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
Jennifer Allen
Hi Barbara! That picture looks AMAZING! I’m so excited to try these! Thank you!
I did notice (since I’m doing these right now and I am a direction-follower) that a step seems to be missing – you don’t say when to add the flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon after you have set aside. Maybe it’s just me but I just wanted to let you know. Thanks for the recipe again!
Eliana
This looks like just the comfort food I need to get me through this cold weekend that is almost here. Can’t wait!
Javelin Warrior
These donuts are amazing and I’ve been inspired to feature them in my Friday Food Fetish roundup. And I’ll be sharing on Pinterest. Please let me know if you have any objections and KEEP IT COMING!
Lenny
I really love the taste of cinnamon, it’s one of a kind. Any food that has flavor of it seems to be delicious for me. i love donuts, I’ll try to bake this weekend.
Katrina
Made these once as fried donuts and they were delicious (and I’m not much of a donut eater–because of their fried-bad-for-you nature), but baked–I could get away with baked! They look de-lish!
Jacqui C.
I just made these and they’re delicious (even though I forgot the cinnamon)! They definitely don’t have the heavy, greasy taste/consistency of a fried Dunkin Donut. These are a great, easy to make, and serve as a great snack at any point in the day. Thank you! 🙂
Barbara
Thanks Jacqui for letting me know you made them! So glad you liked them as much as we did.
Linda V @ Bubble and Sweet
I am totally trying this recipe out it sounds amazing.
Emily
Barbara, my dear these donuts are perfect! i love them ♥
Happy new year my dear! Kisses
Jamie
I LOVE these, Barbara! I already rushed here to gawk and drool but when I saw that they were baked and stuffed with apples I knew I had to bookmark this recipe! Scrumptious! And baked, not fried! Love it!
Kim of Mo'Betta
YUM! I so want these right now!
Blond Duck
I’m not a donut person, but I’d eat a dozen of these.
Ellie
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
Barbara
Thanks Ellie! Glad you loved them as much as we did.
Cookin' Canuck
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.
Asmita
Classic combination of apple and cinnamon make these doughnuts irresistible!!!
Barbara
Oh my, those look fabulous, Barbara! Do you believe I’ve never made donuts??
Nancy G.
This look delicous. I will take one right now!
Erin @ Texanerin Baking
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. 🙂
Lisa
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!
Deb
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.
betty
the donuts look really great! apple cinnamon is one of my favorite combinations, they look fantastic