I was discovering blogs yesterday on John’s new americanfoodbloggers.com and used the “most recent posts” where every new post from America’s best food bloggers is listed as it’s published. What I like about it is the opportunity to discover blogs that have never been on my radar either because I haven’t seen them on social media nor seen a comment they’d posted. The same thing works for aussiefoodbloggers.com too but that’s been working a bit longer. I’ve been spending far too long visiting blogs since this feature arrived.
I came across a new post by Chineka over at Savor the Baking and she’d made these cinnamon donuts. I’d been shopping at the local mall the day before and I bought a donut pan on sale for half price. It needed to be used.
I’ll be honest here, these donuts aren’t perfect. I made a few teensy mistakes but hey, they tasted great and it just goes to show you can make a goof or two and still get good results. So we’ll call these our practice donuts. Next time I’ll make donuts I really like. Chocolate coated in sugar. Maybe vanilla coated in icing sugar. You know the kind where the sugar goes everywhere when you eat them.
What did I do wrong? My donut pan, as it turned out, makes mini donuts and I filled it like it made big ones. So they’re a bit deformed. I didn’t have buttermilk so I added some vinegar but maybe too much and I got holes in my donuts. More room to hide butter and sugar, I say. I realize that I probably should have re-made these but when I thought about it I decided that it was a good idea to show that it’s easy to make a goof when you muck around with someone else’s recipe.
Fried or baked, Cinnamon sugar donuts are not my all-time favorite but they are John’s. He ate one after breakfast with a second cup of coffee and determined that they were definitely blogworthy.
We were planning to see the olds at the nursing home in the afternoon to put up a Christmas tree for Joan and I thought I could make these little donuts and bring them over for coffee time. They came together really easily. I didn’t follow her recipe exactly because, well, I never follow anything exactly. I’m not a follow the rules sort of person. I wanted more cinnamon and I didn’t have any buttermilk so I made do.
Joan was thrilled with her new Christmas tree in the same way an eight year old would be. She’s usually angry and rarely pleasant but she was today and kept saying thank you. She loved the donuts and so did Rob. It was so nice to be with her and not have her trying to complain but not finding the words. Dementia is awful.
These donuts came together really easily. I put all the ingredients out and whisked the dry ingredients, added the wet and I was ready to stuff the pan. Now I didn’t think about it but I should have piped the batter into the pan. I didn’t. I plopped the batter in and cleared off the center thingy. It wasn’t 5-star donuting and you have my apologies. It did, however, only take 30 minutes from beginning to end. Whether you’re making donuts or doughnuts, these taste great.
- Baking spray with flour, such as Baker’s Joy
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ cups sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 egg - I used extra-large (lightly beaten)
- 1¼ cups whole milk
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (use the good stuff)
- 113 grams (1 stick) unsalted butter
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Spray 2 doughnut pans with oil.
- Whisk (or sift) the flour, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder and salt.
- In another bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, melted butter, and vanilla.
- Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until just combined.
- Spoon the batter into the baking pans, filling each one a little more than ¾ full.
- Bake for 17 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool on a rack for 5 minutes, then remove the doughnuts.
- Melt the butter either on the stovetop or microwave.
- In a small bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon.
- Dip each doughnut in the butter and sit on a rack over a sheet pan. When the donuts are all buttered, roll in the cinnamon sugar so they're coated all over. I found that dipping in butter and immediately in sugar left globs of cinnamon sugar. when I let the butter soak in for a few minutes they sugared much better.
I’ve tried so hard for a long time to resist buying a donut pan. I don’t have the cupboard space. But after looking at these pictures I have decided I’m just going to make room!
I’m loving your food bloggers sites. There’s so many talented people out there!
I’m thrilled at seeing so many blog posts, Stephanie. I go down the list of new posts several times a day and click on anything that hits my hot button. 🙂
Your donuts look perfect I see nothing wrong with them. Like that they are baked and not deep fried. Your are such a kind and thoughtful DIL.
I look at the in-laws and think what I’d be doing in their spot. Then it’s easy.
that’s what happens if one muck around with somebody else’s recipe. =D Well I think they look wonderful even with the wholes. I call it a welcoming donut change and I wouldn’t mind those tomorrow morning for breakfast!
The donuts looked perfectly fine until you pointed out their imperfections! But as long as it tastes good, that’s all that matters 😉 Love half price baking pans- it’s the reason why my cupboard’s filled with a billion different sized pans which I’ll probably never use….though I am missing a donut pan 😉
LOL I resisted until now and I still wouldn’t have one if it hadn’t been in my face and half price. Now I want a bigger pan. 🙂 Who knew they were going to be this good?
All rightie!! I’m officially blaming you for the beginning of the holiday season sugar binge … as I MUST give these a try. I did pay a visit to the site yesterday, thanks for the tip about the “most recent post” option. Heading over there again to try it out.
