Cinnamon Baked Donuts

These are the perfect morning treat on a fall morning. These are baked, not fried, cinnamon delights.

All you need is:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1 extra-large egg, lightly beaten
• 1 1/4 cups whole milk
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 2 teaspoons of syrup

For the cinnamon topping:

• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

For chocolate ganache topping: 

• 1/2 cup dark or milk chocolate chips 
• 2 Tablespoons of unsalted butter 
• 2 teaspoons of light corn syrup 
• 2 teaspoons water

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease 2 doughnut pans well.

Into a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. 

In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, melted butter, and vanilla. Stir the wet mixture into the dry ingredients until just combined.

Spoon the batter into the baking pans, filling each one a little more than three-quarters full. Bake for 17 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool for 5 minutes, then tap the doughnuts out onto a sheet pan.

For the topping, melt the 8 tablespoons of butter in an 8-inch saute pan. Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. 

Dip each doughnut first in the butter and then in the cinnamon sugar, either on one side or both sides.

I made 12 donuts, 6 with cinnamon sugar toppings and another 6 with milk chocolate ganache toppings. Both were yummy and a perfect treat to eat in the morning.