This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
I’ve been making baked donuts since 2018, and since then it’s safe to say I’ve earned my title of baked donut expert! For these cinnamon sugar donuts, I used my popular baked donut recipe as a base and then coated them in a perfectly balanced cinnamon-sugar mixture.
Making baked cinnamon sugar donuts for your family or guests is like handing out warm hugs right in your own kitchen. While I typically reserve vanilla baked donuts and oreo donuts for special occasions, and pumpkin donuts for Fall, this baked cinnamon sugar donut recipe could make a monthly appearance in my house at minimum.
These are the best donuts to serve up alongside a cup of coffee. Enjoy them for breakfast, dessert, or in place of coffee cake while chatting with a friend. Just thinking about that scene gives me a cozy feeling!
Forget about Krispy Kreme and Dunkin Donuts, you’ll be baking up your own donuts from now on after the first day you try these. I recommend making a double batch of these cinnamon sugar donuts if you’re having company over.
If you don’t already have a donut pan (also known as a doughnut pan), add one to your kitchen now! Having a non-stick donut pan will allow you to make these cinnamon sugar donuts any day of the week. There are so many delicious baked donut recipes for you to try!
Why You’ll Love These Cinnamon Sugar Donuts
Here are a few reasons these cinnamon donuts are a favorite recipe in my home:
- They are baked, not fried. These homemade donuts are baked to perfection, allowing you to enjoy them with less guilt!
- No electric mixer needed. You don’t need any fancy or high-tech kitchen tools to have these delicious donuts. All you need are your standard mixing bowls, spatula or whisk, and a donut pan.
- Made with everyday pantry staples. Every ingredient used to make these cinnamon sugar donuts is likely already in your kitchen.
Sugar Donut Ingredients
This recipe yields perfect fluffy cake donuts made from basic ingredients. See the recipe card below for detailed measurements of these cinnamon sugar donuts.
- All purpose flour: Be sure to measure accurately. Too much or too little flour can change the texture of your donuts.
- Ground nutmeg: Nutmeg gives these donuts a warm, somewhat nutty flavor that makes them extra comforting.
- Granulated sugar
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Milk: I used whole milk, but you could use 2% or skim if you prefer.
- Eggs
- Vanilla extract: Just a bit of pure vanilla extract adds the perfect bit of flavor enhancement to compliment the spices.
- Vegetable oil
- Cinnamon: The star of these donuts, the cinnamon flavor adds a warm, spicy balance to the sugar.
If you love cinnamon sugar desserts, make sopapilla cheesecake next!
How to Make Sugar Donuts
Your family will love these baked donuts with a cinnamon-sugar coating. They are perfect to make on a Sunday morning.
Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Spray a donut pan with non-stick cooking spray then use a paper towel to evenly coat the entire donut well.
Combine dry ingredients. In a small bowl, combine the flour, nutmeg, sugar, baking powder and teaspoon salt, mix until combined. Set aside.
Combine wet ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, combine the wet ingredients – milk, large eggs, vanilla extract and vegetable oil – use a whisk or spatula to beat. Gradually add the flour mixture (dry ingredients), mixing by hand with a spatula just until combined.
Add batter to the donut pan. Transfer the batter to a large ziplock bag, then cut off one corner and pipe the batter into the donut wells. Alternatively, use a cookie scoop and drop dollops of batter into the wells. Use a small spatula to smooth the tops of the batter if the batter is uneven. Fill the wells 1/2 to 3/4ths full.
Bake and cool. Bake for 10-11 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a donut comes out clean. Allow the donuts to cool for 10 minutes in the donut pan. Then, turn the donut pan upside down and hit the pan again a counter a few times to release the donuts.
Coat each donut. Combine the cinnamon sugar mixture in a ziplock bag. Add one donut at a time to the bag, shake to coat.
Repeat as necessary. If the coating isn’t sticking, very lightly brush the donuts with melted butter, then shake in the bag. Enjoy your cinnamon sugar donuts!
Tips For Making Cinnamon Sugar Donuts
- Before measuring flour, fluff it with a fork and use a spoon to scoop it into a measuring cup, then level it with a butter knife.