When you’re my age, you’re willing to take the blame for just about anything. 🙂
Maureen – I’m not sure what you’re talking about? These look amazing!! I could easily finish a half dozen of these in one sitting after admiring how good they look. Cinnamon donuts are a classic and one of my favourites. These look so light and decadent. Yum!! 🙂
Bring on the baked donuts, these are beauties!
They look pretty perfect to me, Maureen!
I’m glad Joan had a good day and enjoyed her Christmas tree and the donuts too.
They look more than ok to me. Amazing what a bit of cinnamon sugar can do to hide tiny imperfections. You should really make your favourite chocolate donuts next time. Dipped melted chocolate and maybe with some sprinkles on top if that appeals.
Oh, they look pretty good to me – interesting about American Food Bloggers – must explore this more – thanks for sharing I love seeing what others are up to:)
These are perfect to my eyes (belly too!). I have a a mini donut pan that I love to use. I haven’t made cinnamon sugar donuts though, so I will bake these too!
Cinnamon sugar donuts are a weakness to me, as are all donuts in general. I can’t wait to bake a batch and then be a bad girl and eat them all! 😉
I really like the sound of this recipe. Baked, not fried and so quick and simple. Sounds like a winner!
I find your holes to be darling….I love imagining how this smells. Thanks for sharing such a lovely treat!
Maureen, These look so good! My hubby would go crazy!
I think they look really good, Maureen and I’m super-impressed because I’ve never made donuts or doughnuts and certainly don’t have one of those pans. That was so good of you to visit Joan and put up a tree for her. I’m glad she was excited about it. Yes, Dementia is awful. I met a really lovely lady in her early 60’s at a party a few weeks ago and everything about her seemed completely normal and then she told me she’s just been diagnosed with alzheimers. How awful. She has twin daughters in their mid-20’s and a lovely husband. He’d just retired and they thought they’d be having all these wonderful years ahead full of travel and anticipating grandchildren and weddings etc and then a cruel blow. Terrible. xx
Who cares if they’re deformed?! They look delicious, cinnamon is my favourite by far. 🙂
My daughter loves these, I will definitely give her this recipe so she can make it at home.
I think they look fabulous 🙂 I’ve not yet took the “bite” to buy one of those pans, but seeing that you found one on sale, makes me want to look around for one too. My coworkers would just love it if I brought in donuts…coworkers / nursing home patients…sometimes I feel like they very similar!!
OK!!! There goes my diet.
P.S. Thank you. I needed that on the day of the first snow.
You’d never even know about the holes after you coat these in cinnamon and sugar! These look awesome! But where did you use the vinegar as opposed to buttermilk? I don’t see it in the recipe itself (I am tired though, so I might have missed it..)
I put a teaspoon of white vinegar in the milk and let it curdle a bit, sorry!
I see no mistakes in these donuts except that there are too many of them and not enough being sent to me!
Fair enough, send address 🙂
Great first go at the baked doughnuts, Maureen! I could eat one right now with my morning coffee! My mother made THE BEST doughnuts ever… filled with jam, plaited, all sorts… I must share her recipe some day soon. Love this. Bookmarking for when I buy a pan!
Left a comment earlier today, but not sure what happened, it disappeared. So here I go again.
I see nothing wrong with your donut, love that it is baked and not deep fried. You are such a caring and thoughtful DIL.
I kinda like the holes in the donuts — gives them character! We do baked donuts too, although it’s been some time. So this is great inspiration! I haven’t even begun to think about Christmas yet, though. And you’ve already got a tree for the olds. 😉 Fun post — thanks.
Only for Joan. She’s about 8 years old I think. She loved trying to help. Her decorating skills were more on a 3-year old level though. She couldn’t figure out how to hang an ornament.
I’m definitely keen to make baked doughnuts… maybe then I can find the excuse to eat 12 of them in one sitting.
These look great Maureen! The cinnamon sugar coating is perfect like the ones in the bakery. I also love how simple the recipe is.
5-star donuting.. you’re hilarious! Don’t worry I’m sure mine would have looked pretty similar to yours. I decided that as long as things taste good I will still blog them even if they’re not perfect. I don’t claim to be perfect! Glad the olds liked them. I’m with John on the cinnamon donut. Oh how I love a hot, crispy cinnamon donut!
They sure look pretty darn good to me, Maureen. I’m sure they were a huge hit!!! I haven’t had Cinnamon Sugar donuts in so long, I may forget how yummy they are. Who am I kidding, I remember, which makes it all the more reason why I want one or two right now!!!
Will be checking out that list and saving these donuts, thanks for sharing, Maureen…
Lovely photos! I so appreciate honesty about mistakes in cooking. 🙂
G’day! i think your donuts came out great Maureen and am salivating for one, okay two right now with my coffee!
Cheers! Joanne
HI Maureen, thanks for the link did not know there were sites like that. Love the donuts, little holes or not!
