Cinnamon Sugar Donuts & Coffee

Coffee & donuts…

Two little words, with so much power. What do you think about when you hear them? Coffee. Donuts….

For me I think about cinnamon sugar…

Say those two words and I swear it’s like I can smell warm, cakey vanilla donuts and cinnamon sugar wafting through the air… it’s intoxicating. I’m not sure there are two words that have more of an ability to bring back a memory for me.

Coffee & donuts makes me think about this malt shop that my mum use to take my brothers and I to when we were little. I absolutely loved that place. The nostalgia attached to for me is just incredible, and I remember the shop always smelled of fresh coffee and cinnamon sugar donuts…

Chocolate malts, hot chocolate, coffee & donuts. That’s what they sold – I mean they probably had a much more broad menu, but that’s what I remember most. Specifically I remember the cinnamon sugar donuts. My mum would buy us a malt and a donut for the four of us to share, and it was just the best thing ever.

We were too young to ever enjoy the bliss of dunking a donut in coffee, but I remember watching adults do just that while we mimicked them by dunking our donuts in the malts.

The shop closed so long ago that I sometimes find myself wondering if it was just a figment of my imagination entirely – but then I ask my brothers if they remember, and they always confirm that it was in fact very real.

I will always remember that place. If it was still open, I would probably be their most regular customer. So if the malt shop owner is out there… please know that I miss you…

So until it re-opens, I guess I will have to just try and recreate the donuts myself…

These donuts are simple. They are no fuss. The batter whips up in one bowl, and they are baked and ready to be eaten in under 30 minutes.

So I will leave you to it… Cinnamon Sugar Donuts await you.

Happy baking <3

Baked Cinnamon Sugar Donuts

Things you need…

2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1 cup granulated sugar
pinch of nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/3 cup butter, melted
1 cup buttermilk
2 eggs, room temp
2 tsp vanilla

Cinnamon Sugar Coating
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tbsp cinnamon
2 tbsp butter, melted

How to make…

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and lightly grease with butter. Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, nutmeg, cinnamon, salt and granulated sugar.

Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients & set aside.

In another bowl, whisk together buttermilk, vanilla, and eggs until well combined. Slowly whisk in melted butter until combined.

Pour into the well of the dry ingredients and gently fold the wet ingredients into the dry until the dough has just come together – it is okay if there are still a few floury streaks.

Scoop batter into a piping bag and cut about a 1 inch opening off of your piping bag.Pipe the batter into the donut pans filling about 1/2 of the way full.

** if you don’t have a piping bag you could use a zip loc back or just spoon the batter into the donut pan.

Place your donuts in the oven to bake for about 9-10 minutes or until the edges are a light golden brown.

Remove from the oven and set on a wire rack to cool for a few minutes before turning them out on the wire rack..

Once your donuts are cool, whisk together the granulated sugar and cinnamon in a bowl.

Working with one donut at a time, brush the top, sides and bottom lightly with melted butter, and toss in the cinnamon sugar mixture. Set aside and repeat this process with the remaining donuts.

These are best eaten fresh, but if you find yourself with leftovers, I just store these on the counter with a clean, dry tea towel covering them for up to 2-3 days. Don’t store them in an airtight container as this will cause the donuts to sweat.

Enjoy!