Homemade Cinnamon Sugar Donut Muffins

These Cinnamon Sugar Donut Muffins are truly irresistible, marrying the soft, cakey texture of a muffin with the warm, buttery cinnamon sugar coating you love from a classic donut. I first made these on a chilly weekend morning, and the smell alone was enough to make me feel cozy and happy, like biting into pure comfort food. They’re delightfully easy to whip up and perfect for brightening any breakfast table or simply enjoying as a sweet pick-me-up any time of day.

My Take On Donut Muffins

Oh, these easy Cinnamon Sugar Donut Muffins are such a delightful treat, perfect for any moment you need a little sweetness. Whether you think of them as miniature muffins or perhaps even tiny cupcakes, one thing is certain, they are absolutely delicious. They have this wonderfully soft, tender, and fluffy texture, wrapped in a generous coating of cinnamon sugar that reminds me so much of the crispy, sweet coating on a churro. Each bite is full of comforting flavor and warmth. They truly taste just like biting into one of your favorite cake donuts.

These charming little muffins bring together the best of two worlds, and honestly, they are surprisingly simple to prepare. Because they get that lovely cinnamon and sugar coating, they really do feel and taste a lot like a mini cake donut. Everyone from kids to adults just adores them. Whether you’re planning a relaxed weekend breakfast at home or just craving something sweet to enjoy alongside your afternoon tea or coffee, these donut muffins are absolutely the perfect answer.

Why You Will Be Baking These On Repeat

We honestly cannot get enough of this simple yet satisfying treat in our house. They are perfect for those cozy weekends relaxing at home or for adding something special to a holiday brunch spread. These mini cinnamon sugar delights are just pure joy. Here’s why I think you are going to love them just as much as we do.

They offer the absolute best of both dessert worlds. You get the tender softness of a muffin combined with the sweet, comforting taste of a donut. It is an easy treat that truly is a wonderful blend of two long standing favorites.

These are also wonderfully versatile. While I absolutely adore this classic cinnamon sugar donut muffin coating, you could easily switch things up. Consider topping the baked muffins with a simple powdered sugar glaze instead, or maybe just a dusting of powdered sugar. And for a fun twist right inside the batter, think about stirring in some fruit, chocolate chips, or even some chopped nuts.

Plus, they are truly perfect any time of day. Seriously. Whether I’m grabbing one for a quick morning bite, enjoying one as a sweet little dessert in the evening, or having one with my afternoon cup of coffee or tea, these muffins hit the spot. They are just delicious whenever the craving strikes.

Everything You Will Need

This simple recipe uses ingredients that you probably already have right in your pantry, which is one of the many reasons I love it so much. Let’s quickly go over the ingredients you will need for these easy donut muffins. As always, you can find the complete recipe details ready for you at the end of this post.

• all purpose flour. This provides the essential structure that holds these delightful muffins together.
• baking powder. This is the leavening agent that does all the hard work in these muffins. The baking powder helps them rise beautifully and gives them that wonderfully light and fluffy texture we are aiming for.
• salt. A little salt is so important. It balances the sweetness from the sugar and really helps to enhance all the other delicious flavors in the muffins.
• nutmeg. Freshly grated nutmeg adds such a lovely warmth and pairs incredibly well with that sweet cinnamon sugar coating. If you do not have fresh, ground nutmeg works perfectly fine too.
• unsalted butter. Using unsalted butter helps create a rich, flavorful, and wonderfully moist muffin crumb. Make sure it is softened to room temperature for the best results.
• granulated sugar. This adds just the right amount of sweetness to the muffin base itself.
• egg. Use a large egg and make sure it is at room temperature. This helps it blend smoothly and evenly into the batter, creating a better texture.
• vanilla extract. A splash of vanilla extract adds depth of flavor and a lovely warmth to the muffins.
• milk. I typically use whole milk when I make these because I find it gives the richest result, but 2 percent milk works well too. You could technically use almond milk or other milk alternatives, but keep in mind that it might slightly alter the final flavor and texture of the muffins.

For the dreamy coating, you will need just a couple more things.

• unsalted butter. This butter gets melted down. You will gently roll the baked muffins in it before dipping them into the cinnamon sugar. It is key to making the coating stick and soak in.
• sugar and ground cinnamon. These two come together to create that classic, lovely coating. When you roll the buttered muffins in this mixture, it sticks beautifully and soaks into the warm muffin, creating that truly amazing donut muffin experience.

How To Make These Delightful Donut Muffins

Let’s walk through the simple steps for making these delicious donut muffins. Remember, the complete recipe with exact measurements is available for you at the end of this article.

