• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Pastry Wishes
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • How-tos and Tips
  • Web Stories
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipes
  • How-tos and Tips
  • Web Stories
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » All Recipes

    Cinnamon Sugar Donuts

    Published: Jan 18, 2023 by Voula with 2 Comments

    Sharing is caring!

    27 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    These baked cinnamon sugar donuts are soft, moist and delicious. They're incredibly quick and easy to make, too!

    A stack of cinnamon sugar donuts on parchment paper next to a cinnamon stick.

    These cinnamon donuts are great for breakfast, or any time of the day, actually.

    What I love the most about these baked cinnamon donuts is that they're so quick and easy to make!

    I adapted this cinnamon donut recipe from Ina Garten and my family loves it! I make them quite often.

    These baked donuts are so delicious and cinnamony! You should definitely give them a try, especially if you like cinnamon!😋

    Love cinnamon desserts? Try my Easy Cinnamon Cupcakes with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting or my Classic Cinnamon Rolls .

    Table of Contents

    • Why you'll love this easy baked donuts recipe:
    • What do these baked cinnamon donuts taste like?
    • WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE CINNAMON SUGAR DONUTS BAKED
    • Ingredients for cinnamon sugar donuts
    • Equipment you'll need
    • HOW TO MAKE CINNAMON SUGAR DONUTS WITHOUT YEAST
    • Step by step Instructions
    • Recipe Notes
    • Storage
    • VARIATIONS
    • TIPS FOR SUCCESS
    • FAQ
    • RELATED RECIPES
    • Cinnamon Sugar Donuts
      • Ingredients
        • For the donuts
        • For the topping
      • Instructions
        • Make the topping
      • Notes

    Why you'll love this easy baked donuts recipe:

    • It’s one of the simplest recipes you'll find. This baked donut recipe is super easy, it's practically foolproof.
    • These cinnamon sugared donuts are baked, not fried. That means they're not only easier to make, but they're much lighter and healthier, too.
    • There's no yeast. This recipe is for cinnamon sugar cake donuts which don't have yeast. So, there's no kneading or waiting for the dough to rise.
    • They're perfectly spiced. These cinnamon sugar baked donuts have just the right amount of cinnamon and spices.
    • They taste amazing! To me, they taste like they came from a bakery.

    What do these baked cinnamon donuts taste like?

    These cinnamon baked donuts are really soft and moist. They have a yummy cinnamon flavor and a nice crunch from the sugar coating.

    WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE CINNAMON SUGAR DONUTS BAKED

    Ingredients for cinnamon sugar donuts

    Labeled ingredients for cinnamon sugar donuts.
    • Flour: I use all purpose flour.
    • Baking Powder: This will give the donuts some lift.
    • Butter: I use unsalted butter melted. You can use salted butter, too, if you prefer.
    • Sugar & Salt: I use granulated sugar for the donuts, but you could also use light brown sugar. For the cinnamon sugar topping, I use granulated sugar and some ground cinnamon. A little bit of salt brings all the flavors together.
    • Spices: I use a combination of ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg.
    • Egg: I use a medium egg.
    • Milk: I use 2%, but you could use whole milk, too. I also think buttermilk would be nice as well. You can also use dairy free milk.
    • Vanilla: I use pure vanilla extract.

    See the recipe card at the end of the post for quantities.

    Cinnamon sugar donuts on a plate full of cinnamon sugar and cinnamon sticks on a white surface.

    Equipment you'll need

    • mixing bowls
    • whisk
    • 2 6 ct. donut pans (I use silicone pans)

    TOP TIP

    If you don't have a donut pan, you can easily use a muffin or cupcake pan! They won't have the hole in the middle, but they'll still taste great!

    HOW TO MAKE CINNAMON SUGAR DONUTS WITHOUT YEAST

    Step by step Instructions

    Sifting flour into a mixing bowl.

    In a large mixing bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, and cinnamon together.

    Whisking flour, baking powder and salt in a mixing bowl.

    Then add the nutmeg, sugar and salt and whisk to combine.

    A mixing bowl with cinnamon sugar donut batter.

    In another bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, melted butter and vanilla. Then pour all the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.

    Whisking donut batter in a mixing bowl.

    Whisk together until just combined. Don't overmix it. It's OK if you see a few small lumps.

    A silicone donut mold filled with donut batter.

    Then spoon the batter into the donut cavities (about ¾ full) and bake the donuts.

    A white dish with cinnamon sugar and a spoon.

    Make the cinnamon sugar mixture for the topping. Just stir together the sugar and the ground cinnamon.

    A hand dipping a cinnamon donut into a bowl with melted butter.

    Quickly dunk the donuts in the melted butter on both sides. For less sweet donuts, you can dunk them on one side only.

    A hand dipping a cinnamon donut into a dish with cinnamon sugar.

    Finally, dip the donuts in the cinnamon sugar mixture.

    TOP TIP

    Brush the melted butter on the donuts with a pastry brush instead of dipping them with your hands. It's a lot less messier that way!

    A white plate with four cinnamon sugar donuts.

    Recipe Notes

    Storage

    These cinnamon sugar doughnuts taste best when served immediately. However, you can store them in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to about 2-3 days.

    A close up of a hand holding a bitten cinnamon sugar donut.

    VARIATIONS

    For unique flavors, you can add some vanilla sugar lemon sugar, or orange sugar to the to the topping mixture.

    Did you know there are donut hole pans? You can use this recipe to make cinnamon sugar donut holes with that pan!

