• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Grits and Pinecones
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Mardi Gras
  • Valentine’s Day
  • All Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Grits and Pinecones » Recipes » Breakfast

    Easy Baked Cinnamon Sugar Donuts Recipe

    March 19, 2016 by Sharon Rigsby, Updated February 2, 2022 7 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Pinterest pin of cinnamon sugar baked donuts.

    Baked Cinnamon Sugar Donuts make every morning special!  Use a donut pan for this simple donut recipe for oven-baked donuts, which are cooked until golden brown, then dusted with a delightful mixture of cinnamon and sugar. Easy baked donuts have an exceptional taste without yeast or the mess of frying! 

    Four cinnamon sugar donuts on a white plate.

    It only takes a few minutes to whip up these sweet bites of heaven, and I’ll bet you already have everything you need right in your pantry and refrigerator. And the best part, cleanup is easier, and they have far fewer calories than regular fried donuts.

    More quick bread recipes:

    Did you know the definition of quick bread is any bread, which can be prepared quickly without yeast? And these delicious donuts fit that definition perfectly. Other popular quick bread recipes on my blog include  Zucchini Banana Muffins, Buttermilk Banana Bread with Blueberries, Unforgettable Lemon Bread with Lemon Glaze, Apple Cranberry Muffins, Easy Orange Cinnamon Rolls, and Easy Southern Peach Bread.  Need more recipes or menu ideas? Check out all of my bread recipes here.

    Donut Toppings:

    Of course, if you don’t like cinnamon sugar on your donuts, you can cover them with powdered sugar, or top them with any number of other creative toppings. How about Cookies & Cream, Birthday Cake, or Peanut Butter and Jelly toppings? Check out this post from Good Housekeeping to find out how to make these next-level toppings. 

    If you like to keep things simple, these homemade baked donuts are merely irresistible.  And, warm from the oven, they are delicious without any topping. 

    Donut Pan Recipe:

    I have a special donut pan which I ordered from Amazon, and they are relatively inexpensive. Now, you can find them just about anywhere, and they usually come with either six or a dozen spaces. If you don’t have a pan, don’t worry, you can use a mini-muffin tin. Your donuts will taste the same, and they will have a little different shape.

    Baked Cinnamon Sugar Donuts Ingredients:

    You will need the following ingredients for this simple donut recipe: butter, vegetable oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, baking powder, baking soda, ground nutmeg, ground cinnamon, salt, vanilla extract, flour, and milk.

    Ingredients for donuts including milk, baking soda, baking powder, sugar, eggs and sugar.

    How to make Baked Cinnamon Sugar Donuts:

    Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

    Spray the donut pan lightly with a baking spray containing flour or lightly grease it with butter.

    A donut baking pan which has been sprayed with non-stick baking spray.

    Combine melted butter, vegetable oil, granulated sugar, and brown sugar in a mixing bowl and mix on medium until it is smooth.

    Mixing butter and sugar with an electric mixer.

    Add eggs, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, salt, and vanilla to the mixing bowl. Mix on low to combine. 

    Add one cup flour to the batter, mix well, then add one-quarter of the milk. Continue adding the flour and milk in stages, beginning with the flour, and ending with the milk. Continue mixing until everything is combined.

    Using an electric mixer to make donut batter.

    Spoon the batter into a gallon size Ziploc bag or piping bag.

    Using a spoon to drop donut batter into a storage bag.

    Cut a small hole in one corner of the bag and pipe the batter into the pan.  You can use a small spoon, but it is much easier to pipe it in. Do not fill the donut well up to the rim. Leave about ¼ of an inch to allow them to rise.

    A donut pan full of cinnamon sugar donut batter ready to bake.

    Bake the donuts for 10-12 minutes or until the tops are light golden brown. (The top will be lighter in color than the bottom of the donuts.)

    Remove the pan from the oven, and let the donuts cool for about 5 minutes before removing from the pan. Place them on a wire rack to cool. 

    Oven baked donuts cooling on a wire rack.

    To make the cinnamon sugar donut topping:

    To make the cinnamon sugar donut topping, mix one cup of sugar with two teaspoons of cinnamon in a shallow bowl or plate.  Then melt four tablespoons of butter in a shallow bowl or plate. Take a donut and dip into the butter, then dredge in the sugar mixture.

