Cinnamon Sugar Cake Doughnuts are a delicious treat for breakfast or anytime of the day! These classic cake doughnuts do not use yeast and no rise time is needed. These delicious doughnuts can be ready to eat in less than one hour!
This past week we had two snow days....that's two days with school closed due to weather. The first was on Monday and then again on Thursday. Tons of snow and then the temperatures warmed up and we had freezing rain and then pouring rain.
Everything is a big, sloppy mess. We are now in a flood warning! Goodness Gracious!!!
To me a snow day is a bonus baking day! I asked the kids what I should make during one of our snow days. They wanted doughnuts. My mom is the doughnut queen! When I was a kid she made the most amazing maple bars.
The only problem was she would make them on a day that she also made my least favorite dish! If I wanted a maple bar, I had to eat liver and onions! Or spinach....or....it really didn't matter what it was. If it wasn't tacos or spaghetti I really didn't like it. I was such a picky eater! Sorry Mom! 🙂
My mom's recipe is a yeast dough. I wanted something that was a bit quicker this time so I made a cake doughnut.
What is a cake doughnut?
A cake doughnut is made without yeast. It is leavened with baking powder and baking soda. Most doughnuts are made with a dough that is leavened with yeast.
Cake doughnuts can be left plain or rolled in cinnamon and sugar, powdered sugar or given a quick chocolate glaze.
You will be amazed how much these doughnuts puff up when cooked. They start out relatively flat and poof, they just puff right up once dropped into the oil.
Don't forget to cook the doughnut holes! I think the doughnut holes are my favorite part.
Tools needed for making doughnuts
A couple of items you could use to make doughnut making successful: Doughnut Cutter, and a Thermometer. You need something to cut out a perfectly shaped doughnut and the key to cooking them is the accurate temperature. You don't want to guess if your oil is hot enough.
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Other doughnut recipes
If you are looking for other types of doughnuts, I have a recipe for baked mini doughnuts , maple bars, baked chocolate donuts and one for apple fritters. You might also want to try these delicious buttermilk bars!
Tips for Making Cake Doughnuts
- Combine all ingredients to make a dough
- Place dough on plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2-4 hours
- Shape dough into a large rectangle
- Cut with round cutter
- Fry doughnuts in a preheated 375 degree oil
- Only fry 2-3 at a time so oil is not overcrowded
- Place cooked doughnuts on a baking rack so excess oil can drain
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Check out all my delicious baking recipes!
Cinnamon and Sugar Doughnuts
Ingredients
Doughnuts
- 2 cups flour
- 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- pinch ground nutmeg
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
Cinnamon Sugar
- ⅔ cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Instructions
For the dough
- Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon together in a bowl. Set aside.
- In a mixer beat eggs until light and fluffy.
- Mix in sugar.
- Add sour cream and vanilla. Stir until combined.
- With mixer running, add flour mixture. Mix just until ingredients combined.
- Use a spatula to scrape bottom and sides and fold in any unincorporated ingredients. Dough will be sticky and wet.
- Place dough on a piece of plastic wrap. Wrap up sides, form dough into a disc and place in fridge for 1-2 hours.
Forming Doughnuts
- Remove dough from fridge. It will not be firm and will still be sticky.
- Place dough on a well floured surface. Sprinkle with more flour on top. Knead dough once or twice to incorporate the flour into the dough.
- Add a bit more surface and to the top of the dough. Gently press dough down with fingertips into a rectangular shape. Dough should be approximately ½" thick.
- Using a doughnut cutter dipped into flour, cut out shapes. Dip doughnut cutter into flour before each cut.
- Fill fryer or pot with at least 2 inches of oil. Heat to 375 degrees.
- Add 2-3 doughnuts at a time. Cook 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove from oil onto a baking rack.
- Repeat until all doughnuts are cooked, reheating to 375 degrees between each batch.
Cinnamon and Sugar
- Mix cinnamon and sugar together in a bowl.
- When doughnuts are almost cooled dip each doughnut into mixed cinnamon and sugar.
Notes
Tips for Making Cake Doughnuts
- Combine all ingredients to make a dough
- Place dough on plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2-4 hours
- Shape dough into a large rectangle
- Cut with round cutter
- Fry doughnuts in a preheated 375 degree oil
- Only fry 2-3 at a time so oil is not overcrowded
- Place cooked doughnuts on a baking rack so excess oil can drain
Nutritional Disclaimer:
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Nutrition
Erin says
My son has been begging me to make homemade donuts. Now I will have to with this recipe!
Kathy says
Just think...you will be his hero! 🙂
Donna says
Oh yum, these look amazing!!! My kids would be super excited if I whipped up a batch of these 🙂
Kathy says
My kids love 'em!
Michelle @ The Last Food Blog says
Hi Kathy, just wanted to stop by and say that these look fab! My daughter would love these. Also how clever is your Mum!! I think I may adopt that little trick 😉 Hope the weather has picked up for you now x
Kathy says
Thanks, Michelle! The weather has warmed up and the snow is melting!
Anu - My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
We have snow days almost every day here, but first days of snow are magical. I can sit on my window and watch the giant flakes for hours. My daughter is suffering from flu, and she loves donuts like anything, so I guess these would make her happy. Will bake them for her. Lovely share, Kathy.
Kathy says
I hope your daughter feels better! These doughnuts would make a lovely treat once she is back on her feet again!
Elaine @ Dishes Delish says
I love homemade donuts. There was a family friend that made her husband plain donuts every morning. These remind me of them. I can't wait to try these.
Kathy says
Every Morning! Wow!!!
Muna Kenny says
I love watching the snow falls but that's it. And yes, I love these doughnuts and wish I can have some with a chilled glass of milk 🙂
Kathy says
I agree! Watching snow falling is very peaceful! It's all the cleanup after the snow that's stressful!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
I absolutely love snow and think it's one of the prettiest things on earth, but the sloppy, slushy mess afterwards is less than pretty. ICK! Hope everything clears up soon for you guys! I'd stay indoors and just eat these donuts on repeat, because YUM! I love everything covered in cinnamon-sugar, especially donuts, so these are totally calling my name! Such a classic! Cheers, friend!
Adina says
They do look perfect the doughnuts. My kids would love them as well.
Kathy says
Who doesn't love a great doughnut??? 🙂
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
So funny that your mom made you eat your least favourite food before giving you a treat. Smart though 🙂 We have a snow day here today, blizzard actually. This donuts look like the perfect thing to make (and eat) cuddled up with a coffee!
Kathy says
She didn't do it every time! But she did get me to eat a lot of foods I didn't like back then! 🙂