These cinnamon roll donuts are baked with a cinnamon-sugar topping and finished with a vanilla glaze. They are absolutely delicious and so easy to make! They taste just like cinnamon rolls and they have such a soft, moist texture. These make for the perfect holiday breakfast or dessert.
I love making these cinnamon roll donuts for breakfast on Christmas morning. I promise your family is sure to love these! They're also great for Thanksgiving with the cozy cinnamon spice flavor. You can't go wrong with these donuts no matter what time of year it is.
For more delicious holiday recipes, you might like these vegan molasses cookies or this gluten free chocolate cake. Add them to your list!
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Ingredients
These donuts use simple ingredients that you probably already have at home. It doesn't take long to mix up the batter and have the donuts in the oven. They will make your house smell incredible as they bake!
for the donuts
- whole wheat pastry flour - this is a type of whole wheat flour that is lighter than red whole wheat flour. It gives the donuts their fluffy texture and light taste! You may also use white whole wheat flour for this recipe if desired.
- granulated sugar - this adds sweetness to the donuts and allows them to keep their light color, as opposed to using coconut sugar which would make them dark.
- baking powder - baking powder is the leavening agent in the recipe that helps them rise as they bake. We love fluffy donuts!
- ground cinnamon - these wouldn't be cinnamon roll donuts without the cinnamon, right?!
- salt - balances the flavors a bit.
- almond milk - milk is the liquid in the recipe which makes the batter the right consistency.
- egg - egg binds the ingredients together and gives the donuts a spongy, fluffy texture.
- greek yogurt - using yogurt adds moisture and texture to the donuts.
- vanilla extract - this adds a rich, warm flavor to the donuts.
for the cinnamon sugar topping
- butter - butter bakes on top of the donuts in the oven to give them such a tasty topping.
- coconut sugar - coconut sugar is an unrefined sugar that has a rich, caramely taste. It pairs amazingly with the cinnamon flavor!
- ground cinnamon - cinnamon is so important to giving that delicious cinnamon roll flavor.
- almond milk - a bit of milk makes the topping easy to spread on top the donut batter.
If any of these ingredients are unsuitable for you, please see the section on substitutions to know how to change them appropriately. I don't want you to miss out on these delicious donuts!
Making The Donuts
Like I said before... these cinnamon roll donuts are super easy to make! It will only take you 10 minutes. Maybe not even that long!
STEP 1: Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a standard donut pan with non-stick cooking spray, then set aside for later.
STEP 2: Whisk dry ingredients. In a large bowl, add the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Whisk to combine.
STEP 3: Whisk wet ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, almond milk, greek yogurt, and vanilla extract until well-incorporated and smooth.
STEP 4: Add wet to dry. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir gently until combined. Be careful not to overmix or your donuts won't be as soft!
STEP 5: Add batter to pan. Use a spoon to transfer the donut batter into the donut pan. You may also use a piping bag with a large tip if it's easier.
TIP: Gently shake the donut pan side-to-side to level the batter in the pan. This will ensure your donuts have smooth tops when they bake, with no awkward bumps.
STEP 6: Make cinnamon topping. In a small bowl, melt the butter and stir in the cinnamon, coconut sugar, and almond milk until you have a smooth mixture.
STEP 7: Add topping and bake. Use a spoon to drizzle the cinnamon-sugar topping over the unbaked donuts. Use the back of the spoon to spread it evenly around each donut. Then, bake the donuts for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown.
TIP: Let the donuts cool completely before adding the glaze, or else it will melt and turn into a drippy mess!
Glazing The Donuts
You don't need any fancy frosting skills for these donuts. All you need is a spoon to add the glaze. Super simple and so easy. Even the most beginner bakers can make these cinnamon roll donuts look beautiful!
To make the glaze, add the powdered sugar to a bowl with a sprinkle of salt. Stir in the almond milk one teaspoon at a time until the desired consistency is reached. It should be thick enough to drizzle off the spoon, but not too runny, or else it will flow right off the donuts!
To glaze the donuts, place parchment paper under the donuts and then use a spoon to drizzle the glaze over the donuts. Go in a back-and-forth motion to create pretty "stripes" on the donuts, or you can smear the frosting over top to create a thicker glaze that will resemble cinnamon rolls.
See? So easy!
Ingredient Substitutions
The ingredients in these donuts are pretty simple, but I've provided some guidance in case you need to make substitutions for dietary restrictions or preferences.
- Flour - Instead of using whole wheat pastry flour, you can use white whole wheat flour or all-purpose flour with good results.
- Sugar - Granulated sugar, cane sugar, or coconut sugar are all good options for these cinnamon roll donuts. Using coconut sugar will give them a darker color and richer taste.
- Milk - Any unsweetened plant milk will work in this recipe. You may also use dairy milk if you prefer a creamier taste.
- Egg - The egg in the recipe provides structure to the donuts. You might be able to use a flax egg in place of this, but I have not tried making these cinnamon roll donuts vegan so I can't guarantee it will work. If you do make them with a flax egg, please let me know how they turn out so I can provide guidance for other readers.
