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These Baked Cider Donuts are the perfect healthy fall treat! Packed with good-for-you ingredients like apple cider, coconut oil, gluten-free flour, and coconut sugar. A simple and healthier donut that is baked, not fried but is still fluffy, cakey and so incredibly delicious. Plus this donut recipe is both Vegan and Gluten Free!
Cider Donuts are a must for fall! They are just loaded with all of those warm and comforting sensations you have been waiting for. These healthy donuts are bursting with apple and cinnamon flavors and are the perfect fall treat that everyone will love!
One of the best things about this donut recipe is that it is both VEGAN and GLUTEN FREE. Don’t worry, nobody will know the difference, TRUST ME! My kids and my husband devoured these and I never told them they were healthy, lol.
Plus, you all loved these Healthy Baked Pumpkin Donuts so much, so I know you will love these as well! Another gluten-free donut recipe that is great for fall.
What are Cider Donuts?
Cider donuts or apple cider donuts are typically a New England-style fall treat that people enjoy in the fall months of the year. Mostly because apples are in season, which makes these types of donuts extra delicious. They are made with apple cider as a main ingredient. Another reason why they are so good.
Trust me! I am from New England and I have had a lot of cider donuts and these are my new favorite for sure!
Why you will just love this recipe
- It’s a really easy baked cider donut recipe
- Packed with healthier ingredients that make it both Vegan and Gluten Free
- A healthier donut recipe that is baked and not fried
- They are packed with warm fall flavors like apple and cinnamon
- Great for a healthy fall treat everyone can enjoy!
Ingredients needed to make Healthy Cider Donuts
- Flour – I used gluten-free all-purpose flour to keep this recipe fully gf but you can also use regular all-purpose flour.
- Coconut sugar – is used to reduce the refined sugar in this recipe to make these cider donuts a little healthier. White sugar can be used in place of the coconut sugar.
- Apple pie spice – gives the donuts a nice hint of apple flavor, perfect for fall!
- Salt- just a pinch to help highlight all of the other amazing flavors.
- Applesauce + apple cider – for that cozy apple flavor, this combination is the best! I used unsweetened applesauce but any type will work.
- Coconut oil – melted coconut oil gives the donuts a nice moist center. You can also use melted butter.
- Vanilla – real vanilla extract
- Apple cider vinegar – just a little bit to help the donut batter rise for extra fluffy apple cider donuts.
- Baking powder + baking soda – a wonderful combination to help the donuts rise and come out cakey and delicious without gluten.
How To Make Apple Cider Donuts
This is a pretty simple and easy donut recipe you can make in under 20 minutes.
- Mix up the dry ingredients.
- Mix up the wet ingredients.
- Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and slowly pour the wet ingredients into the well and lightly fold them in, stirring everything together slowly until it is all incorporated into a thick donut batter.
- Transfer the donut batter to a plastic ziplock bag, twist the top, and cut off one of the ends. Then pipe the donut batter into a sprayed donut pan filling each well about ¾ of the way full. This recipe makes about 10 donuts.
- Bake the donuts for 9-11 minutes until a toothpick inserted in one of the donuts comes out clean.
- Mix up the coating by combining the white sugar with some apple pie spice. Melt some coconut oil, if using.
- Once the donuts are done baking, remove and run a knife around the edge of each donut to release them from the pan. To coat either toss each donut in the sugar coating and place onto a rack to dry or let them cool, dip each donut lightly in the melted coconut oil and then in the sugar coating and place on a rack to dry.
See the recipe card below for the full list of recipe ingredients and instructions.
Variations
- Use vegan butter in place of the coconut oil in these cider donuts. If you have a coconut aversion (although the coconut oil cannot be tasted in this recipe) or are out of coconut oil then feel free to substitute the coconut oil with vegan butter.
- If you don’t have apple pie spice then you can make your own by combining the following: 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1 teaspoon cardamom, ¾ teaspoon ground ginger, ¼ teaspoon ground allspice. Store the rest of the spice mix in a small mason jar or spice jar fitted with a lid.
- You can use white vinegar in place of apple cider vinegar.
- Light brown sugar or white sugar can be used in place of the coconut sugar.
Recipe Tips
- Use real apple cider and not apple juice since the cider has a stronger flavor.
- Any kind of all purpose gluten free flour will work as long as it has xanthan gum in it.
- See the notes section in the recipe card for my method for filling the donut molds with the batter.
- If you don’t have a donut pan then you can make these in a muffin pan but you will need to cook them for about 10 minutes longer. If you are using a mini muffin pan then 12-15 minutes should work. Always insert a toothpick to check if they are done. If it comes out clean then they are done.
