Go Back
+ servings

Baked Apple Donuts (Gluten Free)

These baked donuts are the perfect addition to your weekend brunch menu!
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 18 donuts

Equipment

  • Stand mixer
  • Donut pan

Ingredients
  

DONUT INGREDIENTS

  • ½ cup light brown sugar packed
  • cup granulated sugar
  • 7 tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature, divided
  • 2 each eggs
  • 2 cups gluten free all-purpose flour 1:1 ratio
  • ¼ cup cassava flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¾ teaspoon coarse Kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon divided
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
  • Pinch ground cloves
  • ¾ cup milk
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ cups honeycrisp apple peeled and diced into ¼-inch cubes (about 2 small apples or 1 medium)
  • 1 each small lemon zested and juiced

CRUMB TOPPING INGREDIENTS

  • cup gluten free all-purpose flour
  • cup light brown sugar packed
  • 3 tablespoon unsalted butter melted
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon coarse Kosher salt

DONUT GLAZE INGREDIENTS

  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon coarse Kosher salt

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease 3 donut pans with cooking spray or butter. (NOTE: Most donut pans make 6 donuts. If you only have one pan, you can bake these in batches!)
  • Place brown sugar, granulated sugar and 6 tablespoons of butter in the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with a paddle attachment. Cream together until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Meanwhile, stir together gluten free all purpose flour, cassava flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves. Set aside. Measure the milk and vanilla extract. Set aside.
  • Once the butter and sugar is creamed together, add the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the bowl between each addition. Next, add ⅓ of the flour mixture, and mix on medium speed until just combined. Stop the mixer, scrape down the bowl, and add ½ of the milk mixture. Repeat the process with another ⅓ of the flour mixture, remaining milk mixture, and remaining flour mixture. Scrape down the bowl one more time, and beat the mixture on medium speed for 1-2 more minutes, or until fluffy.
  • While the donut batter is mixing, stir together diced apples, lemon juice and zest, and remaining butter and ground cinnamon. Place the mixture into a microwave safe bowl, and microwave on high for 90 seconds. Once the donut batter is made, gently fold the apple mixture into the donut batter.
  • Place the batter in a large zip top bag or piping bag, and cut about a 1-inch hole at the end. Divide evenly among the donut pan, placing about ⅓ of a cup of batter into each donut mold. Place the donuts in the oven, and bake for about 14-16 minutes rotating the pan halfway through baking. Once the donuts are done baking, remove from the oven, and immediately turn out onto a wire cooling rack.
  • While the donuts bake, make the crumble topping. Stir together the gluten free all purpose flour, brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, and salt in a small bowl. Sprinkle evenly onto a small, parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 6-8 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through baking, until the mixture is lightly browned and bubbly. Remove from the oven, and let cool. Once cool enough to handle, crumble the mixture by hand, into pea sized pieces. Place in a bowl, and set aside.
  • Once the donuts are baked and cooled completely, make the glaze. In a small bowl whisk together the powdered sugar, butter, milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt, until well combined. Gently dip the top of each donut into the glaze, and immediately dip into the crumb topping mixture. Replace donuts onto the wire cooling rack to allow any excess glaze to drip.
  • ENJOY!

Notes

  • You may substitute regular all-purpose flour for the gluten free flour and cassava flour.
  • If you only have one donut pan, you may bake these in batches. Simply wipe the donut pan clean and re-grease in between batches.
  • Use a gallon sized zip top bag or a large piping bag to pipe the donut batter into the pan.
  • Watch the donuts very closely. They can overbake quickly, and will dry out if overbaked.
  • Watch the crumble topping very closely. Remove it from the oven as soon as it begins to brown and bubble slightly. It crumbles easiest when this step is done while still slightly warm.
Keyword cake donuts, donuts, gluten free baking, gluten free breakfast, gluten free dessert, gluten free donut
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!