Old Fashioned Donut Muffins with White Chocolate Chips (Gluten-Free)

My absolute favorite donut when I was growing up was the old-fashioned. The cakey texture and the fragile glaze made me helpless to resist. Today’s Old Fashioned Donut Muffins are a great way to get the same flavors in an easy-to-make breakfast or after-school treat.

This is really the best of both worlds for me … the ease and texture of a muffin with the flavors of my favorite doughnut. A lot less oil (no frying) and still so satisfying. I had to give away the extras or I would have eaten the whole batch all by myself!

You can use any combination of spices you like – pumpkin pie spice, more cinnamon, add cardamom, etc. Get as creative as you want but don’t overdo it or the flavor will be overpowering.

I love that these are baked as muffins, making them really easy to transport. If you are taking these to a party or potluck, having a muffin tray with a cover makes them simple to carry. It also is handy for storage, helping to keep them fresher longer.

These muffins are the epitome of comfort foods. Rich, a touch indulgent, and thoroughly fulfilling. Just what we need when we’re curled up on the couch, after a tough day, or when we have guests coming over and want to serve something they will reach for over and over again.

I hope you love these Old Fashioned Donut Muffins and that they show up on your menus often. 

Happy Chocolate Monday!

Key Ingredients for Old Fashioned Donut Muffins:

• Butter
• Granulated, confectioners’ and brown sugars
• Grated lemon zest
• Eggs
• Baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt
• Vanilla
• All-purpose flour or gluten-free flour blend
• Milk
• White chocolate chips
• Fresh lemon juice

 

PRO Tip:

Letting the batter sit for 10 minutes before baking will give you a more luscious texture in your baked goods, especially if you are using gluten-free flour blends. This gives the flour time to fully absorb the liquids, greatly reducing the graininess so common in gluten-free products.

 

How to make Old Fashioned Donut Muffins:

1. Prepare the Muffins: Cream the butter, sugars, and lemon zest together; add eggs one at a time beating well; mix in the leaveners, spices, salt, and vanilla
2. Mix in the flour alternating with the milk until just combined; stir in the white chocolate chips
3. Scoop the batter into lined muffin tins, dividing it evenly; bake until golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean, about 15 to 17 minutes
4. Cool 10 minutes on wire rack set over a sheet of parchment then glaze the muffins
5. Make the Glaze: Melt the butter over low heat, whisk in the confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, and lemon juice then add a little hot water
6. Dip the tops of the muffins in the glaze then set back on wire rack to cool; once the glaze is firm, dip a second time and allow to cool again

 

Kitchen Tools I Use to Make This Recipe (affiliate links):

• Muffin tin  
• Stand mixer
• Spring-loaded scoop (to portion the batter)
• Grater
• Reamer (to juice the lemon)
• Parchment paper sheets
• Small saucepan

 

Gluten-Free Tips:

Use a store bought gluten-free blend, like Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Baking Flour or make your own blend like I do. I keep mine on the counter in a sealed plastic bucket so it is handy whenever I get the urge to bake. And be sure to use a kitchen scale to weigh the dry ingredients for the best results!

 

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Create a New Tradition Today!

 

This post was first shared in 2018. The article was updated in 2020.

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