apple cinnamon donuts with cinnamon-sugar

by Amy on 18 October 2011

mmmm, donuts. i grew up in boston, just a few miles from the homeplace of dunkin’ donuts, so donuts + i have a long history together. they were always a special treat in my childhood + i still treat them that way now – i eat them pretty sparingly, but when i do, i reeeally savor + enjoy ’em.

a few weeks ago, i won a donut pan from the lovely ashley over at kitchen meets girl, + i’ve been dying to try it out ever since. luckily, i had some free time on sunday + a bookmarked recipe for baked apple cinnamon donuts, so i decided to give it a spin. and the result? these donuts turned out wonderful. they have a lovely fall flavor, with the apple + cinnamon notes, + the cinnamon-sugar dusted on them lends both a delicious sweetness + a perfect texture. they were even given the stamp of approval by my husband, a serious donut + sweets lover, which is no small accomplishment.

i’ll definitely make these tasty donuts again soon, as they’d be perfect for a fall brunch, or as a treat to accompany weekend football-watching. and the donut pan? i love it! i already have way more donut recipes bookmarked than is probably healthy. speaking of healthy, some quick math revealed that one donut clocks in at around 130 calories – not too shabby for such a scrumptious treat!

baked apple cinnamon donuts with cinnamon-sugar

makes about 14 donuts, adapted from prevention RD

ingredients

12 oz applesauce
1 egg
1 tbsp canola oil
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
2 tsp cinnamon, divided
1/4 cup sugar

directions

preheat oven to 425 degrees.

combine the white sugar + 1 teaspoon cinnamon in a small bowl, set aside.

combine applesauce, egg, oil, + sugar in to a large bowl + mix well. slowly incorporate the rest of the ingredients – mix well, but be sure not to over mix. place about 3 tbsp of batter into each donut mold, sprayed with non-stick cooking spray, + bake for 8-9 minutes.

when donuts have cooled slightly, spray tops of doughnuts very lightly with canola oil cooking spray + dunk into cinnamon/sugar mixture.
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{ 39 comments… read them below or add one }

1 BreAna {Sugar & Spice & All Things Iced} October 18, 2011 at 8:49 am: These look perfect!! I have been wanting to get a donut pan, but I keep talking myself out of it. I might just have to break down and buy one! I love you added whole wheat and applesauce!
2 amy October 18, 2011 at 8:57 am: BreAna, i think it’s a very worthwhile purchase. =) i really do think a healthier, baked seasonal donut will be a great, fun addition to the typical brunch menu. I’m already planning what kind to make next!
3 Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl October 18, 2011 at 8:58 am: Yes, those donut pans can be quite dangerous, though I’m telling myself it’s *much* better to bake them myself rather than purchasing them. We don’t typically (okay, ever) buy donuts, but I don’t feel too bad about making my own every now and then for a special treat. I especially love your version, with the applesauce–YUM!

