These baked vegan apple cider donuts are easy to make and an amazing treat in the fall! They are loaded with delicious warming spices and nicely coated with a cinnamon sugary layer. Completely dairy-free and made without eggs.
With fall here, it's the perfect time to make easy vegan apple cider donuts!
And they cannot be easier to make at home! In the fall we love making these spiced zucchini muffins, but these vegan donuts are just as easy to make. Plus, they are baked in the oven instead of deep-fried for a healthier treat!
They are so tender, moist, and full of warm fall spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. The crunchy cinnamon sugar crust adds amazing texture, and the apple cider brings a natural sweetness with hints of apple flavor.
Pair the apple cider donuts with vegan pastry cream and a warm drink like matcha latte or lavender milk tea for the ultimate fall dessert.
Hope you give them a try! ❤️
❤️ Why you will love this recipe
- Healthier recipe: baking apple cider donuts in the oven instead of deep frying them will give you donuts that are as delicious, but much healthier! And feel free to swap some of the white flour for whole wheat flour (but no more than half the total amount) and you can skip the sugary coating as well.
- Easy and quick to make: these are not harder to prepare than making muffins. All you need is a donut pan! I used this donut pan from the brand Bellemain, which worked out well. And the donuts didn't stick at all!
- Classic fall treat: loaded with spices and make them during apple season using apple cider for the best flavor.
- Completely vegan (meaning also dairy-free + egg-free).
🗒 Ingredients you'll need
- Flour: I used regular all-purpose flour for this recipe. You might be able to use a combo of 50/50 whole wheat + all-purpose flours without changing the texture too much.
- Spices: I used a mix of cinnamon and nutmeg, but feel free to use other spices such as pumpkin spice mix or chai spice mix.
- Coconut sugar: its caramelized flavor works so well in this recipe. Although I haven't tried it yet, regular light brown sugar should work as well.
- Ground flax seed: acts as a binder when mixed within the batter (replaces the eggs) and also flax is rich in omega-3 healthy fats and fiber.
- Coconut oil: use refined oil to avoid a stronger coconut flavor.
- Apple cider: please make sure NOT to use apple cider vinegar! I also tested this recipe using regular apple juice and it worked out well, although the flavor was more subtle compared to using seasonal thick apple cider.
⭐️ Full ingredient list (with quantities) down below in the recipe card!
📝 Variations
- For a stronger apple flavor, then you can first simmer some apple cider (maybe start with double the amount) on the stove uncovered until reduced, about 15 minutes. THEN, measure the 1 cup that you need (and let it cool down before using). This will concentrate the flavor even more!
- You can also add a few small pieces of apple chunks within the batter for more texture.
- If you want to avoid coating the donuts with extra sugar, then you can simply skip that step completely or make some healthy glazed apple cider donuts by drizzling some vegan no-powdered sugar vanilla icing over.
🍽 How to make baked vegan apple cider donuts
Step 1: Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl (flour, salt, baking soda, spices and coconut sugar).
Step 2: Combine the ground flax with water in a medium bowl and let it sit for 5 minutes. Then, add the melted coconut oil and room-temperature apple cider. Stir until smooth and uniform.
Step 3: Pour the wet ingredients over the bowl with the dry ingredients, then stir until smooth and uniform.
Step 4: Use a pipe to divide the batter into a 6-donut pan.
Step 5: Bake at 350ºF for 13-15 minutes. Let the donuts cool down in the pan for 5 minutes, then flip the pan to unmold (knock the pan upside down on the counter until the donuts fall off).
Step 6: Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a shallow bowl. One by one, dip the donuts in melted coconut oil (or spray the donuts with a little oil), then toss in sugar.
⭐️ Detailed recipe down below in the recipe card!
💡 Baking tips
- Do not over-mix the donut batter! This will help keep them fluffy and light.
- If not using a non-stick donut pan, then spray some oil over the pan before transferring the batter so they unmold easily after baking.
