Baked Cinnamon Sugar Donuts are the perfect blend of soft, cakey warmth and that classic sparkling cinnamon sugar finish! They come together quickly with simple pantry ingredients, bake up light and tender, and get dipped in melted butter before being rolled in a sweet, fragrant coating!

Fall Baking Baked Cinnamon Sugar Donuts!

These Baked Cinnamon Sugar Donuts remind me of a camping trip we take every year in the Fall!

We love to camp in our favorite spot at the Eau Pleine! We camp along a beautiful shoreline! The sun always shines through the trees on us, there is a walking path through the woods, and the sounds of nature are active all day! We hike along the beach, do some fishing and swimming, make s’mores and pudgy pies, stay warm by the bonfire when its chilly, enjoy each others company, and usually get invaded by raccoons!

Every time I spend out in God’s creation at ‘our spot’ I think, “I am blessed. So very, very blessed.” I need that reset, the break from to do lists, schedules, and feeling like I am forgetting something. Sometimes I put too much pressure on myself for various reasons and every time I live out of a tent for the weekend I am able to let go of the stress I put on myself.

If you feel overwhelmed by life and wished things were simpler, go camping. And if you aren’t up to camping, significantly increase the amount of time you spend outside with your family!

Why this Recipe Works

The Batter Creates a Soft, Cakey Donut Without Frying – Flour, baking powder, milk, and applesauce work together to create a tender, fluffy crumb that mimics the texture of a classic donut – but without the heaviness of frying.

Cinnamon and Vanilla Build Warm, Cozy Flavor – Cinnamon in the batter infuses the donuts with gentle spice from the inside out, while vanilla rounds out the sweetness and adds depth.

Baking Makes the Recipe Quick, Easy & Reliable – No yeast, no frying, no waiting. The batter comes together fast, the donuts bake in minutes, and the coating transforms them into something that tastes bakery level with almost no effort.

Close‑up of baked cinnamon sugar donuts showing their soft, fluffy texture

Ingredients You’ll Need to Make the Donuts

2 cups Flour – The structural base of the donuts, giving them their soft, cakey body.

1 cup Sugar – Sweetens the batter and helps the donuts brown lightly as they bake.

2 tsp Baking Powder – Provides lift, ensuring the donuts rise and stay fluffy instead of dense.

1 tsp Cinnamon – Adds warm spice throughout the donut, not just on the outside.

1 1/4 cup Milk – Keeps the batter moist and creates a tender crumb.

2 tbsp Applesauce – Adds moisture and softness while helping mimic the tenderness of fried donuts.

2 tbsp Butter (Melted) – Adds richness and improves flavor and texture.

2 tsp Vanilla – Enhances the overall flavor and rounds out the sweetness.

And the Cinnamon/Sugar Coating

1 cup Sugar – Forms the sweet, crunchy outer layer that defines Cinnamon Sugar Donuts.

2 tsp Cinnamon – Gives the coating it’s signature warm, cozy flavor.

1/2 cup Butter (Melted) – Helps the cinnamon sugar adhere to the donuts and adds a buttery finish.

Freshly baked cinnamon sugar donuts dipped in melted butter and rolled in sugar

How to Make Baked Cinnamon Sugar Donuts

NOTE: Using this same batter, you can make Baked Mini-Cinnamon Sugar Donuts .

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a donut pan with non-stick spray and set aside.

Combine 2 cups flour, 1 cup sugar, 2 tsp baking powder, and 1 tsp cinnamon.

Stir in 1 1/4 cup milk, 2 tbsp applesauce, 2 tbsp melted butter, and 2 tsp vanilla. Mix until combined.

Fill donut pan with batter and bake for 12 minutes.

Allow donuts to cool on a wire rack.

Mix together 1 cup sugar and 2 tsp cinnamon until well combined.

In a separate bowl, melt 1/2 cup butter.

Dunk a donut in melted butter then toss both sides in cinnamon/sugar mixture. Repeat with remaining donuts.

Don’t Overmix the Batter – Once the wet and dry ingredients come together, stop mixing. Overmixing can lead to tough donuts instead of soft and cakey.

Grease the Donut Pan Well – Even baked donuts can stick. A generous coating of non-stick spray makes sure they release cleanly and keep their shape.

Dip Quickly, Don’t Soak – A fast dip in the melted butter is enough. Soaking makes the donuts greasy and causes the sugar coating to clump.

Enjoy the Same Day – These donuts taste best fresh. They stay soft the next day, but the coating is at its peak right after baking.