A simple mini baked donut recipe with cinnamon and sugar. This recipe can be used with a mini donut pan or a mini donut maker!

Cinnamon sugar mini baked donuts in a paper bag

Mini Baked Donut Recipe Overview

These mini baked donuts are a style of cake donuts that are baked instead of fried. This keeps the donuts soft and tender and they are much easier to make than frying!

Baked cake donut batter is very similar to a muffin batter. It requires very simple ingredients and a few easy steps and these donuts are hot out of the oven in less than 20 minutes!

A mini baked donut being dunked in a cup of melted chocolate

What is the difference between Fried and Baked Donuts

There are two categories of donuts: yeast donuts and cake donuts. Yeast donuts are made with a yeast dough and require a lot more time to rise before they are baked or fried. Cake donuts are leavened with a chemical leavening (baking soda and/or baking powder) and are much quicker to make than yeast donuts.

Both cake donuts and yeast donuts can be baked or fried. Fried donuts are the most traditional style. They come out crispy on the outside and fluffy in the middle. Baked donuts keep a softer crust and are also fluffy in the middle.

How to Make Baked Donuts

This baked donut recipe makes fluffy cake donuts and is incredibly easy to mix together.  The batter comes together in just a few simple steps. It is important that you do not over-mix the batter so you keep the donuts very light and fluffy!

Step 1: Mix Wet & Dry Ingredients Separately

In a large mixing bowl whisk together all of the dry ingredients until well incorporated. Then mix the wet ingredients together well in a separate mixing bowl.

Step 2: Mix the Wet and Dry Ingredients Together

Add the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients and whisk together just until smooth. You don’t want to over-mix the batter. or the donuts will be tough.

Step 3: Bake the Donuts

You can bake the donuts in a mini or regular donut pan or in a mini donut maker. I love making these as mini donuts. They are so perfect!

If you are using a traditional donut pan, fill a piping bag or a ziplock bag with the batter and pipe it evenly into the pan.

Baked mini donuts on a plate and one dunked in chocolate with a bite taken out of it

Step 4: Top the Donuts

Dip the baked donuts in melted butter and then roll in cinnamon sugar to coat them. You could also use a simple vanilla glaze or chocolate glaze if you wanted to do other flavors!

FAQ About Baked Donuts

  • How long to baked donuts last?: All donuts are best eaten the same day they are made. That said, you can store your baked donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days. Warm a few seconds in the microave to refresh.
  • How long can you keep donut batter?: Donut batter should be baked within about an hour after being made. The chemical leavening will become weaker as time goes on and your donuts will not rise as well.
  • Do you need to refrigerate donuts?: Typically you do not need to refrigerate donuts unless they are filled with a cream cheese filling.
Cinnamon sugar mini baked donuts in a paper bag
Yield: About 2 Dozen

Baked Cinnamon Sugar Mini Donuts

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes

A simple recipe for baked mini cinnamon sugar donuts. Light and fluffy mini cake donuts tossed in cinnamon sugar. This recipe can be used with a mini donut pan or with a mini donut maker! 

Ingredients

For the Donuts

  • 5 TBSP (71 gr) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup (99 gr) sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup (113 gr) milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • pinch salt
  • 1 & 1/2 cups (181 gr) all-purpose flour

For the Topping

  • 1/4 cup (57 gr) butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup (50 gr) sugar
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325ºF. Lightly oil mini donut pan and set aside (alternatively you can use an electric mini donut maker or mini muffin pans)
  2. In a medium bowl with a hand mixer or in the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the egg, milk, and vanilla and mix until just combined (mixture will look curdled).
  3. Add in the baking powder and the salt and mix until just incorporated. Mix in the flour just until combined. You don't want to over-mix this batter.
  4. If using mini donut pan, transfer mixture into a piping bag fitted with a large round tip or into a ziplock baggie with the tip cut off. Pipe into the pan only filling 1/2 of the way fill. If using the mini muffin pan, fill each well 1/2 full
  5. Bake at 325ºF for 8-10 minutes. *If using a mini donut maker, bake for 4-5 minutes. Allow to cool just slightly before dipping in topping.
  6. Melt the butter for the topping and set aside. Combine the cinnamon and sugar together in a small bowl. Dip each donut lightly in the melted butter then roll in cinnamon and sugar.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

24

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 78Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 67mgCarbohydrates: 9gFiber: 0gSugar: 6gProtein: 1g
A simple recipe for baked mini cinnamon sugar donuts. This recipe can be used with a mini donut pan or with a mini donut maker!