This recipe for gluten free baked apple cider donuts is super easy, beyond delicious, and is ready in under 30 minutes! This how to guide will show you step by step how to make this perfect seasonal treat.
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I had never heard of baked apple cider donuts before living in the US. I grew up with crazy accessibility to donuts or doughnuts (thank you Tim Hortons). I remember one of my neighbors mentioned them to me and I thought “I love apple cider but it is damn near impossible to find gluten free donuts”. The quest to create an apple cider donut recipe began.
Tip: Baking is way easier than making fried apple cider donuts
Typically when we think of donuts, we think of the fried donut that has that shiny glaze on top. These are not those type of donuts. The beauty of the apple cider donut is that by baking it, you are not missing out on anything, I think the opposite. You are allowing the donut to be more cake like, a bit dense, and just packed full of flavor (without all of the mess).
What about using an air fryer?
Again, just bake them. It is less mess, less fuss, and the results are super delicious.
What is the origin of apple cider donuts?
Apple Cider Donuts enter the mainstream donut world in the 1950s. They were first introduced by the Doughnut Corporation of America. The DCA was founded by a Russian immigrant named Adolph Levitt in the 1920s. Apple Cider Donuts were considered a seasonal treat initially (as the cider would be readily available in the Fall) however now with our grocery stores and cider being easily accessible all year long, they no longer have to remain a Fall treat! You can enjoy them all year round.
Can you use apple juice instead of apple cider for donuts? Are they healthy?
Traditionally, you would want to use apple cider for these donuts but if you cannot get your hands on any, then yes, you can supplement apple juice. You will just need to boil it down to help amp up the apple flavor (I will discuss this below).
The perk to these being a baked apple cider donut recipe is that they are substantially healthier than any fried donut would be!
What do you need to make baked apple cider donuts?
- 2 cups of gluten free flour (I like King Arthur for this recipe)
- ½ cup white sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 3 tablespoon butter (melted)
- ½ cup milk
- 1 ½ cup apple cider (you will boil this down to ½ cup)
- 1 egg
- 1.5 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
How do you make these baked apple cider donuts?
- In a heavy bottom pot, place the apple cider and boil it down until ½ cup remains. By boiling it down, you are amping up the flavor so much! It is a step that you shouldn’t miss. If you simply don’t have time, then fine, but I suggest you do not.
- Set your oven to 350°F
- In a bowl add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and sugars. Whisk until they all come together. Add the vanilla, egg, melted butter, milk, and apple cider and whisk together. The batter should now be good to go!
- Spray a donut tin with a non-stick spray. Transfer your batter into a piping bag and then pip the batter into the donut pan. Bake for 12 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and take them out of the donut pan. In a bowl add cinnamon and sugar (the amount is up to you) and dip them in. Set them on the side while you dip them all and enjoy!
How can I store these donuts?
These apple cider donuts are best eaten day of (and or the next day). If you want you can freeze them, but, I still suggest consuming within the first 48 hours of baking them.
Looking for something similar?
Clafoutis click here
Burnt Basque Cheesecake (Classic) click here
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No Bake Heath Bar Cheesecake click here
Raspberry Lemon Cheesecake Bars click here
Sleeping Beauty Cake click here
Lemon Cheesecake Bars click here
Chocolate Cake click here
Carrot Cake click here
Baked Apple Cider Donuts
Ingredients
- 2 cups of gluten free flour I like King Arthur for this recipe
- ½ cup white sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 3 tablespoon butter melted
- ½ cup milk
- 1 ½ cup apple cider you will boil this down to ½ cup
- 1 egg
- 1.5 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- In a bowl add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and sugars. Whisk until they all come together. Add the vanilla, egg, melted butter, milk, and apple cider and whisk together. The batter should now be good to go!
- Spray a donut tin with a non-stick spray. Transfer your batter into a piping bag and then pip the batter into the donut pan. Bake for 12 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and take them out of the donut pan. In a bowl add cinnamon and sugar (the amount is up to you) and dip them in. Set them on the side while you dip them all and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
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Amanda says
I’m normally not a baked doughnut girl, but these look so darn tasty! Great video, Laura!
siftrva says
Thanks, Amanda! I hope these make you a convert!
Dianna Wilson says
These taste as good as they look!
siftrva says
You bet!
Damian says
Can you fry these instead of bake?
Sift | Gluten Free says
Hi Damian,
the way the batter is made is really meant to bake the donuts. If you want to try frying them, I would suggest piping them onto parchment paper, freezing them, and then trying to fry them. I still feel though that baked would yield the best results!