Lemon Blueberry Sourdough Donuts (Print View)

Soft baked sourdough donuts bursting with lemon zest and fresh blueberries, ideal for a tangy, sweet start or snack.

# 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 fresh lemon juice until thoroughly 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 the wet mixture and stir gently until just combined. Do not overmix as this will result in tough donuts.
05 - Gently fold fresh blueberries into batter. Lightly dust with flour if desired to prevent them from sinking to the bottom.
06 - Spoon or pipe batter into prepared donut pans, filling each cavity approximately three-quarters full.
07 - Bake for 13 to 15 minutes, or until donuts spring back when lightly pressed and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
08 - Allow donuts to rest in pans for 5 minutes, then carefully turn out onto a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
09 - Whisk together powdered sugar, fresh lemon juice, and lemon zest in a small bowl until smooth and pourable.
10 - Dip cooled donuts into lemon glaze, allowing excess to drip off, and place on a cooling rack to set.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Uses sourdough starter or discard for complex, tangy flavor
  • Baked, not fried, for a lighter, healthier donut
  • Bright lemon and juicy blueberries create an irresistible combination
  • Naturally leavened and incredibly soft texture
  • Perfect way to use up extra sourdough starter
02 -
  • Use unfed sourdough discard to reduce waste and add tang
  • Don't overmix the batter—a few lumps are fine and keep donuts tender
  • Dust blueberries lightly with flour to prevent them from sinking
  • Let donuts cool completely before glazing for the best finish
  • Add extra lemon zest to the glaze for more citrus punch
  • Store in an airtight container and enjoy within 2 days for best texture
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