Thanks for the shout-out; and I’m so glad you like the pan. If I’m going down in a blaze of donut glory, I’m taking someone with me.
4 amy October 18, 2011 at 9:11 am: i definitely agree that the homemade baked ones have to be a zillion times healthier that the purchased fried ones, so i don’t feel bad about ’em at all. now, once i start adding nutella + chocolate + loads of butter to ’em, i’m hoping someone will remind me to eat just one. i’m definitely hopping on the homemade-donut-lovin’ train with you!
5 Jessica October 18, 2011 at 9:20 am: These look and sound so amazing! Love this time of year and the yummy goodies!
6 amy October 18, 2011 at 9:34 am: thanks, jessica. i love the flavors of the fall, too – pumpkin, apple, caramel, cinnamon, pears – so much delicious stuff this time of year!
7 Vivek October 18, 2011 at 9:37 am: Yes…you will have to make these again for our next Sunday football watch party…
8 amy October 18, 2011 at 9:51 am: that could definitely be arranged, since i can’t wait to give the donut pan another spin!
9 Karen October 18, 2011 at 10:03 am: I’ve been thinking about getting one of these pans and I think you just sold me. Your donuts look incredible…especially with the fall twist of apple and cinnamon.
10 amy October 18, 2011 at 10:12 am: i was really impressed at how wonderfully the pan worked – the donut shapes turned out absolutely perfect, + they stayed wonderfully moist with a great texture. i think the pan is definitely worth purchasing! =)
11 Steph@TheChickpeaChickadee October 18, 2011 at 10:13 am: These look so yummy!! I’ve been looking for a good donut recipe. I will have to give this one a try. PS I love your blog….You have wonderful recipes and photos. I also love that you respond to comments. I’m so surprised more bloggers don’t do this.
12 amy October 18, 2011 at 10:21 am: thanks so much steph. while some bloggers don’t respond to comments, i like to, since connecting with readers is my favorite part of blogging. plus, when i visit a blog, leave a comment/question + don’t get a response, i always wonder if the blogger even reads the comments! thanks so much for your kind words. =)
13 natalie (the sweets life) October 18, 2011 at 10:55 am: I have had a donut pan that I have now had for months and haven’t been using it…but THIS recipe put me over the edge! MUST MAKE this weekend!
14 amy October 18, 2011 at 11:09 am: i think you’re going to be super impressed by your donut pan – i know it far exceeded my expectations! i’m definitely breaking it back out this weekend, too. =)
15 Renee October 18, 2011 at 12:57 pm: Donuts have been a big part of my life also. My dad loved them (Dunkin Donuts was his favorite). One of my favorites is apple-cinnamon (the one with cinnamon on the outside & apple filling inside) so I am sure I would like these donuts. They certainly do look good. I bet your house smelled incredible while they were baking.
16 amy October 18, 2011 at 1:05 pm: dunkin’ donuts are my favorite, too, even though i now live in the land of krispy kreme. =) my favorite are chocolate glazed cake donuts, so i think i’ll give those a try this weekend. and yes, the house smelled amazing when they were cooking!
17 Alison @ Ingredients, Inc. October 18, 2011 at 2:22 pm: im loving these!!
18 amy October 18, 2011 at 2:53 pm: thanks, alison! i do, too. =)
19 Ally Garner October 18, 2011 at 4:26 pm: These are baked doughnuts? Oh, I’m so in. I never make doughnuts because of the hassle with frying them. And I can serve these beauties at a tailgate…. Yum, Amy. Thanks!
20 amy October 18, 2011 at 5:51 pm: yup, these are baked! they have a slightly different texture than the fried version but are (in my opinion) just as satisfying. i think i’m going to try making a baked chocolate donut this upcoming weekend + will report back on those, too. =)
21 Mommyof2Girlz/StephD October 18, 2011 at 6:11 pm: Oh these look divine. I so need to get myself a donut pan! I did buy some fresh (and still warm) apple cider donuts from the pumpkin patch on the way out this weekend. They didn’t last very long 😉
22 amy October 18, 2011 at 7:36 pm: ooh, apple cider donuts are just wonderful. i need to get some (or make ’em myself now!) ASAP. =)
23 kristen @ notsodomesticated October 18, 2011 at 7:48 pm: Yum! I need to invest in one of those donut pans ASAP!!
24 amy October 18, 2011 at 8:48 pm: i think they’re a fabulous invention + you should definitely invest in one. =)
25 Rachel @ The Avid Appetite October 19, 2011 at 10:45 am: these are absolutely beautiful! i’ve been seeing so many wonderful doughnut recipes lately that I decided I simply must get a doughnut pan. I must! Can’t wait to try this recipe once I do
26 amy October 19, 2011 at 11:09 am: thanks, rachel! i do think that the donut pan might be the greatest kitchen tool i’ve seen in a while. i’m definitely breaking it out again to try another recipe this weekend!
27 New York Diaries October 19, 2011 at 4:20 pm: AMY! Please stop posting delicious* looking sweets that I suddenly feel the need to bake and/or eat.

Sound like a plan? Great.
(if only life was this simple! haha.)

*delicious= amazing, lovely, yummy, scrumptious, and/or finger-lickin’ (shout out to TN). Great recipe!
28 amy October 19, 2011 at 4:49 pm: bahaha, love your comment! =) you’ll be happy to know that with thanksgiving / the winter holidays coming up, there will be more crafts + entertaining ideas mixed in with the recipes, so your urges to bake/eat should get a little break. =)
29 Marina October 20, 2011 at 7:07 am: wellbutrin xl for anxiety reviews.

apple cinnamon cookies and cakes are perfect dessert for colder weather
30 amy October 20, 2011 at 9:47 am: i agree – i always crave cinnamon sweets once the fall weather comes around. =)
31 maria davis August 26, 2012 at 10:14 pm: Visited your blog for first time looking for doughnut recipe for my son. Liked what I saw so hope to find more fun ideas!
32 amy August 27, 2012 at 5:38 am: welcome, maria – i’m you stumbled across my little ol’ blog! =)
33 Shelley September 12, 2012 at 10:22 am: do you use sugar free applesauce or regular with sugar added? does it matter?
34 amy September 12, 2012 at 10:26 am: hi Shelley, I used the regular kind (that has sugar in it), but you could definitely use the no-sugar-added or sugar-free. it really depends on how sweet you want your donuts, + if you’re trying to watch your sugar intake. hope that helps!
35 lisa September 12, 2012 at 11:49 am: do you think i can use the bella cucina donut maker for these??
they sound great!!
36 amy September 12, 2012 at 12:17 pm: you should definitely be able to use your bella cucina donut maker for these! the cooking time will be much shorter, though – i’d refer to the recipe book that came with your machine to figure out how long to cook them. i’d guess that they’ll probably just take a minute or two in there! =)
37 deirdre September 12, 2012 at 12:36 pm: I have been craving these ever since I tried one at an apple farm last weekend! I bet them smell fabulous. Found your post on daily buzz food….cheers!
38 Peggy September 13, 2012 at 11:05 am: I love fall for all of the apple cider donuts available! These look great, and good to know that they’re healthy =)
39 Asiya @ Chocolate and Chillies October 8, 2012 at 3:06 pm: I’ve been loving baking donuts and have been looking for other varieties…this looks perfect! Can’t wait to try!