    TIPS FOR SUCCESS

    • Measure the ingredients properly, particularly the flour. A digital scale is highly recommended for best results.
    • Make sure your ingredients are at room temperature.
    • Don't overmix the batter because it could make the donuts a bit dense.
    • Leave the baked donuts in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
    • Make sure not to soak the donuts in the butter because they'll get soggy. You just want to dip them quickly.

    FAQ

    Can you freeze cinnamon sugar donuts?

    Yes! I freeze them uncoated. Just put them in freezer bags or freezer-safe containers and freeze them for about a month. To thaw, just place them in the refrigerator overnight. You can also thaw them at room temperature for a couple of hours. Then, dip them in melted butter and then coat them with the cinnamon sugar.

    Would brown sugar and cinnamon taste good together?

    Absolutely! Brown sugar pairs really well with cinnamon. You can make this recipe with brown sugar, if you prefer.

    Are baked donuts healthier than fried?

    Fried donuts absorb a lot of oil making them higher in calories. These baked donuts are quickly dunked in melted butter and not soaked, so they are healthier than fried donuts.

    Happy baking!

    RELATED RECIPES

    Looking for other recipes with cinnamon? Try these:

    • Easy Swirled Cinnamon Raisin Bread (2 Ways)
    • Fluffy Eggless Cinnamon Rolls
    • Ladokouloura Greek Olive Oil Cookies (Vegan + Easy)
    • Easy Biscoff Truffles

    Let me know how these cinnamon sugar donuts turn out for you in the comments below! I’d love to hear from you!

    A stack of cinnamon sugar donuts on parchment paper next to a cinnamon stick.
    Print

    Cinnamon Sugar Donuts

    These baked cinnamon sugar donuts are soft, moist and delicious. They're incredibly quick and easy to make, too!
    Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 17 minutes
    Total Time 31 minutes
    Servings 12
    Author Voula

    Ingredients

    For the donuts

    • 2 cups (250g) all purpose flour
    • 2 teaspoons baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • ¾ cup (150g) sugar
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 1 medium egg, at room temperature
    • 1 cup (250ml) milk, at room temperature
    • 2 tablespoons (30g) unsalted butter, melted
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla

    For the topping

    • 4 tablespoons (60g) unsalted butter, melted
    • ½ cup (100g) sugar
    • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350°F / 180°C.
    • Grease the donut pans really well (I use butter). Set them aside.
    • In a large mixing bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, and cinnamon together. Then add the nutmeg, sugar and salt and whisk together to combine.
    • In another small bowl, whisk together the milk, melted butter, vanilla, and egg until they're all combined.
    • Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk together until just combined. Don't overmix it. It's OK if you see a few small lumps in the batter.
    • Spoon the batter into the donut cavities, about ¾ full.
    • Bake the donuts for 17-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in one comes out clean.
    • Let the donuts cool in the pans for about 10 minutes before removing them . Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

    Make the topping

    • Stir together the sugar and the ground cinnamon in a small bowl.
    • Quickly dunk the donuts in the melted butter on both sides. For less sweet donuts, you can dunk them on one side only. Alternatively, use a pastry brush to brush the melted butter on them. Don't soak the donuts in the butter too long because they'll get soggy.
    • Dip the donuts in the cinnamon mixture.
    • Enjoy!

    Notes

    • These cinnamon sugar donuts taste best when served immediately. However, you can store them in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to about 2-3 days.
     
    Freezing Instructions
    You can freeze these baked donuts, too. Just put them in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag and freeze them for up to about a month. To thaw them, just place them in the refrigerator overnight.
    Picture Tutorial & Tips
    I have a detailed picture tutorial in my post to help you out with each step of the recipe as well as lots of tips to ensure success.
    Baking Measurements
    I have used weight measurements for all the recipes on this website. Even though I have also included American volume measurements for convenience, I highly recommend using a digital kitchen scale to weigh all ingredients for the most accurate measurements. Digital kitchen scales are more precise than cups, which is so important in baking, and they give the most accurate, consistent results. Happy baking!
    Recipe slightly adapted from Ina Garten.
    ©Pastry Wishes
    « Homemade Granola Clusters
    Granola Smoothie »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Katrin

      January 23, 2023 at 6:28 pm

      5 stars
      I really like this recipe! So easy, so delicious! Great breakfast for my kids.

      Reply
      • Voula

        January 23, 2023 at 7:04 pm

        Yay! 🙌 I'm so glad you liked them! Thanks for the feedback! 😊

        Reply

    Thanks for stopping by! Let me know what you think: Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi! I'm Voula!

    about me photo

    I’m a self-taught baker, recipe developer and aspiring food photographer with a passion for baking. I believe making desserts from scratch doesn’t have to be intimidating or complicated. Learn more about me ...

    JOIN MY FREE EMAIL LIST!

    Subscribe for easy-to-follow recipes, how-tos, and tips!

    Thank you!

    You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

    .

    Yum

    Healthy

    • Easy Apple Chips
    • Strawberry Banana Chocolate Smoothie
    • HEALTHY TAHINI BREAKFAST COOKIES – VEGAN, GF, REFINED SUGAR FREE, OIL FREE
    • How to Make Ancient Greek Sesame Bars - Pasteli

    Popular

    • Easy Vanilla Swiss Roll Recipe
    • MANDARIN MARMALADE (Without Pectin + Tips)
    • 3 Ingredient Oreo Cake
    • How to Make Peanut Butter (Step-by-step Tutorial)
    • Greek Ekmek Kataifi
    • Virgin Mojito Recipe With Sprite
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    INFO

    • About
    • Privacy Policy

    FOLLOW

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    RECIPES

    • All Recipes

    CONTACT

    • Contact Us

    Copyright © 2023 Pastry Wishes

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Do not sell my personal information.
    Cookie SettingsAccept
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT