These soft and fluffy Fruity Pebbles Donuts are the ultimate cereal dessert that both kids and adults will love! They are baked, not fried, and so easy to make at home in just one bowl. With dairy-free icing on top and plenty of delicious flavors, these fruity cereal donuts are the perfect treat for any occasion!
Remember those mornings as a kid filled with the delicious crunch of enjoying Fruity Pebbles cereal? You can pack all of that childhood nostalgia into these donuts and transport yourself back to those carefree days! They come out perfectly fluffy and moist every time. Every bite is like heaven!
If you love making delicious treats with cereal, try these chewy fruity pebbles cookies, soft lucky charms cookies, or these peanut butter rice krispie treats. You can never have enough fun making nostalgic, homemade desserts!
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Why You'll Love These Cereal Donuts
- Dairy-free - Fruity Pebbles cereal is dairy-free, and so are these donuts!
- Icing on top - Each donut has thick vanilla icing on top with a crunchy coating of colorful fruity pebbles cereal.
- Easy to make - Since these are baked donuts, no frying is necessary! This recipe is quick and easy to make at home with no mess. They're healthier, too!
- Soft and fluffy - Every bite of these donuts is soft, fluffy, fruity perfection!
- Kid-approved - Your kids will love these donuts, guaranteed! They're fun, colorful, and so tasty that kids can't resist.
Ingredients
These baked donuts use simple, pantry-staple ingredients. Here are some notes on the ingredients. For a full list of ingredients, check out the recipe card at the end.
- Granulated Sugar - Adds sweetness to the donuts and helps to create a light, tender, and delicious texture.
- Coconut Oil - Healthier than other oils, this provides richness to the batter while also adding moisture and flavor. Make sure it is melted.
- Egg - Adds structure, helping the donuts rise and hold their shape while baking.
- Almond Milk - Any unsweetened non-dairy milk works well in the recipe and keeps the donuts dairy-free! You can also use normal milk or water.
- Vanilla Extract - Make sure to use pure vanilla, not imitation extract. It adds a sweet, aromatic flavor that pairs nicely with the fruity cereal.
- Flour - Use all-purpose flour or you can use a gluten-free flour blend to make the donuts gluten-free. Make sure to measure flour properly so the donuts aren't dry.
- Baking Power & Soda - These two leavening agents help the donuts rise and become fluffy and light with a nice golden top.
- Salt - A small amount of salt enhances the overall flavor of the donuts by balancing out the sweetness. Just a little goes a long way!
- Fruity Pebbles Cereal - Use finely crushed cereal in the donut batter and more fruity pebbles on top of the icing. It adds a fun and colorful element to the donuts while providing a delicious crunch in every bite!
Step-by-Step Instructions
The donut batter comes together in just one bowl; no frying is necessary! Here are step-by-step instructions for how to make fruity pebbles doughnuts with icing:
STEP 1: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the sugar, oil, egg, milk, and vanilla until smooth.
STEP 2: Add in the flour, crushed fruity pebbles cereal, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
STEP 3: Whisk the wetn and dry ingredients together until just combined. There should not be any big lumps, but be careful not to over-mix the batter!
STEP 4: Transfer the donut batter to a piping bag and pipe the batter into the greased donut pan until about ¾ full. Not too much or they can overflow!
STEP 5: Bake the donuts for 7-9 minutes or until they are lightly golden and a toothpick in the middle comes out with moist crumbs. Be very careful not to over-bake them! Every minute makes a big difference in the texture.
STEP 6: Let the donuts cool and make the icing by whisking all ingredients together until a smooth and thick frosting forms. It should not be runny. Add more powdered sugar if you need to so it is a thick glaze.
STEP 7: Once the donuts are cool, dip each one upside down into the icing so it fully coats the top. Thick icing is good so you do not see the donut color underneath.
STEP 8: Immediately sprinkle extra fruity pebbles cereal on the icing while it is still wet. This adds such a pretty finish and delicious crunch to the cereal donuts!
TIP: For really soft and fluffy donuts, remove them from the oven right at 7 minutes. The longer they bake, the more cake-like and dry they may become, so be careful to watch the timer!
Expert Baking Tips
- To make donuts without a mess, use a piping bag to fill the donut molds. This will also prevent any air pockets from forming in the batter.
- Don't over-mix the batter, or you'll be left with tough and chewy donuts instead of light, soft, and fluffy ones.
- Donuts taste best when they're fresh, so serve them as soon as possible after icing them and be sure to store any leftovers in an airtight container so they stay moist.
- Make sure the glaze is thick and not drippy, or it will absorb into the fluffy donuts instead of coating the tops. Add more powdered sugar if you have to!
Easy Baked Donut Variations
The best part about homemade donuts is the ability to add your own twist to the recipe! Here are some easy variations to try:
- Gluten-free - Use a measure-for-measure gluten-free flour blend in place of the all-purpose flour. Fruity Pebbles cereal is gluten-free!
- Mini donuts - Instead of making regular-sized donuts, use a mini donut pan to create bite-sized cereal donuts that are perfect for snacking or little kids!
