Cinnamon Toast Crunch Donuts: The Best Baked Donut Recipe for Breakfast

Sometimes breakfast deserves a little extra flair. Whether you’re celebrating a special morning, treating your family on the weekend, looking for easy breakfast ideas for kids, or simply craving something cozy and nostalgic, homemade donuts are always a good idea. And these Cinnamon Toast Crunch Donuts are sure to hit the spot. With the sweet crunch of Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal blended into a soft baked donut and topped with a maple glaze, this recipe delivers big flavor and a twist on the familiar.

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They’re soft and fluffy on the inside, perfectly golden on the outside, and finished with a creamy glaze and a playful cereal topping. The best part? You don’t need to fry a thing. This is a baked donut recipe, making them simpler and less messy than traditional ones.

Ingredients You’ll Need

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For the Donuts:

• 1 cup Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, crushed
• ¾ cup buttermilk
• 1 ⅔ cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ stick salted butter, melted (4 tablespoons)
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• ¼ cup light brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
• 2 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
• ½ tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

For the Maple Glaze:

• 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons whole milk (add more or less to adjust thickness)
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 ½ cups Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, divided (some crushed, some whole for topping)

Tools:

• 6-hole regular sized donut pan
• Piping bag (optional)
• Wilton 2A piping tip (optional)

How to Make Cinnamon Toast Crunch Donuts

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease your donut pan and set aside.

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Step 2: In a large bowl, combine the crushed Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal and buttermilk. Let it sit for a few minutes to soften the cereal.

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Step 3: In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon.

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Step 4: Lightly beat the egg and add it to the cereal-buttermilk mixture. Stir in maple syrup, brown sugar, melted butter, Greek yogurt (or sour cream), oil, and vanilla extract. Mix well.

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Step 5: Gradually stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until fully combined. The batter will be thick.

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Step 6: Fill each donut mold about ¾ full. Use a piping bag for a cleaner fill or spoon it in carefully.

Step 7: Gently tap the pan on the counter to level the batter and remove any air bubbles.

Step 8: Bake for about 10 minutes, or until the tops of the donuts spring back when lightly pressed.

Step 9: Remove from oven and allow the donuts to cool in the pan for 15–20 minutes.

Make the Maple Glaze

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While the donuts cool, whisk together powdered sugar, cinnamon, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and milk until smooth. Start with 2 tablespoons of milk and add more as needed for your desired consistency. The glaze should be thick enough to coat but thin enough to dip. Also crush up some more cereal for the next step.

Decorate the Donuts

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Once the homemade donuts are cool, remove them from the pan. Dip the tops into the glaze and place glaze-side up on parchment paper or a wire rack. While the glaze is still wet, sprinkle it with crushed cereal and decorate with a few whole Cinnamon Toast Crunch pieces for extra texture and visual appeal. Those extra touches make this a must-do for any parents who need easy breakfast ideas for kids. (And who doesn’t?)

Tips for the Best Kid-Friendly Breakfast Treat

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• Work quickly: Add the cereal topping right after glazing so it sticks.
• Adjust glaze consistency: Add milk one tablespoon at a time for perfect dipping texture.
• Crush cereal easily: Place cereal in a zip-top bag and crush with a rolling pin or the bottom of a glass.
• Store for later: Keep leftovers in a sealed container for up to 4 days. You can also freeze them in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
• Perfect for kids: These donuts are a fun weekend breakfast idea for kids, especially for birthdays, slumber parties, or back-to-school mornings.

Why You’ll Love These Cinnamon Toast Crunch Donuts

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This baked donut recipe is like the best parts of French toast, cereal with milk, and your favorite bakery donut all rolled into one. The crushed Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal in the batter gives it a subtle crunch and nostalgic flavor, while the maple glaze adds that warm, buttery sweetness you expect from French toast. Each bite is soft, fluffy, and filled with cinnamon goodness.

They’re also incredibly kid-friendly and make a great family activity. Kids love helping make the homemade donuts, and adults will appreciate how easy the recipe is with minimal cleanup.

Whether you’re celebrating a special day or just need a fun weekend breakfast idea, these maple glaze donuts will be a hit. Serve them with a side of fruit for a kid-friendly breakfast treat, or a hot cup of coffee for the grown-ups, and you’ve got a sweet start to any morning.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Donuts are everything you love about cereal, donuts, and cozy breakfasts; made right in your kitchen without the need to heat up any fry oil. Give them a try and watch them disappear as fast as you can make them.