Irresistible Strawberry Donut Holes : Soft & Sweet

These Strawberry Donut Holes are the perfect combination of fresh fruit flavor and soft, cake-like texture—all wrapped up in a cute, poppable size. Baked instead of fried, these bite-sized donuts are easy to make, bursting with sweet strawberry goodness, and ideal for breakfasts, brunches, party platters, or afternoon snacks.

Made with simple pantry ingredients and fresh strawberries, this is a baked doughnut holes recipe easy enough for beginners but delicious enough to impress a crowd. Whether you’re using a donut hole pan, a donut hole maker, or just a mini muffin tin, you can enjoy these little gems without a fryer in sight.

Let’s get into exactly how to make these strawberry-scented cake donut holes, along with tips, variations (including blueberry donut holes), glaze options, and storage solutions.

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What Are Strawberry Donut Holes?

Strawberry donut holes are miniature, round donuts made with real strawberries folded into a sweet cake-style batter. Unlike traditional fried donut holes, this version is baked for a lighter, less greasy result—yet they’re still soft, moist, and full of flavor.

These donut holes take inspiration from homemade doughnuts recipes and classic cake donut holes recipes, offering a no-fry alternative that’s faster, cleaner, and more convenient.

They’re perfect as-is, but you can roll them in sugar, dip them in strawberry glaze, or dust them with powdered sugar for an even sweeter finish.

Ingredients for Strawberry Donut Holes (With Exact Measurements)

This recipe makes about 24 donut holes, depending on your pan size.

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 large egg
• ½ cup whole milk (or buttermilk)
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup fresh strawberries, finely chopped
• Optional: pink food coloring for a stronger strawberry color

For glaze (optional):

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1–2 tablespoons milk
• 1 tablespoon finely mashed strawberries (or strawberry jam)

These ingredients come together quickly and can easily be doubled for larger batches or events.

Essential Tools: Donut Hole Pan or Donut Hole Maker?

Depending on what you have in your kitchen, you can make these strawberry donut holes in several ways:

Donut Hole Pan – Great for even baking and rounded shape. Use like a muffin pan.

Mini Muffin Tin – A common substitute. Yields a slightly different shape but same delicious flavor.

Donut Hole Maker – Electric, countertop appliance (like Pampered Chef donut hole recipes call for). Makes perfect spheres quickly.

Spoon and Roll Method – For no special tools, spoon batter onto a baking sheet in small rounds. They’ll be rustic but still tasty.

No matter which method you use, the baking time and temperature remain close—just keep an eye on doneness.

How to Make Strawberry Donut Holes – Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Preheat and prepare
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease your donut hole pan, mini muffin tin, or donut maker.

Step 2: Mix dry ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

Step 3: Mix wet ingredients
In a separate bowl, beat the egg, then add milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract. Mix until combined.

Step 4: Combine and fold
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined. Fold in chopped strawberries. If desired, add a few drops of food coloring for a pink hue.

Step 5: Fill the pan
Spoon the batter into your donut hole pan or mini muffin tin, filling each cavity about ¾ full.

Step 6: Bake
Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the tops are lightly golden and a toothpick comes out clean. If using a donut hole maker, follow your appliance’s instructions (typically 4–6 minutes per batch).

Step 7: Cool and glaze
Let the donut holes cool slightly. If using glaze, dip each donut into the mixture and set on a rack to dry for a few minutes before serving.

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Tips for Perfectly Soft and Fluffy Baked Doughnut Holes

Use room temperature ingredients for smoother blending and more even baking.

Do not overmix the batter—gentle stirring keeps the donut holes light and tender.

Chop strawberries finely. Large chunks can make the dough too wet and unevenly textured.

Add a few extra strawberries for more intense fruit flavor, but drain excess juice to prevent sogginess.

Let them cool slightly before glazing. Too hot and the glaze will melt off; too cool and it may not stick well.

These tips are especially helpful for cake donut holes recipes to avoid dense or dry results.

Glazing, Rolling, and Icing Options for Donut Holes

How you finish your strawberry donut holes makes all the difference! Here are your options:

Classic Glaze – Powdered sugar, milk, and mashed strawberries create a beautiful pink finish.

Strawberry Jam Glaze – Warm a spoonful of strawberry jam and mix with powdered sugar.

