Warm, delicious, indulgent baked Cinnamon Sugar Donuts are the perfect sweet treats! Enjoy these with a hot cup of coffee and your favorite Sunday morning social media scrolls.
Donuts are amazing culinary creations. Fluffy, buttery, sugary pillows of yummy goodness. Dessert for breakfast.
They're the sweet special bites that my family doesn't dare indulge in on a regular basis, but we love to enjoy together as once-in-a-while weekend breakfast treats!
And donuts, believe it or not, are SO easy to make at home! My kids love when we break out the donut pan and spend a Sunday morning baking up these bad boys.
While I love making my healthier (but still SUPER tasty!) Paleo, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free donuts, sometimes a girl's just gotta have A REAL DONUT. Ya know? Enter my Cinnamon Sugar Donuts!
Real sugar. AP flour. Three different glazes. Sugar on sugar. Indulge!
This recipe is baked versus fried, so it's a little healthier than most donut recipes.
If you're looking for an AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS, crowd pleasing donut recipe to treat your friends and family - this is IT!
Baked Cinnamon Sugar Donuts
This donut recipe is super simple.
I've adapted an old Food Network recipe, tweaked it over the years, and this is the recipe my family loves, loves, LOVES.
If you don't yet own a donut pan or two, I highly recommend getting one. They're usually just around $10-15 each, and they last forever.
A good cooling rack and wax paper (to catch glaze drips) are also must-haves - not just for this recipe, but for baking in general.
If you have kids, they can help you:
- measure ingredients
- mix ingredients
- fill the donut pan
- glaze the donuts
And of course, you will have no problem getting your kids to help you EAT these beautiful donuts!
Glaze It!
For these cinnamon sugar donuts, I'm including three different toppings/glazes you can make.
There's the classic Cinnamon Sugar Glaze. This is my son's favorite!
The Classic Chocolate Glaze is my daughter's favorite.
Then there's my absolute favorite: Classic Vanilla Glaze. made with confectioner's sugar (powdered sugar) and butter, this elevates the bare cinnamon sugar donut to a whole new extra special level.
If you're looking for a very special weekend or holiday breakfast or brunch, this Baked Cinnamon Sugar Donuts recipe is for you.
I hope you love it as much as we do!
Baked Cinnamon Sugar Donuts Recipe
Baked Cinnamon Sugar Donuts
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 egg beaten
- 1 ¼ cups almond milk*
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Cinnamon Sugar Glaze
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Classic Vanilla Glaze
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Chocolate Gaze
- ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- 1 tablespoon corn syrup
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Grease two donut pans.
- In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, melted butter, and vanilla.
- Combine wet mixture with dry mixture until just blended.
- Fill each of the donut rings in the donut pans with just a bit of room at the top, about ¾ of the way full.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 15-17 minutes. The edges and tops will be slightly golden brown. You can also do the toothpick test and if it comes out clean, allow the donuts to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before tapping them out of the donut pan.
Make the Cinnamon Sugar Glaze
- Place butter in a microwaveable bowl wider than a donut, and microwave until melted (start at 30 seconds, then return for 10 more seconds until melted).
- In another large bowl, mix together cinnamon and sugar.
- Working one at a time, dip donuts into the melted butter, then immediately into the cinnamon sugar. Allow to set on a baking rack.
Make the Classic Vanilla Glaze
- In a large bowl, whisk together 2 cups powdered sugar, ¼ cup milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla until smooth. I use almond milk, but you can use 2% or whole milk. Dip donuts into the glaze, flip to glaze both sides. Place on cooling rack to allow the glaze to harden for a few minutes before devouring.
Make the Chocolate Glaze
- Place chocolate chips into a large microwaveable bowl, and microwave until melted and smooth. Start at 30 seconds, stir, then microwave for another 10-15 seconds and repeat until melted and smooth. Stir in melted butter and corn syrup until well blended and smooth. Dip donuts into the glaze, place on a cooling rack and allow the glaze to harden before eating.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.
What glaze/topping would you like to use with these donuts?
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Tina | The Worktop says
Making these sound like a fab activity for Sunday morning with the kids! Lucky kiddos get THREE glazes too!
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
It's perfect for making with the kids! :) Thanks, Tina!
Marisa Franca says
I haven't had donuts in years! What a great way to have one master recipe and then have different toppings. I bet you could do some great things with this recipe for Halloween. This recipe is a keeper.
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
You could customize for a bunch of different holidays! :) Thanks so much, Marisa!
swathi says
I have a donut pan, but never tried baked donuts as too lazy to try it. your recipe sounds so easy. I will make use of it. my kids like glazed and sugared donuts.
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
They are super easy, so you'll definitely have to put that pan to use :)
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
I really need to invest in a donut pan. The baked versions are definitely a guilt free option and love the different glazes you have up there. My kids are chocolate lovers whereas I am the classic vanilla glaze lover.
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
Yes, you do! Such a great thing to have around the kitchen. That's what's great about making them at home, you can customize them and add your own toppings and glazes :)
Catherine says
These baked donuts look fabulous! I would love one now with a cup of coffee on this rainy day.
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
Yes! They're so good with coffee :)
Veena Azmanov says
I love doughnuts. but my son is addicted to them. I love how simple this recipe is and how easy it is to make. The glaze is so awesome. Love how glozzy the chocolate glaze is..
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
They really are easy. Thanks, Veena! :)
Debi at Life Currents says
You are right, Donuts are amazing culinary creations! I have found that when I make homemade ones I like lemon glaze the best. But your classic vanilla looks great. I'll have to try your recipe soon.
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
If you do, let me know if you like it! Thanks! :)
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy says
Baked donuts are so much fun to make. I love my little donut pans. These look great and would be perfect for an afternoon treat, or brunch on the weekend. So much better than bought donuts.
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
I agree. Thanks, Gloria!
Andrea says
I love baked donuts! Yours look delicious,I need to make them soon!
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
Thanks, Andrea!
Calleigh K says
Cinnamon donuts are one of my weaknesses. You said they're baked? Sign me up, please.
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
Mine too. They're irresistible! :)
Joanna @ Everyday Made Fresh says
Perfect timing! My daughter has food allergies, and one of the things she can't have, that she misses the most is donuts from the donut shops. She just told me last night that she wanted me to make her donuts again!
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
That's so great to hear! I hope she likes them! :)
Noel says
So pretty and so easy - but I'm afraid I'm going to keep buying my donuts, one at a time ... if I make a batch like this, I'll end up eating the entire pile and that's going to be bad for my waistline! LOL
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
LOL They are definitely tempting!
Pech says
Oooo smart in baking the donuts, that makes it ok to have extra thick glaze right? RIGHT!
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
Of course! ;)
Adriana Lopez Martin says
My family loves donuts these are such a great treat and so much fun for serving, I have never made basked donuts but do have the baking pan for making them will try your recipe.
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
Let me know how you like it! :)
Hillary Harper says
I need to get a donut pan!! I've always wanted to make donuts at home. All 3 glazes look incredible - I'm a chocolate girl myself, but I would happily devour any of these!
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
They're great to have around! Thanks, Hillary! :)
Mary says
Those sound sooooo good, and you're right, they do sound easy! And I love that they're baked, not deep fried. Though I don't own a donut pan (yet). Do you think I could make them without one? I'd love to surprise my kids and make them. They'd freak out!! ;)
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
Thank you, Mary! You might be able to, but they would be much easier with the donut pan so they retain their shape.