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    Home » All Recipes » Vegan Desserts

    Baked Vegan Apple Cider Donuts

    Published: Sep 11, 2020 · Modified: Aug 28, 2021 by Megan · This post may contain affiliate links.

    8.7K shares
    Jump to Recipe
    cinnamon sugar donuts with text "baked vegan apple cider donuts"

    These fluffy Baked Vegan Apple Cider Donuts are coated in cinnamon sugar to taste even BETTER than their fried doughnut counterparts! If you've never tried making homemade baked donuts before, these cinnamon sugar donuts are a must-make!

    two cinnamon sugar donuts stacked on top of eachother with a bite missing from the top donut

    *Recipe shared September 2018 and updated September 2020*

    I don't know about you all, but I LOVE vegan baked donuts in the Fall. More specifically, I love cinnamon sugar-coated, apple cider-filled, fluffy, baked donuts! These vegan cake donuts are very similar to my vegan cupcake recipes but in the shape of a doughnut which makes them 1000 better.

    The flavor of these donuts literally transports me back to childhood and to those last sunny, yet chilly, days spent apple picking at Beak & Skiff Farms. There is truly no better way to spend a crisp Fall day than picking apples in Upstate NY!

    hand holding a cinnamon sugar coated donut with a bite taken out

    Steps to make vegan apple cider donuts

    While the full ingredient list & instructions are in the recipe card at the end of this post, here are a few additional step-by-step photos, tips, and tricks to help you make the perfect homemade baked apple cider donuts!

    Reduce the apple cider

    What really made these eggless & dairy-free donuts go from good to great is the first step of the recipe- reducing the apple cider.

    Why reduce apple cider for apple cider donuts?

    This was a trick I actually first stumbled across in Taste of Home's apple cider doughnut recipe, so I knew I had to try it when making my vegan version.

    To test them out, I tested these doughnuts with and without reducing the cider. While this recipe still works without reducing the apple cider, the flavor is SO MUCH better when you do! Reducing the apple cider essentially concentrates the apple flavor in these baked donuts.

    a pot on a portable stove with apple cider boiling
    Apple Cider being reduced in a small pot

    Make the apple cider donut batter

    The best part about vegan donuts is they can easily be made in ONE BOWL! I like to mix the wet ingredients first including apple cider, apple sauce, oil, vanilla, and sugar.

    P.S- when it comes to oil I prefer melted coconut or olive oil for this recipe, but any oil works (or even applesauce if you need to keep this recipe oil-free).

    Then, I add in the dry ingredients including the pastry flour, salt, cinnamon, baking powder, and baking soda. I like to use pastry flour in my Vegan Cake and Cupcake recipes as it leads to the best texture.

    How to make homemade pastry flour:

    Here's a quick tip- if you don't have any pastry flour, you can make a version similar to it at home. Simply measure 1 cup AP flour. Then, remove 2 Tbsp from the measured flour and replace it with 1 Tbsp cornstarch. Cornstarch is lighter and much lower in protein which helps you get closer to the protein % you would find in a store-bought pastry or cake flour.

    mixing bowl filled with apple cider donut batter and a whisk
    Mixed apple cider donut batter

    Bake the donuts

    In order to make these baked apple cider doughnuts, you need a donut pan. My favorite is the Wilton Donut Pan as it's non-stick and so easy to clean. I like to spoon my batter into the pan, however, you can also add the doughnut batter to a piping bag and pipe it into the donut pan for less mess.

    Honestly, I'm not too keen on fried food, so this pan is worth it if you're ever going to bake donuts! Plus, after you buy this donut pan, you can make my Vegan Lemon Lavender Donuts or Vegan Champagne Donuts as your next vegan baked donut!

    donut pan filled with batter
    Donut pan filled with apple cider donut batter

    Roll donuts in cinnamon sugar

    To make these vegan apple cider doughnuts perfect, roll them in a mixture of cinnamon and sugar TWICE for ultimate Fall flavor!

    Why roll the donuts in cinnamon sugar twice?

    Honestly, just to get more cinnamon and sugar to stick!

    First, I very lightly glaze my donuts with coconut oil or melted vegan butter to give them more sticking power. Then, I dunk them into a separate bowl filled with cinnamon sugar and swirl them around until coated.

    After letting the melted fat cool and harden with the cinnamon sugar attached, I roll them in the cinnamon sugar one more time for extra sugary goodness!

    a hand holding a donut and rolling it in a bowl of cinnamon sugar

    FAQ & Substitutions:

    Can I make apple cider donuts oil-free?

    Yep! Just replace the oil in the batter for applesauce or plant-based yogurt. Do keep in mind, this makes the donuts denser, but it still works. Also, you can still dip the donuts in cinnamon sugar without oil, but it will not stick the same.

    Can I make apple cider donuts gluten-free?

