The Best Baked Apple Cider Donut – Packed with spiced apple cider and all the fall spices, this healthy donut recipe is the perfect dessert or breakfast this season. It is gluten-free, Paleo-friendly, and can be made Keto. Can’t get better than that!
This Healthy Apple Cider Donut recipe has been on high demand from you guys. So here we are. I finally did it!
Soft and moist, these donuts will melt in your mouth.
This Baked Apple Cider Donut recipe is the best fall recipe for some sweater weather.
A few other healthy apple recipes you need to try this fall:
- Healthy Apple Bread with Crumble Toppings
- Apple Pie French Toast Casserole
- Apple Cider Chicken Skillet
How to Make Paleo Apple Cider Donuts
Check out this Step by Step Instruction on How to make this easy and healthy baked donuts recipe
Healthy Apple Cider Donut Recipe
These Apple Cider Donuts are delicious and yet so healthy. They are
- Gluten Free
- Paleo
- Keto Friendly
Instead of the regular flour that is used in traditional deep fried donuts, I used a combination of gluten-free and Paleo compliant flours:
- Almond Flour
- Coconut Flour
- Tapioca Flour
This donut recipe is also oil and butter-free. For a replacement, I used drizzly smooth almond butter.
What Texture Are Baked Apple Cider Donuts Like
Have you tried my other Fall themed Donut recipe Maple Bacon Donuts? Those bad boys are fluffy, sweet and salty. So heaven-ly.
On the other hand, these apple cider donuts have a much different texture. They are more dense, moist and slightly gooey. They melt in your mouth.
And even better, they don’t dry out or get stale after refrigeration.
Secret Ingredient for Baked Apple Cider Donuts
Apple Cider!
Duh. Well, maybe it’s not that secretive.
The trick is to make it concentrated. In order for the apple cider flavor to come through in this donut recipe, we need to make a concentrated apple cider.
You can either make your own or use store bought apple cider. My favorite is the no sugar added spiced apple cider from Trader Joes.
Here is how to make Apple Cider Concentrate:
First, in a small saucepan, add 1 1/2 cups of spiced apple cider. Bring it to a boil then simmer for 15 – 20 minutes or until the liquid is reduced to roughly about a 1/2 cup.
Stir occasionally. Be careful not to over boil.
Then, remove from the heat and let it cool down for 20 – 30 minutes before adding it to the apple cider donut batter.
Tips and Tricks for the Best Healthy Apple Cider Donuts
1. Silicone Donut pan
Almond flour donuts tend to stick to a regular donut pan, no matter how much grease I use, I always miss a spot here and there. Therefore, the best donut baking method is to use a silicone donut pan.
It is super easy to remove the donuts once they are done baking, and you can just throw the silicone donut pan in the dishwasher.
2. Coconut oil for coating
In order to have the cinnamon sugar coating stick better, brush or dunk the donuts in some melted coconut oil.
3. Paleo Cinnamon Sugar Coating
I used cane sugar and cinnamon for the coating here, mainly for the photo effect. To make it paleo friendly, you can replace the cane sugar with the same amount of coconut sugar.
How to Store Baked Apple Cider Donuts
Once the Apple Cider Donuts have cooled completely, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Or you can freeze them for up to a month!
Additional Storage Tips:
It is best if you store the donuts without the cinnamon sugar coating. Because the coating will melt into the donuts and they won’t have that crunchy dusty effect anymore, but they will still be really yummy and sweet.
To serve after refrigerating:
Warm the apple cider donuts in microwave for 10 – 15 seconds. Coat with cinnamon sugar. Enjoy!
If you have already coated them, you can warm it in microwave or just enjoy it cold.
Finally, without further ado, get on these paleo, gluten free and Keto friendly baked apple cider donuts that will melt in your mouth.
OOO ALSO I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR CREATIONS! YOU CAN USE “TRIED IT” ON PINTEREST OR SHARE ON INSTAGRAM BY TAGGING #SHUANGYSEATS
You May Also like These Fall Recipes:
1. Baked Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Cups
2. Healthy Pumpkin Bread (Paleo, Gluten Free)
3. Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cookies
The Best Apple Cider Donuts (Paleo, Gluten Free)
Packed with Spiced apple cider, cinnamon, nutmeg and all the fall spices, this healthy donut recipe is perfect for the fall. It is gluten-free and paleo friendly.
Ingredients
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup Spiced Apple Cider (1 ½ cup reduced)
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup almond butter *
- 1 cup packed almond flour **
- 1/4 cup tapioca flour
- 1 heaping tbsp coconut flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- 2 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp cardamom
Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- 1/4 cup cane sugar or coconut sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
Prepare the Apple Cider
- In a small saucepan, add 1 1/2 cups of spiced apple cider. Bring to a boil then simmer for 15 – 20 minutes or until the liquid is reduced to roughly about a 1/2 cup.
- Set aside to cool (about 20 minutes, or you can make this the night before)
Apple Cider Donuts
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease the silicone donut pan. (If using a regular donut pan, grease it generously).
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients: apple cider, egg, almond butter, and maple syrup. Then add the rest of the ingredients except for the cinnamon sugar coating.
- Spoon or pipe the mixture into the donut pan. Fill it all the way.
- Bake 20 - 25 minutes or until toothpick come out clean.
Cinnamon Sugar Coating
In a small bowl, mix together cinnamon and sugar. Once the donuts are cool enough to handle, but still warm, dunk each donut in the cinnamon sugar mix and coat all sides. (Dip or brush some coconut oil so the coating will stick better)
Enjoy!
Notes
- *You can use any smooth nut or seed butter.
- ** Make sure you pack the flour otherwise the donuts could come out mushy.
- See Storage suggestions under "how to store apple cider donuts" in this post.
- Replace maple syrup with Keto sweetener for a Keto friendly donut recipe.
Recommended Products
Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This does not result in any extra cost for you, but it does mean that I make a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 259Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 99mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 4gSugar: 12gProtein: 8g
The Nutrition Facts above are specific to the ingredients I chose to use for this recipe, which may vary.
There were SO GOOD!!! I’ve missed donuts since going gluten, dairy and sugar free! They were easier to make than I thought when I looked at the recipe! They’re even better the next day when the ingredients meld together! Thanks for sharing such a fabulous recipe!
Hi Nadine,
Aw yay!! That makes me so happy to hear that you enjoyed it! And yup, I actually love it even more the next day as well!
Shuang
I can use a different type of flour besides the tapioca? I don’t have any….
Hi Sarah,
If you have arrowroot flour in hand that could work as well. Or corn starch may work although I haven’t tested it myself.
Shuang
Can you sub a flax egg ?
Hi Meaghan,
I haven’t tested with flax eggs myself but they should work!
Shuang
Great donuts, but the consensus from my “taste testers”, was the nutmeg was a little overpowering. I’m making these donuts for the second time, and am using a little less nutmeg, and a little more cinnamon.
Hi Carol,
Thank you for the feedback! 🙂
Shuang
Used peanut butter and felt is clashed with other flavors, would almond butter be more mild? The textured was amazing though.
Hi Prim,
Yes, almond butter goes with the flavor better. I hope you enjoyed it though! 🙂
Shuang
Hey! I used peanut butter and felt like that flavor was coming through more than I would’ve liked and clashed with the cider and other flavors. Would almond butter be more mild you think? The texture was amazing so I definitely want to make again.
Hi Laura,
Yes, I used almond butter in this recipe, it goes with the flavor better! You can also use cashew butter which will be the mildest of the 3.
Shuang
Do you cover the apple cider while it’s simmering ?
Hi Rebecca,
No, you don’t have to!
Shuang