1. First things first, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. While the oven heats up, prepare your muffin pan.
2. Lightly spray a mini muffin pan with some nonstick cooking spray. I personally find that silicone muffin pans work wonderfully because the muffins pop out so easily, but any standard mini muffin pan will work just fine. Set this prepared pan aside for now.
3. In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine your dry ingredients. Whisk together the all purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and the nutmeg until they are well mixed. Set this bowl aside.
4. In a larger mixing bowl, or the bowl of your stand mixer if you are using one, beat the softened butter for about 1 to 2 minutes until it is nice and creamy.
5. Now, add the granulated sugar to the beaten butter. Continue beating on medium speed for another 1 to 2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed, until the mixture is smooth and well blended.
6. Next, beat in the room temperature egg and the vanilla extract. Mix everything together until the batter is smooth and looks thick and cohesive.
7. With your mixer on low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients mixture into the butter mixture. Do this in three separate additions. Alternate adding the dry ingredients with adding the milk in two separate additions. It is best to start and end by adding the dry ingredients.
8. Mix the batter only until the flour is just incorporated and the batter appears smooth. It is really important to be careful not to overmix at this stage. Overmixing can lead to tough muffins instead of light and fluffy ones.
9. Now, it is time to fill the muffin pan. Use a small cookie scoop, which works great for getting even portions, or just two spoons to scoop the batter evenly into the cavities of your prepared mini muffin pan. Fill each cup most of the way full. You should get about 18 to 19 muffins from this batch.
10. Place the filled muffin pan in your preheated 350 degree Fahrenheit oven. Bake for about 10 to 12 minutes. You will know they are done when the tops feel set when you gently touch them, and a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs attached.

Adding That Perfect Cinnamon Sugar Coating

Once your delicious mini muffins are baked, it is time for the step that turns them into “donut” muffins, adding that wonderful cinnamon sugar coating.

1. First, melt the butter for the coating in a small bowl. Set this melted butter aside for a moment.
2. In a separate bowl, measure out the sugar and ground cinnamon needed for the coating. Stir them together really well until the cinnamon is evenly distributed throughout the sugar.
3. Now, take one warm muffin at a time right after they have cooled slightly but are still warm. Gently roll or dip the entire muffin in the bowl of melted butter, making sure every surface gets nicely coated.
4. Immediately after dipping in the butter, transfer the buttered muffin into the bowl with the cinnamon sugar mixture. Roll it around to ensure the entire surface is generously covered.
5. Place each coated muffin back onto your wire cooling rack.
6. Let the muffins sit on the rack for about 20 minutes after you have coated them. This waiting time is actually really important. It allows the warm muffins to absorb that glorious butter and cinnamon sugar flavor even more, making them incredibly moist and even more delicious. Then, they are ready to enjoy.

Storing Your Donut Muffins

If you happen to have any of these tasty muffins leftover (which is a big if in my house), you will want to store them properly to keep them fresh. Leftover muffins should be kept in an airtight container. They will stay wonderfully at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you need them to last longer, you can refrigerate them for up to 1 week.

For longer term storage, these muffins freeze beautifully. First, make sure they are completely cool after you have coated them. Then, transfer them into a freezer safe, airtight container or a freezer bag. You can freeze them for up to 2 months. When you are ready to enjoy one later, just thaw the frozen muffins at room temperature.

If you are a planner and like to get ahead, you can prepare the muffin batter the day before you plan to bake. Simply prepare the batter as directed, cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate it overnight. When you are ready to bake the next day, take the batter out of the fridge and let it come back to room temperature before you scoop it into the pan and bake it according to the recipe instructions.

Fun Ways To Change Them Up

While the classic cinnamon sugar coating is amazing, there are lots of fun ways you can customize these muffins to your liking.

• Mix Ins. Feel free to add some delicious mix ins right into the batter. Chocolate chips, finely chopped nuts, or even small pieces of fruit like blueberries or diced apples would be wonderful additions to this recipe. Start by stirring in about half a cup and see if you want to add a little more.
• Different Toppings. Instead of the cinnamon sugar mixture, you could create a simple glaze. Mix some powdered sugar with a little milk and maybe a drop or two of vanilla extract until you get a smooth consistency. Dip or drizzle the cooled muffins with this glaze instead. A simple dusting of powdered sugar is also lovely.
• Spice It Up. Get creative with the spices you add to the batter. Try using pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice for a different warm flavor profile. You could even add a pinch of these different spices into your cinnamon sugar coating mix too.

My Best Tips and Tricks

Here are a few little tips I have learned that will help you make the most delicious donut muffins every time.

• Room Temperature Ingredients are Key. Always make sure your butter and egg are at room temperature before you start mixing. This helps them emulsify and blend together much more smoothly with the other ingredients, giving you a better batter and a finer, more tender crumb in your finished muffins.
• Do Not Over Mix the Batter. Once you add the dry ingredients, mix just until everything is combined and you do not see any streaks of dry flour. Mixing the batter for too long can develop the gluten in the flour, which will result in muffins that are tough instead of light and fluffy.
• Silicone Pans Are a Baker’s Friend. I really do prefer using silicone mini muffin pans for this recipe. They are naturally non stick, which makes it incredibly easy to pop out the coated muffins without any sticking or breaking.
• Scooping for Uniformity. Using a small cookie scoop is an excellent way to divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups. This helps ensure all your muffins are roughly the same size and will bake consistently in the same amount of time.

Frequently Asked Questions About Donut Muffins

Let’s answer a few common questions about making these tasty treats.

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