Baked donuts get a bad wrap sometimes. They can be dry or if they aren’t, they are only good the same day you bake them… but these cinnamon sugar applesauce donuts are proof that baked donuts can be moist and beautifully tender for days!
This batter is super easy.
Simply whisk 1/2 cup of applesauce with 1/4 cup of a neutral oil (I usually use olive oil here), 3/4 cup of your favorite milk and 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract until well combined.
Add 1/4 cup of granulated sugar and 1/4 cup of brown sugar and vigorously whisk until fully incorporated.
Add 2 cups of all purpose flour, 2 teaspoons of baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon of cloves and 1/2 teaspoon of salt and mix until just combined. Everything doesn’t have to be perfectly smooth here, so just mix until the dry ingredients are worked in, but no more than that! Over mixing the dry ingredients into the batter can create tougher donuts and nobody wants that!
This recipe will give you a dozen full size donuts or more if you prefer smaller donuts.
Fill the cavities half way and bake in a 400 degree oven for 10-12 minutes or until the donuts feel springy to the touch and toothpick will come out of the thickest part clean.
My favorite way to coat donuts in a cinnamon sugar coating is to shake them in a bag with about 1/2 cup of granulated sugar and a teaspoon of ground cinnamon while they are still warm. There is no need to dip the donuts in melted butter to coat them in a sugary coating. It’s messy and adds unnecessary calories. I don’t want either in my life…
These donuts have a wonderful, cheery apple flavor with warm spices and that little sweet, crunchy cinnamon sugar coating just brings everything together.
If you are looking for simple, delicious donuts that you can make a day ahead (or eat them all same day… I will never judge you for that…) then I would love for you to give these baked cinnamon sugar applesauce donuts a try.
You are going to love them!
Baked Cinnamon Sugar Applesauce Donuts
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup of applesauce
- 1/4 cup of a neutral oil (I use olive oil here)
- 3/4 cup of your favorite milk
- 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup of granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup of brown sugar
- 2 cups of all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons of baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
- 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon of cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
Cinnamon Sugar Topping
- 1/2 cup of granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°
- In a large bowl, whisk 1/2 cup of applesauce with 1/4 cup of a neutral oil, 3/4 cup of milk and 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract
- Add 1/4 cup of granulated sugar and 1/4 cup of brown sugar and whisk until fully incorporated
- Add 2 cups of all purpose flour, 2 teaspoons of baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon of cloves and 1/2 teaspoon of salt and mix until just combined
- Fill the cavities in a greased doughnut pan half way and bake in a 400° oven for 10-12 minutes or until the doughnuts feel springy and a toothpick comes out clean
- While the doughnuts are baking, combine 1/2 cup of granulated sugar with a teaspoon of ground cinnamon in a gallon ziplock bag
- Once the doughnuts are baked, transfer the doughnut pan onto a cooling rack for 5 minutes
- Transfer the warm doughnuts one at a time into the bag of cinnamon sugar and gently shake until the entire doughnut is coated
- Repeat until all of the doughnuts are coated
- Enjoy warm or store cooled leftovers in an airtight container for 1-2 days at room temperature
