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These cinnamon sugar donuts are moist, fluffy, and perfectly spiced. You can have these baked donuts ready in just 30 minutes with just 11 everyday ingredients that you most likely already have on hand.
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.
What You’ll Need
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 Baked Cinnamon 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 the Best Baked 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
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Cinnamon Sugar Donuts
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.
Well I just made these yummy donuts! I’m not a fan of nutmeg, but saw one of your replies that you could substitute with cinnamon so that’s what I did. Super easy to make and I had all the ingredients on hand. They baked beautifully. No problem with the sugar and cinnamon sticking. They were perfectly delicious! Thank you for this easily to follow great recipe!
Do you think you could substitute buttermilk for the milk?
Yes, you could use buttermilk, it will make the donuts more tender!
Beth your donuts at just the best!! I made them for my granddaughter who is six and she cannot digest higher fat content ones and these made her so happy! No tummy aches, easy to make and you just made this grammie a rock star donut maker.😘