    I haven't tried it, but if you do please only use a GF 1:1 Baking mix. Flour alternatives like almond, coconut, or cassava cannot be subbed 1:1 in this recipe as they do not bake the same.

    Can I bake donuts in a muffin pan?

    I personally haven't tried it, but it should work! Just keep in mind, you will need to fill cupcake liners ⅔ full with batter.

    If I had to guess, this recipe would likely make somewhere between 4-6 cupcakes, but it can easily be doubled. Also, the baking time would need to be increased somewhere between 18-22 minutes for cupcakes.

    How do I store baked vegan donuts?

    This recipe makes a pretty small batch of donuts (6-8), however, you may have leftovers! In this case, they can be stored in a closed container at room temperature for 2-3 days or in the freezer for 1 month.

    For the best results, store between layers of parchment paper. Also, these donuts can technically be stored in the fridge for 3-5 days, but it will dry them out so I do not recommend it.

    two stack baked apple cider donuts on a wooden board

    I truly can't wait for you all to fall head over heels in love with these Baked Vegan Apple Cider Donuts! They are so easy to make (hello one bowl recipes!), fluffy, ridiculously flavorful, and have the perfect cinnamon sugar topping. Fall just isn't complete without apple picking & a batch of these vegan donuts!

    -TSG

    More vegan desserts perfect for Fall you will love:

    • Vegan Apple Cider Bundt Cake
    • Vegan Carrot Cake Sticky Buns
    • Vegan Pumpkin Cake with Caramel Frosting
    • Vegan Brown Sugar Chai Cookies

    If you loved this recipe, please leave a 5-star review on the recipe card. I always appreciate your feedback and support! You can also follow along on my Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Pinterest, or sign up for our newsletter!

    two cinnamon sugar donuts stacked on top of eachother with a bite missing from the top donut

    Vegan Apple Cider Donuts

    These baked vegan apple cider donuts are moist, fluffy, and coated in cinnamon sugar for the best Fall treat!
    4.87 from 30 votes
    Print Pin
    Course: Vegan Desserts
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 45 minutes
    Servings: 6 baked donuts
    Author: Megan Horowitch

    Ingredients 
    US Customary - Metric

    Apple Cider Donuts

    • 1 cup fresh apple cider reduced to ½ cup, if not reducing you only need ½ cup for the recipe
    • ¼ cup sugar
    • 2 Tablespoons apple sauce
    • 2 Tablespoons oil I prefer melted coconut oil or olive oil in this recipe
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
    • 1 cup pastry flour white or whole wheat works
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon baking soda

    Cinnamon Sugar Topping

    • ¼ cup sugar
    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
    • 2 Tablespoons melted coconut oil or melted vegan butter

    Instructions

    • Begin by adding your apple cider to a small pot and bringing to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and reduce until you have ½ cup of apple cider left (about 15-20 minutes).
    • Once the apple cider is reduced, let sit for 10-15 minutes to cool before using in your recipe. Once cooled, preheat your oven to 350F.
    • In a large mixing bowl, add the apple cider, sugar, apple sauce, oil, and vanilla. Whisk to combine.
    • Then add in the pastry flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and baking soda. Make sure to add the flour first and then add the other ingredients on top. Then, use a fork to gently sift the baking powder, baking soda, and salt into the flour. Once sifted, mix everything together until a batter forms.
    • Spray the donut pan with a cooking spray or gently grease with oil. Then, add the batter to the pan making sure not to cover the holes in the center. The batter should make 6-8 donuts. Bake for 12-15 minutes until the donuts are baked through.
    • Remove the donut pan from the oven and carefully invert onto a drying rack (I like to bring the drying rack up to the pan and then flip it there to make sure the doughnuts don't fall apart). Let cool for 10 minutes.
    • While the doughnuts are cooling, prepare your cinnamon sugar topping by adding the melted coconut oil or butter to a small bowl and the cinnamon sugar mixture to a larger shallow bowl.
    • Very lightly brush each donut with the butter/coconut oil. Then, dunk each donut into the bowl of cinnamon sugar and swirl around until coated. Let the donuts sit for about 10 more minutes and then dunk into the cinnamon sugar mixture one more time(optional, but recommended). Enjoy!

    Notes

      • Leftovers can be stored in a closed container at room temperature for 2-3 days or in the freezer for 1 month. For the best results, store between layers of parchment paper. Also, these donuts can technically be stored in the fridge for 3-5 days, but it will dry them out so I do not recommend it.
      • This is the Wilton Donut pan I recommend for this recipe!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1donut | Calories: 232kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 343mg | Potassium: 120mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 5IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @shortgirltallorder or tag #sgtoeats!
    « Vegan Brown Sugar Chai Cookies
    Vegan Apple Cider Bundt Cake »

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Andrea says

      December 20, 2022 at 3:03 am

      Can I use all-purpose flour?