    Enjoy!

    Oven baked donuts topped with cinnamon and sugar and ready to eat.

    Sharon’s Expert Tips:

    If you don’t have a pan, don’t worry, you can use a mini-muffin tin. Your donuts will taste the same, and they will have a little different shape.

    If you want to make powdered sugar donuts, put about a cup of powdered sugar in a bag, drop one donut in while it is still warm and shake gently. Dust off the excess sugar and serve.

    For quick and easy glazed donuts, mix 2 cups powdered sugar with ¼ cup milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Pour the glaze over the donuts. You can also add other flavorings instead of the vanilla. Try maple syrup, lemon juice, or even some melted chocolate.

    For even more donut topping ideas, check out this post from Good Housekeeping.

    Store leftover oven-baked donuts in an air-tight container for up to 2 days or freeze for up to one month. To thaw, put in the refrigerator overnight. You can also heat the donuts in the microwave for a few seconds.

    ★ Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below! 

    Easy Baked Cinnamon Sugar Donuts Recipe

    Sharon Rigsby
    Baked Cinnamon Sugar Donuts make every morning special!  Use a donut pan for this simple donut recipe for oven-baked donuts, which are cooked until golden brown, then dusted with a delightful mixture of cinnamon and sugar. Easy baked donuts have an exceptional taste without yeast or the mess of frying! 
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 12 mins
    Total Time 27 mins
    Course Bread, Breakfast/Brunch, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12 donuts
    Calories 178 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    Baked Cinnamon Sugar Donuts

    • ¼ cup unsalted butter melted
    • ¼ cup vegetable oil
    • ½ cup granulated sugar
    • ⅓ cup brown sugar
    • 2 eggs large
    • 1-½ teaspoon baking powder
    • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 2-⅔ cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 cup milk

    Cinnamon Sugar Topping

    • ¼ cup butter melted
    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • 2 teaspoon cinnamon

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
    • Spray the donut pan lightly with a non-stick baking spray containing flour or lightly grease it with butter.
    • Combine melted butter, vegetable oil, granulated sugar, and brown sugar in a mixing bowl. Use an electric mixer, mix on medium until the mixture is smooth.
    • Add the eggs, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, salt, and vanilla and mix on low until everything is well combined.
    • Add one cup of flour to the mixture, mix well on low, then add ¼ cup of the milk. Continue adding the flour and milk in stages, beginning with the flour, and ending with the milk until all flour and milk is thoroughly combined into the batter. Do not overmix.
    • Spoon the batter into a gallon size Ziploc bag or piping bag. Cut a small hole in the corner and pipe the batter into the donut pan. Do not fill the donut well up to the rim. Leave about ¼ of an inch at the top to allow them to rise properly.
    • Bake the donuts for 10-12 minutes or until the top is light golden brown.
    • Remove the pan from the oven, and let the donuts cool for about 5 minutes before removing from the pan and placing them on a rack to cool.

    Cinnamon sugar topping directions:

    • Mix one cup of sugar with 2 teaspoons of cinnamon in a shallow bowl or plate. Melt ½ cup butter in a shallow bowl. Take a donut, dip into the butter, then dredge in the sugar mixture.

    Notes

    Sharon's Expert Tips:
    If you don't have a pan, don't worry, you can use a mini-muffin tin. Your donuts will taste the same, and they will have a little different shape.
    If you want to make powdered sugar donuts, put about a cup of powdered sugar in a bag, drop one donut in while it is still warm and shake gently. Dust off the excess sugar and serve.
    For quick and easy glazed donuts, mix 2 cups powdered sugar with ¼ cup milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Pour the glaze over the donuts. You can also add other flavorings instead of the vanilla. Try maple syrup, lemon juice, or even some melted chocolate.
    For even more donut topping ideas, check out this post from Good Housekeeping.
    Store leftover oven-baked donuts in an air-tight container for up to 2 days or freeze for up to one month. To thaw, put in the refrigerator overnight. You can also heat the donuts in the microwave for a few seconds.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 178kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 2gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 39mgSodium: 193mgPotassium: 74mgFiber: 1gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 191IUCalcium: 43mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe? Tag me today! Mention @gritspinecones or tag #gritspinecones!

