Gluten Free Apple Cider Donuts offer a delightful autumnal treat that’s both incredibly easy to make at home and wonderfully satisfying. This recipe is your go-to guide for achieving that perfect, cozy donut experience without any gluten, making it accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
Key Ingredients for Gluten Free Apple Cider Donuts
- 1 ½ cups gluten-free all-purpose flour blend (ensure it contains xanthan gum)
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- ½ cup unsweetened apple cider
- ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Topping:
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
How to Make Gluten Free Apple Cider Donuts
Get ready for a truly satisfying baking experience with these Gluten Free Apple Cider Donuts! This recipe is designed for simplicity, ensuring you get delicious, cake-like donuts bursting with apple cider flavor without the gluten. The preparation time is roughly 20 minutes for the batter, plus about 15-20 minutes for baking, making them an achievable weeknight or weekend treat.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a donut pan or spray it with non-stick cooking spray. If you don’t have a donut pan, you can use a muffin tin and adjust baking time accordingly.
- Whisk Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the gluten-free all-purpose flour, light brown sugar, baking powder, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and salt. Ensure there are no lumps.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the egg, unsweetened apple cider, unsweetened applesauce, melted butter, and vanilla extract until well combined and smooth.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir with a spatula or wooden spoon until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; the batter should be thick but pourable.
- Fill the Donut Pan: Spoon or pipe the batter into the prepared donut pan, filling each cavity about two-thirds full. Avoid overfilling, as the donuts will puff up as they bake.
- Bake the Donuts: Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted into the center of a donut comes out clean. The donuts should be lightly golden brown around the edges.
- Cool Slightly: Let the donuts cool in the pan for about 5-7 minutes before carefully inverting them onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prepare the Topping: While the donuts are cooling, melt ½ cup of butter in a small bowl. In another shallow bowl, combine the granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, mixing well.
- Coat the Donuts: Once the donuts are completely cooled, dip each donut into the melted butter, ensuring it’s fully coated.
- Sugar Coat: Immediately transfer the butter-coated donuts to the cinnamon-sugar mixture and roll them around until generously coated.
Why You’ll Love This Gluten Free Apple Cider Donuts
You’ll absolutely adore these Gluten Free Apple Cider Donuts for their incredibly moist and tender crumb, packed with the warm, cozy flavors of apple and cinnamon. Unlike their gluten-laden counterparts which can sometimes be dense, these donuts are wonderfully light and airy, making them a delightful treat that feels both indulgent and comforting. Plus, the simple cinnamon-sugar coating adds the perfect sweet crunch, reminiscent of those coveted bakery donuts, yet made with wholesome ingredients right in your own kitchen for a fraction of the cost.
Imagine the joy of your family or friends biting into these perfectly spiced, gluten-free delights, knowing you whipped them up with love and ease. They’re a fantastic alternative for those with gluten sensitivities or anyone craving a taste of autumn without compromise. So why wait? Gather your ingredients and whip up a batch of these irresistible Gluten Free Apple Cider Donuts today – you won’t regret it!
Storing and Reheating Tips
Store cooled, completely plain (before the cinnamon-sugar coating) donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. If you’ve already coated them with cinnamon sugar, it’s best to store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 day, as the sugar coating can soften over time. For longer storage, you can freeze the unfrosted donuts. Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. They will keep in the freezer for up to 2 months.
To reheat, for unfrosted donuts, you can gently warm them in a toaster oven at a low temperature for a few minutes or microwave them for about 10-15 seconds. If you’ve frozen them, allow them to thaw at room temperature before reheating. For coated donuts, it’s often best to enjoy them at room temperature or gently warm them as described above, being mindful that the sugar coating may change texture slightly upon reheating.
Final Thoughts
These Gluten Free Apple Cider Donuts are a testament to how delicious and accessible gluten-free baking can be. They bring the comforting flavors of fall right to your kitchen with minimal fuss. Dive in and experience the joy of homemade donuts, perfected for everyone to enjoy!
Gluten Free Apple Cider Donuts
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a donut pan or spray it with non-stick cooking spray. If you don’t have a donut pan, you can use a muffin tin and adjust baking time accordingly.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the gluten-free all-purpose flour, light brown sugar, baking powder, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and salt. Ensure there are no lumps.1 ½ cups gluten-free all-purpose flour blend (ensure it contains xanthan gum), ½ cup packed light brown sugar, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon salt
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the egg, unsweetened apple cider, unsweetened applesauce, melted butter, and vanilla extract until well combined and smooth.1 large egg, at room temperature, ½ cup unsweetened apple cider, ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce, 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir with a spatula or wooden spoon until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; the batter should be thick but pourable.
- Spoon or pipe the batter into the prepared donut pan, filling each cavity about two-thirds full. Avoid overfilling, as the donuts will puff up as they bake.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted into the center of a donut comes out clean. The donuts should be lightly golden brown around the edges.
- Let the donuts cool in the pan for about 5-7 minutes before carefully inverting them onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- While the donuts are cooling, melt ½ cup of butter in a small bowl. In another shallow bowl, combine the granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, mixing well.½ cup unsalted butter, melted, ¾ cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Once the donuts are completely cooled, dip each donut into the melted butter, ensuring it’s fully coated.½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- Immediately transfer the butter-coated donuts to the cinnamon-sugar mixture and roll them around until generously coated.¾ cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon