Easy Cinnamon Donut Muffins Recipe

I recently made these Bakery Style Cinnamon Muffins and felt compelled to share their charm. The blend of all-purpose flour, a touch of granulated sugar, and a dash of baking powder, mixed with whole milk and melted butter, creates an inviting texture crowned with a cinnamon sugar topping that leaves me smiling every time.

I recently tried my hand at making these Cinnamon Donut Muffins and they totally blew my mind. I always get excited when I see a recipe that calls for simple ingredients like 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and 1/2 cup whole milk, and then surprises you with a burst of flavor from melted butter and vanilla extract.

It reminded me so much of those mini cinnamon sugar muffins you get from your local bakery. The process is straightforward and fun even if you’re new to baking.

I mixed the dry ingredients with a pinch of salt and a little baking powder then added in a beaten egg to tie it all together. After baking, I finished the muffins with a generous dusting of a cinnamon and sugar topping that added just the right amount of crunch and spice.

If you like breakfast sweets that have that perfect blend of bakery style and homemade charm, you’ll want to try these out asap.

Why I Like this Recipe

I really love this recipe because it’s super simple to make and doesn’t need a lot of fancy ingredients. I also like how the muffins come out soft and remind me of those old fashioned cinnamon sugar donuts from way back when. The cinnamon sugar topping gives them this awesome crunchy-sweet finish that I can’t get enough of, and it fills my whole house with a warm, inviting smell that makes me feel all nostalgic.

Ingredients

• All-purpose flour supplies carbs and structure.

  It offers minimal fibre and some protein.

• Granulated sugar sweetens the recipe with pure energy but gives little nutrition.
• Whole milk adds moisture and a bit of protein while providing calcium for strength.
• Unsalted butter gives a rich flavor and soft texture even though it isn’t super healthy.
• An egg helps bind everything together and adds protein, which is essential for structure.
• Vanilla extract amps up the flavor with a sweet, aromatic hint that brightens the taste.
• Cinnamon sugar topping sprinkles a crunchy, spicy sweetness as the finishing touch.
• Baking powder and salt help fluff up the muffins while balancing flavor gently.

Ingredient Quantities

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted (cooled a bit)
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• For the topping: 1/3 cup granulated sugar mixed with 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

How to Make this

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F and grease a muffin tin or line it with paper liners.

2. In a medium bowl, mix together 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt.

3. In another bowl, whisk 1/2 cup whole milk, 1/4 cup melted unsalted butter (make sure its cooled a bit), 1 large egg, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.

4. Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined dont overmix.

5. Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin tin filling each cup about 2/3 full.

6. Mix the topping ingredients by combining 1/3 cup granulated sugar with 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon in a small dish.

7. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar topping evenly over the tops of the muffins.

8. Bake the muffins for about 15-18 minutes or until they turn lightly golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

9. Let the muffins cool in the tin for a few minutes then remove them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Equipment Needed

1. An oven (make sure it’s preheated to 375°F)
2. A muffin tin or a set of paper liners for the tin
3. One medium mixing bowl for the dry ingredients
4. Another bowl for the wet ingredients
5. A small dish or bowl for mixing the cinnamon sugar topping
6. Measuring cups and measuring spoons
7. A whisk to mix the wet ingredients
8. A spatula or spoon to gently combine the wet and dry mixtures
9. A toothpick to check if the muffins are done
10. A wire cooling rack to let the muffins cool after baking

FAQ

Easy Cinnamon Donut Muffins Recipe Substitutions and Variations

• Instead of 1 cup all-purpose flour, try using whole wheat flour or a blend of half whole wheat and half all-purpose for a nuttier flavor.
• You can swap 1/2 cup granulated sugar with 1/2 cup coconut sugar or even brown sugar to give a deeper, caramel-like taste.
• If you’re out of whole milk, feel free to use almond milk or oat milk as a lighter dairy alternative.
• In a pinch, replace the unsalted butter with the same amount of melted coconut oil for a hint of tropical flavor.
• If you need an egg substitute, mix 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons water and let it sit for a few minutes until thickened.

Pro Tips

1. Make sure your melted butter isn’t too hot when you mix it with the egg, cuz a hot butter can kinda cook the egg and mess up your batter.
2. Don’t overmix the batter – stir just until you dont see any dry bits, or else your muffins might turn out tough.
3. Let your batter sit for a couple minutes after mixing; it gives the flour time to really hydrate and can lead to fluffier muffins.
4. When you’re sprinkling that cinnamon sugar topping, try shaking it from a small jar so you get an even sprinkle across all the muffins.