Name: Applesauce Donuts
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 27 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour; ½ cup white sugar; 2 teaspoons baking powder; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoons cinnamon; ½ teaspoon salt; ½ cup cinnamon applesauce; ¼ cup vegetable oil; ¾ cup buttermilk; 2 tablespoons vanilla; Cinnamon Sugar Topping; 4 tablespoons butter, melted; ½ cup sugar; ½ teaspoon cinnamon; Icing Topping; 1½ cups powdered sugar; 3 tablespoons milk

Find all of our Desserts with Applesauce Recipes in one location. You will love the different types of Applesauce Recipes The Wooden Spoon Effect has created!

These Applesauce Donuts are something that will delight your family and are often something you might associate with the carnival. Those sugary treats that are delicious and full of nostalgia are something many of us can relate to. But often it is something we don’t cook at home. Mostly because it requires a fryer of some sort. However, what if I told you that you could create very tasty donuts at home, no frying needed? This is where this applesauce donuts recipe is an absolute game changer.

The Applesauce Donuts are loaded with cinnamon and lots of flavors. You can expect the same consistency even though they are baked, and the recipe is really versatile so you can get creative using the same method. They are soft, fluffy, perfectly balanced with flavor, and look appetizing. There really is not much else I can say other than make these IMMEDIATELY. Without further ado, here is everything you need to know to make Applesauce donuts.

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Ingredients Needed To Make The Applesauce Donuts

Here is everything that you need to create these incredible donuts.

All-Purpose Flour
Sugar
Baking Powder
Baking Soda
Cinnamon
Salt
Cinnamon Applesauce
Vegetable Oil
Buttermilk
Vanilla

Cinnamon Sugar Topping

Butter
Sugar
Cinnamon

Icing Topping

Powdered Sugar
Milk

How To Make The Applesauce Donuts

Now that you have all your ingredients together, it is time to bring these donuts to life. Here is the process to follow, and it is easier than you might think.

Donuts

Let’s start with making the donuts. Firstly, you will need to preheat the oven to 400°F and prepare the donut pan by spraying it with nonstick spray.
You might want to get your ingredients together. In a medium-sized bowl, combine dry ingredients and stir with a whisk to mix and then set aside.
In a large bowl, you will need to combine wet ingredients and stir to mix ensuring that everything is combined.
Now you can add your dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until just mixed.
Place a Ziploc bag inside a tall jar, folding back the edges. Spoon the donut batter into the bag until full. Twist the top of the bag and clip it closed. Hold the bag upside down and use scissors to cut off an angle at the corner of the bag.
Pipe/fill each donut cavity ¾ full of batter.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Cooking times may vary.
Remove from the oven and let them cool for 5 minutes before removing them from the pan and placing them on a wire rack to cool completely.

Cinnamon Sugar Topping

Using two separate bowls (big enough for a donut to fit), place the melted butter in one and then mix the sugar and cinnamon together in the second bowl.
Dip the cooled donuts top side down first in the butter, let drip, then dip into the sugar/cinnamon mix. Let the donuts sit for a few minutes and then dip them again in the cinnamon/sugar mixture to give even more texture.

Icing Topping

Mix together icing ingredients until a smooth consistency. Add more milk if needed, but only a little at a time. You can add food coloring or add colored sprinkles after dipping or drizzling the icing on the donuts.

Recipe Notes and Tips For Applesauce Donuts:

While the recipe is straightforward, it is always nice to have a few different tips and suggestions to make things easier. So here are some of the recipe notes and tips to help you out:

It is important to preheat the oven with this recipe. I appreciate that most recipes ask you to do this, but it helps to have the oven up to temperature before putting your donuts in so that they evenly bake.
Make sure the donuts are cooled before topping them with the sugar and the icing. Otherwise, you won’t get the desired look or texture.
If children are helping make sure they are careful when the donuts are hot.
Work with room-temperature ingredients to get the very best results.

Variations To Try with these Applesauce Donuts:

Like with many recipes there will always be variations to try. Here are a few suggestions.

You could use food coloring with the icing. This could help you theme the applesauce donuts for different occasions. Green for St Patrick’s Day, red for Christmas.
Sprinkle some edible glitter for a different overall look.
You don’t need to use cinnamon in the sugar if you don’t want the cinnamon flavor to be too bold or overpowering.
You could sprinkle over some chocolate chips or even crushed pecans or other nuts to add to the texture.

FAQs

Like with any recipe, there are often questions that need answering. I thought I would share some of the common questions here, but if you have any comments or questions please don’t hesitate to get in touch directly.

Can It Be Made Ahead Of Time?

Yes, you can make these ahead of time. They will last around three days when stored correctly, so you can factor that into when you want to make them.

How Should I Store Applesauce Donuts?

You can store any leftover applesauce donuts at room temperature. Just wrap them up tightly and place them in an airtight container. I don’t recommend refrigerating them as this can dry them out. They will last for up to 3 days.

Can I Freeze the Applesauce Donuts After They Are Cooked?

Yes, you can freeze the Applesauce Donuts. For the best results, you need to wrap them individually in plastic wrap and place them in the freezer. You can freeze them for up to three months. Make sure you defrost them before eating. You could also pop them in the microwave for 30 seconds if you wish.

What You Might Need To Make These Donuts:

Donut Pans 2 Pack, WERTIOO Non-Stick 6-Cavity Mini Donut Baking Pans, High-grade Carbon Steel Donut Mold – BPA Free Bagels Doughnuts Biscuit Cake Baking Tray Maker Pan, Dishwasher, Oven, Freezer Safe Walfos Silicone Donut Mold – Non-Stick Silicone Doughnut Pan Set, Just Pop Out! Heat Resistant, Make Perfect Donut Cake Biscuit Bagels, BPA FREE and Dishwasher Safe, Set of 3 Ziploc Gallon Food Storage Slider Bags, Power Shield Technology for More Durability, 26 Count, Pack of 4 (104 Total Bags)KitchenAid RRK150IC 5 Qt. Artisan Series – Ice (Renewed)Hamilton Beach 6-Speed Electric Hand Mixer with Snap-On Case, Beaters, Whisk, Black (62692)TILUCK measuring cups and magnetic measuring spoons set, 5 stainless steel measuring cups, 6 double-sided stainless steel measuring spoons & 1 leveler (5+7)

The verdict? These donuts are amazing. They’re soft, fluffy, loaded with flavor, and perfectly balanced. I could eat a dozen of them without batting an eyelash (and might have to do just that). If you’re looking for an easy donut recipe that doesn’t require any frying and is versatile enough to let your creativity shine through, then this is the one for you! Go make some applesauce donuts – you won’t regret it.

You should try one of our other Applesauce Desserts:

But before all of those…. Let’s teach you to make your own Applesauce!

Applesauce Donuts

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Total Time: 27 minutes

Learn how easy it is to make these delicious Applesauce Donuts with this simple and easy recipe.

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
½ cup white sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoons cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup cinnamon applesauce
¼ cup vegetable oil
¾ cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons vanilla
Cinnamon Sugar Topping
4 tablespoons butter, melted
½ cup sugar
½ teaspoon cinnamon
Icing Topping
1½ cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons milk