Baked Vegan Apple Cider Donuts (Easy + Delicious!)
These deliciously sweet and spiced vegan apple cider donuts taste just like you got them at an apple orchard! Baked instead of fried, and easily made gluten free, these homemade vegan apple cider donuts are so easy to make and perfect for all eaters, kids and adults!
Why you’ll love these healthy apple cider donuts:
If fall could be a recipe, it would be these vegan apple cider donuts. We’re talking a super moist, fluffy, and light donut that’s full of warming sweet spices and of course loads of apple cider. In fact, what makes these baked apple cider donuts different from the rest is that we’re using an apple cider reduction, which just makes these donuts have the best flavor ever.
These taste amazing with a warm cup of coffee or homemade pumpkin spice latte for a delicious fall breakfast or autumn treat!
What’s more, we’ve actually reduced the sugar content since we’re using an apple cider reduction- meaning that these healthier baked apple cider donuts are actually lower in sugar, yet still taste just as sweet!
These donuts are naturally eggless, dairy free, nut free, and easily made both gluten free and oil free. So rest assured that all eaters can enjoy these fall donuts, and all will love them, vegan or not!
Plus, this easy apple cider donut recipe is just so simple with only 8 main ingredients and easily made in one bowl! And guess what? If you don’t have a donut pan- no problem! Turn them into apple cider muffins instead!
Ingredients + Substitutions
- Flour: You can use all-purpose flour or gluten free 1:1 baking flour, such as Bob’s Red Mill in the blue bag.
- Spices: We’re using a combination of apple pie spices for these apple cider donuts! These include ground cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg.
- Baking powder: This is our leavening agent for these donuts, instead of using yeast!
- Apple cider: Probably the most crucial ingredient to these vegan apple cider donuts! Please note that apple cider is different than apple juice, and cannot be swapped. Apple cider is much more concentrated version of apple juice…and we’re going to make it even more concentrated for truly the best homemade baked apple cider donut!
- Applesauce: This replaces eggs in more traditional apple cider donut recipes, and also adds more flavor!
- Sugar: You can use granulated sugar or coconut sugar here.
- Neutral oil: I used refined coconut oil, but you can also use olive oil. I’ve also included an oil-free substitution down in the notes section of the recipe card!
- Cinnamon sugar mixture: This is for the coating of the donuts!
Why the apple cider reduction is crucial
I think what really sets these healthier baked apple cider donuts apart from the rest is the apple cider reduction. Typically in traditional apple cider donut recipes, you would use a LOT of apple cider and reduce it down. This makes apple cider even more concentrated, which will result in a much more delicious donut!
Please do not skip this step! And trust me, you’ll definitely notice a difference between a vegan apple cider donut that uses just regular apple cider and one that uses apple cider reduction. It takes just 15 minutes, and the results are not to be missed!
How to make vegan apple cider donuts (overview)
For the full written instructions and ingredient measurements, see the bottom of this post in the recipe card. You can also hit the “jump to recipe” button at the top of this post! Here, we’ll go over a brief overview of the steps, along with providing visuals for a better understanding of the recipe.
How to make baked apple cider donuts
- Reduce the apple cider.
As we mentioned above, this step is crucial for a really flavorful apple cider donut and what sets this recipe apart from the rest. You’ll need to give the apple cider about 2 hours to cool.
- Whisk together the dry ingredients.
This is simply your flour, spices, and baking powder.
- Next, mix together the wet ingredients.
Here, we’ll add in the apple cider reduction, applesauce, sugar, dairy free milk, and oil (if not doing oil free!).
- Then add in the flour mixture.
Gently fold everything together just until the flour is combined.
- Fill the donut cavities with the apple cider donut batter.
I like to use a piping bag for this so that each donut is even!
- Bake the vegan apple cider donuts.
These only take about 15 minutes to bake fully!
- Dip in cinnamon sugar!
Lightly brush melted vegan butter or coconut oil on top, then dip into your cinnamon sugar mixture.
- Enjoy!
Any leftovers you can store in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the fridge or up to 3 months in the freezer!
Tips & Tricks
You can dip the donuts into the melted coconut oil, but you might pick up too much oil, which will result in the sugar clumping together. It won’t look as pretty (and you might have too much sugar on it, which will ruin the taste). You can also use a cake painting brush if you don’t have a pastry brush.
This will be much easier to transport to and from the oven.
You can swap in an equal amount of applesauce for the oil. I will note that the donuts come out a bit more doughy than fluffy, but they were still good! Now for the cinnamon sugar coating, you’ll want to dip the warm donuts immediately into the cinnamon sugar mixture. Using the heat from the donuts will help secure the cinnamon sugar.
