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Donut Cake

by Jessie Daye

First published: March 2, 2018 | Updated: June 10, 2026
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A fun and easy layered chocolate cake decorated with mini donuts and Nilla wafer cookies.

Donut Cake

Author: Jessie Daye
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Cook 30 minutes
A fun and easy layered chocolate cake decorated with mini donuts and Nilla wafer cookies.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups white sugar
  • 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup milk
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • ¾ cup pasteurized liquid egg whites
  • 6 cups powdered sugar 24oz
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 3 cups unsalted butter, room temperature 24 oz
  • 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
  • Mini Nilla Wafers
  • Royal Frosting or store bought cookie frosting
  • Fancy Sprinkles
  • Mini Krispie Kreme Donuts

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two nine inch round pans.
  2. In a large bowl, stir together the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add the eggs, milk, oil and vanilla, mix for 2 minutes on medium speed of mixer. Stir in the boiling water last. Batter will be thin. Pour evenly into the prepared pans.
  3. Bake 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until the cake is done - check with a toothpick. Cool for 10 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
  4. While your cakes are cooling you can make your Nilla Wafer donuts. Simply turn over a mini Nilla Wafer and using a metal straw or a paper straw rock it back and forth gently twisting until you make a small hole in the center of the cookie on the back side. Do not press down on the rounded top of the cookie or it will break every time. You will break a couple, but if you turn the straw while you push down gently you will get a perfect donut every time. If you are using paper straws you will need a bunch because they lose their "sharpness". You can make about 4 donuts per paper straw (2 on each side of the straw) before it gets dull.
  5. Combine egg whites, powdered sugar, and salt in the bowl of a large stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a spatula occasionally, for 5 minutes.
  6. Turn mixer to low and slowly start adding the room temperature butter. Add the vanilla extract and mix at medium speed for 8-10 minutes until buttercream is light and fluffy.
  7. Frost both your cakes and stack together. Coat entire cake in frosting and decorate with donuts.

Notes

TIP: If you want to do the chocolate drip technique, there is a tutorial on My Cake School. You can use whatever cake recipe you want and stack it tall with donuts. Mini Nilla wafers make cute fairy donuts on the bottom.

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1 comment

  • Hi. Can regular egg whites be used in place of the pasteurized liquid egg whites?

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Hi, I'm Jessie. 

I’m a Los Angeles mama, home renovator, and lifelong creative, sharing the things that make everyday life a little more beautiful. I believe food is one of the best ways to bring people together, which is why I love cooking: it turns an ordinary Tuesday into something worth remembering. From recipes I make on repeat to DIY projects, home design, and a little bit of real life in between — welcome to my corner of the internet. I’m so glad you’re here.

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