- If you are not dipping the donuts in melted coconut oil or butter before you coat them then you must toss them in the sugar coating immediately after they come out of the oven since the heat from the donuts helps the coating stick to them better.
How to store and reheat cider donuts
Freshly baked donuts can be left at room temperature for up to 2 days. I like to store these homemade donuts in a non-airtight container on the counter for 3-4 days if they last that long!
More apple recipes to try
- Healthy Apple Muffins – Gluten Free
- 15 Minute Air Fryer Apple Chips
- Gluten Free Dutch Oven Apple Crisp
- Gluten Free Apple Pear Crisp
Did you make this recipe? If you did, then please leave a rating and comment below. You can also tag me on Instagram @pinchmegoodfood so I can see your creation.
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Baked Cider Donuts
- Total Time: 18 minutes
- Yield: 12 donuts 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
These baked cider donuts are the perfect fall treat! Made with healthy simple ingredients and baked and not fried. Make them in a donut pan or muffin pan for a fun dessert or sweet breakfast the whole family will love! Gluten-free and Vegan!
Ingredients
Dry ingredients
- 2 cups gluten free all purpose flour – I used King Arthur’s Measure for Measure flour
- ½ cup coconut sugar or light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 + ¼ teaspoons apple pie spice-see notes on how to make your own
- Pinch of kosher salt
Wet ingredients
- 1 + ¼ cup real apple cider
- ⅓ cup unsweetened applesauce
- ¼ cup melted coconut oil or melted vegan butter
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Additional ingredients for coating the donuts
- ½ cup white sugar
- 2 teaspoons apple pie spice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400° F and spray 2 (6 count) donut pans (or muffin pans) with cooking spray. Set aside.
- Mix up the dry ingredients in a medium-sized mixing bowl.
- Mix up the wet ingredients in a separate medium-size mixing bowl.
- Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and slowly pour the wet ingredients into the well and lightly fold them in, stirring everything together slowly until it is all incorporated into a thick donut batter.
- Transfer the donut batter to a plastic ziplock bag or piping bag, twist the top, and cut off one of the ends (see notes on how to do this). Then pipe the donut batter into a sprayed donut pan filling each well about ¾ of the way full. This recipe makes about 12 donuts.
- Bake the donuts for 9-11 minutes in the center rack of the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in one of the donuts comes out clean. Check them at around 8 minutes and continue cooking as needed.
- Mix up the coating by combining the white sugar with some apple pie spice in a medium bowl. You can also melt some more coconut oil or butter to dip the donuts in before you coat them. See notes.
- Once the donuts are done baking, let them cool for a couple minutes then run a knife around the edge of each donut to release them from the pan.
- To coat the donuts, either toss each donut in the sugar coating and place onto a rack to dry or let them cool, dip each donut lightly in the melted butter and then in the sugar coating and place on a rack to dry.
Notes
- The best way I have found to fill the donut pans with the batter is to use a plastic bag to pipe the batter into the pans. To fill the bag, take a tall cup with a large rounded top, open up a ziplock bag and press one of the edges into the cup and wrap the top of the bag around the cup to secure it. Fill the bag with some of the batter, to the top of the cup. Lift the bag out of the cup by lifting the ends of the bag that are wrapped around the cups and twist the top. Make a small cut in the tip of the bag and then pipe the batter evenly into each donut well filling each one about ¾ of the way full.
- Use real apple cider and not apple juice since the cider has a stronger flavor.
- Any kind of all purpose gluten free flour will work as long as it has xanthan gum in it.
- If you don’t have a donut pan then you can make these in a muffin pan but you will need to cook them for about 10 minutes longer. If you are using a mini muffin pan then 12-15 minutes should work. Always insert a toothpick to check if they are done. If it comes out clean then they are done.
- If you are not dipping the donuts in melted coconut oil or butter before you coat them then you must toss them in the sugar coating immediately after they come out of the oven since the heat from the donuts helps the coating stick to them better.
- To make your own apple pie spice: Mix up 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1 teaspoon cardamom, ¾ teaspoon ground ginger, and ¼ teaspoon ground allspice. You can store any extra in a small mason jar or spice jar fitted with a lid.
- Store these donuts in a non-airtight container on the counter for up to 4 days.
Recipe adapted from: Choosing Chia
- Prep Time: 8 minutes minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Healthy Breakfast Ideas
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
These were a huge hit all around in my house
How much salt? I see it in the ingredients picture, but not in the recipe!
Hi Jessica. It is just a pinch of salt. Thank you for letting me know it is missing. I will update the recipe card.