These Homemade Cake Donuts are one of my favorite treats! They are warm and fresh and so tender, and I just love the crumb here. When you combine that with cinnamon sugar? Shut the front door because I am going nowhere that doesn’t include these doughnuts, too.

Homemade Cake Donuts

I have a new favorite treat.

These from-scratch cake donuts are not only dangerously good, but they are super easy. The dough came together in minutes, and the frying only takes about 2 minutes per batch, at the most.

I coated these in cinnamon sugar, heavy on the cinnamon because that’s what I had in the house, but if I do them again I am going to opt for some powdered sugar and some iced/glazed. They would hold up to either amazingly well.

Cake donuts are a delicious and straightforward treat that brings a touch of sweetness to any day. Unlike their yeast-raised counterparts, cake donuts are leavened with baking powder, resulting in a denser, tender crumb. This recipe for cake donuts incorporates a perfect blend of sugar, a hint of cinnamon, and the richness of milk and butter, fried to golden and then tossed in a cinnamon-sugar coating for that irresistible finish.

Why you’ll love it!

Simple Ingredients: Utilizes basic ingredients typically found in your pantry.
Comfort Food: Offers a warm, sugary treat that satisfies your sweet tooth.
Quick Preparation: From start to finish, you can have fresh donuts in under an hour.
Customizable: Easy to adapt with different coatings or flavorings.

More great BREAKFAST RECIPES here!

Cinnamon Sugar Cake Donuts shopping list

Wondering if you have to hit the store? Here’s the list of items you’ll need to make this recipe. For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Bread Flour
White Sugar
Salt
Baking Powder
Cinnamon
Butter
Milk
Half and Half
Egg
Oil for Frying
Cinnamon & Sugar for Coating

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How To Make Cake Donuts

Mix

Start by mixing up the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon in one bowl. In another, melt two tablespoons of butter.

In another bowl, add 1/4 cup milk, and 1/4 cup half-and-half, and then toss an egg in and whisk until combined.

Drizzle the butter into the flour mixture and stir until it is crumbly.

Next, pour in the egg/milk/half-and-half, and stir until a ball forms.

KNEAD

Turn out onto a lightly floured counter and knead by hand for about 2 minutes, or until it becomes smooth.

ROLL

Roll out to about 1/4 – 1/3 of an inch in thickness and then cut into rounds using two different sizes of cookie cutters. I only have these cute flowery ones, but they worked just fine.

FRY

Heat up about 2 inches of oil in a large skillet or stockpot, over medium heat. My oil was at about 350℉. You can also use a deep fryer for these if you’d like.

You don’t have to be super precise about the temp. You can test your oil by frying up one of the donut holes first. If it starts bubbling when it hits the oil, and takes about 30-45 seconds to brown before you flip it, the oil is at the right temperature.

Fry the donuts in batches, flipping halfway through, until both sides are browned.

TOSS

Remove to your cinnamon sugar mixture and toss to coat. You could also use powdered sugar, or glaze. The possibilities are endless!

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Yield: 8 servings

Cake Donuts From Scratch

Name: Cake Donuts From Scratch
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups bread flour; 1/2 cup white sugar; 1/2 tsp salt; 1 Tbsp baking powder; 1/4 tsp cinnamon; 2 Tbsp butter, melted; 1/4 cup milk; 1/4 cup half and half; 1 egg, beaten; Oil for frying; Cinnamon & sugar for coating

Delicious cake donuts can be made right at home, and in less than an hour! You're going to love these sweet, homemade treats.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

2 cups bread flour
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/4 tsp cinnamon
2 Tbsp butter, melted
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup half and half
1 egg, beaten
Oil for frying
Cinnamon & sugar for coating

Instructions

In a medium sized mixing bowl, combing flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon. Stir until well combined.
Drizzle melted butter in and stir until the mixture is crumbly.
Whisk together the milk, half and half, and egg. Pour into the flour/butter mixture and stir until a ball forms.
Turn out onto a floured surface and knead for 2-3 minutes, until dough smooths out.
Roll out to 1/4 - 1/3 inch thick, cut into donut shapes, and fry at 350° for about 60-90 seconds, flipping halfway through.
Remove to cinnamon sugar mixture and toss to coat.
ENJOY!

Cake Donuts From Scratch