Imagine biting into a soft, cinnamon-sugar coated muffin that tastes just like your favorite donut. These donut muffins are a magical combination of tender cake and classic donut flavor, bringing joy to your breakfast table with every single bite.

Crafted with love and a touch of nostalgia, these muffins bridge the gap between bakery-style donuts and homemade comfort food. Moreover, they offer all the deliciousness of a donut with the convenience of a muffin you can easily make at home.
Donut Muffins: A Sweet Morning Sensation
Prepare to transform your ordinary morning routine with these irresistible muffins that capture the essence of a classic donut. The soft, tender crumb and generous cinnamon-sugar coating create a breakfast treat that's impossible to resist.
Whether you're hosting a brunch or craving a sweet morning pick-me-up, these donut muffins will become your new favorite recipe.
Serving Suggestions:
Elevate your donut muffins with these delightful pairings:
- Fresh hot coffee
- Cold glass of milk
- Homemade whipped cream
- Vanilla ice cream
- Fresh berries on the side
Pro Tips for Perfect Donut Muffins:
Butter Brilliance: Use room temperature butter for the smoothest batter. Softened butter creams more easily and creates a more uniform texture.
Mixing Mastery: Avoid overmixing the batter. Gently combine ingredients until just incorporated to keep the muffins tender and light.
Topping Technique: Dip the warm muffins in melted butter immediately after baking. This ensures the cinnamon-sugar coating sticks perfectly.
Temperature Tricks: Let ingredients come to room temperature before mixing. This helps create a more consistent batter and better-textured muffins.
Storage Wisdom: Store muffins in an airtight container to maintain their soft, fresh texture.

Donut Muffins Recipe Details:
- Preparation time: 15 minutes
- Baking time: 18-20 minutes
- Servings: 12 muffins
- Equipment: Muffin tin, mixing bowls, electric mixer
These delectable muffins offer a perfect balance of sweetness and comfort, bringing the beloved donut experience right to your kitchen.
Ingredients:
For the Muffin Base:
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup whole milk
For the Cinnamon-Sugar Topping:
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Directions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Carefully grease a standard 12-cup muffin tin or line it with paper liners for easy removal and convenient serving.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Use an electric mixer on medium speed to beat for 2-3 minutes until the mixture becomes light and fluffy.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter-sugar mixture. Beat thoroughly, making sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl to incorporate all ingredients evenly.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Ensure these dry ingredients are well combined to guarantee even distribution throughout the batter.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with the milk. Begin and end with dry ingredients, mixing gently after each addition. Be careful not to overmix; you want the batter to be just combined.
- Carefully spoon the batter evenly into the prepared muffin tin, filling each cup about two-thirds full. This allows the muffins room to rise beautifully without overflowing.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes. Look for lightly golden tops and insert a toothpick into the center of a muffin – it should come out clean when the muffins are done.
- While the muffins bake, prepare the topping. Melt the butter in one small bowl. In another bowl, mix together the granulated sugar and cinnamon.
- Once baked, let the muffins cool in the pan for about 5 minutes. Then, carefully remove them and dip each muffin top into the melted butter, followed by a generous roll in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
Ready to Indulge!
Serve these delightful muffins warm for the ultimate treat. The combination of soft, tender cake and sweet cinnamon-sugar coating creates a breakfast experience that's truly unforgettable.
Storage Solutions:
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature
- Best consumed within 2-3 days
- Warm slightly before serving to restore fresh-baked texture
- Can be frozen for up to 1 month
- Thaw at room temperature or warm gently in the microwave
Whether you're looking for a special breakfast treat or a delightful afternoon snack, these donut muffins promise to bring a smile to everyone's face. Enjoy the perfect blend of donut-inspired flavors in a convenient, homemade muffin!
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Donut Muffins
These delectable muffins offer a perfect balance of sweetness and comfort, bringing the beloved donut experience right to your kitchen.
- Total Time: 42 minute
- Yield: 12 muffins 1x
Ingredients
For the Muffin Base:
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup whole milk
For the Cinnamon-Sugar Topping:
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Carefully grease a standard 12-cup muffin tin or line it with paper liners for easy removal and convenient serving.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Use an electric mixer on medium speed to beat for 2-3 minutes until the mixture becomes light and fluffy.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter-sugar mixture. Beat thoroughly, making sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl to incorporate all ingredients evenly.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Ensure these dry ingredients are well combined to guarantee even distribution throughout the batter.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with the milk. Begin and end with dry ingredients, mixing gently after each addition. Be careful not to overmix; you want the batter to be just combined.
- Carefully spoon the batter evenly into the prepared muffin tin, filling each cup about two-thirds full. This allows the muffins room to rise beautifully without overflowing.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes. Look for lightly golden tops and insert a toothpick into the center of a muffin – it should come out clean when the muffins are done.
- While the muffins bake, prepare the topping. Melt the butter in one small bowl. In another bowl, mix together the granulated sugar and cinnamon.
- Once baked, let the muffins cool in the pan for about 5 minutes. Then, carefully remove them and dip each muffin top into the melted butter, followed by a generous roll in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 18-20 minutes





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