Cinnamon Sugar Mini Baked Donuts
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!
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!
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.
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.
Try my fried Apple Cider Donuts recipe!
Baked Cinnamon Sugar Mini Donuts
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
- 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)
- 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).
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
- 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:
24Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 78Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 67mgCarbohydrates: 9gFiber: 0gSugar: 6gProtein: 1g
233 Comments on “Cinnamon Sugar Mini Baked Donuts”
A very beautiful post my dear. I think you summed things up perfectly! You have to do what you’re good at, with no guilt associated with that! Good luck with moving. It’ll be fun!
Very true Mimi. Life it too short to ignore what you are passionate about!
Welcome to Philadelphia! It’s a city brimming with food inspiration. You will love it!! when one door closes, another one opens. Good luck!!
I have only heard wonderful things Anne! I am so excited to explore it all!
was so touched by your beautiful post. When my only daughter passed away suddenly the grief was unbearable. About a month after her death I volunteered to make cake or pie for my church group. I found that this was the only outlet that freed me from a broken heart. You are not only creating by the finished product is making people happy. It is by self-forgetting that we are freed from our respective emotional bondage. Best regards.
c
Congrats on the move to Philly, and I’m so sorry to hear about your grandmother. Good luck with everything. Oh, and I love the new look!
These donuts look amazing!
Thanks Jennie!
1) I am so sorry about your grandma 🙁 And all the goodbyes you’re saying right now.
2)You’re moving to Philly, this means you will be quite close to NYC and you should come visit me soon 😛
3)These are like the best lil donuts ever. Like bites of heaven.
Oh you can bet you sweet little booty I will be up there visiting! New York is going to be waaaay to close to keep me away!
This looks so delicious! I have made two things in my life from scratch carrot cake and banana bread; I think it is time to add these donuts to the list. Love the photography also : )
Thanks lady! It is definitely time to add these!
These look great! Good luck with all your plans!
Hey thank you!
I can now eat a lot of these since they are in mini sizes — they look soooooo good! 🙂
Yep! I think the serving size is like 2 dozen or something 😉
These are adorable! I love the simple recipe with such a fabulous outcome.
Thank you! Everything in a tiny size is adorable right?
I made these this past weekend, they are awesome!
Awesome Jenny! I’m so glad you liked them!
Your photos are stunning and your recipes sound delectable. We would love for you to share them at thefeastingeye.com. The Feasting Eye is still a bit new, but I think you will like what you see :-).
So sorry about your Grandma. New to your site – just found you from RecipeNewz and must pinned these babies! I just made vegan banana mini donut muffins with cinn-sugar yesterday and love yours. So adorable!
Welcome Averie! Glad to have you here! Those donuts sound delicious, I’ll have to check them out!
Wishing you the best with your move and can't wait to try your mini 's!
Thank you so much Linda! It went as smoothly as it could go!
Your donuts look absolutely gorgeous and I really love your photos. Wishing you loads of luck with everything that’s going on in your life and so sorry about your grandmother.
Hey thanks Rosie! So sweet of you.
Hi there! Quick question? Would the recipe flop if I put in salted butter instead of unsalted?
Yes,you can use salted butter if thats all you have.
If you use salted butter, don't put any extra salt in the batter.
Just found your beautiful blog! Love these mini donuts, and the photos with them in the paper bags…just lovely! So very sorry about your grandmother…
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These are beautiful…I love your photos! I just found your blog and I love it 🙂
I just love getting those Little Donuts @the Faires. Now I can make them. THANK YOU.
Hope everything settles quickly for you.
Beautifully written, inspiring post. I am going through a similar experience and know how daunting it feels. It’s a time of loss and renewal.
Thank you for the kind comment Diana. Whatever you are going through, I wish you the best. Find strength in your talents and passions!
Do you have to eat these right away or can you store them (such as bringing to a party the next day)? Thanks.
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These are darling and look delicious. I’m curious about the chocolate sauce you have pictured as well. Is that a cup of hot chocolate? It looks more like a a really delectable chocolate dip that is just the right consistency, and I would really love to know how to make that as well, if you’d be able to share.
