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.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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”
Pingback: 15 Fair Foods You Can Make At Home | Sarahs Bake Studio
Hi! I was just wondering if i used a mini muffin pan, how can i get the doughnuts to still have the hole in the middle of each of them? would i take it out while its raw or after it’s cooked?
Going to make these next week for one of my food technology exams! I’m excited :)!
Pingback: Toddler Education – D Week | JackieMellorMUA
This is my first time at your blog! The food and recipes look amazing! Since this recipe was posted in 2013, you are probably well settled in Philly now. And I’m sure you are having a good time and enjoying a new life. These beautiful mini donuts sound incredible! They definitely would cheer up anyone in a sad day. I am pinning for later!
Pingback: Summerfest Music Festival | lifeatamusicfestival
Pingback: 17 Seriously Drool-Worthy Fall Recipes for Thanksgiving and Beyond - Paper and StitchPaper and Stitch
Pingback: Mini Blueberry Cardamom Donuts | Vegan Yack Attack
I have made these before and they tasted amazing and everyone loved it. I tried twice today and the batter was too thick any thoughts as to what I may have done wrong?
Omg Thankyou for this
could u do this batter ahead of time,would it stay in the refrigerator.
This was the first recipe I’ve used for my mini doughnuts and I don’t even need to continue looking. All I have to say is WOW! These doughnuts were a big hit at my house, and our friends absolutely loved them as well!
I only changed one ingredient and that was the vanilla. I substituted it with Warm Cinnamon Graham flavor concentrate, and I’m not sure if it even would have made that big of a difference. ( I was just looking for a good reason to use my new flavors).
So thank you for this recipe! I’m already back to start making another batch. I’ve also copied the recipie for my books! 😉
Baked these today with granddaughter and they are amazing! Works great in the mini muffin pan.
Pingback: Maria's Mixing Bowl | BAKED CINNAMON SUGAR MINI DONUTS
Would it be possible to substitute something with the butter that is non-dairy?
You could definitely try a non-dairy butter substitute, like earth balance. I have not tried it so I can’t say definitively that it will work, but it should be an okay substitute!
I was looking for a mini donut recipe for my donut maker. And this was just so perfect. Thank you so much for sharing this very easy recipe. I liked it so much I got my mum a donut tray and forced her to make it. Now she loves you, your recipe and your writing more than I do. 🙂
Very easy recipe. Try adding cocoa powder for chocolate donuts and top with icing. Very good!
I have a old cast iron doughnut maker thought I would try a few recipes. This made a small batch which is nice .the the flavor is light texture light proceeded with the butter then sugar mix and my son told me I could have done without the butter and I agree it soaked in and gave funny flavor and texture
What a neat piece of equipment you have there! So glad these worked in that. So interesting about the butter adding a funny flavor. I haven’t run into that yet. Did you use real butter or margarine? You could try spraying them lightly with a pan spray before rolling them in cinnamon sugar to lighten up the additional flavor. The fat is needed to help the sugar stick.
YUM! DELICIOUS!
Cooking and baking are therapeutic…im always looking for new stuff. But where in the heck do i find a donut maker or donut pan…so cool to have one
Hi Patricia! Amazon sells the electric mini donut makers and they are actually pretty affordable! I’ve also seen them at Walmart & Target.
Amazon also sells the mini donut pans. I think you could probably find them in stores as well, but I have not looked!
I know im really late but you can make donut pans using some tin foil and a muffin/cupcake pan. just wrap foil around your index finger, pull up the sides and fit it into your pan. Gemma Stafford made a video on this.
These donuts look so amazing! Might I ask what brand of mini donut pan you use? So many out there but your donuts look so puffy, not flat like others.
Thank you, Patti! Check out Babycakes Mini Donut Maker 🙂
Or if you want just a regular mini donut pan, I have this one from Wilton!
Pingback: 10 Homemade Fair Food Recipes - A Couponer's Life
I haven’t made these yet but I just want to comment that for those of you asking where to get a mini donut maker, check out second hand stores! I found one there and they are always full if kitchen gadgets like this that people buy but don’t use very often. ☺️
I got mine at a Goodwill Store. Brand new, in box for $3!!
Just tried this recipe but I added cinnamon to the mixture, super delicious although I thought it wasn’t right at first after mixing the sugar and butter, since the combination parted and was weird but all was good when I added the flour. Absolutely recommend it especially if you dip the donut in chocolate and sprinkle a little coconut !
I’m so glad everything worked out, Abby! I love your idea to sprinkle with coconut 🙂
Awesome little donuts! My family gobbled them up! Thank you for a fabulous recipe. Just an FYI, I only got 18 donuts using my babycakes donut maker (makes 6 at a time). But oh sooooo yummy!
That makes me so happy Emily! So glad you liked them!
Pingback: Big Weekend in the Mini Donut | Two Happy Cooks
With mini donut maker do I fill cavity still half full?
Hi Lana, follow the manufactures instructions for how much to fill the cavity of the donut maker!
Hope all goes well. Just remember that feeling you had while baking doughnuts that your blessed and you could have it worse.
Hi Niecy! Thank you, that is very sweet. This post was from about 3 yrs ago, all is well!
