Cinnamon Sugar Doughnut Muffins

Hello old friends. I've got a good one for you to make up for my prolonged absence. It involves sugar, cinnamon, and everyone's favorite ingredient: butter. Lots of it too. I like the simple things in life: a nice cold beer, snuggles from dogs, Netflix, and butter. 

Let's discuss one other thing in life that makes me happy. Doughnuts. Side note: it's doughnut not donut, because doughnuts are made from dough not do. I love doughnuts. Any type of doughnut. Big, small, sugary, filled, round, square, fried, baked: bring them to me. Bring them ALL to me. When I found this recipe that combined muffins and doughnuts it was meant to be. Meant to be like, coffee and mornings, or milk and cookies, or bacon and, well, anything really. I belong with these cinnamon sugar doughnut muffins. 

These guys are super simple, and the recipe doesn't make too many muffins, so it's perfect for someone like me who wants to hoard all of them without feeling too guilty. Make them. Go on. Get you some doughnut muffins. 

Cinnamon Sugar Doughnut Muffins

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg (freshly grated)
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/3 cup butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 large egg

Topping:

  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted

Preheat the oven to 350F. 

In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and nutmeg. Use the freshly grated stuff. It's so much better. Plus, the inside of nutmeg looks like brains (as pictured above). Brains! Isn't food cool? Add the wet ingredients, and stir until combined. Don't over mix on this step. The batter will still be slightly lumpy.

Scoop the batter into a greased muffin tin using a large ice cream scoop. I only got about seven muffins out of the batter. If you want more, and I'm sure you will, double it, or triple it. I'm not here to judge. 

Bake the muffins for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. While the muffins are in the oven, mix together the cinnamon sugar concoction, and melt the butter.

When the muffins are done, and while they're still warm, dip them in the butter and then roll them in the cinnamon sugar mixture. Enjoy!

Cinnamon Rolls

Oh boy do I have something good for you. Cinnamon rolls. Really good cinnamon rolls. Now, I'm going to be honest with you. I've never made something with yeast before on my own. There I said it. It's out on the table, and I feel like we're closer now that I've been honest with you.

That being said, if you've never made something with yeast before it's not as scary as you may think. I'm all about overcoming fears and dealing with new and exciting things, and yes, yeast is an exciting thing. It brings us bread, which in my opinion is gold that has fallen from the skies and has been kissed by actual angel lips. So how could yeast not be exciting?

At first, during the proofing stage, you'll be filled with self doubt. But have no fear! It will be OK. I promise. After an hour or so, and if you've followed the directions (like you should) you will reveal your perfectly proofed bread dough, and then at some point you will create with your own beautiful hands cinnamon rolls. You can do it. I believe in you.

I added pecans into my cinnamon rolls because a little added protein never hurt anyone. If you like pecans it highly suggest the addition.

I stumbled upon this recipe on The Girl Who Ate Everything's blog. Grab your yeast, and get proofing, because these cinnamon rolls will be gone before you know it.

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Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
  • 1 package Active Dry Yeast
  • 1 cup warm milk
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/3 cup butter, melted
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 4-1/2 cups bread flour
  • FILLING:
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2-1/2 tbsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/3 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup roughly chopped pecans
  • ICING:
  • 3 oz. cream cheese
  • 4 tbsp butter, softened
  • 1-1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/8 tsp salt
Instructions
1. Microwave milk for 40-60 seconds or until it is about 110ºF in temperature. Dissolve yeast in the milk. In the bowl of a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment, add the dissolved yeast mixture, and the sugar, butter, salt, eggs, and flour. Mix until the dough forms a ball. You can continue to knead the dough for several minutes in the stand mixer or with your hands on a clean surface. 2. Put dough in large bowl that has been sprayed with cooking spray and cover it with plastic wrap. Let the dough rise in a warm place for an hour or until it has doubled in size. I put the dough in my microwave with a bowl of hot water to let the steam from the water create a warm, damp environment for the dough. If you choose to do this warm water up in the microwave before placing the dough inside. Do not turn microwave on while dough is inside. 3. Once the dough has doubled in size you can begin to mix the filling. In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle flour onto clean counter surface and roll the dough out to a 16x21in rectangle, about 1/4in thick. Spread the softened butter on the surface of the dough, and sprinkle evenly with the brown sugar cinnamon mixture. Add pecans to taste. Roll the dough up starting at the longer side. Cut the dough into even sizes. I got 16 rolls out of my log, but anywhere from 12-18 is good as long as they are the same size. Place the rolls in a lightly greased 9x13in baking dish. 4. Cover the rolls and let rise again until they are doubled in size. I did the same technique of warming up a bowl of water in the microwave and placing the rolls inside the microwave with the bowl. 5. Preheat oven to 350º F. Bake rolls for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown.6. While the rolls are in the oven begin to make the icing. Beat together cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt until combined. When the rolls come out of the oven spread the frosting on them while they're still hot. The icing will melt all over the rolls.
Details
Prep time: Cook time: Total time: Yield: 12-18 Rolls