These 15 Minute Pancake Mix Donuts are the perfect quick-fix treat when you are craving something sweet but do not want to spend hours in the kitchen.
Made with simple pantry staples and boxed pancake mix, these soft and fluffy donuts come together in just 15 minutes!

What you will read about.
Why this recipe works.
This is possibly the easiest donut recipe ever thanks to the simple hack of using pancake mix. The pancake mix takes out the trouble of having to measure out the dry ingredients.
Here is what else you will like about this recipe.
- The ingredients used to make this recipe (including the pancake mix) are basic pantry ingredients that you may already have on hand.
- There is no added yeast which means you do not have to wait for the dough to rise.
- Customizing these donuts is as easy as adding chocolate chips, berries, sprinkles, powdered sugar, or a simple glaze on top.
- While these donuts are perfect for breakfast or brunch, they can be perfect about any time of the day.
Have you tried my recipe for 5 Ingredient Pancake Sausage Muffins?
Made with pancake mix and breakfast sausage, those muffins are moist and fluffy with sweet and savory flavors in every bite. Both this recipe for donuts and that recipe for sausage muffins are easy and great tasting recipes that can be made with pancake mix.
Make this recipe gluten free by using gluten free pancake mix. You can find gluten free pancake mix here.

Ingredients needed.
- Pancake Mix. Such as Bisquick pancake mix.
- Milk. Use a full-fat milk for optimal moisture.
- Egg. Large egg at room temperature.
- Butter. Melted. A neutral oil can be used instead.
- Vanilla Extract For a bit of flavor.
- Add-ins. Such as berries, chocolate chips, or sprinkles. Toppings can include powdered sugar, syrup, or glaze.
How to make easy baked donuts.

- Prep Time 5 minutes .
- Bake Time 10 minutes .
- Servings 12 donuts .
- How to serve : Serve warm like you would donuts or pancakes. Or you can enjoy these cold the next day as an on the go snack or meal.
- Notes: You will need a mixing bowl, whisk, scoop, and a donut pan/mold.
- Prepare. Preheat your oven to 375°F. Also, prep your pan for nonstick. Nonstick spray should work.
- Combine. In a large mixing bowl, use a whisk to combine together the pancake mix, milk, egg, melted butter, and vanilla extract until lump-free.
- Transfer. Use a cookie scoop or similar item to transfer the batter to the donut pan, filling each cavity to about ¾ full.
- Add-ins. Add your optional add-ins, such berries or chocolate chips.
- Bake. Bake the donuts until the edges begin to turn golden brown around the edges and they appear to be set or a toothpick comes out clean (about 8–10 minutes).
- Cool. Allow the donuts to cool in the pan for five to 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to fully cool.

Tips for making the best homemade donuts.
When mixing the ingredients, mix until just combined. Do not overmix the batter as overmixing will make these donuts dense. Stir just until combined to keep the donuts soft and fluffy.
More helpful tips for you.
- If your donut batter feels too thick you can whisk in a splash of milk. Or if the batter seems to be too thin, you can whisk in little extra pancake mix. Do this with small amounts at time.
- When you fill the donut cavities, fill each one about ⅔ full so the donuts rise properly without overflowing. Then you add the add-ins, like chocolate chips or sprinkles, do so gently so they do not sink to the bottom .
- Let the donuts cool in the pan five to 10 minutes after baking. This helps them firm up slightly so they release easily without breaking apart. After that, transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before adding powdered sugar, glaze, or other toppings.
FAQ
- Can I use any boxed pancake mix?
Yes! Most boxed pancake mixes work well for this recipe, including complete mixes or just-add-water varieties. Simply follow the consistency of the batter and adjust the milk if needed. - Do I have to use a donut pan?
A donut pan works best, but you can also make these in a muffin pan for donut bites or mini cakes. - Are these donuts baked or fried?
These are baked donuts, which makes them quicker, easier, and less messy than frying. - What toppings work best?
Powdered sugar, vanilla glaze, chocolate glaze, maple syrup drizzle, or cinnamon sugar are all delicious options. - Why are my donuts dense?
Over-mixing the batter can make the donuts dense. Mix gently and only until the ingredients are combined.
Variations.
- For Cinnamon Sugar Donuts- Brush warm donuts with melted butter, then coat in cinnamon sugar for a classic donut-shop flavor. You can also swap in a tablespoon of apple cider for a tablespoon of milk.
- For glazed donuts, dip cooled donuts into melted chocolate or chocolate ganache and finish with sprinkles or crushed nuts
- Make these into protein donuts by using protein pancake mix for a higher-protein breakfast or post-workout snack option.

How to store homemade donuts.
Once the donuts have fully cooled they can be stored in an airtight container. When properly stored, they should keep for up to two days at room temperature, five days when refrigerated, or frozen for up to a couple of months. You can warm the donuts up in the microwave for about 10–15 seconds to make them soft and fresh again.
You may also be interested in these ideas.
Subscribe to DIYandFun

Print the recipe for pancake mix donuts.
15 Minute Pancake Mix Donuts
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup Pancake Mix. --Such as Bisquick pancake mix.
- ⅔ cup Milk.
- 1 Egg.
- 2 tbsp Butter. --Melted.
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
Add-ins. ½ cup, Such as berries, chocolate chips, or sprinkles. Toppings can include powdered sugar, syrup, or glaze.
Instructions
- Prepare. Preheat your oven to 375°F. Also, prep your pan for nonstick. Nonstick spray should work.
- Combine. In a large mixing bowl, use a whisk to combine together the pancake mix, milk, egg, melted butter, and vanilla extract until lump-free.
- Transfer. Use a cookie scoop or similar item to transfer the batter to the donut pan, filling each cavity to about ¾ full.
- Add-ins. Add your optional add-ins, such berries or chocolate chips.
- Bake. Bake the donuts until the edges begin to turn golden brown around the edges and they appear to be set or a toothpick comes out clean (about 8–10 minutes).
- Cool. Allow the donuts to cool in the pan for five to 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to fully cool.
Recipe Notes
Also, please see the actual recipe post for further details on this recipe. Nutritional Information is only an estimate and can vary especially with ingredients that are used. See DiyandFun.com for details on this recipe.
originally posted:
August 19, 2026*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that the links on this website, and specifically on this post, that lead to other sites may be affiliate links.
Nutrition
Please note: Nutritional data has been calculated using a tool that comes with this recipe card and not by me. This means that Nutritional Information is only an estimate and can vary especially with ingredients that you use. The accuracy of this tool may differ from other tools as expected. Also note that there is no instructional value to the video that may be attached to this recipe. It is only there for visual pleasure. For more information about the images in this recipe, please refer the the recipe instructions. Thank you!
Follow Me

15 Minute Pancake Mix Donuts, easy homemade donuts that are fluffy, customizable, and family-friendly. Perfect for breakfast, snack, or dessert.
Please see recipe post for further details on this recipe.





Leave a Reply