Rolled in Sugar – Brush warm donuts with butter and roll in granulated or cinnamon sugar.

Powdered Sugar Dust – Once cool, shake donut holes in a bag with powdered sugar for a simple finish.

White Chocolate Drizzle – Melt white chocolate and drizzle over the top for a bakery-style upgrade.

These topping ideas also work great with blueberry donut holes recipes and other flavor varieties.

Easy Variations: Blueberry Donut Holes, Chocolate Chips, and More

Once you’ve mastered the strawberry version, you can get creative with these variations:

Blueberry Donut Holes – Substitute finely chopped blueberries for the strawberries. Works great with lemon glaze.

Chocolate Chip Donut Holes – Add mini chocolate chips to the base batter for a double treat.

Cinnamon Sugar Donut Holes – Skip the fruit and roll the warm donuts in cinnamon sugar.

Funfetti Donut Holes – Add colorful sprinkles to the batter and top with vanilla glaze for a party version.

Zesty Lemon Strawberry – Add lemon zest to the batter and a lemon glaze for a refreshing twist.

Whether you’re baking for kids, brunch guests, or just your own cravings, these donut hole maker recipes offer limitless possibilities.

How to Make Donut Holes With and Without a Donut Hole Maker

No donut maker? No problem.

With a donut hole maker – Simply plug in, preheat, and fill each cavity. Cook for 4–6 minutes or until golden brown. Turn if needed.

With a mini muffin tin – Fill with batter and bake at 350°F for 10–12 minutes. Yields dome-shaped donut bites.

With a donut hole pan – Similar to a muffin tin but more rounded. Follow the same baking instructions.

Without special pans – Drop spoonfuls of batter onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake until golden. The shape will be more rustic but the flavor is spot-on.

This flexibility makes homemade doughnuts recipes more accessible, no matter what equipment you have.

How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat Donut Holes

To store – Keep cooled donut holes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Refrigerate if glazed with dairy-based icing.

To freeze – Place cooled, unglazed donut holes in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight at room temperature or microwave in 10-second bursts.

To reheat – Warm in the microwave for 10–15 seconds to soften slightly. If frozen, add a few seconds longer.

Meal prep tip – Make a double batch, freeze half, and always have fresh-tasting donut holes on hand.

Nutrition Info (Per Donut Hole)

Here’s an approximate nutritional breakdown for one donut hole (without glaze):

Calories: 85
Total Fat: 3.5 g
Saturated Fat: 2 g
Cholesterol: 18 mg
Sodium: 50 mg
Carbohydrates: 12 g
Sugar: 6 g
Protein: 1 g
Calcium: 2% DV
Iron: 4% DV

Add about 20–30 calories per donut for glaze or sugar coating. You can lighten the recipe using low-fat milk or sugar substitutes.

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Strawberry Donut Holes FAQs

Can I use frozen strawberries?
Yes, but thaw and drain them first. Frozen strawberries may release extra moisture, so chop and pat them dry before folding in.

Can I make these gluten-free?
Yes—use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend that contains xanthan gum for best texture.

Can I fry these donut holes?
This recipe is designed for baking, but you can try frying spoonfuls of thick batter in hot oil until golden. Drain well and roll in sugar.

What’s the best way to make them pinker?
Add a drop or two of red or pink gel food coloring to the batter if you want a more vibrant look.

Can I make these ahead of time?
Absolutely! Bake the night before and glaze the next morning for a fresh look and flavor.

Do they taste better warm or cold?
They’re best slightly warm or at room temperature. Reheat lightly to bring back that just-baked texture.

Final Thoughts and Share This Recipe Call to Action

These Strawberry Donut Holes are everything a homemade treat should be: easy, soft, full of fresh fruit flavor, and fun to make. Whether you’re serving them at brunch, packing them for school snacks, or enjoying them with your morning coffee, they’re a sweet and satisfying bite-sized indulgence.

You’ll love how quickly they come together and how flexible the recipe is. From baked donut hole recipes to flavorful spins like blueberry donut holes, these treats offer endless joy in every bite.

If you enjoyed this recipe, don’t forget to share it with your fellow bakers, pin it for later, and subscribe to our blog for more easy donut recipes, baked goods, and kid-friendly favorites!

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