      Reply
      • Megan says

        December 20, 2022 at 8:15 pm

        Yes- use the same amount in cups except I recommend substituting 2 Tablespoons of flour for 1 Tablespoon cornstarch for a similar texture.

        Reply
    2. Jennifer Dunbar says

      October 08, 2022 at 9:43 pm

      I just stumbled across this recipe and I’m so excited to try it. However I only have organic apple juice not from concentrate. Could I substitute this for the apple cider if so, do you have any idea how the flavor would change? Thank you so much looking forward to your response!

      Reply
      • Megan says

        October 10, 2022 at 2:22 pm

        I really think it would change the flavor using apple juice, but I'm not totally sure as I've never tried it so I can't speak to it!If you use apple juice I'd definitely add more spices to the juice somehow.

        Reply
    3. Monica says

      September 21, 2022 at 1:42 pm

      5 stars
      these donuts are amazing!! the best vegan donuts I’ve made

      Reply
      • Megan says

        September 22, 2022 at 4:49 pm

        Thanks for sharing love to hear that 🙂

        Reply
    4. Jamie says

      August 02, 2022 at 1:52 am

      Would you dip into sugar before you freeze or after?

      Reply
      • Megan says

        August 02, 2022 at 12:58 pm

        Before! Otherwise, it won't stick. Some might fall off in the freezer but a lot should stick.

        Reply
    5. Sana says

      October 11, 2021 at 5:24 am

      5 stars
      These were delicious, and my family is quite picky but they all really loved them, thanks for the great recipe. I did put too much vanilla accidentally in so I missed the intense apple flavour but that was on me, will make again with less vanilla.

      Reply
      • Megan says

        October 11, 2021 at 7:26 pm

        So happy to hear you liked them! Less vanilla shouldn't affect the overall outcome texture wise you can totally play around with whatever amount works best for you 🙂

        Reply
    6. Emily says

      August 25, 2021 at 1:04 am

      5 stars
      Run, don't walk to the kitchen to make these. Hands down the best apple cider donuts I've ever had, let alone made. This recipe was my go-to last fall & I've already made them twice this year. Cannot get enough! 🙂

      Reply
    7. Jasmine says

      May 19, 2021 at 1:34 am

      5 stars
      I made them into miniature doughnuts because I didn’t have a large doughnut pan and it took about eight minutes to bake. I like the miniatures because I get to eat more than one! 😋 Moist, fluffy, and the cinnamon sugar coating on the outside is the perfect final touch! 💖

      Reply
    8. Jacquelyn says

      February 19, 2021 at 10:52 pm

      Thank you for this recipe! I made this gluten free with King Arthur Gluten Free Measure for Measure Flour. The batter seemed a bit thicker than yours in the video but baked just fine!

      Reply
      • Megan Horowitch says

        February 20, 2021 at 1:51 am

        Glad it worked out well GF!

        Reply
    9. Ilysse says

      November 02, 2020 at 5:50 pm

      Do you need to use pastry flour? I am GF and was wondering if we could swap Bob's Red Mill GF AP flour??

      Reply
      • Megan Horowitch says

        November 02, 2020 at 6:50 pm

        I haven't tried it but others have swapped that flour in with success so it should work!

        Reply
    10. Diane says

      October 25, 2020 at 1:53 pm

      5 stars
      These donuts have an amazing flavor. I have tried many recipes and I have never been overwhelmed as I am with this recipe. Easy one bowl delicious-ness. TY Megan

      Reply
    11. Mb says

      October 18, 2020 at 1:05 pm

      Can we swap vanilla extract for the vanilla paste? Currently I don't have any in my pantry 🙂 I am excited to try this recipe. I boiled down a gallon of apple cider to use for various purposes and this recipe is one!

      Reply
      • Megan Horowitch says

        October 18, 2020 at 5:02 pm

        Definitely! I like to double the amount of vanilla extract when subbing for vanilla bean paste because VBP tends to have more flavor. Happy baking!

        Reply
    12. Megan says

      September 27, 2020 at 2:36 am

      I’m glad I made a double batch. These were so good! Fluffy and delicious. I made them in a mini muffin tin and a regular muffin tin, no liners, just lightly sprayed the pans and filled just over half way. Then coated with butter and cinnamon sugar. The mini ones looked like donut holes.

      Reply
      • Megan Horowitch says

        September 27, 2020 at 5:49 pm

        Thanks for sharing! I loved to hear they worked in muffin tins too 🙂

        Reply
    13. Sylvia Laboy says

      September 21, 2020 at 6:12 pm

      5 stars
      They're INCREDIBLE. Made it yesterday for my allergic kid and we all fight for them. I used Bob's red mill 1:1 and they came out absolutely incredible. Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Megan! I believe eating plant-based food can be enjoyable for everyone. Eating plants doesn't have to be hard and it certainly shouldn't be boring. I am here to help you on your journey to eating food you actually feel good about and to make cooking at home fun again! 

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