Baked Apple Cider Donuts (refined sugar free)

Nothing says fall quite like a batch of fresh, warm apple cider donuts! These baked donuts are a healthier twist on the orchard classic, and it’s made with real apple cider, naturally sweetened with maple syrup and coconut sugar, and coated in a delicious cinnamon-sugar topping. They’re fluffy, soft, and full of spiced apple flavor that instantly makes you think of crisp mornings, changing leaves, and a hot cup of coffee in hand.

These donuts are baked instead of fried in oil, so they’re more of a fluffy texture and a bit less heavy. Reducing the apple cider brings out its natural sweetness and depth, while warm spices like cinnamon, allspice, and cloves give that nostalgic fall flavor. A coating of coconut sugar and cinnamon makes them perfectly sweet without being cloying; it’s an indulgent treat while still using wholesome ingredients!

Nutritional benefits of this recipe

• Apples are rich in fiber, vitamin C, antioxidants, and more. 
• Maple syrup and coconut sugar are both natural sweeteners that are lower glycemic than refined sugar. Maple syrup is also very nutrient-dense and has minerals such as manganese, zinc, calcium, and potassium, and it has antioxidants and fiber.
• Cinnamon, cloves, and allspice are all rich in antioxidants and are known keep blood sugar balanced, are anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and more.

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Ingredients

Whole wheat pastry flour – or sub white flour 1:1. I love Sunrise Flour Mill for flour because it’s unbromated, unbleached, non-GMO, organic, and properly grown and milled.

Apple cider – I used my Homemade Spiced Apple Cider for this recipe. It’s so delicious with all the cozy, warming spices. Using another apple cider will create a different flavor profile depending on how spiced the specific cider you use is (if at all, some don’t even have spices). Add more ground spices if needed.

Baking powder

Baking soda

Ground spices: ground cinnamon, cloves, and allspice.

Salt

Egg

Pure maple syrup – a healthy, natural sweetener.

Coconut sugar – another healthier, natural sweetener. From the sap of coconut trees.

Grass-fed butter

Vanilla extract

Method

1. Reduce the cider: In a small saucepan, simmer apple cider over medium heat until reduced to ½ cup (about 15–20 minutes). Cool a few minutes.
2. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and generously grease a 12-cavity donut pan with softened butter.
3. Mix dry ingredients: Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and salt.
4. Mix wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk egg, maple syrup, coconut sugar, applesauce, oil, vanilla, and reduced cider.
5. Combine: Add dry mixture to wet, stirring gently until just combined. Do not over-mix.
6. Fill pan: Spoon or pipe batter into donut pan, filling 3/4 full.
7. Bake: 10–13 minutes, until donuts spring back when pressed lightly.
8. Cool: Rest in pan for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
9. Coat in sugar: If you are heavy handed and really want a decadent donut, then use the larger amounts of sugar and butter. If you are trying to keep them a bit lighter, then use the smaller amount. In a shallow bowl, melt the butter. In a separate shallow bowl, mix the coconut sugar and ground cinnamon. Take a donut and dip each side in the melted butter then the coconut sugar mixture. Place on a plate and repeat until the donuts are all coated.

For serving and storage

These donuts are best when served immediately due to the nature of the natural cinnamon sugar topping.

Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or the refrigerator for up to 4 days, or the freezer for up to a month (individually wrapped and placed in a freezer-friendly container).

Other recipes you’ll love

Homemade Spiced Apple Cider

Iced Apple Cider Latte

I hope you love these Apple Cider Donuts! Please be sure to leave a comment and rating if you give this recipe a try. I would LOVE to know how it turned out for you!

Apple Cider Donuts (refined sugar free)

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Soft and fluffy baked donuts that are full of classic spiced apple cider flavor. You’ll be obsessed with this recipe!

• Author: Christine Manes
• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cider reducing time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 12 donuts 1x
• Category: dessert, fall baking
• Method: Oven
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

For the donuts:

1 cup apple cider (8oz) (I used my homemade spiced apple cider)

210g (1 3/4 cups spooned and leveled) whole wheat pastry flour (or sub white flour)

1 tsp (3g) baking powder

1/2 tsp (3g) baking soda

1 tsp (2g) ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp (0.5g) ground allspice

1/4 tsp (0.5g) ground cloves

1/4 tsp (2g) salt

1 large egg (room temp)

1/4 cup (88g) pure maple syrup

1/3 cup (50g) coconut sugar

1/4 cup (65g) unsweetened applesauce – I used my spiced apple sauce from my cider recipe

4 Tbsp (57g) grass-fed butter, melted

1 tsp (3g) vanilla extract

For cinnamon-sugar topping:

4–6 Tbsp grass-fed butter, melted see instructions

1/2–2/3 cup coconut sugar see instructions

1/4 tsp cinnamon

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Instructions

1. Reduce the cider: In a small saucepan, simmer apple cider over medium heat until reduced to 1/2 cup (about 15–20 minutes). Cool a few minutes.
2. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and generously grease a 12-cavity donut pan with softened butter.
3. Mix dry ingredients: Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and salt.
4. Mix wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk egg, maple syrup, coconut sugar, applesauce, butter, vanilla, and reduced cider.
5. Combine: Add dry mixture to wet, stirring gently until just combined. Do not over-mix.
6. Fill pan: Spoon or pipe batter into donut pan, filling 3/4 full.
7. Bake: 10–13 minutes, until donuts spring back when pressed lightly.
8. Cool: Rest in pan for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
9. Coat in sugar: If you are heavy handed and really want a decadent donut, then use the larger amounts of sugar and butter. If you are trying to keep them a bit lighter, then use the smaller amount. In a shallow bowl, melt the butter. In a separate shallow bowl, mix the coconut sugar and ground cinnamon. Take a donut and dip each side in the melted butter then the coconut sugar mixture. Place on a plate and repeat until the donuts are all coated.
10. To serve and store: These donuts are best when served immediately. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or the refrigerator for up to 4 days, or the freezer for up to a month (individually wrapped and placed in a freezer-friendly container).

Equipment

Covered Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls

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Kitchen Scale

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