I love a warm cinnamon sugar donut, but I don’t always want to deal with frying. So I came up with these baked donut bites instead.

The secret here is cottage cheese. I blend it until smooth and mix it right into the batter.
It keeps the bites soft and moist on the inside, without making them heavy or greasy. You really can’t taste the cottage cheese at all.

Once they come out of the oven, I brush them with melted butter and roll them in cinnamon sugar. That coating is what makes them taste just like a bakery donut.
They come together fast and are best served warm. I think you’ll really enjoy these.
Why I Love This Recipe
Classic Donut Flavor – Nutmeg, vanilla, and cinnamon sugar create the warm bakery taste everyone loves.
Soft and Tender – Blended cottage cheese gives these bites a moist, delicate texture without any graininess.

Perfect Cinnamon Sugar Finish – A buttery coating helps the cinnamon sugar cling to every warm, golden bite.
Easy to Prepare – Simple mixing and one mini muffin pan make this recipe approachable for any baker.
The Ingredients
For the Donut Bites
- 1 cup Full Fat Cottage Cheese
- 1 Large Egg
- 3 tbsp Granulated Sugar
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour
- 2 tsp Baking Powder
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Ground Nutmeg
For the Coating
- 3 tbsp Unsalted Butter (melted)
- 1/3 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
How to Make This Recipe
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 375 F and grease a 24 cup mini muffin pan. Blend the cottage cheese until completely smooth.
Step 2
Whisk the blended cottage cheese, egg, sugar and vanilla together in a large bowl.
Step 3
Fold in the flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg until a thick batter forms. The nutmeg gives them that classic bakery donut flavor.
Step 4
Scoop about 1 tablespoon of batter into each mini muffin cup.
Step 5
Bake for 12-14 minutes until puffed and the tops spring back when touched.
Step 6
While they bake, mix the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and melt the butter.
Step 7
Brush the warm bites with melted butter, roll them in the cinnamon sugar and serve warm.

Quick Tips
Blend the Cottage Cheese Smooth
Blend the cottage cheese until it looks completely creamy with no visible curds. This gives the donut bites a smooth texture and helps the batter mix evenly.
Scrape down the sides of the blender or food processor once or twice so there are no thicker pieces left in the mixture.
Measure the Flour Carefully
Spoon the flour into your measuring cup and level it off instead of scooping directly from the bag. Too much flour can make the batter stiff and the baked bites dense.

The finished batter should be thick enough to scoop, but it should not feel dry or crumbly. If needed, stir just until the dry ingredients disappear.
Grease Every Mini Muffin Cup
Coat the bottom and sides of all 24 mini muffin cups, especially around the edges. The batter can stick where it rises and touches the pan.
A light, even layer of cooking spray works well, or use a pastry brush to spread softened butter into each cup.
More Favorites
- Cottage Cheese French Toast Snack Bites
- Cottage Cheese Protein Churro Pancakes
- Cottage Cheese Protein Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake Bars
- Cottage Cheese Protein Snickerdoodles
- Cottage Cheese Sweet Potato Cinnamon Bites
Quick Answers
Why should I blend the cottage cheese before mixing the batter?
Blending the cottage cheese creates a smooth base and keeps the donut bites from having visible curds.
If you prefer a slightly textured bite, you can blend it briefly instead of processing it completely smooth.
Cottage Cheese Cinnamon Sugar Donut Bites
Ingredients
For the Donut Bites
- 1 cup Full Fat Cottage Cheese
- 1 Large Egg
- 3 tbsp Granulated Sugar
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour
- 2 tsp Baking Powder
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Ground Nutmeg
For the Coating
- 3 tbsp Unsalted Butter (melted)
- 1/3 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
Equipment
- blender
- 24-cup mini muffin pan
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 F and grease a 24 cup mini muffin pan. Blend the cottage cheese until completely smooth.
- Whisk the blended cottage cheese, egg, sugar and vanilla together in a large bowl.
- Fold in the flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg until a thick batter forms. The nutmeg gives them that classic bakery donut flavor.
- Scoop about 1 tablespoon of batter into each mini muffin cup.
- Bake for 12-14 minutes until puffed and the tops spring back when touched.
- While they bake, mix the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and melt the butter.
- Brush the warm bites with melted butter, roll them in the cinnamon sugar and serve warm.