Ingredients: 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon pinch of nutmeg pinch of black pepper 3 tablespoons butter, at room temperature 2 cups granulated sugar 3 large eggs, beaten well 1 cup applesauce (homemade or store-bought) or 1 cup apple cider vinegar (homemade or store-bought) 1 tablespoon vanilla extract Directions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease donuts with butter. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking powder and cinnamon. Add to butter; mix until well blended. Stir in nutmeg and black pepper. Mix in applesauce and vinegar until well blended. Stir in vanilla extract. Drop dough by rounded tablespoons onto greased donuts; bake for 12 minutes or until golden brown.
Apple Cinnamon Donuts
This amazing baked apple donut recipe is a delightful twist on the cinnamon donuts we all love from the local orchards. Start out the season right by whipping up a batch of these baked donuts for your family to enjoy. Everyone knows that apples are the fruit of the season, so we love to bake them into everything! These treats are perfect for breakfast or afternoons with the family.
How to Make Baked Apple Donuts
Combine ingredients to make the donut batter, then fold in the apples. Pour batter into a piping bag to fill the donut tray molds. Bake until fully cooked through, then let them cool. Combine ingredients to make the frosting, then pipe or spread over the cooled donuts.
Ingredient Notes
Buttermilk: If you don’t have buttermilk, you can substitute ¾ cup of regular milk and stir in 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes and stir once more before using it as a substitute for buttermilk. Apples: Choose an apple that doesn’t get too mushy during the baking process. I suggest using Granny Smith, but you could also use Honeycrisp, Jonagold, Golden Delicious, Fuji, or Gala. Spices: Feel free to use apple pie spice in place of the cinnamon and nutmeg!Brown Sugar: In the frosting, use light brown sugar for a more mild taste or dark brown sugar for a bolder taste. Gluten Free: To make these donuts gluten-free, use a gluten-free 1:1 flour in place of the all-purpose flour.
These apple cinnamon donuts really encompass the spirit of fall. They’re hard to resist! These donuts are also phenomenal when rolled in cinnamon sugar instead of frosted–the choice of topping is completely up to you! Nothing will put you in a fall festivities mood like these delicious baked apple donuts. Happy fall, y’all! The frosting can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use. Let come to room temperature before spreading on the donuts.
Freeze the donuts in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet until solid, about 1-2 hours. Transfer to an airtight container or Ziplock bag to store. Freeze the frosting in a Ziplock bag for up to 3 months.
Let both the donuts and the frosting come to room temperature before serving. If you make this recipe be sure to leave us a comment or rating. Enjoy!