Hi Kati,
Thanks for your comment. I have been meaning to share that recipe but just hadn’t gotten around to it yet. It is just a basic chocolate sauce. I used 3 oz bittersweet chocolate, 1/3 cup cream or milk, and 1 TBSP butter. Heat over a double boiler and stir until smooth. Alternatively, you can put it in a bowl in the microwave and heat in 10 second increments, stirring in between until melted and smooth.
Can you make these in a regular dounut pan?
Deliciousness everywhere … !!!
Deliciousness everywhere … !!!
Deliciousness everywhere … !!!
Love your post, the pictures are great! One question: Will this recipe work in a mini donut maker?
Hi Inga,
I have not tried it but I would assume so! Please let me know if you do try it.
I used a mini doughnut pan and they worked great!
Hi welcome to Philly. I moved here about three years ago and its been heard on me. I bake to keep me busy. I would luv to meet u.
Hi
The recipe was an absolute hit! We made them for our garage sale and everyone raved about them. So easy to make, too. I baked these in a mini muffin pan and it was a perfect bite size. Thank you for sharing!
These are great in mini donut maker. Baked in 4 min. Excellent, thanks for recipe.
Thanks for sharing Correne! I’m so glad it worked!
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Hi,
Quick question- how far in advance can I make these donuts? I have a party on Sunday but don’t have time to make these on Sunday can I make the donuts on Saturday and then do the cinnamon/sugar part Sunday morning or will it not taste as good?
Thanks,
Amanda
I haven’t tried it, but I think you could definitely do that. Like you said, I wouldn’t put the cinnamon sugar on them until Sunday if possible. And after they have cooled on Saturday, I would put them in a container put leave the lid partially open. That way they won’t get stale but they won’t get sticky either. I think if you completely seal them they might get sticky.
Oven don't work need longer than 8-10 mins more like 20…. Disaponted
So your oven isn’t working? I’m sorry. It is common for ovens to be cooking at a different temperature than it displays. Investing in an oven thermometer is always good so you can see if your oven is cooking too cool or too hot. That is typically the reason the cook times may not be what you expect.
Bettie, is the 325 in your directions a typo? Other recipes I’ve seen call for preheating to 425 – and from my (albeit limited to bread!) baking experience 325 degrees seems a touch cool for doing something like these.
Hi Robert, it is not a typo. I have made them several times. The mini donut pan requires such a small amount of batter that cooking hotter creates a crust on the outside without cooking the inside. IF you use a mini muffin pan or a regular donut or muffin pan then I would increase the temperature.
Wondering if 325 is a typo – other recipes I've seen call for 425.
Robert Wall & @william Barrie Nattress, 325 is the correct temperature. Did you use a mini donut pan? For this size of pan such a small amount of batter is used and they should cook rather quickly. I'm wondering if either A. Your oven is cooking too cool or B. There was too much batter in your pan (only fill barely halfway)
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These do take longer in a mini-muffin pan if you fill them too much, but the wait is worth it! I made a batch of 24 that were gone between 4 kids in less than 10 minutes! They are really good 🙂
Hi, I have just tried baking these. Mine turn out not as fluffy. Any idea what went wrong?
I don't mind trying those that you baked!
It is very possible that your baking powder is no longer active. Try pouring boiling water over a 1/2 tsp of your baking powder. If it doesn't start fizzing like crazy than it is no longer good and you will need to buy a new container. If that isn't the case, I would guess that you might need to cream your batter longer.
how do you add the chocolate in the middle ???
Jayson, that is a completely different recipe. Click on the picture to go to the recipe, or click here: https://bakerbettie.com/chocolate-filled-mini-donuts/
I sifted the flour first and used a beater to mix the flour into the rest of the wet mixture, and they turned out nice
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I was just gonna ask if that works!! THANKS!
can I fry these donuts instead of baking them !!!!
It’s okay.
I wouldn’t recommend it Jane. This batter is quite thin and would be difficult to get it to hold it’s shape in fryer oil. You really need a recipe that is meant for a fryer that will give you more of a bread dough consistency instead of a batter consistency. I do have a recipe here for just that: https://bakerbettie.com/chocolate-filled-mini-donuts/ You can leave out the chocolate if you like and just roll them in cinnamon sugar. OR if you don’t have a donut pan, you can definitely use a mini muffin pan for this baked donut recipe.
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