Learn how to make Cinnamon Donut Muffins from scratch. Sky-high muffins covered in sweet cinnamon sugar that taste JUST like a hot cinnamon donut.
Hello Cinnamon Donut Muffins!
You’ll adore these sweet cinnamon muffins. Baked in the oven, they don’t require any dough-making or deep-frying but the’re guaranteed to satisfy your cinnamon donut cravings.
Not only that, but LOOK 👆🏻 at those sky-high muffin tops!
Muffins are a delicious treat or snack-on-the-go. But muffins that taste like donuts? Now we’re talking. I love these donut muffins.
I have sweet memories of getting a cinnamon donut while shopping with my mum when I was little. I remember watching it come out from the donut machine and then flip its way through the cinnamon sugar. We would then eat it while it was still warm.
Recently, I’ve been obsessed with my Cinnamon Tea Cake (which also tastes somewhat like a donut) and NOW I’m moving onto to homemade, bakery-style Cinnamon Muffins.
THESE gorgeous muffins are simple to make but are sure to become a family favourite. Just make sure you eat a few fresh – they’re absolutely delightful when they’re warm!
How to make bakery-style muffins
There’s nothing like making a batch of homemade muffins that have those beautiful domed muffins tops – just like in your favourite bakery.
To achieve those sky-high muffin tops, you’ll need to fill each hole of your muffin pan almost to the top. I know it feels counter-intuitive (especially if you’re used to making cupcakes) as you may think they will overflow, but they won’t as long as you have the oven on a high temperature for the first 5 minutes of cooking time.
After the initial 5 minutes, we then turn the oven down slightly for the reminder of the cooking time. That initial burst of high heat causes the muffins to rise quickly in the beginning, create those high-rise muffins.
Making cinnamon donut muffins
There’s a little cinnamon IN the muffin batter but most of that sweet cinnamon flavour comes from the cinnamon sugar coating.
While the muffins are still warm and fresh from the oven, you’ll need to brush the muffins with melted butter and roll them in the cinnamon sugar. Not only will this help the topping stick better but if you get to eat one while they are still warm, it will taste even more like a sweet cinnamon donut.
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Let’s Bake
Cinnamon Donut Muffins
Baked Cinnamon Donut Muffins covered in sweet cinnamon sugar.
Ingredients
- 350 grams (2 and 1/2 cups) plain flour or all purpose flour
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 90 grams (1/2 cup) brown sugar
- 100 grams (1/2 cup) caster sugar or granulated sugar
- 115 grams (1/2 cup / 1 stick) butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 240 ml (1 cup) buttermilk*
Cinnamon topping
- 50 grams (1/4 cup) caster sugar or granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 60 grams (1/4 cup) butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200 C (390 F) standard / 180 C (350 F) fan-forced. Grease your 12-hole muffin pan well with butter or use cupcake liners.
- In a large mixing bowl, sift flour, baking powder, cinnamon and sugars and mix together briefly.
- In a separate bowl, add melted butter, vanilla and eggs. Whisk gently just to break up the egg yolks. Make a well in the middle of your dry ingredients, add the wet ingredients and begin to gently fold.
- Add buttermilk and fold until the mixture is just combined – be careful not to over mix or your muffins will be tough.
- Spoon out the muffin mixture into your prepared tin. Bake muffins for 5 minutes before turning down the heat to 180 C (350 F) standard / 160 C (320 F) fan-forced and baking for a further 10-12 minutes.
- Mix together sugar and cinnamon. While the muffins are still warm brush the tops and sides with melted butter and roll them in the cinnamon sugar mix. Leave muffins to cool completely on a cooling rack.
Notes
Buttermilk: If you don’t have any buttermilk, you can use your own by adding 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or fresh lemon juice to 1 cup of full fat or whole milk. Leave for a few minutes before using as normal.
Nutrition Information
This recipe was first published on Sweetest Menu in February 2017.
Jennifer says
These are heaven, and very much a cinnamon donut so yummy,another Triple A recipe
★★★★★
Jessica Holmes says
So glad you loved them Jennifer!
Jacy says
Easy to make and bake 🙂 i made it now a few times instead of muffins as a cake, and i gotta say it became my all time favorite!
Also my coworkers were very happy every time i took one to the office.
Thank you for this wonderful recipe!
★★★★★
Jessica Holmes says
Ooh love that Jacy! So glad you enjoyed them!
Betty Fike says
Made twice in a week! Once for a friends birthday and another batch for some friends! Come together easily and uses ingredients that are staples!
★★★★★
Jessica Holmes says
Yes! So glad you enjoyed them Betty!
Asmah Bukhari says
I was worried at first because the batter mix is really thick and looked lumpy, especially as I doubled the ingredients. But 🤩 WOW they turned out perfect and taste absolutely delicious. I’ll definitely be making more. Thank you
★★★★★
Jessica Holmes says
Yay! I’m so happy to hear that!
Maria says
These are soooo good! I added some chocolate chips too…They never last long and there’s always a battle for the last one!
Thanks a mill for the great recipes!
Maria
★★★★★
Jessica Holmes says
Aw love hearing that! Thanks for the kind feedback Maria!
Michelle Wagner says
Absolutely amazing! So easy to make and they really do taste like cinnamon donuts. I was hoping to have some left overs for the next day but they were devoured by everyone!
★★★★★
Jessica Holmes says
So happy you enjoyed them Michelle!
Alice says
I was unsure how these would turn out as the better seemed very thick but they turned out great, such a lovely texture!
★★★★★
Jessica Holmes says
So glad you enjoyed them Alice!
Aya Jimenez says
Hi. Is there really no salt in the recipe? I tried this yesterday and it’s kinda bland. I used an unsalted butter.
Jessica Holmes says
Sorry to hear that Aya. The recipe specifies regular butter but feel free to add salt next time!
Catherine says
Oh Lordy these were soooo good! I love cinnamon on anything and these were delicious. Never made muffins before and they turned out great
★★★★★
Jessica Holmes says
Yay! So happy to hear that Catherine!
ZK says
Oh wow – they look amazing! Haven’t tried them yet but wowwww!
★★★★★
Jessica Holmes says
I hope you enjoy them!
Zk says
They are absolute divine Jessica – thank you so much!
★★★★★
Carly says
too good! I love them 🙂
★★★★★
Jessica Holmes says
So happy to hear that Carly!
Helen says
Just made these now. Yumma. Couldn’t do the cinnamon topping on the sides as the cases misbehaved when I tried to peel off so I just generously coated the top. Very moreish!
Jessica Holmes says
So glad you enjoyed them Helen!
Josh says
So goood!!!
★★★★★
Jessica Holmes says
So glad you like them Josh!