These Baked Paleo Apple Cider Donuts are the simplest and delicious donuts to eat this Fall. They are gluten-free, paleo, and dairy-free.
I need to admit something here…I don’t think I ever had an Apple Cider Donut before. There, I said it! One of the trips I wanted to take this fall (pre-COVID), was to Boston to visit my family and then a road trip to Vermont to do all the fall things. Apple picking, drinking fresh apple cider, and eating warm fresh apple cider donuts, and so much more…Well, needless to say, I brought Vermont to me.
Okay, so I didn’t go apple picking here in Dallas. But I did go to the grocery store and buy some apple cider. Haha. But seriously, I had a craving for an apple cider donut and decided that this year was going to be the year I would make some.
These babies are light, fluffy, naturally sweetened, free from refined sugar, paleo, and gluten-free. Usually, it takes me two to three times to test out a recipe and put it on the blog but this was a one and done deal. I had my entire family eat one and one of my closest friends, and WOW! Baked and gone in one day. They loved it.
Here’s how I made it and some alternatives/suggestions
- Apple butter. This is a key ingredient because it just adds some extra flavor here I didn’t expect. Now, if you don’t like apple butter or can’t find it, you can use regular nut butter of choice.
- Flour: I haven’t tested this with oat flour, but I know it should work no problem. If using oat flour, try using 3/4 cup instead of 1 cup of almond flour
- Instead of tapioca flour, you can try arrowroot or even cornstarch
- Be sure to buy apple cider and not apple cider juice or sparkling cider.
- Baking is my preferred method. It’s healthier, less messy, and it still comes out perfectly. But if you prefer to, you can absolutely fry these up.
- Sugar: I used monk fruit sweetener to make this low-glycemic. I do not recommend using coconut sugar as it will dissolve into the batter and not turn out the same. But if you prefer, you can use regular white sugar in place of the monk fruit sweetener.
Now for the cinnamon sugar. This is a part you MUST NOT SKIP! Sorry to yell but this just ties the whole flavor together. Just baste the warm not hot, donuts with melted coconut oil and dip it in a delicious cinnamon sugar mixture.
Lastly, if you are making a batch of these as a meal prep for the week, I recommend you DON’T coat the donut with the cinnamon sugar mixture. Instead, store in an airtight container and when ready to eat, heat up the donut for about 15 seconds then coat them sweetness.
I hope you enjoy these delicious Baked Paleo Apple Cider Donuts.
Related Blog Post:
- Apple Butternut Squash Muffins with Cinnamon Streusel
- Sweet Potato Chai Muffins
- Vegan Almond Banana Bread
XO,
Natalie
Baked Paleo Apple Cider Donuts
Baked Paleo Apple Cider Donuts
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups apple cider not the sparkling cider
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1/4 cup tapioca flour
- 1 tbsp coconut flour
- 5 tbsp apple butter
- 1 tbsp almond butter
- 1 egg
- pinch of salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- Cinnamon Sugar Topping
- 1/4 cup coconut oil melted
- 1/4 cup monk fruit sweetener or regular white sugar if not paleo
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350.
- In a small saucepan, add the apple cider and cinnamon stick and bring to a boil then simmer for about 15 minutes until you have about 1/2 cup of the reduced cider. Remove and cool for about 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a bowl, add the remaining donut ingredients including the cooled apple cider, and whisk well.
- Transfer the batter into a large ziplock cutting a small hole to pipe the batter through.
- Spray the donut pan with non-stick spray or coconut oil and pipe the batter into each.
- Bake in the oven for 20 minutes. Remove and cool for at least 10 minutes.
- While the donuts are baking, mix together the cinnamon and sugar and set aside.
- While donuts are warm, not hot, baste the donut with the melted coconut oil. Dip them in the cinnamon-sugar mixture and add them on a wire rack or plate.
- Enjoy fresh!