Lemon Blueberry Sourdough Donuts (Print)

Tangy lemon and fresh blueberries combine with sourdough for soft, fluffy baked delights.

# Components:

→ Wet Ingredients

01 - 1/2 cup active sourdough starter, unfed or discard
02 - 1/2 cup buttermilk, room temperature
03 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
04 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
05 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
06 - Zest of 1 lemon
07 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

→ Dry Ingredients

08 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
09 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
10 - 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
11 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
12 - 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

→ Mix-Ins

13 - 1 cup fresh blueberries, or frozen unthawed

→ Lemon Glaze

14 - 1 cup powdered sugar
15 - 2 to 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
16 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease two nonstick donut pans with cooking spray or butter.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together sourdough starter, buttermilk, melted butter, eggs, vanilla extract, lemon zest, and lemon juice until well combined.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and fine sea salt.
04 - Add dry ingredients to wet mixture and stir gently until just combined. Do not overmix to maintain tender crumb structure.
05 - Gently fold blueberries into batter. Lightly dust berries with flour if desired to prevent sinking during baking.
06 - Spoon or pipe batter into prepared donut pans, filling each cavity approximately 3/4 full.
07 - Bake for 13 to 15 minutes, or until donuts spring back when lightly pressed and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
08 - Let donuts cool in pans for 5 minutes, then turn out onto a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
09 - In a small bowl, whisk powdered sugar, fresh lemon juice, and lemon zest until smooth and pourable.
10 - Dip cooled donuts into glaze, coating evenly. Return to wire rack and allow glaze to set completely before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Perfect way to use sourdough starter or discard without waste
  • Baked, not fried, making them lighter and easier to prepare
  • Fresh lemon and blueberry flavors create a bright, seasonal taste
  • Soft, tender crumb with a beautiful golden finish
  • Finished with a tangy lemon glaze that perfectly complements the donuts
02 -
  • Don't overmix the batter—stop as soon as the dry ingredients are incorporated to keep donuts tender
  • Dust blueberries lightly with flour before folding in to help prevent them from sinking
  • Use a piping bag or zip-top bag with the corner cut off for easy, mess-free filling
  • Let donuts cool completely before glazing to ensure the glaze sets properly
  • Store unglazed donuts airtight and glaze just before serving for best results
  • Freeze unglazed donuts for up to 3 months; thaw and glaze when ready to serve
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