Apple Donuts

These delicious baked apple donuts are full of apple goodness and make the perfect fall treats.

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These easy, delicious baked apple donuts are the perfect simple treat to enjoy any time of year. Made with yummy cinnamon applesauce, sugar, and warm spices, this old-fashioned favorite is moist and tasty.

Apple Donuts Ingredients

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This apple donut recipe is a delightful blend of sweet, spiced apple flavors with hints of cinnamon and vanilla.

The use of cinnamon applesauce infuses the donuts with natural sweetness, while the cinnamon and vanilla add warm, comforting notes.

You have the choice of a sweet, slightly crispy cinnamon sugar topping or a creamy icing drizzle. Each bite offers an autumn-inspired treat that’s both comforting and indulgent.

You’ll need:

For The Donuts:

• 2 cups of all-purpose flour
• ½ cup of white sugar
• 2 teaspoons of baking powder
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon of salt
• ½ cup of cinnamon applesauce
• ¼ cup of vegetable oil
• ¾ cup of buttermilk
• 2 tablespoons of vanilla extract

For The Topping:

Cinnamon Sugar Topping:

• 4 tablespoons of butter, melted
• ½ cup of sugar
• ½ teaspoon of cinnamon

Icing Topping:

• 1½ cups of powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons of milk

Substitutions And Additions

APPLESAUCE: You could also use regular applesauce instead of cinnamon or use chunky applesauce in this great recipe.

SPICES: Add a half teaspoon of nutmeg and/or a quarter teaspoon of ground cloves for added flavor.

You could also add a teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice for a little bit of fall flavor.

MILK: If you don’t have buttermilk, you can substitute whole or 2% milk for this recipe.

TOPPINGS: There are two toppings offered in this recipe for both classic cinnamon sugar and icing.

You could also drizzle caramel sauce on top for a really decadent caramel apple finish.

FLOUR: You could swap out gluten-free or whole-wheat flour for these homemade donuts as well.

PUMPKIN: You can add a quarter cup of pumpkin and adjust the cinnamon applesauce to a quarter cup for a pumpkin-flavored treat for the fall season.

SUGAR & SPRINKLES: You could make these for any holiday by adding colored icing, sugar, or sprinkles.

How To Make This Apple Donuts Recipe

The batter for these mini donuts is easy to make. Once the donuts are baked, you can choose how to top them before enjoying fresh from the oven treats.

For The Donuts

STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 400°F and prepare a donut pan by spraying it with nonstick spray.

STEP TWO: In a medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt, and stir the flour mixture with a whisk to mix.

STEP THREE: In a large bowl, combine the applesauce, vegetable oil, buttermilk, and vanilla in a separate bowl and stir to mix.

STEP FOUR: Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until just mixed.

STEP FIVE: Place the batter in a gallon plastic bag inside a tall jar, folding back the edges. Twist the top of the bag and clip it closed.

Hold the bag upside down and use scissors to cut off an angle at the corner of the bag.

STEP SIX: Pipe/fill each donut cavity three-quarters full of batter.

STEP SEVEN: Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.

STEP EIGHT: Remove from the oven and let the mini donuts cool for five minutes before removing them from the pan to a wire rack.

For The Topping

Cinnamon Sugar Topping

STEP ONE: Using two separate bowls (big enough for a donut to fit), place the melted butter in one and then mix the sugar and cinnamon together in the second bowl.

STEP TWO: Dip the cooled donuts top side down first in the butter, let drip, then dip into the cinnamon-sugar mixture.

Let the donuts sit for a few minutes, and then dip again in the sugar coating to give even more texture.

Icing Topping

STEP ONE: Mix together the icing ingredients until a smooth consistency. Add more milk if needed but only a little at a time.

You can add food coloring or add colored sprinkles after dipping or drizzling the icing on the donuts.

How To Serve

Everyone loves these delicious apple donuts with a glass of apple cider or milk.

Adults might enjoy dipping the warm donuts in a mug of hot coffee, with tea, or a homemade pumpkin spice latte for a cozy treat.

