Okay, let’s be real: we all crave those giant, gooey cinnamon rolls, but who has the time to wait for dough to rise? Not me! That’s why I am obsessed with these Cinnamon Bun Style Baked Donuts. You get all that warm, cinnamon-sugar goodness and a thick cream cheese glaze, but in a fluffy, cake-style donut that’s ready in under 30 minutes.

The best part? They’re baked, not fried, so you can totally justify having two (or three… no judgment here!).

🕒 The Deets

• Prep Time: 15 mins (Super quick!)

• Cook Time: 10 mins

• Total Time: 25 mins

• Makes: 12 donuts of pure joy

🛒 What You’ll Need

The Donut Batter

• 2 cups All-purpose flour

• ¾ cup Sugar (the sweet stuff)

• 2 tsp Baking powder (for that fluff factor)

• 1 tsp Salt

• ¾ cup Buttermilk (this is the secret to a moist donut!)

• 2 Large eggs

• 2 tbsp Butter, melted

• 2 tsp Vanilla extract

That Epic Cinnamon Swirl

• ¼ cup Melted butter

• ⅓ cup Brown sugar

• 1 tbsp Ground cinnamon (don’t be shy with it!)

The “I-Could-Eat-This-With-A-Spoon” Glaze

• 4 oz Cream cheese (make sure it’s soft!)

• 1 cup Powdered sugar

• 2-3 tbsp Milk

• 1 tsp Vanilla

👩‍🍳 Let’s Get Cooking!

1. Prep Your Pan: Heat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray your donut pan like crazy with non-stick spray. No one likes a donut that’s stuck to the pan!

2. Mix It Up: Grab a big bowl for your dry stuff (flour, sugar, etc.) and a smaller one for the wet stuff (eggs, buttermilk, etc.). Pour the wet into the dry and stir. Pro tip: Don’t over-mix! If you stir too much, your donuts will be tough like a bagel.

3. The Swirl: Mix your brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter in a tiny bowl. It’ll look like a thick paste—that’s the good stuff.

4. Fill ‘Em Up: Spoon the batter into the pan. Drop some of that cinnamon paste on top and use a toothpick to swirl it around. This makes those pretty patterns!

5. Bake: Pop them in the oven for 10–12 minutes. They should spring back when you touch them.

6. Glaze Time: Whisk your glaze ingredients until smooth. Dip those warm donuts right into the cream cheese goodness.

💡 Quick Tips for Perfection

• The Ziploc Hack: Don’t have a fancy piping bag? Just put your batter in a Ziploc bag, snip the corner, and squeeze it into the pan. It’s way less messy than a spoon!

• No Buttermilk? No Problem: Just mix ¾ cup of milk with a splash of lemon juice. Let it sit for 5 mins, and boom—homemade buttermilk.

• Don’t Wait Too Long: Glaze them while they’re still a bit warm. It helps the glaze melt in just a little bit. Chef’s kiss.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Do I really need a donut pan? If you don’t have one, just use a muffin tin! They’ll be “Cinnamon Bun Donut Muffins.” Still delicious, just a different shape.

Can I freeze these? Technically yes, but they’re so good fresh, they probably won’t last long enough to reach the freezer! If you do, freeze them without the glaze.