Baked Cinnamon Sugar Donuts (Print Version)
Soft baked donuts coated in sweet cinnamon sugar, ready in under 30 minutes.
# What You'll Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
05 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
→ Wet Ingredients
06 - 3/4 cup milk, room temperature
07 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
08 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
09 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
→ Cinnamon Sugar Coating
10 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
11 - 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
12 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
# Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a standard donut pan thoroughly with nonstick cooking spray or softened butter.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt until evenly distributed.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk milk, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract until completely smooth and incorporated.
04 - Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Stir gently until just combined; the batter should remain slightly thick with visible flour streaks. Avoid overmixing.
05 - Transfer batter to a piping bag or zip-top bag with corner snipped. Pipe batter into prepared donut cavities, filling each approximately three-quarters full.
06 - Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until donuts are lightly golden and a wooden toothpick inserted into the thickest part emerges clean.
07 - Let donuts rest in the pan for 3 minutes to set. Carefully remove from pan and transfer to a wire rack.
08 - While donuts cool slightly, combine granulated sugar and ground cinnamon in a shallow bowl, stirring until uniform.
09 - Working with one donut at a time, brush generously with melted butter, then immediately roll in cinnamon sugar mixture, pressing gently to adhere coating evenly.
10 - Serve immediately while warm for best texture, or allow to cool completely. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- These bake up incredibly soft and tender with just enough crunch from that cinnamon sugar coating
- The whole process takes under 30 minutes from mixing bowl to first bite, faster than driving to any donut shop
02 -
- Room temperature ingredients aren't just a suggestion—they prevent the melted butter from solidifying into tiny lumps that create tough spots
- Letting donuts cool for exactly 3 minutes in the pan gives them structure while still being warm enough for the coating to stick properly
03 -
- Use a ziplock bag with the corner snipped off to pipe the batter—it's so much faster and cleaner than spooning, and you'll get more uniform donuts
- If your cinnamon sugar starts getting clumpy from the melted butter, whisk it with a fork or replace it halfway through for the best texture