- White chocolate drizzle - For a delicious flavor combination, melt some white chocolate and drizzle it over the fruity pebbles donuts for a decadent touch.
- Sprinkles - Add even more color and crunch by adding festive sprinkles to the top of freshly glazed donuts. Rainbow sprinkles are perfect!
- Cocoa pebbles - Swap the fruity pebbles for cocoa pebbles cereal and you will have equally delicious chocolate donuts!
Love making donuts? Try these baked cinnamon roll donuts next!
Frequently Asked Questions
Baked donuts can become dry from over-baking or using too much flour. Make sure you are properly measuring flour using a baking scale or the spoon-and-level method. Watch the baking time and remove the donuts when a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
No, Fruity Pebbles cereal is not considered vegan because it contains Vitamin D3 which comes from animal sources. The sugar and natural flavor cannot be confirmed as vegan either, but Fruity Pebbles is dairy-free and gluten-free!
Fruity pebbles tastes like a combination of multiple light and fruity flavors, like orange, lemon, and cherry! It is vibrant and sweet with the perfect crunch.
Baked doughnuts get their soft and fluffy texture from leavening agents like baking powder and baking soda. The wet ingredients like milk and oil keep the donuts tender and moist while baking!
Storing & Freezing
To store leftover fruity cereal donuts, place them in an airtight container and store them at room temperature for 3-5 days. For longer storage, freeze the donuts.
To freeze, wrap each donut individually in plastic wrap and then place them in a freezer-safe container or bag. Frozen donuts should last for up to 3 months. When you are ready to enjoy them again, simply thaw them at room temperature or in the microwave if you prefer them warm.
More Baked Breakfast Recipes
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Recipe
Fruity Pebbles Donuts
Equipment
- 2 Mixing Bowls
- 1 Donut Pan
- 1 Piping Bag or Ziploc Bag
Ingredients
Fruity Pebble Donuts
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup melted coconut oil (or vegetable oil)
- 1 egg
- ½ cup unsweetened almond milk (or any non-dairy milk)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour or gluten-free flour* (see notes)
- ⅔ cup fruity pebbles cereal, crushed
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Vanilla Lemon Icing
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon lemon extract optional, but recommended
- 1-2 tablespoons almond milk
- fruity pebbles cereal for topping
Instructions
Making the Donuts
- Preheat the oven to 425℉. Grease a donut pan thoroughly with non-stick cooking spray, and set aside.
- Crush fruity pebbles cereal into a coarse crumb by pulsing it in a food processor or blender, or by smashing the cereal in a ziploc bag.⅔ cup fruity pebbles cereal, crushed
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the sugar, oil, egg, almond milk, and vanilla until evenly combined.½ cup granulated sugar, ¼ cup melted coconut oil, ½ cup unsweetened almond milk, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, 1 egg
- Add the flour, fruity pebbles crumbs, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk everything together until just combined into a donut batter with no big lumps. Don't over-mix, or the donuts will be tough!1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour, ⅔ cup fruity pebbles cereal, crushed, ¾ teaspoon baking powder, ¼ teaspoon baking soda, ¼ teaspoon salt
- Transfer the donut batter to a piping bag or ziploc bag with a corner cut off. Pipe the batter into the greased donut pan until they are about ¾ of the way full. If they are too full, they can overflow, so be cautious.
- Bake the donuts for 7-9 minutes, or until they are just barely golden around the edges. A toothpick inserted in the middle should come with a few moist crumbs. Be very careful not to over-bake the donuts or they will be dry instead of soft and moist.
- Let the donuts cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack. While they cool, make the icing.
Icing the Donuts
- Whisk together the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, lemon extract, and almond milk until a smooth and creamy icing forms. It should be very thick! If it is too runny and drips off the whisk, add more powdered sugar. If it is so thick that the sugar doesn't dissolve, add more milk ½ teaspoon at a time.1 ½ cups powdered sugar, ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon lemon extract, 1-2 tablespoons almond milk
- When the donuts are fully cool, dip each one upside down into the thick icing to fully coat the tops. If the icing drips off the donut, it probably needs to be thicker. You shouldn't be able to see the donut color through the icing.
- While the icing is still wet, sprinkle extra fruity pebbles cereal on top. Enjoy!fruity pebbles cereal
Autumn says
Yummm!! These donuts are amazing. I hate frying donuts since it makes such a mess and I had no idea you could bake donuts in the oven! They came out so moist and fluffy and the fruity pebbles flavor is so delicious. I made them with gluten-free flour and the whole family devoured them! Thanks for the awesome recipe!
Samantha Ensinger says
Hi Autumn,
I'm happy that the donuts turned out well with the gluten-free flour! Isn't the soft texture perfect? They are so much easier to make than other donut recipes! I hope you enjoy them over and over again.
Amy says
Yum!! I already tried your fruity pebbles cookies so when I saw these donuts, I know I had to give them a go! They did not disappoint. These were so fun and the glaze is delicious too. Thanks for the recipe!
Samantha Ensinger says
Hi Amy,
I'm honored that you made the fruity pebbles cookies and the donuts! You must be a big fruity pebbles cereal fan like me. So happy to hear you loved them! Enjoy!