Could I just add cocoa to make them chocolate or would I have to change the other ingredients?
So dangerously delicious, I subbed in some coconut oil to try and cut back on the butter, which is near impossible because of the dipping in butter before sugar coating, and used half a cup of sprouted whole wheat flour. I ended up with 20 donuts and also needed to double up on the butter and sugar cinnamon mix. These are seriously hands down the best donuts I have ever tried
So glad you enjoyed them Kristine!
I love these donuts, they’re very puffy, and tasty. But the topping is kind of liquid when in the picture it doesn’t look that way. Still tastes great, but it’s just a thought!
Hi Ella! When you say the topping was liquid, did you by chance mix the cinnamon and sugar into the butter? They should be kept separate. You did the butter in the melted butter then roll it in the cinnamon sugar to coat it.
I made this recipe with a mini donut maker. It was delicious! However, I felt it tasted better cooked at 2 1/2 mins instead of 4. Everything else was spot on!
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the feedback!
We accidentally turned ours into mini muffins
Hi Michelle! The nature of baked donuts does create an almost muffin like consistency. The traditional frying method for donuts is what really gives the traditional donut texture!
Pleasantly surprised. These were delicious! Always thought fried donuts were better tasting than baked ones. I thought wrong. Used the donut plates in the Babycakes Multi-treat maker. Followed the recipe to a tee. I brushed the beautifully shaped mini donuts with real butter, and rolled them in the cinnamon-sugar. They were delicious warm, but I thought they were best after a couple of hours, even days. They take on an old fashioned donut texture I prefer. My husband LOVED them. A real keeper.
Thanks Baker Bettie!
Hi Nancy! I’m so happy to hear that you loved these little baked donuts! Thank you for sharing! <3
Can you make these the day prior to serving?
Hi Rosey! They are best the day they are made, but yes, they will still be good the next day! Allow to cool completely then store at room temperature in an airtight container.
I use a cookie scoop to fill my Babycakes mini doughnut maker. Also they are great warmed up in the microwave.
Hi!
I’m vegan so I don’t eat eggs. Normally I substitute them with bananas. Do you think the doughnuts will come out good if I do the same trick with your recipe ?
Any hints on how to subsitute them will be much appreciated.
Kisses !
Hi Helena! ,
I have not tried these with banana as a substitute for the eggs. I think it’s worth a try. Let me know how it turns out!
So amazing!!!! Pairs perfectly with my coffee! 🙂
I’m so glad you enjoyed them Amanda! Thanks for sharing your picture! They look lovely!
It tasted really good
Love the taste
❤❤
I’m so glad you enjoyed them Alprita!
I am making 24 mini baked donuts and only have one 12 cavity pan. Can I just cover the second half of batter and leave on the counter until the first half of the donuts are baked and the pan is ready to use again? Or should I cover it and put it in the fridge?
Hi there! You can leave it on the counter! It will be ok.
I made these today using a mini-muffin pan. About 1 T of batter per muffin. I had to adjust the baking time to 15 minutes on convection to get them bake properly. Tasty! The recipe made 33 “doughnuts.”
So glad you enjoyed them Lisle! <3
Can this recipe be adapted for a regular size donut pan Instead of mini?
Yes you can Dawn! You will need to check them and increase the baking time by a few minutes!
how many makes a serving
Hi Vicki! It looks like the automatic nutrition calculator was not calculating properly. I just updated it. The nutrition facts are based on 1 donut assuming you make 2 dozen with this recipe. Hope that helps!
So easy and so good! I recently got a mini donut pan, and this was my first time using it. I know your post was a long time ago, but I’m really glad I found it.
That is so great to hear Cindy! I’m so glad you enjoyed these!
I used Gluten Free + Vegan all purpose flour arisan blend and whole grain. The donuts came out beautifully. Great texture. We used cinn/sugar for the top as well as powdered sugar. Will continue to use this recipe and make some changes like adding pumpkin. I feel like it would make a great base for trying different things :).
I’m so glad it worked out well with your substitutions! That is so great. And yes, it can definitely be a good base recipe for lots of flavors!
Thank God I found this website and I’m so happy I can make quick and easy things all because of you (In a good way)
So happy you did as well Jasmine!
Pingback: Perfect Mini Donut Maker Recipes – 3 Boys and a Dog – 3 Boys and a Dog
Pingback: Perfect Mini Donut Maker Recipes – 3 Boys and a Dog – 3 Boys and a Dog
Hi , I was wondering if i could use self raising flour instead of all purpose flour in the recipe ?
Not very good. Very dense and thick
In the recipe you use cups or gr (which stands for grains) but when you convert grains to grams it comes out as tiny amounts based on the standard conversation rate if 1 grain = 0.065 grams?
Perhaps you meant 1/2 cup or 99g ? Not gr?
Hi Stef, I use “gr” for the abbreviation for gram and not grain.
This is a very good article. Thank you for sharing. I look forward to publishing more such works. There are not many such articles in this field.
Pingback: All the Valentine’s Day baking supplies you need for effortless sweet treats
Hi! Would it work if I substituted milk with buttermilk or do I need to adjust the recipe?
These are soooo good!! They came out great! Thanks!!!
I’m so glad you like it!