Delicious Baked Cinnamon Sugar Donuts

My roommate sophomore year had this donut pan gathering dust in the back of a cabinet, and one rainy Sunday I decided to rescue it from neglect. The kitchen smelled like a bakery within minutes, and we ended up eating most of them straight off the cooling rack while watching old movies. Now baked donuts are my go-to when I want something special without the mess of frying.

Last Christmas morning I made a double batch while my family was still sleeping, and the smell of cinnamon and sugar actually lured my teenage brother out of bed before noon. He stood in the kitchen dipping each donut into the coating, pretending to help while really just eating half of them. Now its not really Christmas without that little paper towel full of cinnamon sugar on the counter.

Ingredients

• All-purpose flour: The structure of these donuts comes from gluten development, but since were not making bread, standard flour gives you that tender cake-like texture that melts in your mouth
• Granulated sugar: This sweetens the batter while also helping the donuts brown beautifully in the oven, creating those golden edges that taste slightly caramelized
• Baking powder: This is what makes them rise and become fluffy rather than dense, so measure carefully and make sure its fresh
• Ground cinnamon: Just a hint in the batter echoes the coating and gives you that classic cinnamon roll flavor throughout
• Salt: A small amount balances all the sugar and wakes up the other flavors so they dont taste flat
• Milk: Room temperature milk incorporates better and creates a more tender crumb than cold milk straight from the fridge
• Eggs: These provide structure and richness while helping the donuts rise, and bringing them to room temperature prevents them from seizing the melted butter
• Unsalted butter, melted: Butter adds incredible flavor that oil cant match, and melting it makes it easy to incorporate into the batter
• Pure vanilla extract: This amplifies all the other flavors and adds that classic bakery taste that makes everything taste homemade
• Extra granulated sugar and cinnamon for coating: The ratio here is sweet enough to feel indulgent but not so much that you need a glass of milk immediately
• Additional melted butter: Brushing the donuts with butter before rolling helps the cinnamon sugar stick and adds another layer of richness

Instructions

Get your oven ready:

Preheat to 375°F and generously grease your donut pan with nonstick spray or melted butter, getting into all those little nooks and crannies where donuts love to stick

Mix the dry ingredients:

Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl until everything is evenly distributed

Combine the wet ingredients:

In a separate bowl, whisk the milk, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla until smooth and well combined

Bring it all together:

Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir gently with a spatula just until no flour streaks remain, being careful not to overwork the batter

Fill the pan:

Spoon or pipe the batter into each donut cavity, filling them about three-quarters full, and use a finger to smooth out any rough tops

Bake until golden:

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the tops are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted comes out clean

Cool briefly:

Let the donuts rest in the pan for just 3 minutes so they set up, then carefully transfer them to a wire rack

Make the coating:

While the donuts are still warm, stir together the extra sugar and cinnamon in a shallow bowl until well combined

Coat the donuts:

Brush each warm donut lightly with melted butter, then immediately roll it in the cinnamon sugar mixture until completely coated

Enjoy immediately:

These are best served warm while the coating is still slightly crunchy from the butter

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My neighbor texted me at 8pm one Tuesday saying she needed something to bring to a morning meeting the next day. I whipped these up while we chatted about her job stress, and she texted later that everyone kept asking where she bought them. Sometimes the simplest recipes are the ones that make people feel taken care of.

Making Them Your Own

Once you have the basic method down, these donuts become a canvas for whatever flavors youre craving. I love adding a pinch of nutmeg to the batter or swapping the cinnamon for cardamom when I want something more sophisticated. The coating can be spiced up too, maybe with some ginger or a splash of vanilla mixed into the sugar.

The Baking Advantage

Baked donuts have a completely different texture from fried ones, lighter and more cake-like with less grease. They also keep better, so you can make them the night before and they will still taste amazing the next morning. The coating does get softer over time, but a quick 10 second zap in the microwave brings back that fresh-baked magic.

Serving Ideas

These are perfect for brunch alongside scrambled eggs and fresh fruit, but I also love them as an afternoon snack with coffee. For a dessert presentation, try sandwiching two with buttercream or cutting them in half and making little donut sundaes with ice cream. The cinnamon sugar coating plays beautifully with almost anything.

• Set up a coating station with different spiced sugars and let people customize their own
• Dip half the donut in glaze instead of rolling in sugar for a pretty two-tone look
• Store any leftovers in the microwave for 10 seconds to refresh the coating

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There is something so comforting about warm donuts that makes any ordinary day feel like a celebration, even if it is just a Tuesday morning with coffee.

Recipe Questions & Answers

→ Can I make these donuts gluten-free?

Yes, simply swap the all-purpose flour for a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend. The texture remains light and fluffy, and the cinnamon sugar coating works perfectly with gluten-free batter.

→ Do I need a donut pan to make these?

A donut pan is essential for achieving the classic ring shape. If you don't have one, you can use a muffin tin—just adjust the baking time to 14-16 minutes and coat the tops with cinnamon sugar.

→ How should I store leftover donuts?

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. For longer freshness, freeze uncoated donuts for up to 3 months and reapply the cinnamon sugar coating after thawing.

→ Can I prepare the batter ahead of time?

The batter is best used immediately as the leavening agents start working right away. However, you can mix the dry ingredients and wet ingredients separately the night before, then combine them just before baking.

→ What's the secret to getting the cinnamon sugar to stick?

Brush the warm donuts with melted butter immediately after their brief cooling period. The butter acts as the perfect adhesive for the cinnamon sugar mixture, creating an even, crunchy coating.