Your family will love this apple donut recipe. It's an easy baked applesauce donut recipe, so there's no need to deep fry. You can also easily make these fall donuts gluten free or dairy free with some simple ingredient swaps.

Baked Apple Donuts

Name: Baked Applesauce Donut Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 egg; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1/2 cup brown sugar; 1/2 cup applesauce; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 3 pinches nutmeg; 1 cup plain flour; 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder; 1/2 cup half and half; 4 tablespoons unsalted butter; 5 tablespoons brown sugar; 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Pumpkin usually takes center stage for fall. Apples are like the younger sibling, always living in pumpkin's shadow.

I prefer apples to pumpkins, but I did post my pumpkin donuts recipe three years before these baked apple donuts.

I guess I'm guilty of forgetting about apples too!

This fall, however, it's all about the apples. If you love these apple cinnamon baked donuts, then you'll also love these apple recipes:

Why You'll Love This Apple Donut Recipe

These apple cinnamon baked donuts are a cinch to make. They are made from scratch, but they use common pantry ingredients.

And since you start with applesauce, you don't even have to peel and chop apples to make applesauce cake donuts!

They are baked, so you don't have to have a deep fryer or use a bunch of oil in a pan to cook them. This also reduces fat and calories without compromising taste.

Using applesauce not only makes these cinnamon apple donuts a snap to make, but it also gives them a true apple flavor and makes them bake moist and fluffy.

These applesauce cake donuts can easily be dairy free or gluten free. Just swap the half and half for almond milk or oat milk and use a gluten free baking powder.

I haven't tried omitting the egg, but you can try using a flax seed egg or other substitute for vegan baked apple donuts.

You can also make this applesauce donut recipe in a muffin pan. I'll have directions for that below.

What Can I Use if I Don't Have a Donut Pan?

If you don't have a donut pan to make this baked applesauce donut recipe, you can also make donut holes in a mini muffin tin.

Fill the mini muffin pan about half full and bake at 400 degrees F for 9-11 minutes. You can also use a regular sized muffin pan and bake at 350 degrees F for 12-14 minutes. Watch them during baking.

If you really want a donut shape and don't have a donut pan, you can cut a piece of foil about 4 inches square. Then wrap it around your finger to create a circle and place in the center of a regular sized muffin pan.

Then pipe the batter around the foil circle for an improvised donut pan.

How Do You Fill a Donut Pan?

I find that the easiest way to fill the donut pan when making an applesauce donut recipe is to use a piping bag. This is the least messy way to fill the cavities.

You can also use a spoon. This is messier, so use a damp cloth to wipe up spills so they don't burn while baking.

Baked Applesauce Donuts Toppings

I dipped my baked apple donuts in melted butter and cinnamon sugar, but you can try one of the following toppings:

Create a glaze with 1 cup powdered sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 2 tablespoons milk.
Add a few drops of maple extract to a glaze for apple maple donuts.
Drizzle caramel sauce on top or use this Instant Pot caramel sauce.
Replace half of the cinnamon in the cinnamon sugar with nutmeg.
Use DIY vanilla sugar for a vanilla flavor.
Top with candy sprinkles. Fall themed sprinkles are fun for a party.

How to Store Applesauce Doughnuts

You can store leftover apple cinnamon baked donuts at room temperature for up to three days. Store in an airtight container.

You can also freeze applesauce doughnuts for up to three months. Let them cool completely. Then wrap individually in plastic wrap and store in a freezer bag.

Let thaw overnight on the counter or in the fridge.

Applesauce Doughnut Ingredients

This is what you'll need for this apple donut recipe. The amounts for each ingredient are listed in the recipe card below.

Egg - I have not tried this using an egg substitute or a flax egg, but it should work.

Olive Oil - I used olive oil, but you can use your choice of oil.

Brown Sugar - Use brown sugar or Splenda brown sugar or Swerve brown sugar to cut calories.

Applesauce - Use an unsweetened applesauce. I used my canned applesauce.

Ground Cinnamon and Nutmeg - I like to buy my herbs and spices in bulk on Etsy.

Flour - Use all purpose flour for best results. You can also use Bob's Red Mill gluten free flour.

Baking Powder - Use baking powder so the cinnamon apple donuts rise while baking.

Half and Half - Use half and half for best results. You can also use regular milk, almond milk, or oat milk.

Butter - Use unsalted butter for best results. I don't normally buy unsalted butter, so I've used salted butter before.

Cinnamon Sugar - You can buy cinnamon sugar or make your own. I made my own.

How to Make Applesauce Doughnuts

Step #1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, flour, and baking powder in a large bowl. Stir to combine and set aside.

Step #2

In a smaller bowl, combine the egg, olive oil, applesauce, and cream. Stir to combine.

Step #3

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.

Step #4

Place the baked apple donuts batter into a piping bag and pipe the batter into the muffin pan.

Step #5

Bake at 350 degrees for 18 to 20 minutes.

Step #6

Remove from oven and let cool.

Step #7

Melt butter in a small container. Combine cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl.

Step #8

Dip the cooled apple cinnamon baked donuts into the butter and then into the cinnamon sugar.

Serve the applesauce donut recipe cold and store on the counter in an airtight container for 3 days.

Enjoy!

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