The best seasonal donuts, baked right at home! These easy Baked Gluten-Free Apple Cider Doughnuts are vegan, allergy-free, coated in cinnamon "sugar" but made without oil or refined sugar! Indulge in this classic Fall recipe using your favorite apple cider, for breakfast, a snack, or dessert!
Finally! Is it Fall without apple cider doughnuts? According to...everyone...it's not. I've been having apple cider doughnut dreams for the past year and I made a promise to myself that I'd make a perfect baked, gluten-free, vegan, allergy-free version of the classic when all the apple cider hit the shelves again. I'm proud to present the last apple cider doughnut recipe you'll ever need (the best in my humble biased opinion)! Move over pumpkin spice and everything nice, apple sweets and treats are just as trendy and (possibly) better.
Why are people so obsessed with apple cider doughnuts?
I think it's more of a Northeast/East Coast thing (correct me if I'm wrong), but we have apple orchards up the wazoo here. And with that, comes a whole lot of apple treats and sweets come Fall harvest time. You literally can't be accepted by society if you don't go apple picking at least once every autumn. At these apple orchards and apple picking farms, there's also an abundance of farm stand goodies like apple pies, apple butter, apple fritter bread, and gallons of apple cider to pick-up after you've ripped your own pounds of apples from the trees. If you're lucky enough, you find yourself at a farm that also sells warm, fried, cinnamon sugar coated, apple cider doughnuts to refuel you and your family after a long day of apple picking. If you don't indulge in at least one apple cider doughnut while you're there...did you even go apple picking?
I've told you many times that I (hate) chunky apple pies or any apple dessert that has luck warm slimy, semi-soft, random chunks of apple in it. That's why I'm perfectly find with some apple doughnuts or apple cakes. But here's the kicker...I loathe apple cider. Always have, always will. Do you drink it ice cold or warmed up? Honestly,..I'll pass. Similar to eggnog (at least now we have a decent vegan version), but I just don't understand the appeal of all these over-hyped seasonal drinks. If you have me over at your next holiday party, please, just give me a glass of water. BUT, you can always make your own homemade apple cider and perfect the taste to your needs!
What's in these baked gluten-free apple cider doughnuts?
Don't worry! I used a fresh local bottle of cider from a famous NJ farm, Melick's Town Farm. That's actually where I went apple picking last year for all that apple butter I made! If I was going to use apple cider in my cooking, if had to be the best of the best, fresh, and trusted. Besides the obvious local cider, the rest of the doughnut ingredients are simple. Gluten-free, baking flour, brown rice flour for some heft, egg replacement, baking powder, vanilla, Swerve brown sugar, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and after baking, you'll use a touch of melted vegan butter and cinnamon "sugar" to coat these babies! Of course, you'll be using your own local cider (perhaps you'll pick some up when you go apple picking this season), and feel free to swap my erythritol sugar replacements for full sugar versions where applicable!
One last thing...What's the difference between apple cider and apple juice?
I know I'm not the only one who's wondered this! Apple cider is basically unfiltered apple juice. To quote a relevant source: "Apple juice and apple cider are both fruit beverages made from apples, but there is a difference between the two. Fresh cider is raw apple juice that has not undergone a filtration process to remove coarse particles of pulp or sediment. It takes about one third of a bushel to make a gallon of cider." If you're all about "raw real food", than apple cider should be your pick (I like apple juice way better, by the way!) Regardless of if you like apple cider or not, you're going to LOVE these baked apple cider doughnuts! Now you don't have to feel left out when you take that yearly "apple picking trip", because you and the family can have these healthier gluten-free, vegan, allergy-free doughnuts to satisfy the seasonal craving (and obligation) instead!
Baked Gluten-Free Apple Cider Doughnuts
Baked Gluten-Free Apple Cider Doughnuts (Vegan, Allergy-Free)
The best seasonal donuts, baked right at home! These easy Baked Gluten-Free Apple Cider Doughnuts are vegan, allergy-free, coated in cinnamon "sugar" but made without oil or refined sugar! Indulge in this classic Fall recipe using your favorite apple cider, for breakfast, a snack, or dessert!
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 12 mins
- Total Time: 17 mins
- Yield: 6 1x
- Category: Breakfast, Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Gluten-Free Baking Flour
- ½ Cup Brown Rice Flour
- 1 Tsp Baking Powder
- 1 Prepared Bob's Red Mill Egg Replacement
- ⅓ Cup Brown Sugar Sweetener (or preferred brown sugar)
- 1 Tsp Cinnamon
- ½ Tsp Ground Allspice
- ¼ Tsp Ground Nutmeg
- ½ Tsp Pure Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Extract
- ¾ Cup Local or Homemade Apple Cider
- Cinnamon Sugar Coating:
- ½ Cup Granulated Sweetener (or preferred granulated sugar)
- 1 ½ Tsp Cinnamon
- ¼ Cup Vegan Allergy-Free Butter (melted)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- In a large mixing bowl combine all the dry ingredients and prepared egg replacement. Mix well.
- Now add the vanilla and apple cider. Mix well until you have a thick and smooth doughnut batter.
- Evenly distribute the doughnut batter into a greased, non-stick 6-cavity doughnut pan.
- Bake the doughnuts in the preheated oven for 12 minutes.
- In the meantime, in two small bowls, have the melted butter prepared in one and the cinnamon and sugar mixed together in another.
- When the doughnuts are finished baking, carefully remove them while still warm and place them on a wire rack.
