These Baked Apple Donuts are simple yeast-free donuts, made with a 3-ingredient dough and filled with juicy spiced apples.
I love making super easy donuts, like my Pumpkin Donut Holes, Sweet Potato Donuts, or 3-Ingredient Lemon Donuts, but I wanted to make something a bit fancier with some filling. Given that it is apple season, I thought of incorporating diced apples into the donuts.
Let me tell you, it made absolutely delicious donuts. They combine the soft and light dough of my other donut recipes with the flavors and texture of baked apple. Totally terrific!
Ingredients and Substitutions
You only need 3 ingredients for the dough and two more for the filling.
- Self-Rising Flour – Use a good quality self-rising flour for best results. For a homemade version, mix all-purpose flour with baking powder as per the notes. A gluten-free self-rising flour blend could work as a gluten-free option.
- Cinnamon Applesauce – Unsweetened cinnamon applesauce adds flavor and moisture. If using plain applesauce, add cinnamon to the dough for flavor.
- Apple Extract – This enhances the apple flavor but can be omitted or replaced with vanilla extract if unavailable.
- Green Apple – Choose a firm, tart apple like Granny Smith for the filling. For a sweeter option, try Honeycrisp or Gala apples.
- Apple Pie Spices – Use a store-bought blend or make your own with cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.
How to Make Baked Apple Donuts
I’ve included below pictures of the key steps. For full details, head to the recipe card further down!
Combine the dough ingredients into a sticky dough.
Form 6 dough balls of the same size and flatten them.
Place a sixth of the diced apple and apple pie spice on the disc of dough.
Seal the dough into a little pocket.
Place the pockets seal-down on an oiled baking sheet.
Bake the donuts for 20 minutes at 350 °F (180 °C) and brush some vegan butter when they’re colder.
Combine sugar and apple pie spice in a small bowl.
Roll the apple donuts into the apple pie spice sugar.
Expert Tips
- Dough Consistency – Adjust flour or applesauce as needed to achieve a soft, slightly sticky dough that holds together well.
- Apple Preparation – Dice the apples finely and uniformly for even cooking and easier filling of the donuts.
- Sealing Technique – Ensure the donuts are well-sealed to prevent the filling from leaking during baking.
- Even Baking – Space the donuts evenly on the baking sheet to allow for expansion and even browning.
- Cooling Time – Allow the donuts to cool slightly before coating to ensure the sugar mixture adheres well.
- Coating Variation – For a sugar-free option, skip the sugar coating and dust lightly with cinnamon or powdered erythritol.
- Storage – These donuts are best enjoyed fresh but can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days.
More Baking Recipes with Apple
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Baked Apple Donuts
Ingredients
Donut Dough
- 1 cup Self-Rising Flour - (note 1)
- ½ cup Cinnamon Applesauce - (note 2)
- 1 teaspoon Apple Extract - (note 3) – optional
Filling
- 1 large Green Apple - peeled, cored, finely diced 5 mm/0.2inche
- 1 teaspoon Apple Pie Spices - (note 4) 1/8 teaspoon per donuts
To Coat
- 3 tablespoons Melted Vegan Butter
- ½ cup Sugar
- 2 teaspoons Apple Pie Spices
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Slightly oil the paper with cooking oil spray. Set aside. Preheat the oven to 350 °F (180 °C).
- Peel, core, and dice the apple into tiny cubes—0.2 inches (5 mm). Set aside in a bowl.
- In a mixing bowl, stir self-rising flour, cinnamon applesauce, and apple extract until the dough forms a ball. If it is too sticky, add a little more flour; if it is too dry, add a little more applesauce. The dough should come together into a soft ball that is just a little sticky outside.
- Spray a little cooking oil around the dough and rub it with your hands—this will make it more elastic and less sticky. Divide into 6 equal portions.
- Oil your hands a little with cooking oil spray and roll each portion of dough into a ball.
- Place the ball onto a lightly floured surface and roll it into a circle, not too thin, about (12 cm/4.7inch) diameter.
- Drop 1 1/2 tablespoons of diced apple in the center of the circle, and sprinkle apple pie spices on top.
- Grab the opposite pieces of the dough circle and pinch to seal and form a donut.
- Place the sealed donut on the prepared baking sheet, sealed face on the baking sheet.
- Repeat the steps above for the remaining 5 donuts, placing each donut a thumb apart on the baking sheet as they expand as they bake.
- Bake the donuts on the center rack for 20 minutes at 350 °F (180 °C) until golden brown.
- Let the donuts cool down for 10 minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer them to a cooling rack.
Coating Donuts
- Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl, stir apple pie spices, and sugar. Set aside.
- Use a pastry brush to rub the donuts with melted plant-based butter. Roll in cinnamon sugar to coat.
Loved it!
Wondering if I can make big batches and freeze these? Has anyone tried?
You can freeze the baked donuts and thaw at room temperature the day before.