Description
Baked Apple Donuts are a light yet flavorful fall treat, combining warm spices, moist applesauce, and a tender crumb with a sweet cinnamon sugar coating. Ready in just 20 minutes, these donuts bring cozy autumn flavors to your breakfast table without the mess of frying—perfect for weekends, gatherings, or an easy seasonal snack.
Ingredients
Baked Apple Donuts:
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2 cups all-purpose flour
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¼ cup granulated sugar
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¼ cup brown sugar
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2 tsp baking powder
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1 tsp baking soda
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1 tsp ground cinnamon (or 1½ tsp apple pie spice, omit cinnamon & nutmeg)
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½ tsp ground nutmeg
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½ tsp salt
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½ cup unsweetened applesauce or apple butter
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¼ cup neutral oil or melted butter
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¾ cup milk or buttermilk
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1 tbsp vanilla extract
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Optional: 1 small apple, grated or cubed
Cinnamon Sugar Coating:
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4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
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½ cup granulated sugar
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½ tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
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Preheat oven: Set to 400°F (200°C). Grease donut pans with butter or baking spray.
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Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugars, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
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Mix wet ingredients: In another bowl, whisk applesauce, oil, milk, and vanilla until smooth.
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Combine: Fold wet mixture into dry until just combined—do not overmix. Stir in grated or cubed apple if using.
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Fill pans: Transfer batter to a piping or zip-top bag, snip the tip, and pipe into donut molds, filling almost to the top.
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Bake: Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until golden and a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
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Coat: Place melted butter in one shallow bowl, cinnamon sugar in another. Dip donuts in butter, then roll in sugar. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
Apple butter provides a deeper apple flavor than applesauce.
Cooling in the pan helps donuts keep their shape.
For a thicker sugar coating, double-dip in butter and cinnamon sugar.
Fresh apple chunks add juiciness but reduce shelf life.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10–12 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American