Healthy Baked Vegan Apple Cider Donuts (or Muffins)
Try these naturally sweetened oil-free apple cider donuts featuring fragrant apple cider, apple sauce, and cinnamon. Fantastic with a dusting of coconut sugar or powdered sugar and cinnamon. Perfect for your autumn breakfast or brunch.
Equipment
- oven
Ingredients
- 1 cup reduced apple cider*
- ½ cup apple sauce
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup flour**
- ⅓ cup oat flour***
- 2½ tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg optional
- ⅛ tsp cardamom or allspice optional
- ¼ tsp salt optional
- Topping/Coating: 2-3 Tbsp coconut sugar date sugar, or brown sugar for topping** (or ¼ cup powdered sugar + ½ tsp cinnamon for coating donuts) (optional – see Notes below)
Instructions
- Make the reduced apple cider. Bring the apple cider to a rolling boil, then turn down to medium heat and continue to boil for about 20 minutes, until the cider is reduced in half. Allow to cool at least 10 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350° F (177°C).
- Prepare a donut pan by greasing the inside with coconut or avocado oil. Alternatively, grease or line a muffin pan with paper cups. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl or liquid measuring cup, combine the reduced and cooled apple cider, apple sauce, and apple cider vinegar together. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients; then fold together until just combined. (It should resemble pancake batter.)
- Spoon the batter into the prepared donut or muffin pan, filling to the edge.
- Evenly sprinkle sugar on top, if desired.** Alternatively, leave uncovered for a no sugar option or for powdered sugar coating later.**
- Bake the donuts for 14-17 minutes, or until fully cooked. To test for doneness, press the top of the donut lightly with your finger. It should bounce back. If using a standard muffin pan, bake for 24-28 minutes, or until a cake tester or toothpick poked in the center comes out clean.
- Remove the pan(s) from the oven and allow the donuts (or muffins) to cool 8-10 minutes to allow for the best release. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
- These donuts (or muffins) are best served and enjoyed immediately.
- You may store these on the counter in an air-tight container for up to two days; or in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze up to 1 month. Simply thaw and enjoy. See notes below.
Notes
* Reduced apple cider is slightly thicker and contains a lot more flavor than fresh apple cider. It helps with the texture and provides the flavor for these healthy donuts.
** Spelt flour or white whole wheat flour work great in healthier baked goods. You may use a mixture of flours (including a 50-50 blend with all-purpose or oat) to achieve a lighter texture. If following a gluten-free diet, I recommend using a quality 1-for-1 gluten-free baking mix like King Arthur or Bob’s Red Mill GF blends, though you may need to bake these donuts slightly longer when using gluten-free flour or other flour combinations.
*** You can process rolled oats or quick oats in a blender or food processor to create oat flour.
- I like using coconut sugar; but you can also use date sugar, brown sugar, organic raw sugar, or powdered sugar mixed with ground cinnamon. If using the powdered sugar, wait until the donuts are completely cool and you are ready to serve. Otherwise the sugar may melt. To coat, stir together the powdered sugar and cinnamon, then sprinkle all over the donut and enjoy. (I showed two variations in these photos - coconut sugar topping and powdered sugar with cinnamon coating.) Note that the sugar topping will melt due to condensation so I don’t recommend coating at all if you plan to freeze these donuts or muffins.
- Since these apple cider donuts do not contain any oil, it’s best to use a nonstick donut pan, silicon or lined muffin pan, or grease your muffin pan with a neutral oil or vegan butter. I like using unbleached baking cups that act almost like parchment paper. Allow the muffins to cool completely for the best release. Or if you’re like my husband, wait at least 10 minutes, then carefully peel back the liner.