These easy Baked Apple Donuts are a fun treat to share with the kids AND a healthy breakfast to serve all year long. Think Apple Cider Donuts that you can make quickly right at home!
There’s something about baking in a donut pan that really can turn basic ingredients into something super special. I love making these Apple Donuts since they are easy, are made with ingredients I usually have in the house, and totally thrill the kids.
These baked donuts have a delicious apple cinnamon flavor, are lower in added sugar than purchased donuts, and are fun to serve for breakfast or snack.
You can top with a little cinnamon-sugar so they taste and look more like Apple Cider Donuts. too.
Why This Recipe Works
With a simple stir together batter made using basic pantry staples, this recipe bakes up in under 15 minutes in a donut pan. The result is tender, delicious donuts at home, with nutrition and yummy flavor the kids will love.
(You may also like my Pumpkin Baked Donuts, Baked Chocolate Donuts, Baked Donuts, and Donut Muffins as more donut ideas.)
Table of Contents
Ingredients You Need
The Baked Apple Donut recipe batter mixes up in a single bowl. Here’s a look at what you need to have on hand to make the recipe.
- Whole-wheat flour: I like this hearty flour here as it helps the baked donuts hold their shape.
- Applesauce: You can use store-bought or homemade applesauce.
- Melted butter: I use unsalted butter in my baking so I can control the added salt.
- Milk: Whole milk or any nondairy milk will work similarly, so use what you prefer.
- Egg: I use large eggs in my recipes, so plan to use that size to ensure the volume is correct.
- Vanilla extract and cinnamon: We use both here to add cozy flavor that pairs so well with apple.
- Maple syrup: You can sub in honey if you prefer, though avoid it for babies under age 1. We use a modest amount of sweetener to ensure the donuts taste great.
TIP: You can make these dairy-free by using a neutral oil like canola and nondairy plain unsweetened milk.
Featured Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“This recipe was super easy and fun to do with my 5 year old. They tasted great, especially with the cinnamon sugar on top.” –Jessica
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a look at the easy method involved in making this Baked Apple Donut recipe. Scroll down to the end of the post for the full recipe, including the amounts and timing.
Step 1. Preheat the oven and grease a standard donut pan with nonstick spray. Gently stir all ingredients together.
Step 2. Divide batter among the donut pan, using about ¼ cup per donut.
Step 3. Bake until lightly golden brown around the edges and a cake tester inserted into the center comes out cleanly.
Step 4. Let cool and dip in melted butter and then cinnamon sugar, if desired.
TIP: Be sure to spray the pan well with nonstick spray, including around and on top of the hole, to ensure that the donuts come out of the pan easily.
product we love
Wilton Donut Pan
This pan bakes even, perfect donuts every time.
Frequently Asked Questions
They do if you add the optional cinnamon-sugar on top! (Though they aren’t quite as sweet as the ones you’d buy.)
If you don’t have a donut pan, you can bake these in a mini muffin tin, filling to the edge, and baking at the same temperature and timing.
They are really yummy warm out of the oven, though you can store them at room temperature for up to 3 days.
How to Store
You can store the cooled Baked Apple Donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for about 5 days or you can freeze them for a future week.
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Best Tips for Success
- These Baked Apple Donuts are really yummy served warm out of the oven.
- We love them with a brush of melted butter and a sprinkle of cinnamon and sugar.
- Use smooth applesauce for a consistency close to cake donuts. (Chunky applesauce will have chunks of apples which the kids may or may not mind!)
- Make the donuts a little sweeter by adding 1 tablespoon sugar to the batter.
Related Recipes
Desserts
Favorite Applesauce Cookies
Breakfast
Fluffy Applesauce Pancakes
Snacks
Easy Sliced Baked Apples
I’d love to hear your feedback if you try this recipe, so please comment below to share if you try these for your kids!
Baked Apple Donuts
Ingredients
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 2 tablespoons butter (melted and slightly cooled)
- 1/2 cup applesauce
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 cup whole-wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Cinnamon-Sugar Topping (optional)
- 1 teaspoon unsalted butter (melted and slightly cooled)
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and grease a standard donut pan with nonstick spray.
- Add the egg, milk, butter, applesauce, vanilla, and maple syrup to a medium bowl. Stir well to combine. Stir in the rest of the ingredients and spoon into prepared donut pan, filling each full. (You'll use a heaping ¼ cup batter in each.)
- Bake for 14-16 minutes or until lightly golden brown around the edges and a cake tester inserted into the center comes out cleanly.
- Let cool in pan for about 2 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool.
- Optional Cinnamon-Sugar Topping: Add the cinnamon and sugar to a bowl and stir to combine. Brush the top of each donut with a little melted butter. Invert the donut and rub gently into the cinnamon sugar mixture to coat.
- Serve warm or at room temperature.
