A simple procedure for creating titania sol-gel-based semiconductor thin films is described. Gold nanoparticles are doped homogeneously into the precursor mixture and the particles are homogeneously distributed in the resultant films when prepared using spin-coating. The effects of particle loading and annealing temperature on the optical properties of the resultant films are characterized. Ellipsometry, X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, and surface plasmon spectroscopy are used to monitor the crystallization and porosity changes during film synthesis.