Baked Apple Donuts
Warm, fluffy donuts bursting with the flavors of fresh apples and warm spices, perfect for breakfast, snacks, or dessert.
Ingredients
For Apple Pie Filling
- 1 ¼ cup diced gala apples (about 2-3 medium apples)
- 1 ½ tbsp salted butter
- 3 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp apple pie spice
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
For Donuts
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 2 units eggs
- ¾ cup low-fat buttermilk
- 3 tbsp salted butter (melted)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp apple pie spice
For Cinnamon Sugar Topping
- ¼ cup white granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- 2 tbsp salted butter (melted)
Instructions
Preparation
- Gather all ingredients. Wash and dice the gala apples.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a donut pan.
Cook the Base
- Combine salted butter and brown sugar in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring until melted. Add diced apples, sprinkle flour and apple pie spice, cover, and cook on medium-low for 5-7 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let cool.
Mix Dry Ingredients for Donuts
- Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, brown sugar, and apple pie spice in a bowl.
Combine Wet Ingredients
- In another bowl, whisk together eggs, buttermilk, melted butter, and vanilla extract.
Combine Mixtures
- Slowly pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until combined without overmixing.
Incorporate Apple Filling
- Gently fold in the cooled apple pie filling.
Fill the Donut Pan
- Transfer the batter to a piping bag. Cut the tip and fill each donut cavity.
Bake the Donuts
- Bake for 11-12 minutes until lightly golden. Test with a toothpick.
Cool and Coat with Cinnamon Sugar
- Cool the donuts in the pan for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Brush with melted butter and dip in cinnamon-sugar mixture.
Notes
Great for make-ahead breakfasts. Consider adding chopped nuts or coconut for texture. Adjust spice levels to personal taste.