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Gluten Free Apple Cider Donuts

Gluten Free Apple Cider Donuts

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.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Cooling Time 5 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 12 donuts
Course: Breakfast, Dessert

Ingredients
  

For the 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 unsalted butter, melted
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Equipment

  • Donut pan or muffin tin
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Medium Bowl
  • Spatula or Wooden Spoon
  • Wire rack
  • Small Bowl
  • Shallow Bowl

Method
 

  1. 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.
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. Let the donuts cool in the pan for about 5-7 minutes before carefully inverting them onto a wire rack to cool completely.
  8. 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
  9. Once the donuts are completely cooled, dip each donut into the melted butter, ensuring it's fully coated.
    ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
  10. 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

Notes

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.
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