Baked Cinnamon Doughnuts

This recipe makes a small batch of cinnamon doughnuts that are baked then coated in sugar and cinnamon. They are super soft and taste so good so if you have a doughnut baking pan then you really should give this recipe a try.

This recipe makes 6 doughnuts which is all you need if you don’t plan to over indulge. If you have a larger family, you can easily double this recipe and make 12 but you will need 2 doughnut pans.

The recipe is super quick and easy and you can have these delicious treats ready in around 30 minutes. The main benefit of making baked doughnuts is that you don’t have to wait for the dough to rise so if you fancy some doughnuts but don’t feel like following the long traditionally process then baked doughnuts are a great alternative. If you have extra time on your hands and want to make traditional doughnuts then try out my glazed doughnuts recipe.

You can enjoy these doughnuts with an afternoon cuppa or as an after-dinner dessert. You can also enjoy them as a sweet breakfast with your morning coffee. Whenever you decide to eat them, I’m almost certain you will love them as much as I do.

Ingredients for Baked Cinnamon Doughnuts

For the doughnuts

• 30g unsalted butter – melted.
• 115g plain flour - also known as all-purpose flour.
• ½ teaspoon salt - a little to enhance the flavour.
• 1 teaspoon baking powder - to help the doughnuts rise as we will not be using yeast.
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon - to give the doughnuts a cinnamon flavour throughout.
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg - to enhance the flavour.
• 65ml milk - I use whole milk.
• 65ml sour cream - you can also use natural or plain yoghurt.
• 40g soft brown sugar – I use a combination of 2 different sugars to create the ideal texture.
• 40g caster sugar - or any fine white sugar.
• 1 medium egg - room temperature egg.
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract - for flavour.

For the Topping

• 80g unsalted butter - melted.
• 80g granulated sugar - granulated is best for the topping to create the perfect crunchy texture.
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon - flavours the sugar.

How to Make Baked Cinnamon Doughnuts

1. Preheat oven to gas mark 4/350^oF/180^oC and lightly grease a doughnut pan then set aside. In a microwavable bowl melt the butter in the microwave at 30 second increments and also set aside.

2. To a medium sized bowl add and combine the plain flour, salt, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg. Then to a second bowl add and combine the milk, sour cream, sugar, egg and vanilla extract.

3. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and combine but be careful not to overmix. Using a spoon or piping bag add the batter to doughnut pans and bake in the middle of the oven for 15 minutes.

4. Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the pans for 5 minutes then remove the doughnuts from the pans and transfer to a cooling rack while you make the topping.

5. Melt the butter in a microwavable bowl at 30 second increments. In a separate small bowl, mix together the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon. Take a doughnut, lightly dip it in the melted butter coating both sides then dip it into the sugar and cinnamon also coating both sides. Place the doughnut back on the rack then repeat the process until all the doughnuts are coated.

Recipe Tips

• When coating the doughnuts with sugar, do not submerge the doughnut into the butter as it will soak into the doughnut making it soggy. Just lightly dip it in the butter before coating with the sugar-cinnamon mix.
• If you prefer you can also melt the butter for the doughnuts and for the toppings in a saucepan but melt it gently on a low heat and ensure the butter doesn’t become brown.
• Baked doughnuts are more cakey than doughy so if you're looking for a doughy doughnut then you will need to use the traditionally doughnut process.
• Once baked, the doughnuts will be firm but soft so be very careful when removing them from the doughnut pans to avoid them breaking up.

Nutrition

Nutrition based on 1 serving - Calories: 310kcal | Fat: 14.5g | Saturates: 8.7g | Carbs: 42.2g | Sugar: 27.8g | Fibre: 0.8g | Protein: 3.7g | Salt 0.49g

Storage

Store the doughnuts in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Recipes that may interest you

• Glazed Doughnuts
• The Best Home-made Cinnamon Rolls