Baked Applesauce Donuts Recipe
These Baked Applesauce Donuts are a healthier, moist, and flavorful treat perfect for breakfast or a snack. Made with a blend of spices and sweetened with natural applesauce, they bake up light and tender with a delightful cinnamon sugar coating that adds just the right amount of sweetness and crunch.
- Author: liam
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 donuts 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
For the donuts:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp salt
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 3 tbsp milk
For the cinnamon sugar coating:
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 6-hole donut pan with extra butter to prevent sticking and set it aside.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt. Whisk these together and set aside.
- Cream butter and sugars: Using an electric mixer, beat the room temperature unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture becomes creamy and smooth.
- Add wet ingredients: To the creamed butter and sugar, add the large egg, vanilla extract, unsweetened applesauce, and milk. Beat until all ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- Combine wet and dry mixtures: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, beating until the batter is smooth and well incorporated. Be careful not to overmix.
- Fill donut pan: Spoon the batter into a large piping bag and pipe the batter evenly into the donut cavities of the prepared pan.
- Bake the donuts: Place the pan in the oven and bake for 18 to 22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the donuts comes out clean and the donuts feel set to the touch.
- Cool slightly: Remove the donut pan from the oven and let it cool for about 5 minutes to allow the donuts to firm up slightly.
- Remove donuts: Gently remove the donuts from the pan, taking care not to break them.
- Prepare coating: In a small bowl, combine the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon to make the cinnamon sugar coating.
- Coat donuts: Brush each donut with melted butter, then immediately roll or sprinkle them in the cinnamon sugar mixture to coat evenly and add a sweet, spiced crust.
Notes
- Don’t overmix the batter: Mix just enough to combine ingredients to prevent tough donuts caused by gluten development.
- Properly prepare your donut pan: Grease thoroughly and consider dusting with flour to avoid sticking.
- Cool before removing: Allow donuts to cool slightly in the pan before transferring to a cooling rack for better structural integrity and to help cinnamon sugar coating stick.
Keywords: Baked applesauce donuts, cinnamon sugar donuts, healthy baked donuts, autumn desserts, easy baked donuts