Maureen, these donuts look like they turned out great. I wouldn’t worry about a thing. I’m glad that your in-laws enjoyed the donuts. More cinnamon is always a good thing. 🙂
They look scrumptious to me. I need to pull out my donut pan.
Donuts are so fabulous ,lovely,can’t take my eyes of it
Oh these look fabulous, I may have to make these tomorrow.
I hardly ever can follow a recipe. Donuts are still something I have yet to bake. I think the reason is that I always liked the fried kind better. However I am addicted to cinnamon sugar and would lick it all off if I have my way!
They look pretty darn good to me. Anything with cinnamon and sugar gets my vote 🙂
I never made donuts ! Yours looks terrific ! I couldn’t eat just one ! Maybe two or three will be great !
I’d made donuts but never baked donuts in a pan. 🙂
I love that they turned Joan sweet in the end! 😀 And a half price donut tin is too good to pass up! 😀
They look delicious! I’ve made donuts many times and have been tempted to buy the pan, now I have to after seeing this. And then to find room to store it. 🙂 Thanks for the recipe!
Holey yum! These look absolutely delicious. And baked no less – the texture looks amazing.
yum yum yum! I love donuts and love cinnamon and sugar. I much prefer these over the powdered sugar topping.
Grrr….so sorry about the audio. I hate even one thing playing…let alone, too. I’m going to email my ad people (once I figure out who’s doing what) and see if I can opt out of them.
P.S. Your donuts look bakery worthy…and I have a feeling I’d like them a whole lot better!
LOL it’s okay. I know where to look now when I open a lot of windows and hear two videos 🙂
im not a fan of greasy glazed doughnuts but this is a perfect healthy version that id totally make and eat1
I’m not sure about healthy but there’s none of that greasy aftertaste like you get with a Krispy Kreme 🙂
Oh my goodness I think I just drooled on my keyboard!!! These look so amazing! Just look at that cinnamon sugar… mmmm!!
Firstly….it took me about a year to get to the bottom of the comments so I could leave my own. Could you get that talented hubby of yours to create a plugin so you can collapse your comments? I’ll get it too when I start being as popular as you are!!
I literally screeched with joy when I saw this. I don’t deep fry as a generally rule, because I am a klutz so I don’t trust myself. In an attempt to DIY doughnuts I made Cinnamon French Toast Sticks which really do taste pretty close to the real thing. However, these…..they are the right SHAPE. Legendary. Going on my “must must MUST make list!!!”
I recently bought a donut pan and I am enjoying trying out baked donut recipes – can’t wait to try yours!
Kaylene, I’ll be honest and say that I never had eaten a baked donut before (not knowingly anyway) but I was pleasantly surprised.
I’ve always wanted to make my own donuts before but for some reason never have. You definitely have inspired me to make these Maureen – I just need to buy a donut pan now!
I love this idea of fast, easy, yummy donuts that I just have to pop into the oven! Can’t wait to try it myself.
Hi Maureen,
These baked doughnuts look delicious. Thanks for the recipe and for introducing me to John’s American Food Blogger’s blog 🙂 You are right about dementia being awful. My dad suffered from it for several years so I totally empathize with what your struggle.
I love my doughnut pan and I have never piped the mixture in I just spoon it and wipe the middle thingy as well. I tend to just add a bit of this and that to them as well. These look fab and I like cinnamon sugar doughnuts they do make a great breakfast.
I have been hunting for a donut pan in my local shops without much success. Have ended up ordering one. But will definitely be trying these out when I get one. I love cinnamon donuts, my absolute favourite. I also saw a recipe a while back for apple cider donuts that I thought sounded great. Will have to try and find that one again when I get my pan.
Love that they are a bit deformed, gives them character and you know they have been homemade that way too. It’s totally morning tea time in my office, wonder if I have left it a bit late to request your donuts from the kitchen. Happy Thursday lovely Maureen. 🙂
Donuts are guilty little pleasures aren’t they? I’ve never made them because I know that I would end up eating them all myself; however, with the holidays coming up, I could make an exception because these are my favorite!
What a good excuse to get out my donut pan Maureen- yummo!
I would like 2 please! These look delicious and cinnamon sugar is my favorite topping.
these look pretty good maureen. I bought a donut pan this year and have only used it once but i will try again. they were quite nice but i felt needed tweaking to make them special. i feel for you re your MIL. My MIL is also angry and unpleasant and in pain all the time. And due to Parkinson’s, she can hardly speak or write on her little machine. so damn awful! 🙁
Hi Maureen, your donuts look amazingly delicious!! Thanks for John’s info, headed to check out his site now.
Dementia is very terrible, I have a couple very close friends that have dementia.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
Michael
I have never made a homemade donut before and I have to change that. Yours are making me drool all over the desk. YUM!!!
The donuts looks so yummy and I have never made dough nuts before and this post is tempting me to try making some for the holidays. Thanks Maureen.