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Golden apple donuts on a wooden board, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar.

Baked Apple Donuts: Your New Favorite Fall Treat

Discover your new favorite fall tradition with these irresistible Baked Apple Donuts. Moist, perfectly spiced, and featuring a unique twist of finely diced fresh apple pieces, these easy-to-make donuts are baked, not fried, for a tender and delightful treat.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes
Servings: 12 donuts
Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Calories: 250
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

for the donuts
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour spooned and leveled
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 1/2 tsp apple pie spice
  • 1/2 tsp Kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 3/4 cup milk (or almond milk)
  • 1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup finely diced fresh apple pieces (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp)
for topping
  • 4 Tbsp unsalted butter melted and slightly cooled
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon or pie spice

Equipment

  • Donut pans
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Medium mixing bowl
  • Rubber spatula
  • Pastry bag or large ziploc bag
  • Baking rack
  • Small shallow bowls

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 400℉ (200°C). Thoroughly grease two donut pans with butter or baking spray and set aside.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, gently whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, apple pie spice, and Kosher salt until just combined and evenly distributed. Set aside.
  3. In a separate, medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the unsweetened applesauce, olive oil, milk, and pure vanilla extract until smooth and fully combined.
  4. Pour the wet applesauce mixture into the dry ingredients. With a rubber spatula, gently fold the mixtures together until just mixed, with no streaks of dry flour remaining. Do not overmix. At this stage, fold in the finely diced fresh apple pieces. The batter should be thick and fluffy.
  5. Carefully transfer the batter to a large pastry bag (or a large ziploc bag with one corner snipped off). Pipe the batter into the prepared donut pans, filling each mold almost to the top, but being careful not to overfill.
  6. Bake in your preheated oven for about 10-12 minutes, or until the donuts are golden brown and springy to the touch. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean.
  7. Remove the donut pans from the oven and let the donuts cool in the pans for about 10 minutes to firm up.
  8. After 10 minutes, gently remove the donuts from the pans and place them on a baking rack to cool completely.
  9. When the donuts are cool enough to handle (after about 15 minutes), prepare the topping. Place the melted butter in one small, shallow bowl and the cinnamon-sugar mixture (combine 1/2 cup granulated sugar + 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon or pie spice) in another.
  10. Dip each donut first into the melted butter, ensuring it is well-coated, then immediately into the cinnamon-sugar topping, turning to coat evenly. Serve warm and enjoy these delightful apple donuts!

Notes

For perfect baked apple donuts, remember to accurately measure ingredients, especially flour, and avoid overmixing the batter. Thoroughly grease your donut pans to prevent sticking and use fresh spices for maximum flavor. Finely diced apple pieces are key to the unique texture and bursts of flavor.
Nutrition information is estimated based on common ingredients and serving sizes and may vary.