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Apple Donuts

Sep 19, 2024

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These homemade Apple Donuts are the easiest way to make a fruity breakfast or dessert. The apples are dipped in a cinnamon sugar topping and deep-fried for a golden brown color and crunchy texture. Plus, it has all the cozy fall flavors that you’ll love!

An overhead image of a stack of apple donuts on a plate.

Why Make Apple Donuts
Ingredient Notes
Steps To Make This Apple Donuts Recipe
Recipe Tips
Recipe Pairings
Recipe FAQs
Other delicious Apple recipes
Cinnamon Sugar Apple Donuts Recipe

Why Make Apple Donuts

These apple cinnamon donuts are just the perfect bite-sized treats that the whole family will love. Quick and easy to whip up, they’re a no-fuss option perfect for any day of the week. And just like my baked apple cider donuts, they capture the essence of fall in every delicious bite!

They’re the perfect bite-sized snack for kids.
A delicious way to use fresh apples, especially when they’re in season.
It’s a lighter and healthier option for breakfast, snack, or even dessert.
Definitely better than store-bought ones!

Ingredient Notes

All other ingredients and measurements can be found in the recipe card towards the bottom of this post.

Apple Donuts:

Apples. Use firm and crisp apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp apples.
All-purpose flour. You can swap this with a gluten-free flour blend if needed.
Baking powder. Helps give the donuts a light and fluffy texture.
Cinnamon. Adds warmth and spice to the batter.
White granulated sugar. To sweeten the donuts.
Milk. I used almond milk, but you can also use whole milk or oat milk if you prefer.
Oil. Choose an oil that’s great for frying like canola or avocado oil.

Cinnamon Sugar Topping:

Sugar. A mix of white sugar and brown sugar creates the perfect flavor.
Cinnamon. You can add nutmeg or allspice to add to the cinnamon flavor, or use apple pie spice for a blended spice mix.

Steps To Make This Apple Donuts Recipe

An image of coating donut apples with cinnamon and sugar.

Step One. Core the apples and slice them vertically into doughnut-size rings.

Step Two. Mix the batter. Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon with a whisk.

Step Three. Add in the almond milk and mix well. If the batter is too thick, add a few more tablespoons of milk.

Step Four. Mix the cinnamon and sugar topping in a medium bowl.

Step Five. Dip both sides of each apple slice in the batter mix to coat it evenly. Carefully lay the doughnuts into the oil and fry for a few minutes on each side, until golden brown.

Step Six. Remove them from the oil, blot with a paper towel, and flip around in the cinnamon sugar topping.

Recipe Tips

Slice the apples evenly, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Thinner slices may break, while thicker ones may not cook through as well.
Pat the apple slices dry with a paper towel before dipping them in the batter. This helps the batter adhere better.

Recipe Pairings

These homemade donuts are already delicious served as is! For a more indulgent treat, you can dunk them in fudge, caramel, maple syrup, applesauce, or icing. Enjoy!

Recipe FAQs

Can I bake these apple donuts instead of frying them?

Yes, you can bake these instead. Preheat your oven to 375°F and place the apple rings (coated with batter) on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake them for about 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and cooked through.

How do I prevent the batter from being too thick or too runny?

The batter should be thick enough to coat the apple rings but not so thick that it becomes clumpy. If it’s too thick, add a few more tablespoons of almond milk. If it’s too runny, add a little more flour until you achieve the right consistency.

Can I make the batter ahead of time?

You can prepare the batter ahead of time and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours. Just give it a good stir before using as it may thicken slightly in the fridge.