These vegan apple cider donuts are too good for words! Deliciously spiced, moist and fluffy, these make the best fall breakfast or dessert. The batter comes together with healthier ingredients like flaxseed and applesauce. These are also baked and not fried, making them a wholesome family-friendly treat.
This recipe for vegan apple cider donuts is so easy and your home will smell incredible while these bake. Toss them in cinnamon sugar or drizzle them with cinnamon glaze. Everyone in your home will love these and no one will guess they're dairy and egg free!
Ingredients needed
This baked apple cider donuts recipe is made with common baking ingredients you most likely have in your kitchen. Here's everything you’ll need:
- Flaxseed Meal + Hot Water: This mixture will make 2 flax eggs, which will keep this recipe vegan.
- Almond or Oat Milk: Any milk you prefer will add moisture to the batter, so these have the perfect texture.
- Cane or Coconut Sugar: To perfectly sweeten the donuts.
- Unsweetened Applesauce: Adds moisture and a lovely apple flavor without actually having to use apples in the recipe.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: Gives these a slight tang and tenderness.
- Melted Vegan Butter: For richness and flavor.
- Baking Powder + Baking Soda: Help give these lift and get nice and fluffy in the oven.
- Vanilla: Always adding vanilla to baked goods for delicious flavor!
- Cinnamon: For a cozy taste of fall.
- Salt: Just a ½ teaspoon brings all of the flavors together.
- Flour: All-purpose flour works great here. If you'd like to make these gluten free, we recommend using a gluten-free replacement flour like King Arthur Measure for Measure.
- Topping or Glaze: You can choose to add a classic cinnamon sugar topping or a cinnamon glaze. Both are delicious and a wonderful finishing touch!
How to make this recipe
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. In a large mixing bowl, mix the flax seed meal with the hot water and let this sit for 2 minutes. Then, add the almond milk, sugar, applesauce, apple cider vinegar, melted vegan butter, baking powder, baking soda, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt together. Mix well - the mixture will start to fizz. Add the flour and mix until a batter forms.
- Spoon the batter into 16 silicone donut molds that have been sprayed with nonstick spray. Bake in the oven for about 25 minutes or until the donuts have risen and are golden. Allow them to cool in the molds before removing and adding the toppings.
- To make the cinnamon sugar topping, simply mix the cinnamon and sugar together in a bowl. To make the glaze, simply whisk together the powdered sugar, melted vegan butter, and cinnamon. If the mixture is too thick to dip the donuts into, add 1-2 tablespoon of almond milk to thin the glaze.
- Dip the donuts into the cinnamon sugar or the glaze and serve!
Expert tips
- For best results, be sure to follow the recipe and use the exact ingredients as written (unless substitutions are noted).
- When combining flour with the wet ingredients, it's important to only mix the batter until combined. If you over-mix the batter, the donuts may turn out more dense and gummy instead of fluffy and soft.
- Use fresh baking powder and baking soda. If your baking powder and/or baking soda is older than 6 months, we recommend grabbing a new one for best baking results. When you open a new container, it's a good idea to write the date on the lid.
- When filling the donut pan with batter, only fill the indentations up ¾ of the way full. If you add too much batter, the donuts will rise up over the edges of the pan and lose shape.
Frequently asked questions
The addition of apple cider vinegar gives the donuts a subtle tang that balances out the sweetness, and its acidity makes the doughnuts tender and soft.
If you want these in a donut shape, you'll need to bake them in donut molds. We recommend silicone donut molds because the donuts pop out easily once they're baked. However these can be made in a muffin pan instead. Just make sure to bake about 5-7 minutes longer and check for doneness with a toothpick.
Yes! To freeze, wrap them individually in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months. You can thaw in the fridge overnight and warm them up in the microwave prior to enjoying them!
Storing leftovers
These are best served fresh the same day, but will stay soft for up to 2 days stored in an airtight container at room temperature. If they get too firm, you can reheat in the microwave for a few seconds to soften them up.
More vegan donut recipes
Easy Vegan Apple Cider Donuts
Ingredients
Vegan Apple Cider Donuts
- 2 tablespoon flaxseed meal
- 4 tablespoon hot water
- 1 cup almond or oat milk
- ¾ cup cane or coconut sugar
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup melted vegan butter
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cup regular or gluten free all purpose flour If gluten-free, I recommend King Arthur Measure for Measure gluten-free flour. Please don't substitute any other flour such as almond flour, baking flour, etc.
Cinnamon Sugar Topping
- ¼ cup cane sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Cinnamon Glaze
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoon melted vegan butter
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- almond or oat milk for thinning
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix the flax seed meal with the hot water and let this sit for 2 minutes. Then, add the almond milk, sugar, applesauce, apple cider vinegar, melted vegan butter, baking powder, baking soda, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt together. Mix well - the mixture will start to fizz. Add the flour and mix until a batter forms.
- Spoon the batter into 16 silicone donut molds that have been sprayed with nonstick spray. Bake in the oven for about 25 minutes or until the donuts have risen and are golden. Allow them to cool in the molds before removing and adding the toppings.
- To make the cinnamon sugar topping, simply mix the cinnamon and sugar together in a bowl. To make the glaze, simply whisk together the powdered sugar, melted vegan butter, and cinnamon. If the mixture is too thick to dip the donuts into, add 1-2 tablespoon of almond milk to thin the glaze.
- Dip the donuts into the cinnamon sugar or the glaze and serve!
Notes
Nutrition
The recipes on Peanut Butter and Jilly can easily be adapted to fit a vegan lifestyle, a gluten-free lifestyle, or both depending on the ingredients you use. Please review the ingredients lists carefully and refer to our recommendations in the Notes of the recipe card to make this recipe compatible with your needs. Nutrition information provided is an estimate, and will vary based on specific brands of ingredients used and cooking methods.
Ten says
Wow! I was trying to find a fun back to school breakfast that didn't taste too "diety" for my teen but didn't break MY plans to eat healthier. I've made other baked donuts and they were okay. I also replaced half the butter with applesauce and skipped brushing them with butter as the cinnamon sugar stayed on easily without it. So those two swaps I expected it wouldn't be as tasty but these are so good! Fluffy, sweet, perfect with coffee. Also loved the one bowl recipe. And teen approved so there you have it.