A Roy O'Donovan hat-trick, a Nathan Luscombe brace and a goal from the penalty spot by David Healy gave the Wearsiders an emphatic win in a genuinely impressive performance as manager Steve Bruce looked from the Press box.
It was a morale-boostin
g first home win of the season for Keith Bertschin's youthful side.
And the second string benefited immensely from having the experience of Roy O'Donovan, David Meyler and David Healy in its ranks.
Despite a bright start from the home side, Danny Ward gave Bolton the lead after nine minutes after being brought down by John Cornforth on the edge of the Sunderland goalmouth.
The Wanderers No 9 stepped up to curl a fine left-foot shot over the wall and beyond Trevor Carson's dive to his right.
But Wanderers' lead lasted only four minutes, O'Donovan levelling after fellow Irishman Meyler turned his marker and fed the Cork-born striker, who controlled well and stabbed a low shot past keeper Adam Bogdan.
There were plenty of chances for both sides before the break, with Healy hitting the side netting in the 17th minute after another fine Meyler pass.
And Bolton hitman Ward might have had a hat-trick before half-time had he been a little more clinical with his finishing.
But Wanderers were made to rue those missed opportunities when Sunderland took the lead through Luscombe shortly before the break - the winger riding a challenge as he burst into the Bolton area on the left and driving a low shot into the far corner.
In the second-half, Sunderland never looked back. Luscombe might have extended their lead immediately on the resumption when his cross from the left was deflected five yards out - Bogdan making an excellent reaction save.
In the 50th minute Sunderland grabbed their third when Aaron Mooy accidentally passed to Healy, and the striker cleverly slotted in O'Donovan on the right. He fired a low shot across the keeper from 18 yards out.
O'Donovan might have had a hat-trick in the 55th minute when he acrobatically lifted a volley just wide of the target from a right-wing cross.
But his third goal came just eight minutes later when he capitalised on a cross from the left after a fine through ball from Healy and drove a low shot home from eight yards.
Sunderland's fifth came in the 83rd minute, when O' Donovan was hauled down as he went through on goal, Healy scoring from the penalty spot with an emphatic finish.
The sixth and final goal arrived courtesy of O'Donovan's replacement, young Ryan Noble, who sprinted through on goal down the right, and after his shot was blocked, chipped the ball across for Luscombe to twist and head home from six yards.
Bolton midfielder Zoltan Harsanyi shaved the crossbar in the final minute, but it would have been the slimmest of consolations for the visitors on a night when Sunderland really hit top gear.
Sunderland: Carson, Kay, Madden, Cornforth, Brown, Weir, Reed, Meyler, Luscombe, Healy, O'Donovan (sub R Noble 83). Subs not used: Hourihane, Misiewicz, L Noble, O'Mahoney.
Bolton Wanderers: Bogdan, Riley (sub Battersby 61), Connolly, Eckserley, Blakeman, Harsanyi, McDonald, Mooy (sub Stokes 61), Sheridan, O'Halloran, Ward (sub Sampson 46). Subs not used: Stayte.
Ref: Andrew Madeley. Att: 662.