If you love cinnamon rolls then you're going to love these Cinnamon Roll Donuts! These donuts are quick and easy to make with simple ingredients and taste amazing with a hot cup of coffee!
This is the second baked donut recipe in a week. I think we are a little obsessed !
After the baked blueberry cake donuts received rave reviews, I was so inspired to create other flavours.
Today, I'm sharing these cinnamon donuts and friends, they are a-maz-ing.
If this is your first time making baked donuts, you will find that they are so easy to make. No hot oil for these donuts, they're baked in a donut pan in the oven.
Also inspired by my no yeast cinnamon buns, you're going to love how the crunchy cinnamon topping becomes the bottom of the donut!
The tops of the donuts are dipped in a cinnamon glaze, then drizzle with an optional plain white glaze for a more decorative finish.
I hope you will enjoy these as much as we did!
What's next? I'm thinking pumpkin spice donuts, maple syrup donuts and an updated version of my strawberry glazed donuts.
Trust me here, you're going to want to make a double batch of these delicious donuts!
why this recipe works
- simple ingredients and all you need is a donut pan. You can mix the batter entirely by hand.
- much quicker and easier than making a batch of cinnamon rolls!
- baked, not fried, these donuts have way less mess than fried donuts.
ingredients
ingredients notes
You can find a full printable recipe with quantities at the bottom of this page. Below is a few notes about the ingredients for this recipe:
- eggs - should be a room temperature. Take them out of the refrigerator an hour before you start the recipe.
- vanilla extract - I love the flavour that pure vanilla extract adds to a recipe. You can use artificial as well.
- all-purpose flour - stir up the flour, then scoop it into the measuring cup and level it off across the top with a knife.
step-by-step instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F.
I like to use the Wilton donut pan with six donut molds for my baked donuts. Lightly grease the donut molds or spray with non stick spray.
You can mix the donut batter entirely by hand for this recipe.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.
In a separate medium-sized mixing bowl, beat the egg, then add in buttermilk, melted butter and vanilla.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir just until combined.
Transfer batter, in three separate batches to a decorating bag or ziploc bag.
Once filled, cut a hole in the bottom of the bag that is just a bit smaller than the width of the donut shape.
Pipe the cinnamon donut batter into the donut cavities in the greased donut pan.
I find the best way is to use the bag. Alternatively, you can spoon the batter into the greased donut pan by hand using a spoon.
Make the streusel: In a small bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, butter and cinnamon. Mix until crumbly and sprinkle a small amount on top of each donut.
Bake in 350°F oven for 15 minutes. The edges will be a very light golden brown and you can test with a toothpick to ensure that they are cooked throughout.
Cool in pan on wire rack for 5 minutes, then carefully remove donuts from pan and set on wire cooling rack while you prepare the glaze.
Note: the top of the donut in the pan becomes the bottom of the donut. The streusel mixture is at the bottom of the donut.
For the glaze: In a medium bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, vanilla extract, milk and cinnamon.
You may need an additional tablespoon of milk, or a bit more powdered sugar to achieve the right consistency.
The glaze should be thin enough that you can easily dip and remove the donuts from.
For easy cleanup: Place plastic wrap or parchment paper under the wire rack to catch the mess from the dripping glaze.
One at a time, dip the top of the donuts into the glaze and allow the glaze to drizzle off a bit, then place on wire rack.
Optional: To match the donuts in the photos, I made a very small amount of plain glaze with powdered sugar and milk to drizzle on top and give it the white contrast against the brown cinnamon glaze. You can drizzle it with a spoon or pipe using an icing bag.
storage instructions
Store donuts in an airtight container. If stacking them, place between layers of parchment paper.
Variations
Cream Cheese Icing - for a change, spread cream cheese icing from this banana bread recipe on top of cooled donuts.
Plain Vanilla Glaze - instead of the cinnamon flavoured glaze, omit the cinnamon and opt for a plain vanilla glaze.
If you don't want to frost/glaze the entire donut, you could simply use a piping bag to drizzle a smaller amount of glaze on top of the donuts.
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PrintCinnamon Roll Donuts
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 18
Description
These easy Cinnamon Bun Donuts are so quick and easy to make! Soft and moist with a delicious cinnamon glaze, you won't miss cinnamon rolls when you try these delicious donuts!
Ingredients
Donuts:
2 cups all purpose flour
1 and ½ cups granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
1 and ½ cups buttermilk
2 tablespoons melted butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Streusel topping:
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon butter, softened at room temperature
½ teaspoon cinnamon
Glaze:
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla extract
4 to 6 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Grease donut pan or spray with cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.
- In a separate bowl, beat egg, then add in buttermilk, melted butter and vanilla.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir just until combined.
- Transfer batter, in three separate batches to a decorating bag or ziplock bag. Once filled, cut a hole in the bottom of the bag that is just a bit smaller than the width of the donut shape. (You can also spoon in the batter by hand using a small spoon). Be careful not to overfill.
- Make the streusel: In a small bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and butter. Mix until crumbly. Sprinkle a small amount on top of each donut.
- Bake in 350°F oven for 15 minutes.
- Cool in pan on wire rack for 5 minutes. Carefully remove donuts from pan and set on wire rack. Note: the streusel part is the bottom of the donut!
- Make the glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract and milk. You may need to add an additional tablespoon of milk, or a bit more powdered sugar to achieve the right consistency.
- For easy cleanup, place a piece of parchment paper or plastic wrap under the wire rack.
- Dip the tops of the donuts into glaze, then place on wire rack. See notes section for optional vanilla glaze to drizzle over top for decorative effect.
Notes
- Optional: To match the donuts in the photos, I made a very small amount of plain glaze with 3 tbsp. powdered sugar and enough milk to drizzle on top and give it the white contrast against the brown cinnamon glaze. You can drizzle it with a spoon or pipe using an icing bag.
- Storage instructions: Store donuts in an airtight container. If stacking them, place between layers of parchment paper.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 donut
- Calories: 214
- Sugar: 32.4 g
- Sodium: 93.9 mg
- Fat: 3 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 44.7 g
- Fiber: 0.6 g
- Protein: 2.7 g
- Cholesterol: 17.7 mg
Keywords: Cinnamon Roll Donuts
Gina
Can't tell you the amount of times I crave a cinnamon roll but never want to go through the long effort of making them - these donuts are the perfect solution!
★★★★★
Andrea
Oh do these sound marvelous. Love how easy they are to make and the flavor.
★★★★★
Aimee Mars
I'd rather have these baked donuts instead of actual cinnamon rolls! They're so soft and that glaze is the ultimate decadence.
★★★★★
Beth
You have created a match made in Heaven by combining my two favorite things - cinnamon rolls and donuts! These are about to become a breakfast/snack staple in my home! Yum!
★★★★★
Beth Sachs
I love cinnamon rolls and I love donuts so these are a win win for me!
★★★★★
Tim
Omg these are so good I am not sure which I like better now these donuts or cinnamon rolls!!
★★★★★