This Baked Apple Cider Donuts recipe makes doughnuts that are moist, full of apple flavor, and sweetly scented with warm spices. You can top them with an apple cider glaze or cinnamon sugar coating. And this recipe takes just 30 minutes from start-to-finish!
It’s the weirdest thing ever. I don’t eat doughnuts/donuts all year long until autumn rolls around!
January through August, they don’t cross my mind even once. They’re a non-issue as far as temptation goes. Then September hits and all I can think about is how badly I want an apple fritter, bear claw, Boston cream, or my all-time favorite, a French cruller.
I know there’s no rhyme or reason to it; it’s just one of my quirks.
So instead of fighting the urge, I usually just go with it and have some fun in the process.
Homemade vs Bakery Donuts
I’m going to make the case for homemade vs. bakery-bought donuts with this recipe!
Firstly, these apple cider doughnuts whip up fast! And if you go with the cinnamon sugar coating option instead of glaze, you don’t even need to wait for them to cool.
Also, as far as doughnuts go, this homemade version is a bit healthier. These are baked, so that right there is a plus! And if you leave off the apple cider glaze or cinnamon sugar coating, they're relatively low in sugar.
Additionally, of course making your own doughnuts is cheaper than buying them from a bakery.
And maybe the best thing of all, these apple donuts will make your home smell like fall as they bake.
Are you sold yet? ;)
The Best Baked Apple Doughnuts Recipe
The good thing about this recipe is that you might already have everything on hand to make it!
Ingredients
- Light brown sugar
- Egg
- Canola oil or melted coconut oil
- Fresh 100% apple cider
- Apple
- Vanilla
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Apple pie spice mix (I buy apple pie spice on Amazon)
Pro Tip: For this recipe, use either 1 ½ teaspoons of apple pie spice mix or a mixture of cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger listed in the recipe below.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Wash the apple, and then grate it (peel and all!).
- Whisk together the brown sugar, egg, oil, apple cider, grated apple, and vanilla in a large bowl.
- Add the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, allspice, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger all at once and use a wooden spoon to stir just until combined, being careful not to over-mix.
- Spoon the batter into greased donut pans (you should get about 10 doughnuts).
- Bake at 350F until a toothpick inserted inside comes out clean or with just a couple crumbs, about 8 to 10 minutes, rotating the trays once halfway through baking.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Apple Donuts FAQs
What are Apple Cider Donuts?
Apple cider donuts (or apple cider doughnuts) are a form of "cake donut" that contain apple cider and warm spices, such as cinnamon and nutmeg. Cake donuts are leavened with baking powder instead of yeast, and are either fried or baked.
If you like sweet apples paired with warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, you will love these donuts!
How Long do Apple Cider Donuts Last?
Like most cake donuts, these apple doughnuts are best if you eat them the first day they're made. However, you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Pro Tip: After the first day, I like to heat these donuts for about 15 seconds in the microwave before eating.
Do Baked Donuts Taste the Same as Fried?
Baked and fried donuts taste different, but they're both delicious in their own way.
Fried donuts are crispier outside and have a darker color. Additionally, fried donuts sometimes have an oily taste or texture.
On the other hand, baked doughnuts have a softer texture outside with no oily taste. I find that baked donuts taste similar to muffins.
What Should I Serve with Apple Donuts?
Coffee, tea, and hot chocolate are all good options!
However, I think these are best served with crisp apple cider (either ice-cold in a glass or spiced and steaming-hot in a mug) for maximum fall effect.
More Sweet Apple Treats to Bake This Fall
- Caramel Apple Cake Recipe
- Keto Apple Crisp (with a surprise ingredient!)
- Sweet Apple Hand Pies with Cheddar Shortcrust
Let's Connect
Did you make this recipe? Please rate it and leave a comment below. You can also tag @anediblemosaic on social media.
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Baked Apple Doughnuts Recipe with Apple Cider Glaze or Cinnamon Sugar
Equipment
Ingredients
Apple Doughnuts:
- 4 tablespoons light brown sugar lightly packed (or coconut palm sugar)
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons canola oil or melted coconut oil
- ½ cup fresh 100% apple cider
- 1 small apple washed, cored, and grated (not peeled)
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 18 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 cup + 2 tablespoons
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- ⅛ teaspoon ground ginger
Apple Cider Glaze Option:
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon fresh 100% apple cider
Cinnamon Sugar Option:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Other:
- Butter to grease the donut pans
Instructions
For the Doughnuts:
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Generously grease 2 doughnut pans with butter. (Or cook the doughnuts in 2 batches if you only have 1 pan.)
- Whisk together the brown sugar, egg, oil, apple cider, grated apple, and vanilla in a large bowl.
- Add the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, allspice, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger all at once and use a wooden spoon to stir just until combined, being careful not to over-mix.
- Spoon the batter into the prepared doughnut pans (you should get about 10 doughnuts). Bake until a toothpick inserted inside comes out clean or with just a couple crumbs, about 8 to 10 minutes, rotating the trays once halfway through baking.
- Let the doughnuts cool for 15 minutes in the tray, then run a paring knife along the outside of each doughnut. Invert the tray onto a wire rack and the doughnuts should come right out. Let the doughnuts finish cooling on a wire rack.
For the Apple Cider Glaze Option:
- Once the doughnuts are cool, mix together the glaze ingredients. Dip the top of each doughnut in the glaze and let it set before serving.
For the Cinnamon Sugar Option:
- While the doughnuts are still warm, brush them with the melted butter. Stir together the sugar and cinnamon, and roll the buttered donuts in this mixture to coat the outside.
Faith's Tips
- Recipe Yield and Serving Size: This recipe makes 10 donuts; each serving is 1 donut.
- Nutritional Information: The nutrition information for each donut was calculated without the optional apple cider glaze or cinnamon sugar coating.
- Apple Pie Spice Mix: You can use 1 ½ teaspoons of apple pie spice instead of the cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger.
- Whole Wheat Flour Substitution: Instead of using 1 cup + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, you can use 1 cup whole wheat flour.
- Storage: Like all donuts, these are best eaten the same day they’re made. However, you can store them in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. After the first day I like to heat these donuts for about 15 seconds in the microwave before eating.
Nutrition
This post was first published on An Edible Mosaic on October 8, 2014. I updated it with more information on November 10, 2020.
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
Fall is definitely the time for doughnuts, love that apple cider glaze!
Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen says
I'm with you - definitely doughnuts are for fall! Pinned!
Erica says
I'm not a doughnut (or donut...I think dunkin donuts screwed up the spelling of doughnut forever ;))fan, but these sound just perfect. I want to bake a batch up to eat while I give out candy!!
Rosa says
Beautiful and tempting!
Cheers,
Rosa
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says
Perfect fall baked good. These sound lovely!