Cinnamon Toast Crunch Donuts
Soft donuts, sweet glaze, and a crunchy topping? These Cinnamon Toast Crunch donuts have it all. They’re easy to make, so you can explore this recipe even as a beginner baker. Try them for breakfast, brunch, or dessert.
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Donuts are the ultimate comfort food. They’re sweet, soft, and fun to eat, kinda like a slice of cake but more playful and portable.
If you have a sweet tooth, chances are you treat yourself to your takeout favorites once in a while. Want to try something new? Start a new baking project!
These homemade donuts come with a fall twist and are easy enough even for baking newbies.
It might take a little more effort than grabbing a box from the store, but it’s totally worth your time. 💪
In search of something irresistibly delicious? These fall desserts for a crowd feature everything from cookies and pies to cakes and cupcakes.
How to Make Cinnamon Toast Crunch Donuts
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Rest Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Serves: 12 donuts
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Donuts
- 1 cup Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, crushed
- ¾ cup buttermilk
- 1 ⅔ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 4 tablespoons salted butter, melted ½ stick
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
- 2 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
- ½ tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the Glaze
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons whole milk
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 ½ cups Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal
Instructions
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease your donut pan. Set aside.
Step 2: Place a cup of the crushed Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal and the buttermilk in a large mixing bowl. Stir lightly and set aside.
Step 3: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and baking powder. Mix well.
Step 4: Lightly whisk the egg, then add it to the bowl with the cereal and buttermilk. Add the oil, maple syrup, vanilla, Greek yogurt, brown sugar, and melted butter. Stir until thoroughly combined.
Step 5: Gradually add the flour mixture to the buttermilk mixture, stirring until fully combined.
Step 6: Fill each cavity of the prepared donut pan about ¾ full. A piping bag works well, but you can use any method you prefer.
Step 7: Bake for 10 minutes, or until the tops of the donuts are bouncy to the touch.
Step 8: Leave the donuts in the pan and set aside to cool for 15 to 20 minutes.
Step 9: While the donuts are cooling, mix together all the glaze ingredients except the cereal. Stir until smooth and combined.
Step 10: Gently remove the donuts from the pan and dip the tops into the glaze. Place glaze-side up on parchment paper or a plate.
Step 11: Crush some of the remaining Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, leaving a few whole pieces. Place a couple of whole cereal pieces on each donut diagonally, then sprinkle with crushed cereal in the same direction.
Step 12: Serve, eat, and enjoy!
What to Serve with Homemade Cinnamon Toast Crunch Donuts
- Hot drinks: Go for black coffee or English breakfast tea. These options are strong enough to cut through the sweetness yet still feel classic and comforting.
- Party spreads: Arrange them on a platter with other baked goods like muffins, sweet potato bites, and apple hand pies!
- Family breakfast: Perfect if you love creating sweet breakfasts. You can make these treats ahead of time and then enjoy them on the go. 😋
If you want to try more fall desserts, this list is for you. These easy apple dessert recipes are great for family dinners or holiday tables.
Tips for Making the Best Cinnamon Toast Crunch Donuts
- Batch baking trick: If you only have one donut pan, keep the remaining batter in the fridge between batches so it doesn’t over-rise. Keep donuts plain until you’re ready to serve, then dip and sprinkle in batches so the cereal stays crunchy.
- Double the glaze: Like your donuts extra sweet? Make a little more glaze. It also gives you backup in case the first batch thickens too quickly.
- Make it kid-friendly: Let kids decorate their own donuts with glaze and cereal toppings. Set up a topping station. Prepare bowls with crushed cereal, sprinkles, or chocolate chips and let the little ones dip and decorate their donuts however they like.
How to Store Delicious Cinnamon Toast Crunch Donuts
Store your cooled Cinnamon Toast Crunch donuts in a sealed container at room temperature for up to four days.
They’ll stay soft and flavorful! You can also freeze them for up to three months. Just be sure to use an airtight container.
Once you’re ready to enjoy them again, thaw at room temperature and reheat slightly if you prefer them warm.
Since the cereal topping softens over time, add fresh crushed cereal just before serving if you want that signature crunch.
Helpful Extras for Prepping and Serving Your Cinnamon Toast Crunch Donuts
- A mini cooling rack is handy for small batches, and it doesn’t take up much counter space. Plus, it doubles as a drip rack when you’re glazing your donuts.
- Serving these sweet snacks at a party or brunch? A donut stand can make them look even more impressive.
- Use reusable piping bags to drizzle glaze neatly over your donuts. They’re also handy for decorating homemade cookies, cakes, and cupcakes. 👨🍳
FAQs on Easy Cinnamon Toast Crunch Donuts
Is it better to bake or fry donuts?
Baking is the way to go. It’s less messy than frying, and you still get soft, flavorful donuts that pair perfectly with the glaze and cereal topping.
Can you make doughnut dough the night before?
Yes! Here’s an idea: Mix the dry ingredients ahead of time and store them in a covered bowl. When you’re ready to bake, just add the wet ingredients and you’ll have fresh donuts without the extra prep.
What are the most common donut batter mistakes?
One of the biggest mistakes is overmixing, which can make baked donuts dense instead of fluffy. Another is overfilling the pan, so try to stick to about ¾ full to help your Cinnamon Toast Crunch donuts bake evenly.
These donuts work perfectly any time of the day! Don’t worry, even if you don’t bake often, you won’t have a hard time following this recipe.
As you go along, you can play around with different glazes (try chocolate or cream cheese!), swap in colorful sprinkles with the cereal, or even make a mix of regular and mini donuts for variety. Put your own spin on it!
Looking for more easy recipes? These ideas are great for gatherings or anytime you want something special:
- Berry Granola Cups
- Chocolate Mousse
- Pink Cake Pops
- Upside Down Apple Tart Recipe
- Instant Pot Savory Apple Chutney
Cinnamon Toast Crunch Donuts
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 12 donuts 1x
Description
Soft donuts, sweet glaze, and a crunchy topping? These Cinnamon Toast Crunch donuts have it all. They’re easy to make, so you can explore this recipe even as a beginner baker. Try them for breakfast, brunch, or dessert.
Ingredients
For the Donuts
- 1 cup Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, crushed
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
- 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 4 tablespoons salted butter, melted (1/2 stick)
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
- 2 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
- 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the Glaze
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons whole milk
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 cups Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease your donut pan. Set aside.
- Place a cup of the crushed Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal and the buttermilk in a large mixing bowl. Stir lightly and set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and baking powder. Mix well.
- Lightly whisk the egg, then add it to the bowl with the cereal and buttermilk. Add the oil, maple syrup, vanilla, Greek yogurt, brown sugar, and melted butter. Stir until thoroughly combined.
- Gradually add the flour mixture to the buttermilk mixture, stirring until fully combined.
- Fill each cavity of the prepared donut pan about ¾ full. A piping bag works well, but you can use any method you prefer.
- Bake for 10 minutes, or until the tops of the donuts are bouncy to the touch.
- Leave the donuts in the pan and set aside to cool for 15 to 20 minutes.
- While the donuts are cooling, mix together all the glaze ingredients except the cereal. Stir until smooth and combined.
- Gently remove the donuts from the pan and dip the tops into the glaze. Place glaze-side up on parchment paper or a plate.
- Crush some of the remaining Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, leaving a few whole pieces. Place a couple of whole cereal pieces on each donut diagonally, then sprinkle with crushed cereal in the same direction.
- Serve, eat, and enjoy!
- Category: Dessert
