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.
Ingredients
- 1 cup apple juice or apple cider
- 3/4 cup (2 ounces) dried apples, cut in to bite size pieces
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
Directions
- 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 3/4 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
Don’t miss out on a new recipe. Subscribe to Barbara Bakes by Email
Some of the links in my posts may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Thank you for supporting Barbara Bakes when you shop!
I love to bake, especially cookies, cakes, and pies. I’ll post my adventures in the kitchen, my favorite new recipes, as well as our family favorites.
I am so going to try these! I have the pan and have yet to use it.
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!
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.
These look amazing…like apple fritters but way better that they are baked not fried.
These sound delicious!! I love all things apple and then you add cinnamon and sugar… sold!
I’m so glad I didn’t pack away the donut pan! Definitely making these!! (and thanks for linking up 2 of my recipes!)
Your baked doughnuts look amazing! What a guilt-free treat.
Cheers,
Rosa
OHhhhhhhhhhhh the donuts look so good.
sure am glad that my 2 yr old can’t read yet- because if he saw this he would be screaming for it! Amazing
I am drooling; I can see why you ate them all!
Just another reminder that I need to put my donut pan to use! It’s been hiding in my cabinet for far too long!
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.
I am drooling in front of my computer screen.Time for me to get a donut pan, I would love to make this recipe.
Did I mention that I love donuts with apples? Thanks for sharing the recipe
love that its baked ! apple & cinnamon sounds perfect….
I have never made baked doughnuts but man do these ever look tasty!! I love apple cinnamon flavour also. Hook me up!!
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
They look beyond amazing! I would be eating every one.
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.
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!
What a yummy recipe–I better get me a cute donut pan. Can one have to many pans, the answer is–no!
Have a great weekend.
omg i want these!
I’m a big fan of baked donuts. Apple and cinnamon sound just divine. Thanks for sharing Barb.
I’ve resisited buying a donut pan thus far, but your donuts are pushing me closer to running out and getting a pan. These would be by favorite donut, after a moist chocolate cake donut. Good idea to adapt a cake & muffin recipe to make these!!
Sur cette merveille gourmande
Je te souhaite un agréable WE
Valérie.
I wouldn’t feel guilty eating a donut that is baked rather than fried. I bet they smelled heavenly while they were baking. I haven’t purchased one of those donuts pans yet and it may be time for me to give in.
Love those baked donuts! So much healthier than the fried one.
Whole wheat flour and only 1/3 cup of oil? These are donuts I can feel good about eating (well almost
)! I got a muffin pan a few months ago and have only used it once and this recipe is for sure the next one I will be trying! With your donut making experience, have you found that you can basically turn any cake recipe into donuts without many modifications?
Thanks Mercedes. This is my first attempt at baking donuts, so I’m not sure which recipes work best. But the donut pan said “Use with banana, pumpkin bread recipes or any non-moist cake mix. “
These look sooooo good. I gotta get a donut pan.
One of my baking objectives this year is to make donuts, both the healthy baked kind and the deep fried. I’m anxious to get started after seeing this post
Your donuts look wonderful.
I have a donut pan and have been wanting to try making a new flavor…these are at the top of the list. Love that they use whole wheat flour and applesauce–I can’t feel guilty about eating these! =)
delicious!! i am nuts about homemade donuts, these look great!
Barbara, these look positive divine! Anything apple wins my heart!
Apple and cinnamon all in a donut? Yes , you can count on me…they look awesome.
Hope you are having a wonderful week Barbara
Mmmm… I can almost taste these from the photo. What a great idea adding chunks of apple – almost like a healthy apple fritter! Great recipe!
Oh my goodness! I’ve had baked donuts on my must make list for a while now and these I’m going to have to try!
Eating them all while they’re hot sounds like something I would do! LOL They sound terrific Barbara.
Looks healthy. I have never thought I would say this for donut
They looks so moist and warm, no wonder it was all gone.
Your site is so pretty. I know I have told you this before, but wanted to do so again. I printed this recipe out and remembered that I do not have a donut pan!
Guess this means I will have to buy one!
Happy New Year!
Thanks Carolina! Your sweet comments really brighten my day. I think you’d love them as muffins too.
What beautiful looking donuts. I won’t show these to my children because they’ll want me to make them immediately.
the donuts look really great! apple cinnamon is one of my favorite combinations, they look fantastic
Scrumptious apple cinnamon sugar donuts! I know they wouldn’t last over a day at my house either. This recipe just might be the reason I purchase my very own donut pan.
This is like a return to Fall for me, and Fall is my favoirite season, AND I wasn’t done with Fall foods yet It went by way too fast! These doughnuts look spectacular….better than any cinnamon sugar apple, much less cinnamon sugar, doughnut, than any doughnut place in existance. Bo doubt they taste a thousand times better too!
I just found you through Tastespotting and I’m so glad I did! These look awesome. I love that you used whole wheat flour! And oil. And lots of applesauce. I’ll have to be on the lookout for dried apples. This is definitely my type of recipe.
This look delicous. I will take one right now!
Oh my, those look fabulous, Barbara! Do you believe I’ve never made donuts??
Classic combination of apple and cinnamon make these doughnuts irresistible!!!
These look so good, Barbara. I have yet to try a donut pan, but now I’m thinking I’ll have to buy one VERY soon to try this recipe.
I am new to cooking and baking; but, I just had to give this donut recipe a whirl. Glad I did! The donuts turned out great. Thanks for the wonderful recipe.
Ellie
Thanks Ellie! Glad you loved them as much as we did.
I’m not a donut person, but I’d eat a dozen of these.