If you’re craving something warm, nostalgic, and impossibly delicious, Cinnamon Sugar Donut Holes are the answer. They’re the kind of treat that makes your entire kitchen smell like a bakery, gives you that cozy weekend-morning feeling, and disappears faster than you expect — because every bite is soft, golden, and coated in sparkling cinnamon sugar.

Whether you make them for breakfast, brunch, holidays, parties, or just because you’re craving something sweet, one thing is guaranteed: not a single donut hole will survive longer than five minutes on the plate.

Today, we’re diving into everything you need to know to make the perfect homemade donut holes — crisp on the outside, fluffy inside, and rolled in the warm cinnamon-sugar coating that gives them their iconic flavor. This article includes expert tips, variations, troubleshooting, storage methods, and serving ideas so your donut holes turn out perfect every time.

Grab your mixing bowl and let’s get into it.

Why Cinnamon Sugar Donut Holes Are So Popular

Donut holes are the perfect dessert/snack hybrid. They’re easy, bite-sized, fun to make, and extremely satisfying to eat. But beyond that, they offer a fantastic combination of textures and flavors:

• Soft, airy interior
• Crisp, golden exterior
• Warm cinnamon aroma
• Sweet sugar coating
• Eat-in-two-bites perfection

They’re ideal for sharing… unless you’re planning to keep them all to yourself (fair).

What Makes This Recipe Special

This recipe doesn’t require yeast, long kneading, or rising time. Instead, it uses a simple cake-style batter that comes together in minutes. Once dropped by spoonfuls into hot oil, the donut holes puff up immediately and fry to a beautiful golden brown.

Within 15 minutes, you can have an entire bowl of donut holes ready to roll in cinnamon sugar.

This recipe is:

• Beginner-friendly
• Quick
• Foolproof
• Perfectly spiced
• Better than store-bought

Ingredients in Cinnamon Sugar Donut Holes

This recipe uses simple pantry ingredients:

For the donut holes:

• Flour
• Baking powder
• Sugar
• Salt
• Butter
• Egg
• Milk
• Vanilla

For frying:

• Neutral oil (vegetable, canola, peanut)

For the cinnamon sugar coating:

• Granulated sugar
• Cinnamon
• Melted butter (optional but helps coating stick even more)

These ingredients create donut holes that are tender, light, and loaded with flavor.

Ingredients (as required)

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 3 tbsp melted butter
• 1 large egg
• ¾ cup milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Oil for frying (vegetable, canola, or peanut)

Cinnamon Sugar Coating:

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 3 tbsp melted butter (optional, for extra sticking power)

Instructions (as required)

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
2. In a separate bowl, combine melted butter, egg, milk, and vanilla.
3. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix until just combined (do not overmix).
4. Heat oil in a heavy-bottomed pot to 350°F (175°C).
5. Using a small scoop or spoon, drop tablespoon-sized balls of dough into the hot oil.
6. Fry 2–3 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through.
7. Remove donut holes and drain on paper towels.
8. Mix cinnamon and sugar in a bowl.
9. Roll warm donut holes in melted butter (optional) then coat in cinnamon sugar.
10. Serve warm and enjoy immediately.

Cinnamon Sugar Donut Holes

Golden, fluffy homemade donut holes rolled in warm cinnamon sugar. Quick to make, perfectly sweet, and ideal for breakfast or dessert.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Servings: 24 donut holes

Course: Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine: American

Calories: 95

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Donut Batter

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 0.25 cup sugar
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 0.5 tsp salt
• 3 tbsp melted butter
• 1 egg large
• 0.75 cup milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• oil for frying vegetable, canola, or peanut oil

Cinnamon Sugar Coating

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 3 tbsp melted butter optional

Equipment

• Mixing bowls
• Heavy-bottomed pot
• Slotted spoon
• Candy thermometer

Method

 

1. Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl.
2. In a second bowl, mix melted butter, egg, milk, and vanilla.
3. Combine wet and dry ingredients just until mixed.
4. Heat oil to 350°F (175°C) in a heavy pot.
5. Drop tablespoon-sized scoops of dough into the oil.
6. Fry 2–3 minutes, turning, until golden brown.
7. Drain donut holes on paper towels.
8. Roll warm donut holes in melted butter, then cinnamon sugar.
9. Serve immediately.

Notes

Serve fresh for best texture. Make sure oil stays at 350°F for even cooking.

Tips for Perfect Donut Holes

• Keep oil at 350°F: Too hot = burnt outside, raw inside. Too cool = greasy donuts.
• Don’t overmix dough: Tough dough = dense donuts.
• Work in batches: Overcrowding cools the oil.
• Coat while warm: Sugar sticks best this way.
• Use a cookie scoop: Uniform size = even cooking.

Flavor Variations

Try these fun twists:

• Stuffed donut holes: Inject Nutella or jam.
• Glazed donut holes: Dip in vanilla or chocolate glaze.
• Pumpkin spice sugar: Replace cinnamon with pumpkin spice.
• Maple cinnamon: Add maple syrup to the dough.

Serving Suggestions

Serve donut holes:

• With hot chocolate
• With coffee
• Over vanilla ice cream
• Dusted with powdered sugar
• In a dessert board

They’re a perfect treat morning or night.

Storage & Reheating

• Best fresh: Eat within 2–3 hours for peak crispness.
• Store: 1 day at room temperature in an airtight container.
• Reheat: 10 seconds in microwave or 3 minutes in air fryer.
• Freeze: Freeze uncoated donut holes up to 2 months. Recoat in cinnamon sugar after reheating.