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    Home » Recipes » Breakfast » Donuts

    Baked Apple Cinnamon Sugar Donuts

    Published by Melissa on January 6, 2012 | Updated June 10, 2022 | 71 Comments

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    Baked-Apple-Cinnamon-Sugar-Donuts-Barbara-Bakes

    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.

    Baked-Apple-Cinnamon-Sugar-Donuts

    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.

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    Baked Apple Cinnamon Sugar Donuts

    Prep Time25 minutes mins
    Cook Time15 minutes mins
    Total Time40 minutes mins
    Course: Donuts
    Keyword: baking, Breakfast, cooking, food, recipe
    Servings: 12 donuts
    Author: Barbara Schieving
    Prevent your screen from going to sleep

    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

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    « Top 10 Favorite Recipes for 2011
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    about us

    About Melissa & Barbara

    As of June 2022 Melissa Griffiths now is the one adding recipes. So think of it as Barbara Bakes, and Melissa too! Melissa and Barbara have been blogging friends for over 10 years and when Barbara was ready to retire and spend more time with her family, Melissa took over the site. Read more...

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Jennifer Allen

      January 25, 2012 at 7:08 pm

      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!

      Reply
    2. Eliana

      January 13, 2012 at 11:33 am

      This looks like just the comfort food I need to get me through this cold weekend that is almost here. Can’t wait!

      Reply
    3. Javelin Warrior

      January 13, 2012 at 7:25 am

      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!

      Reply
    4. Lenny

      January 12, 2012 at 11:55 pm

      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.

      Reply
    5. Katrina

      January 11, 2012 at 10:09 pm

      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!

      Reply
    6. Jacqui C.

      January 11, 2012 at 12:48 pm

      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! 🙂

      Reply
      • Barbara

        January 11, 2012 at 10:02 pm

        Thanks Jacqui for letting me know you made them! So glad you liked them as much as we did.

        Reply
    7. Linda V @ Bubble and Sweet

      January 11, 2012 at 4:11 am

      I am totally trying this recipe out it sounds amazing.

      Reply
    8. Emily

      January 10, 2012 at 2:31 pm

      Barbara, my dear these donuts are perfect! i love them ♥
      Happy new year my dear! Kisses

      Reply
    9. Jamie

      January 10, 2012 at 9:49 am

      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!

      Reply
    10. Kim of Mo'Betta

      January 10, 2012 at 9:14 am

      YUM! I so want these right now!

      Reply
    11. Blond Duck

      January 10, 2012 at 4:58 am

      I’m not a donut person, but I’d eat a dozen of these.

      Reply
    12. Ellie

      January 09, 2012 at 10:51 pm

      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

      Reply
      • Barbara

        January 10, 2012 at 10:00 am

        Thanks Ellie! Glad you loved them as much as we did.

        Reply
    13. Cookin' Canuck

      January 09, 2012 at 1:04 pm

      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.

      Reply
    14. Asmita

      January 09, 2012 at 10:21 am

      Classic combination of apple and cinnamon make these doughnuts irresistible!!!

      Reply
    15. Barbara

      January 09, 2012 at 9:59 am

      Oh my, those look fabulous, Barbara! Do you believe I’ve never made donuts??

      Reply
    16. Nancy G.

      January 09, 2012 at 9:44 am

      This look delicous. I will take one right now!

      Reply
    17. Erin @ Texanerin Baking

      January 09, 2012 at 7:32 am

      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. 🙂

      Reply
    18. Lisa

      January 09, 2012 at 3:36 am

      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!

      Reply
    19. Deb

      January 08, 2012 at 10:05 pm

      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.

      Reply
    20. betty

      January 08, 2012 at 8:19 pm

      the donuts look really great! apple cinnamon is one of my favorite combinations, they look fantastic

      Reply
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