These easy, healthy donuts are baked to perfection with a soft, fluffy texture and coated in a simple cinnamon sugar topping. Made with wholesome, better-for-you ingredients and ready in under 30 minutes, these donuts are perfect to have on hand for a quick breakfast or satisfying sweet treat.

WHY I MADE THESE CINNAMON SUGAR DONUTS

Last Fall, I shared a recipe for Baked Maple Cinnamon Donuts and I still haven’t gotten over how easy, delicious, and quick those were to make. Ever since then, I’ve been on a bit of a healthy donut kick!

The great thing about making baked healthy donuts at home in a donut pan is that they’re 1) healthier than traditional donuts, which are typically fried, and 2) bake in just about 10 minutes, so you get to enjoy them in no time!

I’m all about quick and simple bakes these days. I’ve been baking a ton of new desserts this season, but going back to tried and true recipes will always bring me joy. I thought it would be fun to make those donuts again, but instead of covering them in glaze I wanted to try just tossing them in cinnamon sugar instead.

I knew I did something right as soon as I made them and took one bite. These baked cinnamon sugar healthy donuts are wonderfully soft, pillowy, and lightly sweet. All you need is a donut pan to make these. If you don’t already have one, this is your sign to get it!

MY BAKED HEALTHY DONUTS RECIPE

The full instructions on how to make these healthy baked cinnamon donuts is in the recipe card at the bottom of this blog post, but here’s a quick overview of how to make it.

Be sure to scroll down to the bottom to view the full recipe and get all of the measurements and instructions!

• Mix the dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and cinnamon.
• Mix the wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk the milk, egg, melted coconut oil, coconut sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth.
• Combine the two together: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently mix until just combined.
• Fill the donut pan: Spoon or pipe the batter into a donut pan.
• Bake: For about 10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Meanwhile, prepare the cinnamon sugar topping: Mix the cane sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl.
• Coat the donuts in the cinnamon sugar mixture: Sprinkle extra cinnamon sugar on top of the donuts to fully coat them.

BAKED CINNAMON DONUTS KEY INGREDIENTS

The full ingredients list is in the recipe card below, so make sure to scroll all the way to the bottom to see what you need to make this recipe!

Here is a quick overview of what you need to make these baked cinnamon sugar donuts at home:

• Flour: You can certainly swap all purpose flour with a gluten free flour if needed! I love King Arthur’s Measure for Measure Gluten Free Flour, it’s my favorite for my gluten free recipes.
• Coconut sugar: A great natural sugar that adds a rich, caramel-y flavor that pairs really well with these donuts. You can always reduce the amount of sugar to suit your preference.
• Baking powder: Gives our donuts a nice rise so they’re fluffy and tender when baked.
• Cinnamon: Adds a delicious flavor to our donuts.
• Coconut oil: A better alternative to butter, which is traditionally used in donut recipes.
• Vanilla: Flavor, obviously!

HOW LONG DO THESE CINNAMON SUGAR DONUTS TAKE TO MAKE?

This homemade cinnamon sugar donut recipe has a few different components to it, but they all come together quickly and easily. The full recipe is below, but here’s the gist of it:

• Prep time: 20 mins
• Time it takes to bake the donuts: 10 minutes

In total, this easy and healthy donut recipe will take about 30 minutes total to make! Not bad at all, if you ask me.

HOW TO STORE THESE BAKED DONUTS?

Store any leftover donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Just make sure the container you store them in is airtight to keep them from drying out too much in the fridge.

You can either reheat the donuts in the microwave or even a toaster oven to get them nice and soft again!

BAKED CINNAMON SUGAR DONUTS FAQ

1. Can I make these donuts gluten-free?
Yes, you can! You can substitute the all purpose flour with a gluten-free baking flour. Just make sure it contains xanthan gum for best texture. My favorite gluten free flour brand is King Arthur’s Measure For Measure Flour.

2. What type of milk works best for this recipe?
Any type of milk will work in this recipe. I’ve used dairy milk, almond milk, and oat milk without any issues.

3. Can I replace the coconut sugar with something else?
Yes, you sure can. You can use light brown sugar or regular cane sugar instead of coconut sugar if you don’t have any coconut sugar on hand. Keep in mind that coconut sugar gives these donuts a slightly richer, more caramel-like flavor which I really like!

4. Are these donuts fried or baked?
These donuts are baked in a donut pan, not fried. Because there is no frying involved, these donuts are a lighter and healthier alternative to traditional donuts.

5. How do I store leftover donuts?
Store any leftover donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Just make sure the container you store them in is airtight to keep them from drying out too much in the fridge.

You can either reheat the donuts in the microwave or even a toaster oven to get them nice and soft again!

6. Can I freeze these donuts after they’re baked!?
Sure! To freeze leftover donuts, first, let them cool completely, and then freeze them in a sealed container for up to 2 months. Allow them to thaw at room temperature and then reheat in a microwave or toaster oven for the best texture.

7. Can I make these donuts vegan?
To make this recipe 100% vegan, simply replace the egg with a flax egg (which is just 1 tbsp ground flaxseeds + 2.5 tbsp water, mixed and rested for 5 minutes). Also be sure to use non-dairy milk.

8. Can I make these without a donut pan?
The donut pan is necessary for this recipe. I haven’t attempted this, but you could try making these in a muffin pan instead. In fact I may give that a go and see what happens…

9. Can I reduce the overall sugar content in this recipe?
Yes, you can slightly reduce the sugar in the batter to 1/3 c rather than 1/2 c, if preferred. However, note that this may affect the texture of the finished donuts.

10. Are these donuts considered “healthy”?
In my opinion, these donuts are a healthier option compared to traditional fried donuts that you would get in a store or drive-thru. These donuts are freshly baked rather than fried, and they’re made with more wholesome ingredients and no preservatives. They’re still a treat, but a better one!

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If you love this recipe be sure to leave a review! And feel free to reach out to me with any questions or comments via my Contact page. You’ll hear back from me soon!

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