    *This post updated September 7, 2019, to include expanded text and additional tips to ensure this recipe can be made perfectly the first time! No changes to the actual recipe. 

    More Breakfast & Brunch Recipes recipes

    • 29 Make-Ahead Christmas Breakfasts 2022
    • Easy Sour Cream Apple Bread with Pecans
    • Easy Crustless Ham and Cheese Quiche
    • Easy Apple Dapple Cake with Caramel Glaze

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Andrea

      June 28, 2022 at 9:48 am

      5 stars
      Awesome! We made donut holes with our cake pop pan also. 350 degrees for 23 min.
      We have allergies so we made them gluten and dairy free. My girls were over the moon excited to eat donut holes again! Thank you for the recipe!!

      Reply
    2. Leah

      April 01, 2022 at 9:36 am

      5 stars
      I followed the recipe as is and not only was it easy, but the results were delicious. My husband said they were the best donuts he ever had!

      Reply
    3. Gary Grant

      January 11, 2020 at 1:24 pm

      As both an editor and a professional cook, nothing drives me crazier than a recipe that lists an ingredient but doesn’t mention where or how to use it. In this case, you don’t mention the 1/4 cup of oil.

      I added the oil at the egg stage. This was my first time making doughnuts, so that was a bit of a guess. The dough was very elastic and I almost wonder if the oil was the cause. Final result were ok. Very cakey and less moist than I was hoping for.

      Reply
      • Sharon Rigsby

        January 12, 2020 at 8:16 pm

        Hi Gary, You are right and it drives me crazy too! I have corrected the recipe to show that the oil and butter should be added together with the sugars. Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know.
        All my best,
        Sharon

        Reply
    4. Nancy Lewis

      October 13, 2016 at 2:12 pm

      Although I didn’t have a donut pan, I decided to give these a try. What a great recipe and actually easy also. Since I didn’t have donut pan, I made the first batch in my muffin pan. The second batch I made in my cake pop pan. Although both batches tasted great, the ones from the cake pop pan actually looked like donut holes. Thanks for this great recipe.

      Reply
    5. Kara

      March 19, 2016 at 2:51 pm

      Special request for these the next time we visit 🙂

      Reply
      • Gritsandpinecones

        March 19, 2016 at 2:56 pm

        Of course!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Sharon Rigsby, blogger at GritsandPinecones.com

    Hello, I'm Sharon Rigsby, blogger, recipe developer, videographer, and photographer for Grits and Pinecones®. I have well over 50 years of experience in the kitchen, and there is nothing I like better than developing and reimagining recipes for my family, friends, and you!

    More about me →

    Celebrate Mardi Gras with these easy recipes:

    • 24 Mardi Gras Recipes & Menu Ideas 2023
    • New Orleans-Style Shrimp Creole with Spicy Cajun Cream Sauce
    • Old-Fashioned Pecan Pralines
    • Easy Mardi Gras Hot Muffuletta Dip – A Flavorful Appetizer
    • Creole Shrimp Toast – Easy & Cheesy
    • Bourbon Ice Cream

    More Mardi Gras recipes:

    Popular Recipes

    • Quick and Easy Hoe Cakes (Fried Cornbread)
    • Blackened Grouper
    • Classic Southern Potato Salad
    • Quick and Easy Hanky Panky Recipe
    • Best Southern Crispy Fried Oysters
    • Southern Fried Fish
    Featured in Parade, The Today Show, Better Homes & Gardens, Greatist, and more.

    Footer

    More Recipe Categories

    • Appetizer Recipes
    • Beef Recipes
    • Bread Recipes
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Cocktail Recipes
    • Condiments, Jams, Jellies, Sauces, and Salad Dressings
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Game Day and Tailgating Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes

    More…

    • Lunch Recipes
    • Main Dish Recipes
    • Pork Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Seafood Recipes
    • Side Dish Recipes
    • Snack Recipes
    • Soup Recipes
    • Southern Recipes
    • Southern Peas (Cowpeas) Recipes

    Grits and Pinecones

    • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Legal Disclaimer

    Copyright © 2023 Grits and Pinecones® · Privacy Policy · Legal Disclaimer

    • 195Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Yummly
    • Email
    1073 shares