Donuts are fantastic, but just not big enough. A few delicious bites — suddenly the one you’re eating is long gone. Not so with this giant donut cake inspired by The Baker Upstairs! You’ll have donut-y goodness for at least a few servings (unless you keep it all to yourself, which we totally understand).
Donuts have (thankfully) been around for a long time. While archaeologists have found chunks of fossilized “possible donuts” in ancient settlements, we can trace the modern donut back to the former New Amsterdam (now known as Manhattan) thanks to Dutch settlers in the early 18th century. It turns out their “olykoeks,” sweetcakes fried in fat or oil, were pretty tasty.

The ring shape wasn’t part of the original donut-making plan, however. It reportedly didn’t take form until the 1850s when a ship captain punched a hole in his mother’s famous deep-fried dough snacks. While the accounts of how this happened vary — perhaps he stuck one on a wheel spoke while trying to steer the boat, or, in his own words 50 years later, he created a hole with a round tin of pepper — today’s donut remains a breakfast staple and a popular, sometimes trendy snack.
Since donuts are usually eaten in the morning, quickly digested and forgotten about, making a donut cake brings the best of this sweet treat to your dessert table. This recipe is delightful. Made from scratch, you’ll use that ring mold pan you’ve had hanging around (because donuts totally need rings!). You’ll also whip up your own pink frosting — topped, of course, with sprinkles. And since there is no such thing as too many sprinkles, fold some into the batter of the giant donut cake itself.

Get ready to dive into a spectacular, giant donut cake!

Ingredients
Cake
* 1-1/2 cups cake flour
* 1-1/2 cups flour
* 1-3/4 cups sugar
* 2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 cup butter, cold
* 4 eggs
* 1-1/2 cups sour cream
* 2 teaspoons vanilla
* 1/4 cup sprinkles
Frosting
* 4 tablespoons butter, melted
* 2 cups powdered sugar
* 2-3 tablespoons half-and-half or milk
* 2-3 drops pink food coloring
* 2 tablespoons sprinkles

Steps
STIR FLOUR AND CAKE FLOUR TOGETHER IN A MIXING BOWL

STIR SUGAR, BAKING SODA AND SALT INTO THE FLOUR MIXTURE

SHRED FROZEN BUTTER

ADD SHREDDED BUTTER TO FLOUR MIXTURE

STIR TOGETHER BUTTER AND FLOUR MIXTURE

POUR WHOLE EGGS INTO MIXING BOWL

STIR TOGETHER THE EGGS, BUTTER AND FLOUR TO CREATE YOUR BATTER

POUR VANILLA INTO THE BATTER

ADD SOUR CREAM TO THE BATTER

MIX THE SOUR CREAM AND VANILLA INTO THE CAKE BATTER

STIR SPRINKLES INTO YOUR BATTER

COMPLETELY BUTTER TWO RING MOLD PANS

SIFT FLOUR INTO BOTH RING MOLD PANS

BE SURE YOU HAVE A NICE THICK LAYER OF FLOUR COVERING THE WHOLE PAN

FILL PANS WITH CAKE BATTER AND PLACE ON BAKING SHEET

FOR THE FROSTING, START BY ADDING POWDERED SUGAR TO A BOWL

ADD BUTTER TO THE POWDERED SUGAR BOWL

ADD HALF AND HALF TO THE BUTTER AND POWDERED SUGAR

MIX TOGETHER THE HALF AND HALF, BUTTER AND POWDERED SUGAR

STIR IN PINK FOOD COLORING TO FROSTING MIXTURE

LAYER PARCHMENT PAPER ON A PLATE

FLIP CAKE OVER ONTO PAPER AND TOP WITH A LAYER OF FROSTING

ADD SECOND LAYER OF CAKE TO THE TOP OF THE FROSTED CAKE

COVER TOP LAYER OF CAKE COMPLETELY WITH FROSTING

COVER FROSTING WITH SPRINKLES

GENTLY SLIDE PARCHMENT PAPER OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAKE

DONUTS BELONG IN A PINK DONUT BOX

THE PERFECT CAKE TO TAKE TO A PARTY OR CELEBRATION

A SLICE OF THIS CAKE IS A DONUT LOVERS DREAM COME TRUE

Detailed instructions

Instructions
Cake
1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Grease and flour a 10-inch ring mold pan (not a Bundt pan).
3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together the flours, sugar, baking powder and salt.
4. Grate the cold butter into the bowl, and mix until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
5. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
6. Combine the sour cream and vanilla in a small bowl, and add about half of this mixture to the flour mixture. Beat until well blended and smooth. Add the other half of the sour cream mixture, and beat until smooth.
7. Gently fold in the sprinkles.
8. Pour the batter into the ring mold pan, and spread into an even layer.
9. Bake 30-35 minutes, or until the cake is golden brown on top, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
10. Allow to cool in pan for a few minutes, then invert onto a cooling rack to cool completely before frosting.
Frosting
1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the butter and powdered sugar.
2. Add enough half-and-half to make a thick glaze. It should be about the consistency of syrup.
3. Spoon the glaze over the top of the cooled cake, allowing it to run down the sides.
4. Add the sprinkles on top.
5. Slice and serve.