The Best Cinnamon Sugar Donut Bread (Tastes Like a Donut!)
Your Simple Ingredient List for Donut-Flavored Bliss. A super-moist, tender quick bread with an irresistible crunchy cinnamon-sugar crust—classic cake-donut vibes without frying.
Equipment
- 8.5 x 4.5-inch loaf pan
- Nonstick cooking spray
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Medium mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Spatula or Wooden Spoon
- Measuring Cups & Spoons
- Pastry brush
- Parchment paper (optional)
- Wire rack
Ingredients
For the Donut Bread
- 2 cups all-purpose flour for soft, cake-like crumb
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder key leavening for lift
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt balances sweetness
- 1 1/4 cups whole milk (room temperature) creates rich, moist texture
- 1 large egg (room temperature) adds structure and richness
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted adds buttery flavor
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract warm, aromatic flavor
For the Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted for brushing warm loaf
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar for classic donut finish
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Preheat & prepare pan: Heat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8.5 x 4.5-inch loaf pan generously with nonstick spray. Proper prep helps this moist loaf release cleanly.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt for about 30 seconds to evenly distribute leavening.
- Whisk wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk milk, egg, melted butter, and vanilla until smooth and combined.
- Create batter: Pour wet into dry and stir gently with a spatula until just combined. A few small lumps are fine. Batter will be thin—this is correct.
- Bake: Pour into prepared pan and bake 60–70 minutes, until a toothpick in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs and the top is golden brown.
- Brief cool: Cool in pan on a rack for 10 minutes to set, then carefully remove loaf to parchment.
- Cinnamon sugar coating: Brush warm loaf all over (top and sides) with melted butter. Mix sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg; sprinkle generously on all sides to coat.
Notes
Why this saves time: Many donut recipes (fried or cake-style) take 2+ hours with rising or frying. This loaf delivers donut flavor with ~10 minutes of active prep and no deep frying. For extra crunch, apply a second light layer of cinnamon sugar after 5 minutes.