Cinnamon Sugar Donuts

By: Julie Blanner28 Comments
Updated: 2/21/23

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These cinnamon sugar donuts are really a delight! They are baked in your oven, making them so incredibly quick and easy to make.

With the easiest pantry ingredients, you can whip these little donuts up in a flash. They are light, fluffy, and finished with the most wonderful cinnamon sugar coating.

Perfect for your most special Christmas morning breakfast, but easy enough for any day of the year, I think you’re going to love them!

Cinnamon sugar donuts stacked on a marble countertop.

I’m always looking for an excuse to make homemade baked donuts. But honestly, when they are this easy to make, maybe I need to find reasons not to make them.

Growing up, we always had traditional fried donuts, or these delicious shortcut biscuit donuts. I have to say, it’s well worth purchasing a donut pan so you can bake your donuts instead, so you can feel just a touch less guilty about this indulgence.

If you love these donuts, be sure to check out my yummy Homemade Baked Donuts which are topped with a chocolate icing! If you don’t have a doughnut pan you will love this meltaway muffin adaptation, too.

These cinnamon sugar doughnuts are just as good as fried, and bonus! They won’t leave your kitchen smelling like grease for days.

They’re so easy the girls even help me make them. I slightly adapted this recipe years ago from the Barefoot Contessa Foolproof cookbook, and it’s a keeper!

Cinnamon sugar donuts on a marble countertop.

Table of Contents

Why You’ll Love Baked Cinnamon Sugar Donuts

Pantry Ingredients (+ milk, egg and butter)
Fun to roll in Cinnamon + Sugar
Kid love Them
Easy to Customize

★★★★★
5 STAR REVIEW
“I have made these twice now and love them! So easy to make, with simple ingredients, and they are SO yummy! ”
—TESS—

Ingredients and Substitutions

Flour and Sugar – Nothing fancy here, all purpose flour and white sugar work perfectly.
Baking Powder – This helps the donuts to rise during baking and helps to get them light and fluffy.
Salt – Adding salt to baked goods really helps to bring out the flavors.
Cinnamon – Use ground cinnamon powder. Check that it’s not stale by rubbing a little bit between your fingers – it should release an aroma.
Milk and Butter – Adds moisture to the batter. Use whatever milk you have on hand. Unsalted butter is best here – if you do use salted, reduce or eliminate the added salt in the batter.
Vanilla – You can make your own vanilla extract or use store bought. If possible, choose pure vanilla extract over imitation, if you can.
For the Coating – Butter, sugar and cinnamon.

Variations

Add a teaspoon of nutmeg
Instead of a traditional cinnamon sugar mixture, use Apple Pie Spice for a fall spin.

A variety of gold cake pans, loaf pans and muffin baking pan sizes laid out on a marble surface.

Tools to Use

Mixing Bowls
Measuring Cups + Measuring Spoons
Donut Pan
Baking Spray (this one is my favorite but you can use whatever you have on hand)
A baking sheet and wire rack (to help make clean-up and cooling easy)

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How To Make Cinnamon Sugar Donuts

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease doughnut pans with baking spray to prevent sticking.
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
Combine wet ingredient and gradually add dry ingredients until just combined.
Spoon batter into pans, filling just over 3/4 full.
Bake as directed. Allow to cool 5 minutes before removing. While cooling, melt butter and mix up the cinnamon sugar topping.
Lightly dip each donut in butter, followed by cinnamon and sugar mixture and serve warm.

A baked donut being dipped into butter and a cinnamon sugar mixture.

Tips

Need help with baking conversions? Check out my Essential Measurement Conversion Chart or use the servings bar in the recipe card.
Don’t overmix the donut batter, the ingredients should be just combined. Over mixing can cause them to become chewy rather than light and fluffy.
Don’t overfill your donut pan – Fill 3/4 full to allow for rise.
These cinnamon sugar donuts are ready to come out of the oven when they are golden brown and an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
If you are making them ahead of time, they can be reheated in the microwave or oven before serving.

Scaling up, down or substituting? You’ll love this printable Measurement Conversion Chart!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it donut or doughnut?

In the United States, donut and doughnut are used interchangeably. Both spellings are grammatically correct, although doughnut is the traditional spelling and is accepted worldwide.

Are donuts better baked or fried?

Let’s be honest, baking donuts instead of frying them is definitely a healthier option. They are baked using less fat, so they are a great option if you have a donut craving but don’t want to indulge in a traditional fried donut.

To Store

Room Temperature – Store these baked cinnamon sugar donuts at room temperature for up to two days, in an airtight container.
Refrigerate – Let the donuts cool completely and store them in an airtight container up to a week.
Freeze – You can also freeze donuts by wrapping them in plastic wrap or foil and placing them in a freezer bag. Thaw them at room temperature.