Description
These Mini Baked Cinnamon Sugar Donut Bites are a delightful treat featuring soft, fluffy baked donuts coated in a buttery cinnamon-sugar mixture. Easy to prepare and perfect for sharing, they bake quickly in mini muffin pans and offer the perfect balance of sweetness and spice.
Ingredients
Scale
Mini Baked Donuts
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- â…“ cup vegetable oil (or avocado oil)
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ cup whole milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
- 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ cup salted butter (melted)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Place the oven rack in the center position and preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together light brown sugar, egg, vegetable oil, sour cream, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Gently whisk in all-purpose flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt until just combined, ensuring most lumps are gone but do not overmix.
- Prepare Muffin Pans: Spray two mini muffin pans (36 wells total) with non-stick cooking spray. Scoop 1 ½ tablespoons of batter into each muffin well.
- Bake Donuts: Place both pans on the center oven rack and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the donuts have risen and a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Avoid overbaking as they cook quickly.
- Melt Butter: While the donuts bake, melt the salted butter in a small bowl and set aside.
- Prepare Cinnamon Sugar: In a large zip-top bag, combine granulated sugar and ground cinnamon, seal, and shake to mix thoroughly.
- Cool Donuts Slightly: Once baked, allow the donuts to cool for a few minutes to handle safely.
- Coat with Butter and Cinnamon Sugar: Dip each donut individually into the melted butter, wiping off any excess to keep the coating light. Place about 6 donuts at a time in the cinnamon sugar bag and gently shake until evenly coated.
- Finish and Serve: Remove donuts from the bag, tap off excess sugar, continue coating remaining donuts, and serve immediately to enjoy their fresh, warm flavors.
Notes
- Do not overmix the batter to keep the donuts tender and light.
- Use mini muffin pans for the perfect bite-size portions.
- The cinnamon sugar coating is optional but highly recommended for added flavor and texture.
- Donuts taste best served fresh and warm, though leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for 1-2 days.
- You can substitute whole milk with any milk preference, but whole milk adds richness.
- Vegetable oil or avocado oil can be used interchangeably for a neutral flavor.