- Brush the warm doughnuts with the melted butter and then dip and coat them in the cinnamon sugar mixture.
- These are best eaten warm and right away. However, you can also reheat them in the microwave or eat them at room temperature!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
So break out your doughnut pan, grab your fresh local apple cider, and prepare to get your fingers coated in delicious cinnamon sugar from your fresh, baked, warm, gluten-free apple cider doughnuts! So healthy you can have more than just one. Heck, you can have one for breakfast, as a midday snack, after school/work pick-me-up, and as a dessert to end a chilly autumn night perfectly! I suggest pairing your apple cider doughnuts with some like vegan hot chocolate (cause I still can't recommend drinking apple cider!)
So tell me:
+ Are you crazy for apple cider doughnuts this time of year?
+ Do you like apple cider? (Even if you don't, these apple cider doughnuts are NOT like drinking it!)
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Heather M.
Hello! I just found your recipe and it looks/sounds wonderful! I did notice that your hyperlink to the Gluten-Free Baking Flour is broken and I was wondering which one that you use/prefer? Thank you!
Rebecca Pytell
Whatever you like to use, it doesn't matter, bob's red mill is always a safe option.
lana
Apple cider donuts are so delicious. My husband and I have started a yearly tradition going to the orchard to pick our own apples and to eat apple cider donuts. I do have to say I love hot apple cider when the weather is cool outside!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
They are a fall must!
Sues
Yesss I think everyone loves them because a) they're delicious and b) a sure sign of fall! But I'm in the Northeast, too, so don't know otherwise 🙂 These sound delicious and are perfect for anyone who can't eat gluten, but still wants to get in on the apple cider doughnut craze!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Right? Exactly!
Ann
I love apple cider donuts, but they give me indigestion! These sound like a great alternative.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Hopefully baking with it will do!
Caitlin | Beauty & Colour
These look and sound just amazing, thank you for sharing!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Hope you give them a go!
Molly
It's always so exciting coming across a new food that not only looks delicious, but that you can have! I am definitely going to give these a try, and I shared with a couple of my family members on Facebook too!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Awesome! I am so glad they caught your eye!
Tiff Setzler
Cannot wait to try these this weekend!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Enjoy! Let me know if you do!
Camille
These look absolutely amazing! I love that you used a local cider! I’m definitely going to make these tonight!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Woohoo! Well if you actually do, let me know!
Audrey Lee
I'm trying to go vegan and am looking at vegan recipes i can try out. I'll give this a go, thank you for sharing!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Well doughnuts are more than a place to start!
Jayashree
I am tempted to try these doughnuts, they look so amazing. Never knew that apple cider could be used here.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Lol, why not?
Kelsie Corbett
I love the cider donuts, but haven't seen vegan/GF ones!! So great! Thanks for sharing!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Totally free-from and much healthier here!
Balvinder
These look so good. I am drooling over the pic as I sip my afternoon tea.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Doughnuts and tea would be perfect!
Jazz
These look fantastic! Pinned to make this fall.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Great! Meaning right now, haha!
Katherine Fox
These look and sound absolutely delicious! I prefer apple anything over pumpkin this time of year so I can't wait to try these out. I hope mine look as pretty as yours do. Haha already pinned it for later! 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, I like apple goodies over pumpkin too for the most part!
Thank you!
Helen
YUM! These look delicious! I love apple cider flavor.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Great! Enjoy these doughnuts!
Van Cast
They look so YUMMY that I don't even know where to start!! ♥♥
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, start by baking them!
Van Cast
Yes!! hahaha
Christa
I love apple cider doughnuts! They're the perfect fall treat! These look so delicious! Maybe I'll try making them with the kids!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
That will be a fun Fall activity!
Kathy D
These look delicious! I'll have to try them.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Great! Let me know if you do!
Indya | The Small Adventurer
I've never had apple cider before, but I've heard amazing things about it! I'm yet to meet a donut I haven't loved, either!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, well I'd urge you to stick to doughnuts and skip drinking the cider!
Lecy | A Simpler Grace
One of my guilty pleasures this time of the year is apple cider donuts and because I'm gluten-free, I've never been able to truly enjoy them. I can't wait to try this recipe. Thanks for sharing!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Well now you can enjoy again!
Jennifer Maune
These look so good. The healthy twist is great even with those who do not have dietary restrictions!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yup! Just because Strength and Sunshine recipes are free-from, doesn't mean they aren't recipes for everyone!
Mary
These look amazing! Perfect for this time of the year. Is it possible to make donuts without a donut cavity? I don't own one! 🙁
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I guess it's time to buy one, lol!
Whitney
We have quite a few apple orchards here in the South. Apple cider donuts are so delicious. My husband and I have started a yearly tradition going to the orchard to pick our own apples and to eat apple cider donuts. I do have to say I love hot apple cider when the weather is cool outside!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Well apple picking has become a tradition (as of last year) haha! But I'll keep baking our own doughnuts 😉
briana
These look so darn good!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
Bryan
I've never made my own doughnuts, but these sound worthy of a go. They would make a great addition to my morning tea.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Bound to have a good day then!
Chloe @callmecoco.co
Oh my goodness they look amazing! I never tried to make donuts, I should give this recipe a go
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Baked doughnuts are SO easy (and fun) to bake!
a
I totally need to make these for Matt! He would love them!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I'm sure your family will love them!
Annaliese
Apple cider donuts are one of the best parts of fall! I've actually never made them myself... but I love eating them. 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, well these will be a fun fall baking project to do!