BAKED CINNAMON SPICE DONUTS

Baked Cinnamon Spice Donuts are soft and cake-like, perfectly spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger, and finished with a sweet cinnamon sugar coating. Baked fresh in just 25 minutes, these donuts are an easy homemade treat that deliver all the cozy flavors of a bakery favorite without the hassle of frying.

Recipe Highlights

• Make-ahead friendly: Bake a batch today, and enjoy them tomorrow for breakfast, snack time, or dessert. They freeze beautifully too, so you can keep a stash ready for unexpected guests or last-minute cravings.
• Warm and cozy flavor: A fragrant blend of cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg gives these donuts a bakery-quality flavor that feels like a hug in every bite.
• Moist and tender: Thanks to applesauce and Greek yogurt (or sour cream), these donuts stay soft and tender without being heavy. The balance of moisture and structure makes them taste just as good on day two.
• Easy to make: Forget about messy frying oil; these donuts bake in under 25 minutes and require only simple pantry ingredients.
• Perfectly spiced coating: Brushing each donut with butter before tossing in cinnamon sugar ensures the outside is sweet, slightly crisp, and wonderfully fragrant.

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Donuts:

• All-purpose flour – Provides the structure for the donuts while keeping them soft and tender.
• Baking powder and baking soda – A combination of leaveners that ensures the donuts rise evenly and have a light, cake-like texture.
• Cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg – This cozy trio of spices creates a warm and fragrant flavor profile that makes these donuts taste like fall in every bite.
• Salt – A small amount balances the sweetness and brings out the spice flavors more clearly.
• Granulated sugar and brown sugar – Using both adds complexity; the white sugar sweetens while the brown sugar adds moisture and a subtle caramel note.
• Eggs – Help bind the batter together and contribute to the soft, tender crumb.
• Unsweetened applesauce – Keeps the donuts moist while also lightening them up as a healthier substitute for some of the fat.
• Plain Greek yogurt or sour cream – Adds richness and tang that complements the warm spices.
• Milk – Helps thin the batter to the right consistency for baking.
• Butter (melted) – Adds flavor and tenderness to the batter.
• Vanilla extract – A simple addition that enhances all the other flavors.

For the Cinnamon Sugar Coating:

• Granulated sugar – The sweet base that creates the classic cinnamon sugar coating.
• Cinnamon – Warm and aromatic, it pairs beautifully with the sugar for a perfect finishing touch.
• Melted butter – Helps the sugar mixture cling to each donut and gives the outside a slight crispness.

Helpful Tips

Full instructions for making Baked Cinnamon Spice Donuts can be found on the recipe card below, but here are a few helpful tips.

• Use a piping bag: Filling the donut pan with a piping bag (or zip-top bag with the corner cut) makes it neater and easier.
• Don’t overmix: Stirring too much can make the donuts tough instead of soft and fluffy.
• Bake evenly: Rotate the pan halfway through baking to ensure even cooking.
• Serve warm: These donuts are best enjoyed fresh out of the oven while the cinnamon sugar coating is still slightly crisp.
• Try variations: Add a pinch of cloves or allspice for a stronger spice blend, or drizzle with glaze instead of rolling in sugar.

Storage Instructions

• Room Temperature – Store in an airtight container for up to 2–3 days.
• Refrigerator – Keeps fresh for about 5 days, though the sugar coating may soften.
• Freezer – Freeze uncoated donuts for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature, then brush with butter and roll in cinnamon sugar before serving.

FAQs

Can I make these without a donut pan?
Yes! You can bake the batter in a mini muffin tin to make “donut holes.” Adjust the baking time to 10–12 minutes.

Can I use sour cream instead of Greek yogurt?
Absolutely—either works well to keep the donuts moist and tender.

Can I reduce the sugar in the recipe?
You can reduce each sugar by about ¼ cup, though the donuts will be slightly less moist and flavorful.

How do I keep the coating crisp?
Coat the donuts while they’re still warm so the butter and sugar stick well. Store loosely covered to avoid condensation softening the sugar.

Can I make them ahead of time?
Yes—bake the donuts, freeze them without coating, and then coat them just before serving for the freshest taste.

More delicious baked donut recipes to try:

• Made completely from scratch with sour cream, buttermilk, and a simple powdered sugar glaze, Baked Chocolate Glazed Donuts are soft, sweet, and irresistible.
• Easy 3-Ingredient Funfetti Cake Mix Donuts come together with just applesauce and cake mix, then get topped with a warm vanilla glaze and colorful sprinkles for a fun treat.
• Rich, fudgy brownie batter is baked into soft donuts and topped with ganache and sprinkles, making Brownie Donuts a decadent chocolate lover’s dream.
• Fresh strawberries and a simple strawberry glaze make Baked Strawberry Donuts a bright, flavorful, from-scratch recipe that’s as pretty as it is delicious.
• With just pumpkin, cake mix, and frosting, 3-Ingredient Baked Pumpkin Donuts bake up in under 15 minutes for a soft, flavorful fall-inspired treat.

Baked Cinnamon Spice Donuts are the perfect homemade treat, soft and spiced, then rolled in cinnamon sugar for a bakery-style finish. Whether you make them for a fall breakfast, holiday brunch, or a cozy weekend snack, they are sure to become a family favorite.