About this recipe
Vegan apple cider donuts have the essence of autumn in each bite. Their flavor is between sweet and tangy with a hint of warm spices, reminding us of cozy apple baked goods and Autumn flavors. The delightful combination of fresh apple cider, gently folded into a fluffy, vegan dough, yields a moist and tender treat.
Each bite offers a taste of apple-y goodness, complemented by notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and a touch of caramel. These vegan doughnuts are a guilt-free indulgence, embodying the season’s flavors while embracing a compassionate lifestyle.
Dry Ingredients
- All-Purpose Flour: Classic structure. Sub gluten-free flour blend if needed. Avoid whole wheat flour as it makes donuts dense.
- Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps with browning.
- Baking Powder: Leavening for that light texture.
- Ground Cinnamon + Apple Pie Spice: Warm, cozy flavors. You can substitute pumpkin pie spice in a pinch.
Wet Ingredients
- Unsweetened Applesauce: You can use homemade or store-bought. Works as an egg replacer.
- Apple Cider: Use fresh apple cider, not juice. Reduce by half to concentrate the flavor.
- Vegetable Oil: Keeps the donuts tender and moist.
- Vanilla Extract: Sweet, aromatic depth.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: Reacts with baking powder for lift, adds subtle tang.
Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- Optional: brush donuts with melted vegan butter if the coating isn’t sticking.
- Granulated Sugar + Cinnamon: Classic spiced coating for that donut-shop finish.
How to Make Vegan Apple Cider Donuts
- Step 1 – Prep the oven and pan: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a donut pan well.
- Step 2 – Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and apple pie spice.
- Step 3 – Mix wet ingredients: In another bowl, combine applesauce, reduced apple cider, oil, vanilla, and apple cider vinegar.
- Step 4 – Combine: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ones and gently stir until just combined. Don’t overmix — a few lumps are fine.
- Step 5 – Fill pan: Spoon or pipe batter into the greased donut pan, filling each mold about 2/3 full.
- Step 6 – Bake: Bake 12–15 minutes until golden and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Step 7 – Coat: While still warm, roll each donut in cinnamon sugar until evenly coated.
Home-cook to home-cook tips
- Don’t skip reducing the cider — it’s what gives the donuts that strong apple flavor.
- No donut pan? Use a muffin tin for apple cider donut bites.
- Extra spiced: Add cardamom or cloves for a unique twist.
- Storage: Keep in an airtight container 1–2 days at room temp, 4–5 days in the fridge, or freeze for 2–3 months.
apple cider doughnuts Frequently asked questions
Vegan Apple Cider Donuts Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Donut pan
- 2 Medium Mixing Bowls
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp apple pie spice mix
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/2 cup apple cider
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
For the Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Donut Pan. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a donut pan.
- Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients. Combine all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, ground cinnamon, and apple pie mix in a mixing bowl. Whisk until they are fully combined.
- Step 3: Combine the Wet Ingredients. Mix unsweetened applesauce, apple cider, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, and apple cider vinegar in another bowl. This wet mixture adds moisture, sweetness, and flavor to apple cider.
- Step 4: Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently stir until combined. Be careful not to overmix; a few lumps are perfectly fine.
- Step 5: Fill the Donut Pan. Carefully spoon the donut batter into the greased pan, filling each mold about 2/3 full. This allows room for the donuts to rise during baking.
- Step 6: Bake. Place the donut pan in the preheated oven and bake for 12-15 minutes or until the donuts are lightly golden brown and a toothpick inserted into a donut comes out clean.
- Step 7: Create the Cinnamon Sugar Coating. While the donuts are still warm, prepare the cinnamon sugar coating. In a shallow bowl, combine granulated sugar and ground cinnamon.
- Step 8: Coat the Donuts. Roll each warm donut in the cinnamon sugar mixture to create a sweet and spiced exterior.
Nutrition
information
Nutritional information of this recipe is only an estimate, the accuracy for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
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I’m Ale Graf, a Mexican living in Texas and the creator of AleCooks and Piloncillo&Vainilla. I share easy, family-friendly recipes—some Mexican, mostly plant-based—that can be enjoyed all day, every day. My focus is on recipes that bring people together around the table, making mealtime simple, delicious and meaningful. I’m also the co-author of Yo Cocino Latino, and my recipes have been featured in numerous online magazines and publications.
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