Transform these donuts into a dessert extravaganza by drizzling them with a rich caramel sauce or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Try our classic applesauce cake for another irresistible sweet. Our donut recipes are always a hit, check out our pumpkin donuts as well.

MORE APPLE RECIPES

Pie Recipes

Traditional Apple Pie Recipe

Dump Cakes

Apple Dump Cake

Storage

We’ve got you covered with some helpful tips on storing and enjoying your donuts.

MAKE AHEAD: While these donuts are best enjoyed fresh, you can prepare the batter ahead of time and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours.

When ready to bake, simply scoop the batter into your donut pan and follow the baking instructions.

ON THE COUNTER: You can keep these cake donuts on the counter at room temperature in a sealed container for up to three days.

You can serve leftover apple donuts at room temperature or microwave for a few seconds before serving for a warm treat.

IN THE FREEZER: Freezing these mini apple donuts is not recommended.

Why We Love This Recipe

IRRESISTIBLE APPLE FLAVOR: These donuts are packed with the delightful taste of apples, creating a sweet and slightly tart flavor that’s perfect for fall or any time of the year. The use of applesauce adds moisture and natural sweetness, making every bite a burst of apple goodness.

WARM AND COMFORTING SPICES: The addition of cinnamon and nutmeg provides a warm, cozy flavor that pairs perfectly with the apple. It’s like enjoying a slice of apple pie in a convenient, handheld donut form.

HOMEMADE GOODNESS: There’s something incredibly satisfying about biting into a freshly baked, homemade donut. These donuts offer that unbeatable homemade taste and aroma, making them a beloved recipe for anyone seeking that delightful, from-scratch experience.

Full of lovely apple flavor and the perfect, moist texture, these fresh apple donuts are sure to be a family favorite. Simple ingredients come together from scratch quickly, and you only need about ten minutes of baking time before you’re ready for this simple, classic homemade treat.

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Apple Donuts

5 from 4 votes

These delicious baked apple donuts are full of apple goodness and make the perfect fall treats.

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 12

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Ingredients

  

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Donuts

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup white sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoons cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup cinnamon applesauce
• ¼ cup vegetable oil
• ¾ cup buttermilk
• 2 tablespoons vanilla

Cinnamon Sugar Topping

• 4 tablespoons butter, melted
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon

Icing Topping

• 1½ cups powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons milk

Instructions

 

Donuts

• Preheat oven to 400°F and prepare the donut pan by spraying with nonstick spray.
• In a medium-sized bowl, combine dry ingredients and stir with a whisk to mix.
• In a large bowl, combine wet ingredients in a separate bowl and stir to mix.
• Add dry ingredients to wet and stir until just mixed.
• Place a Ziploc bag inside a tall jar, folding back the edges. Spoon the donut batter into the bag until full. Twist the top of the bag and clip it closed. Hold the bag upside down and use scissors to cut off an angle at the corner of the bag.
• Pipe/fill each donut cavity ¾ full of batter.
• Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
• Remove from the oven and let cool 5 minutes before removing from the pan.

Cinnamon Sugar Topping

• Using two separate bowls (big enough for a donut to fit), place the melted butter in one and then mix the sugar and cinnamon together in the second bowl.
• Dip the cooled donuts top side down first in the butter, let drip, then dip into sugar/cinnamon mix. Let the donuts sit a few minutes and then dip again in the cinnamon/sugar mixture to give even more texture.

Icing Topping

• Mix together icing ingredients until a smooth consistency. Add more milk if needed, but only a little at a time. You can add food coloring or add colored sprinkles after dipping or drizzling the icing on the donuts.

Notes

• We recommend a Wilton 12-Cavity Mini Donut Pan, but if you don’t have one or can’t find any mini donut pans, this recipe makes fun apple donut holes in a mini muffin pan. Fill the muffin cavities ¾ full and reduce the baking time by two or three minutes.
• Be careful to not overmix the batter or it will be tough! 
• Clean up any spills in the middle of the donuts in the pan before baking so that the centers turn out and don’t bake over. 
• Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to check your donuts at the lower end of the recommended baking time.

Nutrition

Calories: 295kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 241mg | Potassium: 128mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 34g | Vitamin A: 151IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 1mg

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