Soft Cinnamon Sugar Donuts (Print)

Fluffy baked donuts coated in fragrant cinnamon-sugar, perfect for a quick sweet treat.

# Components:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
05 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
06 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

→ Wet Ingredients

07 - 3/4 cup buttermilk (or milk with 1 teaspoon vinegar)
08 - 2 large eggs
09 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
10 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Coating

11 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
12 - 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
13 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a standard donut pan.
02 - Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a large bowl.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk buttermilk, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract until smooth.
04 - Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and gently stir until just combined, avoiding overmixing.
05 - Spoon or pipe batter into donut pan cavities, filling each about 3/4 full.
06 - Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until donuts spring back when lightly pressed.
07 - Allow donuts to cool in the pan for 3 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
08 - Mix sugar and cinnamon in a shallow bowl. Brush warm donuts with melted butter and immediately dip in the cinnamon-sugar mixture to coat evenly.
09 - Enjoy donuts warm or at room temperature.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They bake in just 12 minutes, so you can have fresh donuts faster than a coffee run.
  • The cinnamon-sugar coating is impossibly fragrant and reminds you of carnival mornings.
  • No deep frying means less mess and a lighter bite that still feels indulgent.
  • The batter is forgiving, even if you're half awake and measuring by feel.
02 -
  • Don't overfill the donut cavities or they'll puff up and lose their hole in the middle, turning into muffins instead.
  • Coat the donuts while they're still warm, because once they cool, the butter won't cling and the sugar will just slide off.
  • If you don't have buttermilk, mix regular milk with a teaspoon of vinegar and let it sit for 5 minutes before using.
03 -
  • Invest in a good donut pan with a nonstick coating, it makes turning them out so much easier and keeps the shape clean.
  • Let the melted butter cool for a minute before adding it to the wet ingredients, or it can scramble the eggs.
  • If you want extra cinnamon flavor, brush the donuts with butter twice and dip them in the sugar mixture twice for a thicker, crunchier coating.
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