ cup of batter to each cavity. A zip-top bag with the corner snipped off makes this clean and keeps batter off the center post.

Step 5: Bake

Bake on the middle rack for 10–12 minutes, until a toothpick in the thickest part comes out clean and the tops spring back when lightly pressed.

Step 6: Cool

Let the donuts sit in the pan for a few minutes, then move them to a wire rack to cool completely. If you only have one pan, repeat with the remaining batter.

Step 7: Glaze (Optional)

Once the donuts are cool, dip the tops in the glaze and let it set for a few minutes. Skip this step for a plain old fashioned.

How to Make the Glaze

Whisk 1 cup of powdered sugar with 1 tablespoon of milk, then add more milk a little at a time until it’s the thickness you want.

• For a thin, sheer Dunkin’-style glaze, go closer to 2 tablespoons of milk and dip the whole top, letting the extra drip off.
• For a thicker, frosting-like coat, stay near 1 tablespoon.
• Glaze the donuts after they’ve cooled, or it will melt and slide off.

Want a chocolate version? [Link to your chocolate glaze or chocolate frosted donut post if you have one.]

Dunkin’ Old Fashioned Donut Calories vs. Homemade

The numbers below for Dunkin’ come from third-party nutrition trackers, and they vary a little from source to source. Dunkin’s own nutrition guide is the final word, and its menu changes, so check it before you rely on these.

Donut	Calories (approx.)
Dunkin’ Old Fashioned Donut	290–310
Dunkin’ Glazed Donut	240–260
This recipe, glazed (1 of 12)	about 220

Most of the difference comes from fat. A fried old fashioned soaks up oil, while this version uses just 1 tablespoon of oil for the whole batch. The trade-off: this recipe has more sugar per donut than Dunkin’s, mostly from the batter and glaze, so skip the glaze if you want to cut back.

Homemade nutrition is an estimate calculated from the recipe card and will change with the brands you use and how thick you glaze.

Tips for the Best Results

• Don’t overmix. Stop stirring as soon as the flour disappears.
• Don’t overfill. About ¼ cup per cavity. Too much batter closes the hole.
• Every oven runs a little differently. Start checking at 9 minutes the first time you make these.
• Tops browning too fast? Drop the temperature by 10–15 degrees and add a minute or two.
• Bake on the middle rack so the tops and bottoms cook evenly.
• No donut pan? The batter also works as cupcakes in silicone liners.

Can You Fry This Batter?

No. This is a pourable batter made for a pan, not a firm, rollable dough, so it won’t hold a shape in hot oil. A true fried old fashioned uses a stiffer, chilled dough that’s rolled and cut.

How to Store Donuts

Let leftovers cool completely, then wrap them tightly. They keep at room temperature for 1–2 days or in the refrigerator for 3–4 days. They’re best the day they’re made.

Can You Freeze Them?

Yes, for 2–3 months. Freeze them unglazed: cool completely, then put them in a freezer bag. Thaw in the fridge or on the counter, then glaze.

FAQs

Is this the original Dunkin’ donut recipe? No. Dunkin’ hasn’t published the recipe for its donuts. This is a homemade, copycat-style cake donut inspired by the Old Fashioned, baked instead of fried.

How many calories are in a Dunkin’ Old Fashioned donut? Third-party nutrition trackers list it at roughly 290–310 calories. Check Dunkin’s official nutrition guide for current numbers.

How many calories are in a Dunkin’ glazed donut? About 240–260 calories, depending on the source. One glazed donut from this recipe is about 220.

What’s the difference between an old fashioned and a glazed donut? An old fashioned is a cake donut leavened with baking powder. A classic glazed donut is a yeast donut, which is lighter and airier.

Why don’t my baked donuts have cracked edges like Dunkin’s? Those cracks come from frying a stiff dough in hot oil. Baking a batter in a pan gives a smoother, softer donut.

Can I make these without a donut pan? Yes. The batter also bakes as cupcakes in a lined muffin tin. Bake time will run a little longer, so test with a toothpick.

More Donut Recipes

If you love this one, try my Air Fryer Maple Frosted Donuts next. They’re another donut-pan recipe, made with a buttermilk batter and a sweet maple glaze. Or, for a bigger weekend treat, go all out with my Air Fryer Apple Fritters.