Baked Cinnamon Sugar Donuts

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Let me start by saying I think baked donuts are seriously underrated. They're shockingly easy to make (literally, it's about the same as making muffins) and inherently fun (come on, donuts!). Plus, if you bake them, you're not using the oil to fry, and you can control how much sugar or other ingredients are going into a recipe. Point being, homemade donuts are incredible! These Baked Cinnamon Sugar Donuts are sure to satisfy your tasty donut craving!

As always, I do include a few affiliate links in this post for products I truly use and love. This just means that if you make a purchase after clicking one of those links, I'll earn a little money (at no cost to you) to keep the kitchen up and running, which I promise to use to create more fun content like this! One of those affiliates is with Amazon, which requires a very clear disclosure: as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you have any questions about affiliates, please reach out!

Ingredients you'll need

• Brown sugar: this adds sweetness with the warm and slightly molasses flavor of brown sugar (rather than using granulated sugar)
• Cinnamon and nutmeg: use great spices here -- a really high-quality cinnamon and nutmeg make a big difference!
• Egg: lightly beat the egg before mixing it in with the other ingredients. This helps the donuts to be more light and fluffy
• Granulated sugar: you'll use this for the cinnamon sugar coating on the outside of the donuts
• Dairy-free yogurt: I like to use either plain or vanilla dairy-free yogurt for this recipe
• Almond milk: you can also substitute for another type of milk
• Butter: this helps add fat to the recipe, which is needed for rising. You'll also use butter to brush the donuts before tossing them in the cinnamon sugar coating. You can use a dairy-free butter alternative in this recipe as well.
• Vanilla extract: you always need a little vanilla when baking! You can also make your own homemade vanilla extract
• A few pantry staples including all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, kosher salt

Equipment you'll need

Donuts are incredibly easy to make, but there are a few things that you will need:

• Wilton 6-Cavity Donut Pan from Amazon (2 pans)
• Cuisinart Mixing Bowls from Amazon
• Cuisinart Silicone Whisk from Amazon
• GIR Spatula from Amazon
• Piping Bags from Amazon: you can also do this with a plastic Ziplock bag and cut off the corner of the bag

Filling the Pans

Filling the pans is most challenging part about making donuts. You want to fill each donut cavity about ¾ full with batter. If you over-fill the cavity, your donuts will not have holes in them (they'll still be delicious!).

You can use a spoon to move batter into the donut pan, but I prefer to use a piping bag. Fill the piping bag as you would if you were working with icing. Cut off the end of the bag (a fairly big cut so the hole is about the size of a dime or nickel - we don't need to be very precise here). Then you can squeeze the batter in circle into the pan. If you don't have piping bags, you can do this same thing with a plastic ziplock bag, filling the bag with dough and then cutting off the corner tip.

If needed, use your finger to help spread the dough evenly around each ring so they'll bake evenly.

The cinnamon sugar layer

After your donuts are baked, allow them to cool in the pan for a few minutes, then turn them out onto a cooling rack. Combine your cinnamon and sugar in a low bowl. Brush each donut generously with melted butter, then toss in the bowl with cinnamon sugar. You can go back and toss each donut in the sugar for a second time for a very thorough coating.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a different kind of milk or yogurt here?

Yes, this recipe would work with any kind of non-dairy or dairy milk and yogurt. For non-dairy options, I recommend either plain or vanilla-flavored non-dairy yogurt. I also prefer to bake with almond milk, but other milks will work as well.

Why is there butter in this recipe if it's dairy-free?

I make my recipes dairy-free because I am lactose intolerant. Lactose intolerance is different for everyone, and I find that I can still very easily eat butter (which is the case for many), so I choose to use that in my cooking and baking. If you'd like, you can use a non-dairy butter alternative in this recipe.

How should I store Baked Cinnamon Sugar Donuts?

You can keep baked donuts at room temperature in a brown paper bag or an unsealed plastic bag for up to 2 days. They will naturally harden, but you can always heat in them in the microwave for a few seconds to make them warm and soft again.

You can also freeze homemade donuts in a sealed, freezer-safe plastic bag for up to 3 months. Reheat the donuts in the microwave for about 1 minute so they're soft and warm again before eating. The cinnamon sugar layer will dissolve a little bit into the dough, so it won't quite have that same sugary outer layer, but it will still be delicious!

Below is my recipe for Baked Cinnamon Sugar Donuts. I hope you love them! Leave a comment and let me know what you think!