Baked Apple Cinnamon Donuts

Apples and cinnamon are the classic sweet combo that we all love.
These are super easy to make.
They’re soft and tender.
They make a delicious breakfast, brunch, or afternoon snack item.

🛒Ingredients

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For the Donuts

Egg
Olive oil
Brown sugar
Applesauce
Ground cinnamon
Nutmeg
All-Purpose flour
Baking powder
Half and half

For the Donut Coating

Unsalted butter
Brown sugar
Ground cinnamon

***See the recipe card below for quantities.

🔪 How to Make Baked Apple Cinnamon Donuts

This is an incredibly simple recipe to make. It only takes a few minutes and a few steps.

Step 1: Combine Wet Ingredients Except for Egg and Half and Half

Mix the brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and nutmeg in a deep bowl. Then, add the apple sauce and olive oil and mix thoroughly.

Step 2: Combine the Dry Ingredients

Mix the sifted flour with the baking powder and add them to a bowl with sugar, unsalted butter, and spices.

Step 3: Complete the Dough

Add the egg and half and half to the bowl with the dry ingredients. Then, combine all ingredients and mix until you get a big, thick dough.

Overhead shot of bowlful of donut batter

Step 4: Bake

Transfer the dough to a pastry bag. This makes it easier to fill the donut pan.

Transfer the dough to silicone donut molds.

Overhead shot of donut batter in donut molds

Then, bake for 25 to 30 minutes at 325 degrees. Until donuts are golden brown. Do not over bake.

Step 5: Top with Cinnamon Sugar

Let the donuts cool and then dip the tops of them into a shallow bowl with melted butter. Then roll the tops of the donuts in a shallow bowl with a cinnamon sugar mixture. Shake off excess sugar if you like. Enjoy!

Closeup shot of baked apple cinnamon donut being coated in cinnamon sugar

📝Variations

Do you want to change up this recipe and make it your own? Here are some ways that you can do that!

Pumpkin – Replace the applesauce with pumpkin for a pumpkin spice version.
Vanilla Glaze – Use a simple vanilla glaze in place of the cinnamon sugar topping.
Frosting – Frost the donuts with a cinnamon buttercream frosting.

For more donut fun, check out these donut hole kabobs!

🥄 Equipment

You’ll only need a few simple pieces of kitchen equipment to make this delicious recipe.

Measuring cups and spoons
Mixing bowls
Shallow bowls
Donut molds
Pastry bag for adding dough to the molds (optional but easier)

Closeup shot of baked apple cinnamon donuts on plate with one donut broken in half

🥫 Storage

Store these donuts for 2 to 3 days covered at room temperature or in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

💭 Tips

This is an incredibly straightforward recipe, but there are a few tips to be aware of to make them the best they can be.

A pastry bag is your best friend if you want to get the dough into the donut holes without a huge mess. Place the dough in a pastry bag and then squeeze it into the molds.
To cool the donuts down faster, place them in the freezer for a few minutes.
Bring all cold ingredients to room temperature for the best texture.

⁉️ FAQ

Do you have questions about this recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions.

Who invented donuts?

The earliest donuts were Germanic and had no hole in the center. The hole was added by Hanson Gregory, a sailor, who claimed to have invented putting a hole in the center to evenly cook the donuts with less grease. He claimed to have invented them while on board a lime-trading ship when we was 16.

What is a cake donut?

A cake donut is made of a more cake-like batter that uses baking powder or baking soda as a leavener. Conversely, yeast donuts use yeast as the leavener.

How long will these donuts last?

They’ll keep for 2 to 3 days at room temperature or up to a week in the refrigerator.

🍽 More Recipes

Do you enjoy apple cinnamon? Then try these delicious recipes: