Description

These Sugar Donut Muffins are fluffy, tender mini treats with a delightful cinnamon sugar coating reminiscent of classic donuts. Perfect for breakfast, snack time, or dessert, they combine warm vanilla-scented batter baked to golden perfection and finished with a buttery cinnamon-sugar dip for an irresistible homemade twist on donut flavors.

Ingredients

Scale

Wet Ingredients

3/4 cup milk
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup melted butter (for dipping)

Dry Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup sugar (for rolling)
1 tablespoon cinnamon (for rolling)

Instructions

Preheat and Prepare Muffin Tin: Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C) and lightly grease a mini muffin tin with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, beat together the milk, sugar, vegetable oil, egg, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate smaller bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and ground nutmeg to evenly distribute the leavening and seasoning.
Make the Batter: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring just until combined to avoid overmixing and to keep the muffins light and tender.
Fill Muffin Tins: Pour the batter into the prepared mini muffin tin cups, filling each about three-quarters full to allow room for rising.
Bake the Muffins: Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean, indicating they are fully cooked.
Prepare Cinnamon Sugar Coating: While the muffins bake, melt the butter in a small bowl using a microwave. In another bowl, mix together the sugar and cinnamon that will be used for coating.
Cool Muffins Slightly: When baking is done, let the muffins cool for a few minutes so they are easy to handle but still warm enough to absorb the butter and sugar.
Coat Muffins: Dip the tops of each muffin into the melted butter, then roll them in the cinnamon sugar mixture to give them a delicious, sugary crust reminiscent of classic donuts.
Set to Cool: Place the coated muffins on a wire rack or plate and allow them to cool completely or serve warm, enjoying their soft texture with a crunchy cinnamon sugar topping.

Notes

Using mini muffin tins creates perfectly bite-sized donut muffins with ideal proportions for the cinnamon sugar coating.
Do not overmix the batter; overmixing can lead to tough muffins.
Ensure the butter and sugar coating is applied while muffins are still warm to help the sugary crust stick well.
You can substitute whole milk with a lower-fat milk option if preferred.
For a dairy-free version, replace the milk and butter with suitable plant-based alternatives.
Store muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or freeze for longer storage.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Breakfast, Snack, Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: sugar donut muffins, cinnamon sugar muffins, mini muffins, breakfast muffins, homemade donut muffins