Equipment
Notes
- These are best eaten on the day they are made, but can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat briefly before serving after the first day if desired.
- If you don’t have a donut pan, you can bake these in a mini muffin tin, filling to the edge, and baking at the same temperature and timing.
- Gluten-free: Use a 1:1 style GF flour blend.
- Dairy-free: Use a neutral oil like canola and nondairy plain unsweetened milk.
- Use smooth applesauce for a consistency close to cake donuts. (Chunky applesauce will have chunks of apples which the kids may or may not mind!)
- To make the batter a little sweeter, add 1 tablespoon sugar.
Nutrition
This post was first published September 2017.
These are so good! I puréed some fresh apple we just picked and made them as muffins and the whole fam loved them! I added cinn & sugar for the adults and left plain for 1 yr old and she loved them! Thank you for the yummy and easy recipe!
I am so glad to hear that!
How long would the bake time be in a mini donut pan?
I would guess 10-12 minutes in a mini donut pan.
Such an easy recipe to make and so delicious! I have made them twice now using a muffin tin, I just let them cook a minute or 2 longer.
What else can be used to substitute the maple syrup besides honey? Brown sugar alone? We don’t use maple syrup or honey very often so I’m always left with bottles of it sitting around when I bake!
So delicious! I used half white and half wheat flour.
I’m so glad to hear it!
Hey how important is whole milk? I only have 2% but I really want to try these, I just got myself a donut pan at Target specifically because you posted this lolololol! I’m hoping for a bright future of homemade baked donuts!
2% will work just fine! Enjoy them!!
Can I use the applesauce and add some small chopped fresh apple too? Or will that mess with the moisture too much?
Yes, I bet you could, I just wouldn’t add too much and try to dice the apple pieces pretty small.
Came out incredibly fluffy! I dipped them in melted butter then cinnamon sugar, very good, will do again.
Please help me figure out what I’m doing wrong- I tried making these twice and I can’t really get them out of my donut pans. I sprayed them before I made the donuts. I used a little spatula to get the edges loose (not around the center though), and when they finally came out, they were in crumb-pieces and not an in-tact donut. They seem great and I wish mine looked great too. We will eat them in the morning so I don’t know about taste yet. Thank you!!
I’m really not sure other than being sure to spray them more and be sure to coat the center of each round? I use classic Pam, which is usually very reliable for helping things to not stick.
Ooh, I might not have sprayed the middle enough. I used Pam too. Thank you! One more question too- I used almond flour, do you think that affected it? They were kind of sad looking and the consistency was strange. I know almond flour is a 1:1 ratio though so I thought that would be fine. The taste was AWESOME by the way 🙂 🙂
Ah, it’s the almond flour. It is actually not a good substitute for regular flour as it absorbs liquid in a completely different way. I’m glad they taste good though!
That’s definitely good to know, thanks! It’s a bummer though- if I wanted to use a more wholesome alternative to regular or whole wheat flour, do you know if coconut flour would absorb it better than almond? I appreciate your insights. And yes they were fantastic, definitely making again!
Coconut would likely turn out way too dry if you didn’t make any other adjustment. Neither almond or coconut flours are good for swapping in 1:1 for regular flours since they work really differently. I haven’t experimented with this recipe with them so I’m not sure exactly how it might work. Let me know if you figure something out though!
I absolutely will, thanks again! I follow you on Instagram and love your content and so many of your recipes 🙂
I’m so glad!
SHOOT, I wish I had read the comments before baking! I did almond flour and omg what a raw mess. Going to try again with regular unhealthy flour. 🙂
Yeah, almond flour is not a good straight substitute for wheat flour in most baking recipes. (And with the rest of the mix of ingredients, these are plenty nutritious. No need to worry about the flour!)
I was wondering what else to add to this recipe. Can I increase the maple syrup? The feedback I got is that they are bland.
You could add a tablespoon or two of sugar, additional cinnamon, a pinch of salt…
I use a homemade spiced applesauce and they come out very tasty!
What would be the best way to make these egg-free?
I haven’t tried this so I can’t say for sure, but I would omit the egg, add 1/4 cup additional milk and add 1 teaspoon baking soda (in addition to the powder). That is usually a great alternative. Let me know if you try it!
Hi! Love your recipes! Was just wondering if you meant to add the “or” after the amount of whole wheat flour in the list of ingredients??
Oh sorry, I meant to reference that you can do oat flour with flaxseed as an option. Will fix that, thanks!
Can you make this in a mini donut maker like the baby cakes do it maker?
Can you freeze them?
Yes. Let them cool fully and freeze in airtight freezer bags with as much air removed as possible. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temp or in the fridge or very briefly in the microwave.
This is probably obvious, but I’m a newb, lol – sweetened or unsweetened applesauce?
I use unsweetened but either will work!
Thank you!
Can the maple syrup be substituted with honey? If so, would it be the same measurement ?
Yes, the same!