Baked Cinnamon Sugar Donuts
Mix together baked donut batter by hand
These donuts are very easy to make. No need for a stand mixer or electric hand mixer. This donut batter is easily mixed together by hand using a sturdy spatula.
- In a large bowl, whisk together all the dry ingredients.
- Mix together wet ingredients in a separate bowl. Pour wet ingredients over dry ingredients.
- Stir to combine using a spatula.
- Mix together until there are no longer any dry streaks of flour. Batter is ready to be baked!
Special Equipment for Baked Donuts
To make these baked donuts, you will need:
- nonstick mini donut bakeware pans
- piping bag
Mini Donut Bakeware
There are a variety of different donut pans available. I recommend using these non-stick mini donut pans photographed above.
They are easy to clean and easy to use. Even though they are nonstick, I still suggest brushing them with melted butter or coating with baking spray before use.
Piping Bag
The donut pans can be filling using a piping fitted with a small round tip or a plastic zip-top bag with a corner snipped off.
How to fill donut pan
- Grease non-stick donut pan with melted butter or coat with baking spray (or cooking spray)
- Transfer donut batter to piping bag fitted with small round piping tip. Alternatively, use a large plastic zip-top bag and snip off a corner.
- Fill donut pan 2/3 full of batter. DO NOT OVERFILL! The batter will rise during baking.
These mini donuts bake in less than 15 minutes! Let donuts cool in the pan for 2 minutes. Then, promptly unmold.
Allowing the donuts sit in the pan too long will cause them to be soggy.
Place warm donuts on a wire rack to slightly cool. Then, quickly dip both sides of donut into melted butter. Immediately, coat donut in cinnamon sugar mixture.
What is the texture of baked donuts?
These baked donuts have a tight crumb similar to muffins and coffee cake.
Unfortunately, it is very difficult to imitate the texture of fried donuts in the oven.
The baked donuts will be rather plain on their own. They get much of their flavor from the cinnamon sugar mixture.
Baked Mini Donuts
Ingredients
- 130 grams ( 1 cup) all-purpose flour
- 50 grams (1/4 cup) granulated sugar
- 35 grams (about 3 Tbsp) light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 14 grams (1 Tbsp) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 large egg
- 40 grams (3 Tbsp) whole milk
- 60 grams (4 Tbsp) heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla paste, or pure vanilla extract
Coating:
- 28 grams (2 Tbsp) unsalted butter, melted
- 150 grams (3/4 cup) granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg, or more to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F.
- Whisk together flour, sugars, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Set aside.
- In another bowl, whisk together melted butter, egg, milk, cream, and vanilla paste.
- Pour wet mixture into dry mixture and combine with a spatula. Mix until smooth.
- Transfer batter to a piping bag with a small round tip. Fill donut pans a little less than 2/3 full. Do not overfill, otherwise you’ll end up with a muffin.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, until toothpick inserted in cake comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 2 minutes before unmolding.
- For the topping, melted the butter in a small bowl. In another bowl, mix together sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Dip both sides of the donut lightly in the butter. Bury the buttered donut in the sugar mixture until both sides are fully coated. Eat warm or let cool to room temperature.
Notes
- I use this nonstick mini donut pan
- I recommend these disposable piping bags and this piping tip set
- You may have trouble unmolding donuts if pan is not greased well. Invert donut pan and tap one end hard against sturdy surface. The donuts should release from pan with enough pressure.
- Do not try to pick out the donuts. They will likely fall apart.
These donuts look divine. I know sometimes it is just the right moment for a donut. I like that they are mini and just lightly dusted with sugar instead of frosted.
Your puppy is very cute and that young-they are like the Energizer Bunny! Have a wonderful weekend!
These look so very wonderful! and that puppy….i just want to nab him and give him a big cuddle :) gorgeous!
I could use some of those donuts right now :) Charlie is adorable and very lucky to have found you.
Hi Maryanne,
can i ask how long these keep for?
Hi Sarah, the baked donuts should last 3-4 days at room temperature.
So how do you make sure they look so even? I mean the hole in the middle. Also, would they spread out if you just piped them on a tray? Thanks for answering if you do :)
Hi Ana, you need a donut baking pan to make these baked donuts. They will spread out into a mess if you just pipe them on a tray.
Ana, if you do not have a donut pan, I wonder if a greased tall shot glass set in the middle of one of the spaces of a muffin tin might produce a reasonable facsimile. Would be worth a try!