National Donut Day isn’t just a delicious excuse to treat yourself (though we fully support that too!). It actually has heartfelt roots: the day was established in 1938 by The Salvation Army to honor the “Donut Lassies,” brave women who served fresh donuts to soldiers on the front lines during World War I. The goal? To bring comfort and a taste of home in the middle of chaos. Since then, Donut Day, celebrated on the first Friday in June, has become a beloved tradition that blends sweet nostalgia with modern creativity.
And what better way to celebrate than by putting a fun spin on tradition?
This year, we’re going bite-sized and bold with five unique, donut-inspired recipes using the Babycakes Cake Pop Maker, Babycakes Mini Donut Maker and the Mickey Mouse 3-in-1 Treat Maker. These compact kitchen tools let you whip up adorable treats with big flavor, perfect for parties, kids, brunch spreads, or just a well-earned coffee break.
Craving maple bacon, matcha strawberry, or churro cheesecake? We've got you covered. Let’s dive into five creative mini desserts that are everything you love about donuts, just with a twist.
1. Churro Cheesecake Donut Holes
Inspired by: Churro donuts
Made with: Babycakes Cake Pop Maker
Imagine your favorite cinnamon-sugar churro wrapped around a creamy cheesecake center.
Ingredients:
- Vanilla cake mix
- Cream cheese frosting
- Cinnamon & sugar mixture
- Melted white chocolate (for dipping)
How-To:
- Bake vanilla donut holes in the Babycakes Cake Pop Maker.
- Let donut holes cool.
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Dip in white chocolate and immediately sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
- Let set and serve with dulce de leche drizzle!
2. Lemon Blueberry Glazed Mini Donuts
Inspired by: Blueberry cake donuts with a citrus twist
Made with: Babycakes Mini Donut Maker
Bright, fruity, and perfect with your morning coffee.
Ingredients:
- Lemon cake mix
- Fresh or dried blueberries
- Powdered sugar
- Lemon juice & zest
How-To:
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Mix lemon cake batter and fold in blueberries.
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Spoon into Mini Donut Maker and bake until golden.
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Whisk lemon juice and powdered sugar for a zesty glaze.
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Dip warm donuts into glaze and sprinkle with zest.
3. Maple Bacon Pancake Mini Donuts
Inspired by: Maple bacon donut meets Sunday brunch
Made with: Babycakes Cake Pop Maker
Sweet, savory, and totally addictive.
Ingredients:
- Pancake mix batter
- Crumbled cooked bacon
- Maple syrup
- Chocolate coating (optional)
How-To:
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Add bits of bacon to your pancake batter.
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Fill Mini Donut Maker and cook until golden.
- Dip in maple syrup or maple-flavored candy coating.
- Sprinkle with more bacon or drizzle with chocolate.
4. Matcha Strawberry Mini Donuts
Inspired by: Japanese mochi donuts
Made with: Babycakes Mini Donut Maker
A trendy fusion of earthy matcha and juicy strawberry.
Ingredients:
- Vanilla or white cake mix
- Matcha powder
- Strawberry jam or puree
- White chocolate (optional)
How-To:
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Mix a teaspoon of matcha into your batter.
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Bake in the Mini Donut Maker.
- Glaze with melted white chocolate mixed with strawberry puree.
- Dust with extra matcha or add a tiny dollop of jam on top.
5. Cookies & Cream Donut Holes
Inspired by: Oreo donuts
Made with: Babycakes Mini Cake Pop Maker
Classic cookies & cream flavor in bite-size heaven.
Ingredients:
- Chocolate cake mix
- Crushed Oreos
- Cream cheese or vanilla frosting
- White chocolate or candy melts
How-To:
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Bake chocolate donut holes.
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Cool donut holes.
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Roll and dip in white chocolate.
- Top with Oreo crumbles or a mini Oreo.
Start Your Day with Mickey Donuts
Mickey Chocolate-Dipped Donuts
Add a little Disney fun to your mornings with these colorful, chocolate-dipped Mickey donuts using the Mickey Mouse 3-in-1 Treat Maker. So easy to make and fun to decorate!
Ingredients:
- Donut batter or cake batter of your choice
- Red and yellow chocolate melts
- Piping bag
Instructions:
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Bake Donuts:
Use the Mickey donut plates and bake donuts in the maker until golden (4–6 minutes). Let cool. -
Melt & Dip:
Melt red chocolate melts and dip the top half of each donut. -
Add Details:
Melt yellow chocolate, place in a piping bag, and pipe two small buttons onto each red-dipped donut. -
Set & Serve:
Let chocolate harden and enjoy your magical Mickey treats!
Perfect for a fun Disney-themed breakfast or party!
Bonus Tips for the Perfect Celebration
- Create a DIY mini dessert bar: Let guests dip and decorate their own pops or donuts.
- Use mini treat boxes: Great for gifting these bite-sized sweets.
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Pair with coffee or milk flights: Yes, donut pairings are a thing.
Tiny Treats, Big Flavor
The Babycakes Cake Pop Maker, Babycakes Mini Donut Maker and the Mickey Mouse 3-in-1 Treat Maker make it ridiculously easy to bring these mini masterpieces to life. They're compact, kid-friendly, and heat up in minutes—ideal for last-minute party prep or just a fun afternoon in the kitchen.
Ready to celebrate National Donut Day the delicious way? Try one (or all!) of these sweet treats, and don’t forget to tag @selectbrands and your creations with #DonutDayWithBabycakes!
