Ceria (CeO2)-doped alumina (Al2O3) composite nano-particles were synthesized using sucrose as a chelating agent and template material. As-synthesized powders were characterized using X-ray diffraction technique for their phase analysis, BET surface area analyzer for specific average surface area, and transmission electron microscope for particle size and morphology. Both CeO2 and Al2O3 delayed the amorphous to crystalline phase transformation for each other. These composite nanopowders had particle size in the range of 20-50 nm with an aspect ratio of 1.5 with platelet morphology and surface area between 100 and 300 m(2)/g. Synthesis parameters were optimized varying the sucrose to metal ion ratio, calcinations time and temperature. This method can be applied to synthesize various monolithic and mixed metal oxide based ceramic nano-particles.