I don’t make Donuts often, but these Homemade Cinnamon Cake Donuts are my new favourite! A soft dough with a touch of one of my favourite Fall flavors, cinnamon, and then rolled while still warm in a cinnamon sugar combination. The perfect anytime Donut.
This traditional fried donut is made a little different than my Cinnamon Baked Cake Donuts but just as delicious.
With the arrival of Fall, I think we all just crave a little Comfort Food and I don’t just mean a Casserole or Pasta Dish. I’m talking Dessert, especially a Cinnamon Dessert.
In Italy donuts are the way to go. I love my fried Italian Donuts. Although I do love my Cake Donuts with a cup of coffee or tea.
But when someone mentions donuts I always think of those soft, cinnamon Cake Donuts, I would sometimes treat myself to in Canada.
So when I discovered this deep fried (yes deep fried and no, I wouldn’t bake these) Cinnamon Cake Donut Recipe from a friend I knew I had to make them.
And they are yeast free too!
They are everything and more than I remember. Even my Italian friends were impressed.
Tips for making the Best Cake Donuts
Make sure your dough is soft and a little sticky, (if too sticky just add a little more flour). Dough should be wrapped in plastic and chilled for about one hour.
If you are using a medium heavy pot for frying then fill the pot with approximately two inches of vegetable oil (I use an oil for frying).
And make sure to heat your oil using a candy thermometer to 360-370F (180-185C), and be sure to keep it as close to this temperature as possible while frying the donuts.
Higher will only cook the donuts on the outside much too quickly, therefore the inside will not be done. Cooking too low a temperature will produce greasy heavy donuts, and this is exactly what we don’t want.
Once the donuts are cooked make sure to drain them on a couple of paper towels, but while they are still warm roll in a sugar cinnamon mixture.
Because these donuts are fried I strongly recommend eating them asap, fried foods aren’t the best kinds of foods to be kept for more than a day.
Tools needed for making Cake Donuts
I just did a baking class and the instructor advised us that the Best Rolling Pins are the ones without the handles, because pressing on the handles puts too much pressure on the centre of the dough.
And of course don’t forget one of those nifty Donut Cutters.
To fry these donuts I just used a heavy pot and filled it with two inches of vegetable oil, but one of my next purchases is definitely going to be an Electric Deep Fryer!
If you are using a heavy pot a Thermometer is a must have, you need it to get your oil to the right temperature.
So if you plan on making these Homemade Donuts I hope you enjoy them, and let me know what you think. Enjoy and Have a wonderful Sunday!
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Homemade Cinnamon Cake Donuts
Ingredients
FOR THE DONUT DOUGH
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (or nutmeg, whichever you prefer)
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons butter (salted, melted and cooled)
- 2 cups all purpose flour
Enough vegetable oil for deep frying (I use an oil made for frying).
CINNAMON/SUGAR TOPPING
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- In a large bowl mix together the sugar, baking powder, cinnamon (or nutmeg) and salt, then add the egg, milk and melted butter and combine.
- Add 1 1/2 cups of flour and beat, starting on low speed increase to medium (with dough hook) combine, then add remaining flour, the dough will be soft and a little sticky (but firm enough to handle), if too sticky add more flour a tablespoon at a time.
- Wrap the dough in plastic and chill for one hour.
- Heat 2 inches of oil in a medium heavy pot (or follow the directions if using a deep fryer) using a candy thermometer until temperature reaches 360-370F (180-185C).
- Roll dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/2 inch thick (1.2 cm), cut out with a donut cutter (be sure to fry the donut holes also).
- Carefully drop the donuts two at a time into the hot oil (keep the temperature at 360F or as close as possible). Flip the donuts as they puff up, turn a couple of times as they fry approximately 2-3 minutes, or until golden.
- Remove with a slotted spoon and let drain for a 30-60 seconds on a plate lined with paper towels. Roll warm donuts in cinnamon sugar. Serve immediately. Enjoy!
CINNAMON SUGAR
- In a small bowl combine well the sugar and cinnamon.
Brett Semenzin says
Used this with water and olive oil in a bread machine on dough pasta setting and they still seemed edible though a couple got extra brown on the outside.
Rosemary says
Hi Brett, I have never used a bread machine, but glad it worked.
emily ramsey says
hi is caster sugar you use and how long do you fry it for thank you
Rosemary says
Hi Emily I use granulated sugar in this recipe although caster sugar would work just as well. Let me know how it goes.
PB says
Instead of sugar coating, can you dip in a glaze or top with icing?
Rosemary says
Hi PB sure that would work, I think it would taste pretty good too.
Olivia says
Do I chill in the fridge or at room temperature?
Rosemary says
Hi Olivia, yes chill it in the fridge. Let me know how it goes.
Noreen D Huber says
Can you double this recipe?
Rosemary says
Hi Noreen yes you can. I hope you like it.
Andrea says
I’m excited to try this recipe soon ash family looooves donuts! Could i make the dough the night before and chill it overnight?? That way i don’t have to wake up so early! Thanks for any tips.
Rosemary says
Hi Andrea, yes you can, just be sure to let it sit at room temperature for about 30-60 minutes, depending on how warm your home is. I hope you enjoy them.
ryan says
could i oven bake these too? instead of frying them??
Rosemary says
Hi Ryan these are best fried, this recipe is for baked cinnamon donuts if you want to try https://anitalianinmykitchen.com/cinnamon-cake-donuts/.
Ana says
These look great. I don’t have a candy thermometer on hand right now but would like to make them today. Can you tell me how many minutes a side approximately when in the ideal temperature range?
Thank you!
Rosemary says
Hi Ana, It should work out to about 2-3 minutes on each side, until they are golden brown.
Megan says
Can’t wait to try these out! They look delicious!
Rosemary says
Hi Megan, thanks hope you enjoy them. Let me know.
AMIE says
These donuts are delish!! I put sugar, cinnamon, a little nutmeg in a paper lunch bag and 2-3 donuts at a time! Gently shake and they are coated nicely with sugar. It’s less messy on kitchen counter.
Rosemary says
Hi Amie, thanks so much, so glad you like them. And thanks for the great tip. 🙂
Ciao Chow Linda says
Oh my gosh. These look absolutely perfect and perfectly irresistible. These are on my to-make list for this week!
Rosemary says
Hi Linda, thanks so much, I hope you enjoy them, let me know.