- If using apple cider that was in the fridge, then first let it get to room temperature (or warm up for a few seconds using the microwave). If super cold when mixing with the melted coconut oil, then it will harden the oil!
- I find it so much easier to distribute the batter into the donut pan using a piping bag! If you don't have any, then use a large plastic bag with one of the tips cut off or feel free to use a spoon instead.
- Watch them while baking! Mine are done every time at the 14-minute mark, but every oven is different and yours might be done sometime between 13-15 minutes (a toothpick should come out clean).
❗️Storage tips
These donuts feel more fresh on the same day they are made. Over time, the oil and sugar coating will be absorbed by the donuts and will change in texture. If you can, try to eat them within 24 hours.
If you want to keep them fresh for longer, then cover and keep them at room temperature (transfer in the fridge after 24 hours). I recommend slightly warming them up for a few seconds in the microwave before enjoying them, especially if they are kept in the fridge. The coating will change after that, but they will stay pretty good!
FAQs
I haven't tried it yet, but I think that the coconut oil could be swapped for apple sauce. The donuts might be more dense though. Also, simply use more apple cider to coat the donut before tossing in the sugar.
This 1:1 gluten-free flour from King Arthur usually is a great replacement to regular flour when baking gluten-free. Let me know if you try that swap!
Yes! They fluff nicely, so be sure not to fill the muffin tins to the top (I would aim to fill them to about ¾ full) and I'm expecting that you will need to bake them for a little longer, about 18-20 minutes total. Check for doneness using a toothpick: it should come out clean!
More vegan fall recipes you might like
I hope you like these vegan apple cider donuts as much as we do! If you try them, please leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let me know how they were. Your feedback is so helpful!
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📖 Recipe
Vegan Apple Cider Donuts (Baked)
Equipment
- 6-donut pan
- Mixing bowls
- Spatula
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Piping Bag (optional)
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup coconut sugar - light brown sugar works too
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ¾ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp refined coconut oil - melted
- 1 cup room temperature apple cider - NOT APPLE CIDER VINEGAR! You are looking for the dark apple juice.
- 1 tbsp ground flax + 2 tablespoons of water
Sugar coating
- ½ cup granulated sugar of your choice
- 1 tsp cinnamon or pumpkin spice mix
- 4 tbsp melted coconut oil or avocado oil spray or more apple cider - to brush over the donuts for stickiness
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 350ºF.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients together (flour, baking soda, spices, coconut sugar and salt).
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the ground flax seed with the 2 tablespoons of water. Let it sit for about 5 minutes and then stir in the melted coconut oil and room temperature apple cider.
- Pour the wet ingredient over the dry and stir to combine without over mixing.
- Transfer the batter into your donut pan (makes for 6 donuts). I like using a piping bag to do that as it is less messy, but you can also simply scoop the batter using a spoon.
- Bake in the oven for 13-15 minutes (a toothpick should come out clean). Once done, let them slightly cool down in the pan before unmolding them (I simply knock the pan upside down on the counter).
- In a medium size shallow bowl, combine the extra sugar with the cinnamon. Then, one by one, spray/brush some coconut oil or avocado oil or even some more apple cider (you need a sticky factor) over each donuts and then roll/toss into the sugar mixture until mostly covered. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- To measure the ingredients, I recommend following the Scoop and Level method.
- These vegan donuts are best when just prepared as the sugar coating will change in texture over time. Try to enjoy them within 24 hours and keep them covered at room temperature (transfer to the fridge after 24 hours).
- If you want to avoid sprinkling sugar over, then you can also drizzle a vegan vanilla icing (no powdered sugar) over.
- Nutrition: please note that the nutritional information is an estimate per serving provided for informational purposes only (calculated by software) and accuracy is not guaranteed. Consult with your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if you need precise nutrition calculations for health reasons.
These are so easy to make and delicious!
Great! So glad you liked them! 😊