Description
Delightful mini baked cinnamon sugar donut bites that are tender, moist, and coated in a sweet cinnamon sugar blend. Perfectly portioned for easy snacking or sharing, these baked donut bites combine the richness of sour cream and butter with warm cinnamon flavors for an irresistible treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Donut Batter
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- â…“ cup vegetable oil (or avocado oil)
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ cup whole milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
- 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ cup salted butter (melted)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Place the oven rack in the center position and preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the donut bites evenly.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar, egg, vegetable oil, sour cream, milk, and vanilla extract. Whisk thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and uniform.
- Add Dry Ingredients: To the wet mixture, add the all-purpose flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt. Gently whisk until just combined, making sure most lumps are mixed out but do not overmix to keep the batter tender.
- Prepare Muffin Pans: Spray two mini muffin pans (36 wells total) with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking. Scoop approximately 1 ½ tablespoons of batter into each muffin cup, filling evenly.
- Bake Donuts: Place both pans together on the center oven rack. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the donut bites have risen and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Avoid overbaking to ensure softness.
- Make Cinnamon Sugar Blend: While the donuts bake, melt the butter in a small bowl and set aside. In a large zip-top bag, combine granulated sugar with ground cinnamon, seal, and shake to mix evenly.
- Coat Donuts: When donuts are done, allow them to cool for a few minutes. Then, dip each mini donut gently into the melted butter, tapping off excess to keep the coating light. Transfer about six donuts at a time into the cinnamon sugar bag, seal, and shake gently until coated.
- Serve: Remove the coated donuts from the bag, tap off any extra cinnamon sugar, and serve warm or at room temperature. Enjoy these bite-sized cinnamon sugar treats!
Notes
- Do not overbake the donut bites; they should remain soft and moist.
- Use a light hand when coating with butter and cinnamon sugar to avoid sogginess.
- If you don’t have mini muffin pans, a mini donut pan can be used for a different shape.
- Store leftover donut bites in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute sour cream and butter with vegan alternatives.