- Greek Yogurt - Instead of using greek yogurt, you may use unsweetened applesauce, pure pumpkin puree, or mashed banana.
- Butter - Instead of using butter for the topping, you can use vegan butter or melted coconut oil. If you use coconut oil, the taste will be different.
If you need to make substitutions, please don't try and change more than one ingredient in the recipe at one time. I can't guarantee the donuts will work out this way, and I'd hate to see you waste ingredients! Follow the recipe as closely as possible to get the best results.
Flavor Variations
Not only are these cinnamon roll donuts completely delicious as is, but there are other flavor variations you can try to make them even better!
- Pumpkin Spice Donuts - To make pumpkin spice baked donuts, use pumpkin pie spice in place of the cinnamon, and use pure pumpkin puree in place of the greek yogurt in the recipe. The pumpkin flavor is perfect for fall!
- Apple Cinnamon Donuts - To give these donuts a delicious apple-cinnamon flavor, use apple pie spice in the donuts instead of cinnamon. Instead of greek yogurt, use unsweetened applesauce for a delicious apple flavor. Use cinnamon for the topping (as normal) to ensure the cinnamon flavor stays around.
- Gingerbread Donuts - Gingerbread baked donuts are perfect for Christmas! Instead of using greek yogurt, use molasses in the donuts and use ground ginger instead of cinnamon. They will have such a delicious holiday spice flavor!
- Cinnamon Swirl Donuts - For cinnamon swirl donuts, make a double batch of the cinnamon sugar topping. As you spoon the donut batter into the pan, add a layer of the cinnamon topping in the middle of the donut batter. This will give them a delicious cinnamon swirl in the middle of the donut! Then add the rest of the cinnamon topping on top of the donuts like normal.
For another delicious cinnamon-flavored recipe, you have to try this vegan apple cake!
Storing And Freezing
Store the donuts in an airtight container on the counter for 5-7 days. This will keep them from drying out. If you have to stack the donuts in the container, place parchment paper between each layer to prevent them from sticking.
To freeze the donuts, place them in an airtight container in the freezer to keep for 30-60 days. Be sure to let the donuts thaw on the counter for 1-2 hours before enjoying again.
More Recipes to Enjoy
If you made this recipe, please consider leaving a rating and review below. I would love to know how you liked the donuts! Post a photo on Instagram and tag me so I can see how delicious they look. For more baking ideas, check out these recipes:
Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats
Recipe
Cinnamon Roll Donuts
Equipment
- Donut Pan (6 Donuts)
Ingredients
Donuts
- 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cinnamon Topping
- 1 tablespoon butter melted
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons coconut sugar
- 1 teaspoon unsweetened almond milk or preferred milk
Glaze
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 to 2 teaspoons unsweetened almond milk or preferred milk
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
Donut Batter
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a donut pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the pastry flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt until evenly distributed.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the almond milk, egg, greek yogurt, and pure vanilla extract until smooth.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until fully incorporated.
- Spoon the donut batter into the donut pan. You can use a spoon or a piping bag. Gently shake the pan back and forth to level the batter evenly.
Cinnamon Topping
- In a small bowl, melt 1 tablespoon butter and stir in the cinnamon, coconut sugar, and milk until smooth.
- Use a spoon to drizzle the cinnamon topping over the unbaked donuts in the pan. You can use the back of the spoon to spread it evenly around the donuts.
- Bake the donuts for 15-18 minutes or until lightly browned and firm.
- Remove from the oven and let the donuts cool in the pan for 3-5 minutes before gently transferring to a cooling rack. Make sure the donuts are cool before glazing.
Glazing The Donuts
- To make the glaze, add powdered sugar to a bowl with salt. Stir together and add almond milk 1 teaspoon at a time until the desired consistency is reached.
- Use a spoon to drizzle the glaze over the cinnamon rolls, or use a piping bag for more precision. Enjoy!
Cindy Mom the Lunch Lady says
I've been thinking of digging out my donut pan for the past few weeks. These donuts are a great reason to do so. They look fantastic!
Andrea White says
these donuts are absolutely spectacular! so so good!
Cindy Mom the Lunch Lady says
OMG these look awesome! I've been wanting to dig out my donut pan and this looks like the perfect opportunity to 🙂
Sue says
OMG all my favorite flavors in every bite!!
Gina says
Cinnamon roll and donuts-- I just gained 5 pounds looking at this! My kind of food! Total comfort and delicious!
nancy says
the best of both worlds. i love cinnamon rolls ... now in a donut form!
Nadia says
Awesome recipe for cinnamon roll donuts! Super easy and tastes delicious. I used all-purpose flour and they were great for Thanksgiving morning.
Nadine says
Do you think these would convert to gluten free as long as flour mix has guar gum in it? Looking for a holiday breakfast that would be fairly quick.
Samantha Ensinger says
Hi Nadine,
Yes! I think so. Just make sure the gluten-free flour blend has xantham gum. I have not tried making them gluten-free, but I think they will turn out well. Let me now how it goes! Enjoy the holiday breakfast!