Craving donuts but don’t want to deal with hot oil and a splattered kitchen? Let us introduce you to the ultimate Easy Crumb Donuts — oven-baked beauties topped with a golden, buttery crumble and drizzled with a sweet glaze. These treats are warm, cozy, and bursting with cinnamon-sugar flavor, making them the perfect pairing for your morning coffee or afternoon tea.
Baking your own donuts at home doesn’t have to be intimidating. In fact, this baked doughnut recipe is beginner-friendly, quick to make, and made with simple pantry staples. And the best part? These homemade doughnut recipe baked variations come out moist and delicious every time — no frying necessary!
🍩 What Exactly Are Crumb Donuts?
Crumb donuts combine the best of two worlds — the fluffy sweetness of a classic baked donut and the rich, textured crunch of a coffee cake topping. They’re often referred to as coffee cake donuts because the streusel topping is reminiscent of what you’d find on a classic crumb-topped breakfast cake.
These donuts are cake-style (not yeast-raised), which means they’re denser and more structured than the fried donuts homemade you might get at a donut shop. While those are airy and light due to yeast fermentation, baked crumb donuts are satisfyingly tender, moist, and buttery with every bite.
What really sets these apart is the cinnamon-sugar streusel topping. It melts into the donuts as they bake, then crisps up in the oven, creating a bakery-worthy texture that feels luxurious but is super easy to pull off at home.
🛒 Ingredients – Simple, Familiar, Delicious
For the Donut Batter:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour – Forms the structure
- ½ Xícara de açúcar granulado – For sweetness and softness
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp baking soda – Helps with the rise
- ¼ tsp salt – Balances sweetness
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon – Adds warmth and cozy flavor
- ½ cup milk – Dairy or plant-based both work
- ¼ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt – For moisture and tang
- 2 ovos grandes
- 1 colher de chá de extrato de baunilha
- ¼ cup melted butter or vegetable oil
For the Crumb Topping:
- ½ Xícara de farinha de trigo
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 4 tbsp melted butter – Unsalted is best
Optional Vanilla Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1–2 tbsp milk
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Tip: You can double the crumb topping if you’re a big fan of the streusel (and honestly, who isn’t?).
🍽 Tools You’ll Need
- Donut pan (regular or mini)
- Mixing bowls
- Whisk and spatula
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Optional: piping bag or large Ziploc bag
If you don’t have a donut pan, use a mini muffin pan — the result will be similar to homemade mini donuts recipes, and you can still add that crumbly topping.
👨🍳 How to Make Easy Crumb Donuts – Step-by-Step
Passo 1: pré-Aqueça o Forno
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease your donut pan with nonstick spray or butter.
Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.
Step 3: Mix Wet Ingredients
In a separate bowl, combine the milk, sour cream, eggs, vanilla, and melted butter. Whisk until smooth.
Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry
Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Don’t overmix — it’s okay if the batter is a little lumpy.
Step 5: Fill the Donut Molds
Spoon the batter into a piping bag or zip-top bag, snip the corner, and pipe it into each cavity of the donut pan, filling each about ¾ full.
Step 6: Make the Crumb Topping
In a small bowl, mix the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Add melted butter and stir until large crumbs form. Sprinkle generously over the donuts.
Step 7: Bake
Bake for 13–15 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. For mini donuts, reduce baking time by a few minutes.
Step 8: Cool and Glaze (Optional)
Let donuts cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. If using glaze, mix all ingredients in a bowl until smooth and drizzle over cooled donuts.
🍰 Why You’ll Fall in Love with These Donuts
- Baked, Not Fried – Less mess, fewer calories, and just as tasty.
- Ready in Under 30 Minutes – From mixing bowl to breakfast table.
- Freezer-Friendly – Bake ahead and freeze for quick weekday indulgence.
- Personalizável – Make them chocolate, pumpkin, or even add fruit!
🧠 The Science Behind Baked vs Fried Donuts
When it comes to donuts, texture is everything. Traditional yeast donut recipes rely on gluten development and yeast fermentation to give them that iconic airy chew. But that process takes time — hours of rising and kneading.
Baked donuts, on the other hand, are quicker and use chemical leaveners like baking soda and baking powder. This gives them a cakier crumb, more akin to muffins or cupcakes. They’re richer, denser, and more satisfying when paired with toppings like streusel, glazes, or sprinkles.
Se você amor old fashion donuts recipes, you’ll recognize the buttery flavor and tender bite here — just without the hassle of frying.
🔄 Delicious Variations & Flavor Twists
Don’t stop at cinnamon! These baked crumb donuts are the perfect base for experimentation.
🍫 Chocolate Crumb Donuts:
Add ¼ cup cocoa powder to the batter and reduce flour by ¼ cup. Use chocolate chips in the crumb topping for double decadence.
🎃 Pumpkin Crumb Donuts:
Swap sour cream for pumpkin puree. Add ½ tsp each of nutmeg, ginger, and allspice.
🍎 Apple Cinnamon Donuts:
Fold in ½ cup finely chopped apple and a touch of nutmeg. These are fall in donut form!
🍋 Lemon Crumb Donuts:
Add 1 tbsp lemon zest to the batter and use a lemon glaze instead of vanilla.
🕒 Make Ahead, Store & Freeze
These donuts store beautifully:
- Room Temperature: In an airtight container, they last 2–3 days.
- Geladeira: Up to 5 days, but may dry out slightly.
- Congelador: Freeze unglazed donuts for up to 2 months. Thaw and warm in the oven or microwave before serving.
To reheat: Microwave for 10–15 seconds or warm in a 300°F oven for 5 minutes.
🎉 How to Serve These Crumb Donuts
These donuts are made for cozy mornings, brunch tables, and afternoon cravings. Serve them with:
- A hot mug of coffee or chai latte
- Fresh berries and whipped cream
- Part of a brunch board with scones, muffins, and yogurt
- Holiday breakfast spread — ideal for Christmas, Thanksgiving, or Easter
📈 Healthier Options & Substitutions
Want a lighter version? Here are some easy swaps:
- Use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream for extra protein
- Swap all-purpose flour with white whole wheat flour
- Use coconut sugar in place of brown sugar
- Add flax eggs for a dairy-free, eggless version
Bonus: They’re naturally nut-free and can be made gluten-free using a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.
🔎 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I make these without a donut pan?
Yes! Use a mini muffin tin to make donut holes. Just reduce the bake time to about 10–12 minutes.
Can I fry this dough?
No — this batter is designed for baking. For frying, you’ll need a yeast-based donut dough that’s firmer and more elastic.
Are baked donuts healthier than fried ones?
Generally, yes. Baked donuts contain less fat and fewer calories, especially since they skip the oil bath.
Can I make these vegan?
Yes! Use plant-based milk, vegan butter, and flax eggs. Swap Greek yogurt with plant-based yogurt.
🧁 Final Thoughts
There’s nothing quite like the joy of biting into a warm, cinnamon-crumb-topped donut fresh from your own oven. These Easy Crumb Donuts offer everything we love about donuts — soft texture, sweet spice, and indulgent toppings — without the hassle of yeast or frying.
Whether you’re looking for a baked doughnut recipe that’s fast and foolproof, or want to upgrade your weekend breakfast game, this is the recipe you’ll turn to again and again.
So grab that donut pan, preheat the oven, and treat yourself — you deserve it.
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