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
Hotly Spiced
What beautiful looking donuts. I won’t show these to my children because they’ll want me to make them immediately.
carolina
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!
Barbara
Thanks Carolina! Your sweet comments really brighten my day. I think you’d love them as muffins too.
Ilke
Looks healthy. I have never thought I would say this for donut 🙂
They looks so moist and warm, no wonder it was all gone.
Bunny
Eating them all while they’re hot sounds like something I would do! LOL They sound terrific Barbara.
Cara
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!
Anne
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!
Juliana
Apple and cinnamon all in a donut? Yes , you can count on me…they look awesome.
Hope you are having a wonderful week Barbara 🙂
Katy
Barbara, these look positive divine! Anything apple wins my heart!
teresa
delicious!! i am nuts about homemade donuts, these look great!
Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl
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! =)
Paula
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.
daldak01@yahoo.ca
These look sooooo good. I gotta get a donut pan.
Mercedes
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?
Barbara
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. “
Angie's Recipes
Love those baked donuts! So much healthier than the fried one.
Cathy at Wives with Knives
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.
Valérie ( France )
Sur cette merveille gourmande
Je te souhaite un agréable WE
Valérie.
Melanie
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!!
Baker Street
I’m a big fan of baked donuts. Apple and cinnamon sound just divine. Thanks for sharing Barb.
Alison @ Ingredients, Inc
omg i want these!
cindy
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.