Easy Baked Apple Donuts

You can put leftover applesauce to delicious use in these Easy Baked Apple Donuts. They’re a fun treat to share with the kids AND a healthy breakfast to serve all year long!

Apple Donuts

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 mostly ingredients I tend to have in the house, and totally thrill the kids. And while these aren’t super sweet donut shop donuts, they have delicious apple cinnamon flavor and are fun to serve for breakfast for snack. Win, win!

Homemade Baked Donuts

The easiest way to make homemade donuts is to use a donut pan. This eliminates the need for messy frying and it ensures that classic shape the kids expect. With toddlers and little kids, they often don’t have solid expectations of what a donut has to be, so they will likely just be excited to be getting a treat! They boast a bit of Vitamin C from the applesauce and just a smidge of added sweetener. The apple flavor really comes through!

TIP: I love making these whenever the urge for a cider donut hits!

Ingredients In Apple Donuts

The baked donut recipe batter mixes up in one bowl in just a few minutes and they take about 15 minutes to bake, so you can have these ready to serve in under 30 minutes. You’ll need:

• whole-wheat flour
• applesauce
• melted butter
• milk
• egg
• vanilla extract
• maple syrup
• baking powder
• cinnamon

TIP: You can make these dairy-free by using a neutral oil like canola and nondairy plain unsweetened milk.

How to Make Apple Donuts Step-by-Step Process

Here’s a look at the easy method involved in making this baked donut recipe. Scroll down to the end of the post for the full recipe.

1. Preheat the oven and grease a standard donut pan with nonstick spray. Gently stir all ingredients together.
2. Divide batter among the donut pan.
3. Fill each donut hole to the brim.
4. Bake 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. Serve warm.

TIP: Be sure to spray the pan well with nonstick spray to ensure that they come out of the pan easily.

Can I make these donuts gluten-free?

I’ve made these two ways so you can adjust for your family’s needs so you can make them gluten-free or with regular flour.

1. Rolled Oats: Grinding rolled oats in the food processor or blender (the Vitamix does a great job with this!) is an easy way to make an inexpensive yet gluten free flour. And the whole grains add B vitamins, fiber, and complex carbohydrates that provide long lasting energy.
2. Whole-Wheat Flour: You can use whole-wheat flour, which creates a slightly more uniform, smooth cake-like texture.

TIP: The rolled oats option will be gluten-free as long as you use certified gluten-free flour.

Can I make these baked apple donuts without a donut pan?

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.

Tips for Making the Best Apple Donuts Recipe

• These baked donuts are really yummy served warm out of the oven.
• You can store them in an airtight container, once cooled, and reheat for about 10 seconds before serving for up to 3 days after.
• We love them a “frosting” of nut butter mixed with honey or 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!)
• Use oat flour to make these donuts gluten-free.
• You can make these dairy-free by using a neutral oil like canola and nondairy plain unsweetened milk.

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

★★★★ 4 from 1 reviews

• Author: Amy Palanjian
• Prep Time: 10
• Cook Time: 14
• Total Time: 24 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x
• Category: Breakfast
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

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Description

Made with minimal added sweeteners and fresh apple flavor, these baked donuts are a nutritious breakfast or snack to share.

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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 or 
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon 

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and grease a standard donut pan with nonstick spray.
2. 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.
3. 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. Serve warm with a mixture of cinnamon and granulated sugar or drizzle peanut or Sunbutter over top.
4. 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.

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Notes

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. 

To make these gluten-free, use rolled oats, ground finely in the food processor or blender. Add 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed. You can also try this recipe with a cup for cup gluten free flour.

These baked donuts are really yummy served warm out of the oven.

We love them a “frosting” of nut butter mixed with honey or 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!)

Use oat flour to make these donuts gluten-free.

You can make these dairy-free by using a neutral oil like canola and nondairy plain unsweetened milk.

1605.2 g24.2 mg6.8 g3.2 g21.6 g3.4 g4.9 g43.2 mg

Filder Under:Breakfast, Dairy-Free, Desserts, Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Snacks, Vegetarian