Cinnamon Sugar Soft Donuts (Printable)

Soft, fluffy donuts coated in fragrant cinnamon sugar—ideal for breakfast or an indulgent snack.

# What You Need:

→ Donut Dough

01 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 2/3 cup whole milk, warmed
06 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
07 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
08 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ For Frying

09 - Vegetable oil, for deep frying

→ Cinnamon Sugar Coating

10 - 1 cup granulated sugar
11 - 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
12 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (for brushing)

# How To Cook:

01 - In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, yeast, and salt until evenly distributed.
02 - In a separate bowl, whisk together the warm milk, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract.
03 - Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix until a sticky dough forms.
04 - Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for 5 to 8 minutes until smooth and elastic.
05 - Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm area until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
06 - Roll out dough to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut out donuts and holes using appropriate cutters approximately 3 inches and 1 inch in diameter.
07 - Arrange donuts and holes on a parchment-lined tray, cover, and allow to rise for 30 minutes.
08 - Heat vegetable oil in a deep pot to 350°F. Fry donuts 1 to 2 minutes per side until golden brown; fry holes for 1 minute, turning once.
09 - Remove donuts from oil and drain on a paper towel-lined rack to remove excess oil.
10 - Brush warm donuts with melted butter, then toss in mixture of sugar and cinnamon until evenly coated.
11 - Serve the cinnamon sugar-coated donuts warm for optimal flavor.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The dough is surprisingly forgiving, even if you've never worked with yeast before.
  • Homemade donuts stay soft for hours, nothing like the stale ones from a box.
  • You control the sweetness and can adjust the cinnamon to your taste.
  • Frying them fills your house with a smell that makes everyone appear in the kitchen.
02 -
  • If the oil is too hot the donuts will brown on the outside and stay raw in the middle, use a thermometer.
  • Don't skip the second rise or the donuts will be dense instead of airy.
  • Coat them while they're warm or the cinnamon sugar will just slide off.
03 -
  • Use a candy thermometer to keep the oil temperature steady, it makes all the difference.
  • If the dough feels too sticky to handle, lightly oil your hands instead of adding more flour.
  • Double the cinnamon in the coating if you really love that warm spice flavor.

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