- Be sure your donuts are completely cooled before storing in an airtight container. If they are still warm, the moisture will make for soggy cinnamon sugar donuts.
Substitutions & Variations
- Spice it up. If you want a more spiced up version of these cinnamon sugar donuts, try adding a sprinkle of allspice in the mixture.
- Sweeten it up. If you’d like a sweeter and more dessert-like experience, try drizzling the donuts with caramel or chocolate sauce right before serving.
- Make it gluten free. These cinnamon sugar donuts can be made gluten free if preferred. I recommend King Arthur’s Gluten Free Measure for Measure Flour. Use it as a one for one substitute for regular flour.
FAQs
Yes, you can freeze these cinnamon sugar donuts! Wrap each donut in plastic wrap, then place inside a freezer ziplock bag or container.
To thaw: microwave for 20 seconds or place on the counter for 30 minutes.
This baked donut recipe lasts 2-3 days in an airtight container on the counter, depending on how many doughnut lovers are in your house! If frozen, they can last up to 3 months.
More Donut Recipes
Tap stars to rate!
Cinnamon Sugar Donut
Equipment
Ingredients
Donuts
- 2 cups all purpose flour, properly measured, 240g
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ cup plus 2 tbsp milk, I used whole milk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ cup plus 2 tbsp vegetable oil
Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
Donuts
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Spray a donut pan with non-stick cooking spray then use a paper towel to evenly coat the entire donut well.
- In a smaller bowl, combine the flour, nutmeg, sugar, baking powder and salt, mix until combined. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the milk, egg, vanilla extract and vegetable oil, use a whisk or spatula to beat. Gradually add the flour mixture, mixing by hand with a spatula just until combined.
- Transfer the batter to a ziplock bag, then cut off one corner and pipe the batter into the donut wells. Alternatively, use a cookie scoop and drop dollops of batter into the wells. Use a small spatula to smooth the tops of the batter if the batter is uneven. Fill the wells 1/2 to 3/4ths full.
- Bake for 10-11 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a donut comes out clean. Allow the donuts to cool for 10 minutes in the donut pan. Then, turn the donut pan upside down and hit the pan again a counter a few times to release the donuts.
Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- Combine the cinnamon sugar mixture in a ziplock bag. Add one donut at a time to the bag, shake to coat. Repeat as necessary. If the coating isn’t sticking, very lightly brush the donuts with melted butter, then shake in the bag.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclosure
All nutritional values are approximate and provided to the reader as a courtesy. Changing ingredients and/or quantities will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.
The donuts look yummy, wish I had one in my hand right now!! I will be trying them as soon as I buy a donut pan. How many donuts does the recipe make?
Cece
Hi Cece! This recipe makes 12 donuts.
Hi! Can these be fried if I don’t have a donut pan?
Hi Nasreen! This is a baked donut recipe, so they cannot be fried.
Can’t wait to try them!
Hi can you just put them on a baking sheet if you dont have a donut pan
Hi David! Unfortunately no. The batter would just run together. The donut pan is crucial in forming them.
These look great . Can k use cinnamon instead of nutmeg in the batter ?
Yes you can use cinnamon in place of nutmeg!
Hi just a quick question, have you tried buttermilk in stead of milk for this receipe?
Recipe only made 6 donuts but I filled them pretty full. Didn’t care for the nutmeg, would try cinnamon if I made again. Also had a really hard time getting sugar/cinnamon to stick to them without buttering the outside. Think next time I would under bake slightly and then deep fat fry them for crispy outside and sugar might stick better too.
Thank you so much for sharing the recipe!
Just made them and they are delicious. Extremely easy to make and just got the thumbs up from my son. Guess this recipe is a keeper! Thank you for sharing it.
I made the cinnamon sugar donuts tonight 🤤They were delicious! I overfilled the pan a little and they came out looking more bagel like 😆 but that did not deter anyone from devouring them! My family ate them up fast!! Thank you ❤️
I’ve now made these several times with ease. Very good recipe that produces a nice, tender and flavorful donut. Can’t wait to try this base recipe with other variations, we live rural with nothing but Dunkin for donuts so, homemade is definitely the way to go.