Unfortunately, you can’t fry these donuts- but they’re truly wonderful baked, and taste just like an apple orchard’s donut!
You’d be surprised at how quickly baking powder can go bad if stored improperly. And you really need it in order for these donuts to rise (especially if using gluten free flour!). Here’s a great way to check if your baking powder is still good to use.
You are just going to love these easy baked vegan apple cider donuts! They taste just like fall- warm, spicy, sweet, and delicious!
Check out these other vegan donut recipes after you’ve tried this apple cider donut recipe. Happy baking!
More vegan donut recipes you’ll love:
Amazing Vegan Boston Cream Doughnuts
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If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a comment and a rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ below. This helps others to find the recipes! As always, I absolutely love to see your beautiful creations on Instagram and Pinterest, so be sure to tag me there as well!
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Baked Vegan Apple Cider Donuts (Easy + Delicious!)
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 15
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 12 mini donuts 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
These deliciously sweet and spiced vegan apple cider donuts taste just like you got them at an apple orchard! Baked instead of fried, and easily made gluten free, these homemade vegan apple cider donuts are so easy to make and perfect for all eaters, kids and adults!
Ingredients
Vegan Apple Cider Donuts:
- 240 mL apple cider
- 220 grams all purpose flour
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp cardamom
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 84 grams unsweetened applesauce
- 60 mL unsweetened dairy free milk
- 50 grams granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp neutral oil*
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Cinnamon Sugar Coating:
- 1/4 cup vegan butter or coconut oil, melted
- 100 grams granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Please read through all instructions before beginning. You will need to reduce the apple cider first, and allow this to cool for 1-2 hrs.
- Reduce the apple cider: Bring the apple cider to a boil in a medium saucepan on the stove top. Reduce the heat to medium, and reduce the apple cider to about 120 mL (1/2 cup), whisking every so often. This should take about 5 minutes. Allow the apple cider to fully cool to room temperature before making the batter.
- Prep: Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease two large silicone donut pans or two-three mini donut pans lightly with oil. If using silicone, place the donut pans onto a baking sheet for easier baking. Measure and weigh the remaining ingredients.
- Make the batter: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, baking powder, and sea salt. Set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together the cooled apple cider reduction, unsweetened applesauce, dairy free milk, granulated sugar, optional neural oil (if not doing oil-free- see note section for adjustment), and vanilla extract. Add in the flour mixture, and use a rubber spatula to gently mix the flour until it’s just combined into the wet ingredients.
- Fill the donut cavities: Spoon the batter into a large piping bag, and cut the tip off. Pipe the batter into the donut cavities until about 2/3 of the way full. You should yield about 6 large donuts, or 12-15 mini donuts.
- Bake the apple cider donuts: Place the donuts into the oven, and bake for about 15-17 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. While the donuts are baking, you can prepare the cinnamon sugar mixture (see step 7). Remove from the oven, and allow the donuts to cool in their pans for 5 minutes, then carefully transfer them to a cooling rack.
- Prepare the cinnamon sugar coating: Melt the vegan butter or coconut oil. Whisk together the sugar and cinnamon in a separate bowl.
- Coat the apple cider donuts: Brush each donut lightly with the melted oil. Then dip each donut into the cinnamon sugar mixture, flipping over to coat each side evenly.
- Serve and enjoy! Serve the vegan apple cider donuts warm. Store any leftovers in an airtight container or bag, and in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.
Notes
Oil: you can use triple refined coconut oil, melted, olive oil, or another liquid cooking oil. You can also melt vegan butter and cool to room temperature
Oil-free: swap in an equal amount of applesauce for the oil. For the sugar coating, dip each donut directly into the cinnamon sugar 5 minutes after baking. If the donuts are too hot to handle, use a fork to gently flip them in the sugar.
Gluten free: use gluten-free 1:1 baking flour, such as Bob’s Red Mill in the blue bag.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 mini donut no cinnamon sugar coating
- Calories: 249
- Sugar: 42.4 g
- Sodium: 176.3 mg
- Fat: 1.4 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 57.3 g
- Fiber: 0.7 g
- Protein: 1.9 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: vegan apple cider donuts, baked apple cider donuts, apple cider donut recipe
These donuts are incredible!! I’ve tried to make others in the past but these top all the rest because of the reduced apple cider. I can actually taste the apple cider and my mind is blown. Make these!!
★★★★★
Aw I’m so happy to hear this!! Thank you so much for this review! Enjoy 🙂