Cinnamon Donut Cake

-¾ cup softened unsalted butter

-1 ½ cup sugar, divided into 1 ¼ and ¼ cup

-¾ cup and 2 TBS packed brown sugar divided into these measurements

-4 eggs and 1 egg yolk at room temperature

-2 ¾ cup flour

-2 tsp baking powder

-¾ tsp kosher salt

-½ tsp baking soda

-1 ¼ cup room temperature whole milk Greek yogurt

-⅓ cup milk (whole milk if you have it)

-2 ½ tsp vanilla

-2 ½ tsp cinnamon, divided into 1 ½ tsp and 1 tsp

–2 TBS melted unsalted butter

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

-Preheat oven to 350 and spray non-stick spray and flour bundt pan.

-With a stand mixer, if you have one, beat softened butter, 1 ¼ cups sugar, and ¼ cup brown sugar until fluffy, about ¾ minutes

-Add eggs and egg yolk one at a time, beating after each egg is added. The mixture will look a little curdled. That’s ok!

-In a separate bowl mix together flour, salt, baking powder, and soda.

-In another bowl whisk yogurt, milk, and vanilla together.

-On low speed, gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture alternately with the yogurt mixture beginning and ending with the flour mixture until just combined. Batter will be thick.

-In a small bowl mix 1/c brown sugar and 1 ½ tsp cinnamon and set aside.

-Spoon about half of batter into a bundt pan. Spoon brown sugar mixture in a ring around the pan. Try to keep it away from the side of the pan.Spoon remaining batter on top. Smooth the top with a spatula. 

-Bake for 45-55 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Invert cake on a wire rack with a rimmed baking sheet underneath. Let it stay in the pan for about 10 min then lift the pan off. Cool completely. 

-The last step is the best! Mix ¼ cup sugar, remaining 2 TBS of brown sugar, and remaining tsp cinnamon. Brush cake with melted butter and press on sugar mixture.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Occasionally, weekend breakfast calls for donuts! When you want to stay in your PJs and save a few bucks, try making a homemade treat that resembles and tastes like a cinnamon donut but is made into a bundt cake. 

When I decided to try this recipe, I already had all the essential elements in my kitchen except for the yogurt. I like a short grocery list with simple ingredients. Full disclosure, this recipe was originally called a churro cake but to me and others that ate it felt its texture was definitely more like a cake donut. I made a couple of ingredient adjustments to the original recipe and changed its name.

It’s easy to make. It has a tunnel of cinnamon filling on the inside and a crunchy cinnamon sugar donut crunch on the outside. Depending on the size of your family, there will probably be leftovers to savor for several mornings. Treat yourself this weekend. You’ll be glad you did. Enjoy!