Baked Cinnamon Sugar Donuts

These are the best baked cinnamon sugar donuts to make when you want light and fluffy donuts but without the hassle of deep frying. Whether you enjoy donuts with coffee, for breakfast, or as a delicious dessert, this is the recipe for you.

Jump to:

• 🌟 Why this is the best Cinnamon Sugar Donuts recipe
• 📝 Ingredient notes
• 👩‍🍳 How to make this recipe
• 📚 Flavor variations & Substitutions
• 🥣 Equipment Notes
• 🎓 Expert tips
• ❓Recipe FAQs
• 🍩 More Donut recipes
• Baked Cinnamon Sugar Donuts

🌟 Why this is the best Cinnamon Sugar Donuts recipe

1. It's simple: Firstly, all the ingredients are pantry staples, and there is no need to proof the dough, which saves precious time. What's more, you don't need any complex equipment or a deep-fat fryer to follow my step-by-step baked donut recipe. What could be easier?
2. It's lighter: Baked donuts are healthier donuts than deep-fried donuts. Which means you can enjoy them more frequently with less guilt. So make cinnamon sugar donuts healthy (or, at least, healthier) with my easy recipe for baked cinnamon donuts coated in a deliciously sweet and subtly spiced cinnamon sugar coating. Light, fluffy, you will love it!
3. It's tasty: I don't compromise on taste! Even though this is a baked donut recipe, they still have that light and fluffy texture and delicious flavor. Every bite is loaded with delicate cinnamon spice, but all the flavors are perfectly balanced.

📝 Ingredient notes

Baked Cinnamon Sugar Donuts

Here are the ingredients you need to make these easy cinnamon sugar donuts from scratch.

1. Unsalted butter: Use unsalted butter to be in control over the salt content in the recipe, and ensure the butter is at room temperature before you begin making these baked cinnamon sugar donuts.
2. Brown sugar: Using light brown sugar gives us more molasses content, which results in a deeper flavor and some caramel undertones.
3. Granulated sugar: White granulated sugar gives that classic sweet donut taste, as well as plays a part in its soft and delicious texture.
4. Egg: This kitchen superhero plays many roles in baking, including binding, adding fat, and adding protein. Always use room-temperature eggs for best results.
5. Greek-style yogurt: I love baking with Greek yogurt as it adds moisture and some vital acidity that really brings out all the flavors. Buy full-fat yogurt and take it out of the fridge 20 minutes before baking so it's at room temperature.
6. All-purpose flour: All purpose flour (also known as AP flour or plain flour) is a great all-rounder for baking; it has a medium protein content and works well in most baked goods like cakes, brownies, and cookies.
7. Baking powder: This leavening agent helps your donuts to rise and get all light and super fluffy.
8. Salt: Whilst it might seem strange to use salt in a sweet cinnamon sugar baked donuts recipe, it actually just helps to bring out all the flavors and balances the sweetness, so be sure to include it.
9. Ground cinnamon: The addition of this aromatic spice adds a delicious subtle warmth to the baked donuts; don't skip it!

Cinnamon sugar coating

My cinnamon sugar recipe for donuts could not be simpler, but it really elevates them to the next level. Here are the basics you will need.

1. Melted unsalted butter: A small amount of melted butter is all you need to glaze the outside of these donuts before dipping them into the cinnamon sugar mixture so that it sticks. Simple!
2. Granulated sugar: You can use white granulated sugar. I like to use fine sugar, but you can change it up for extra crunch if you prefer.
3. Cinnamon: We add more ground cinnamon to the coating so that every bite has that signature spice and warmth; plus, it makes them smell divine!

🛒 You’ll find detailed measurements for all ingredients in the printable version of the Recipe Card at the bottom of this post

👩‍🍳 How to make this recipe

1. Step-by-step process of making Cinnamon Sugar Donuts

It is so easy to make baked donuts; the process is very similar to baking cakes, and there is no need to own a deep fryer or have to dispose of leftover oil.

1. Preheat your oven to 175 C / 347 F (no fan).
2. Cream the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar together in a large mixing bowl using an electric hand mixer until fluffy and light.
3. Slowly mix in the eggs and then the yogurt. Turn off the mixer.
4. Sift the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon together in a separate bowl and then fold these dry ingredients into the wet ingredients using a rubber spatula.
5. Carefully pipe or spoon the cinnamon sugar donut batter into the donut mold.

💡 Top Tip: Ensure that all of your donut ingredients are at room temperature before you begin, as this will help them to emulsify properly. Take the butter, yogurt, and eggs out of the fridge 30 early.

2. How to bake and glaze donuts

1. Bake donuts in the preheated oven for 13-15 min or until a skewer or toothpick comes out clean when inserted.
2. While baking the donuts, mix the granulated sugar with the ground cinnamon until fully incorporated in a large mixing bowl.
3. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat or in the microwave and lightly brush over the surface of each cinnamon donut to give the cinnamon coating something to stick to.
4. Toss the doughnuts into the homemade cinnamon sugar topping mixture.
5. Serve the baked donuts fresh and warm from the oven or store them at room temperature in an air-tight container and eat for 2-3 days.

💡 Top Tip: Focus on the texture, not the time in the oven. Use the toothpick test to avoid raw donuts; it should come out clean. Do not overbake the cinnamon donuts, as that will result in a dry texture.

📚 Flavor variations & Substitutions

You can play with this easy donut recipe to suit you and add extra flavors if you prefer. Sometimes, I like to add a teaspoon ground nutmeg to really hammer down on the aromatic spice levels. Or, a teaspoon of vanilla extract can also taste delicious with cinnamon desserts. I even sometimes add a cream cheese frosting on top to add some rich and tangy decadence to the recipe.

If you are baking around a dietary restriction or preference, be sure to read my baking substitution guides to make sure you are using the right swaps.

I love baking donuts and have plenty of other easy donut recipes for you to try next. Try baking some of these simple sugar donuts, or my pumpkin spice donuts are the classic fall donut edition!

🥣 Equipment Notes

I use a digital scale to weigh ingredients for precision rather than measure by volume. Baking is a science, and you will get better results if you really pay attention to the particulars.

An electric hand mixer and then a rubber spatula allow for effective mixing without overworking the batter.

I use this silikomart donut mold for baked donuts to get the perfect uniform shape and size every time. Check your oven is the right temperature with a digital oven thermometer - so many errors in baking originate from an oven that is too hot or too cold. I then cool donuts on a wire cooling rack before glazing and eating (preferably whilst they are still warm).

🎓 Expert tips

1. Use a digital scale and weigh by the gram for a consistent, happy baking experience.
2. Switch to a rubber spatula to incorporate the dry ingredients after the wet ingredients are whipped up to avoid overworking the baked cinnamon donut batter.
3. I recommend using a silicon mold to bake donuts. But if you are using a cake tin, donut pan, or muffin pan, be sure to grease it thoroughly first. And read my article about preparing a non-silicone mold and how to get a cake out of the mold.
4. Always preheat the oven and use a digital oven thermometer to ensure you bake at the right temperature.
5. Brush the melted butter over the whole surface of the baked doughnuts, as the cinnamon sugar will only stick to the part that is buttered. But don't overdo it!

❓Recipe FAQs

🍩 More Donut recipes