These moist, tender, better-for-you, baked donuts are loaded with triple apple flavor. Chucks of dried apple are simmered in apple juice until they’re plumb and juicy. Applesauce is also added to the batter to create another layer of appley deliciousness.
I broke out my fun new donut pans to create a healthy and delicious donut for the new year. This recipe is inspired by the Applesauce Snack Cake recipe from America’s Test Kitchen Healthy Family Cookbook, and the Apple Cinnamon Sugar Donut Muffins I posted last year.
They were so moist I didn’t need to dip them in butter before coating them with cinnamon and sugar. (Be sure and dip them while they’re hot.) My guess is they would be even better/more moist the next day, but. I can’t tell you how they tasted cold, because we ate all 12 of them while they were still hot.
This donut has a muffin like texture and could easily be baked in a muffin tin. I loved the big chunks of tender apple in this donut.
Baked Apple Cinnamon Sugar Donuts
Ingredients
- 1 cup apple juice or apple cider
- ¾ cup 2 ounces dried apples, cut in to bite size pieces
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- ½ cup whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅔ cup brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Topping
- ¼ cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, simmer the apple juice and dried apples over medium heat until all of the liquid has been absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
- Preheat oven to 325º. Lightly grease two 6 count donut pans with cooking spray or vegetable oil.
- In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat together sugar and egg until well combined. Whisk in vegetable oil, applesauce and vanilla extract. Stir in cooled apple mixture. Add dry ingredients and stir just until combined.
- Divide batter evenly into 12 donut cups, filling each about ¾ full. (Use a pastry bag or plastic bag with corner cut out to make filling the cups easier.)
- Bake for 10-15 minutes, until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean.
- While donuts are baking, in a small bowl combine remaining sugar and cinnamon for topping.
- When donuts are done, cool for a few minutes in the pan, remove from pan and dip donut top in cinnamon sugar mixture. Cool on a wire rack.
More baked donut recipes I’d love to try:
Baked Pumpkin Doughnuts with Maple-Cinnamon Glaze, Taste and Tell
Mini Baked Lemon Donuts, My Baking Addiction
Baked Mini Cake Donuts, Bakers Royale
Baked Red Velvet Donuts, Taste and Tell
Baked Chocolate Doughnuts, Cooking on the Side
Claire @ Claire K Creations
Well that settles it, I’m just going to have to buy one of those tins. These doughnuts look amazing. In fact my mouth is watering and stomach grumbling just looking at them!
Becki's Whole Life
These look wonderful and I love the combination of the apples and the cinnamon sugar! I love that you used WW flour with these, too.
Maris (in Good Taste)
They look beyond amazing! I would be eating every one.
Rocky Mountain Woman
I have never made donuts because the idea of deep frying in the morning is kind of beyond my abilities…
However, I think I could probably give these a try!!!
xxoo,
RMW
Steve @ the black peppercorn
I have never made baked doughnuts but man do these ever look tasty!! I love apple cinnamon flavour also. Hook me up!!
a spoonful of yumm
love that its baked ! apple & cinnamon sounds perfect….
Kathia
Did I mention that I love donuts with apples? Thanks for sharing the recipe
Kathia
I am drooling in front of my computer screen.Time for me to get a donut pan, I would love to make this recipe.
Bonnie
I;ve been thinking about buying some donut pans. I am such a sucker for baked cake donuts and apple cinnamon is my favorite. These are beautiful.
natalie (the sweets life)
Just another reminder that I need to put my donut pan to use! It’s been hiding in my cabinet for far too long!
Kalyn
I am drooling; I can see why you ate them all!
Kitchen Belleicious
sure am glad that my 2 yr old can’t read yet- because if he saw this he would be screaming for it! Amazing
Joy
OHhhhhhhhhhhh the donuts look so good.
Rosa
Your baked doughnuts look amazing! What a guilt-free treat.
Cheers,
Rosa
Deborah
I’m so glad I didn’t pack away the donut pan! Definitely making these!! (and thanks for linking up 2 of my recipes!)
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel
These sound delicious!! I love all things apple and then you add cinnamon and sugar… sold!
Lyndsey@TheTinySkillet
These look amazing…like apple fritters but way better that they are baked not fried.
kelley
These look amazing! I definitely need to invest in a large donut pan. We would have eaten them all hot too- with a BIG glass of cold milk. 🙂
Becca @ Crumbs and Chaos
I got a donut pan for Christmas and I’ve had my eye out for fabulous donut recipes. This one looks like a winner – can’t wait to try it!
Sue @ Cakeballs, cookies and more
I am so going to try these! I have the pan and have yet to use it.