Apple Cider Donuts aren’t just for the pumpkin patch.
They also aren’t just for the autumn season!
Enjoy these delicious donuts anytime of year, right at home.
Dairy-free, egg-free, and even a gluten-free note below.
Thank you to Milk Allergy Mom Member, Shannon, for sharing her tips on making these gluten-free!
“We made MAM’s Apple Cider Donut recipe with Domata GF flour today!
I increased baking time to 20 minutes and used a ziplock bag to pipe in the batter.
Worked amazing! Now (my child) will have an apple treat for the apple orchard that we have a season pass to!”
Thank you for sharing, Shannon! So happy these worked so well for you. xo
Now onto the recipe!
Nothing says fall like Apple Cider Donuts,
and I was done with my allergy son missing out on these for so long.
Year after year, I would take my sons to the pumpkin patch.
And year after year, I would say no to donuts and apple cider slushies.
Food and drink made by others just isn’t safe for our severe food allergies.
Food allergies stink.
Finally, I decided it was time to treat my boys to these apple cider treats.
But I had to make them myself.
Buckling down, I figured out how to make donuts and slushies at home, dairy-free, egg-free.
AND simply.
This is what I came up with for the donuts.
One, my recipe doesn’t call for much apple cider, but it still tastes incredibly apple-ish.
Two, I used applesauce as egg.
Three, the only spice needed is cinnamon.
So many recipes require nutmeg, cardamon, cloves, etc.
Everyone has cinnamon, right?
The real verdict was my husband giving them a taste test, and he was im-pressed.
As good as the pumpkin patch, he said.
I’ll TAKE it!
This batter can be baked in a variety of pans.
Use a donut pan, a muffin tin, or a mini muffin tin for adorable “donut holes”.
As long as they get lathered in dairy-free butter, cinnamon, and sugar…
nobody is going to care what shape they are.
But if you DO want a donut pan after trying this recipe,
this is the best donut pan (affiliate).
The donuts pop right out and clean-up is easy-peasy. You will love this pan!
Enjoy the recipe below!
PIN IT FOR LATER!
APPLE CIDER DONUTS RECIPE
Makes 12 Donuts
APPLE CIDER DONUT INGREDIENTS
2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons unsweetened apple sauce
2 tablespoons melted dairy-free butter
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup buttermilk = 1/2 cup dairy-free milk + 1/2 Tbs. apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup apple cider
CINNAMON SUGAR TOPPING
5 tablespoons melted dairy-free butter
1 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon
2/3 cup sugar
HOW TO MAKE APPLE CIDER DONUTS
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine 1/2 cup dairy-free milk and 1/2 Tbs. apple cider vinegar and let sit for 5 minutes…to make your dairy-free buttermilk.
In a large bowl stir together:
2 c. flour
1.5 tsp. baking powder
1.5 tsp. baking soda
1.5 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt.
In a separate bowl whisk together:
5 Tbs. applesauce
2 Tbs. dairy-free melted butter
2/3 c. brown sugar
Then add to the wet ingredients:
1/2 c. buttermilk (1/2 cup dairy-free milk + 1/2 Tbs. apple cider vinegar)
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. apple cider to the applesauce mixture
Add the wet ingredients to the bowl of dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Don’t over mix.
Pour the batter into a donut, muffin, or mini muffin tin (affiliate), filling 1/2 full. Grease pans if needed.
Bake for 10-13 minutes, depending on the tin you use. Donuts are done when they bounce back to the touch.
While the donuts are baking, melt the 5 Tbs. dairy-free butter.
In a separate bowl, combine the 2/3 c. sugar and 1.5 Tbs. cinnamon together.
When the donuts are done, dip the top of each donut into the melted butter, then dip into the cinnamon & sugar mixture.
These are best eaten hot and fresh but can be stored in an airtight container.
Hope you enjoy these milk-free and egg-free apple cider donuts!
See more dairy-free and egg-free donut recipes below. Enjoy!
MORE DAIRY-FREE, EGG-FREE DONUT RECIPES
Susan
Monday 2nd of November 2020
Has anybody tried these using an alternative to wheat? I would love to make these, but for a one year old with dairy, egg, and wheat allergies. I would really appreciate suggestions.
Jamie Kaufmann
Tuesday 10th of November 2020
Hi Susan. Many of our readers have luck with 1:1 wheat-free flours. Let us know if you try!
Kelly
Tuesday 19th of November 2019
I made these with 1c whole wheat flour, 1 c all purpose flour. I also substituted coconut palm sugar for the brown sugar. I left off the topping and made them as mini muffins. My kids loved them and I will double the cinnamon next time to make up for not having the topping. Thank you for a yummy and fun recipe!
Jamie Kaufmann
Thursday 21st of November 2019
Thank you for sharing, Kelly! Sound amazing!
Chandel
Friday 8th of November 2019
Can you make these in a mini donut maker instead of in the oven?
Jamie Kaufmann
Tuesday 12th of November 2019
I bet you could! Please let us know if you try, Chandel!
Laura
Monday 9th of October 2017
These were delicious! We didn't have any cider on hand so I added more applesauce, a little extra sugar, and a bit of water. They still turned out great! This was my toddler's first donut and she was so excited!
Jamie Kaufmann
Monday 9th of October 2017
Oh, I am so happy for your little one! Thanks so much for sharing and for letting us know about your substitutions!
Erika
Friday 29th of September 2017
I usually don’t write comments but had to on this one. This was the first donut my 6 1/2 year has ever eaten (allergies to dairy, soy, eggs & nuts) and he was in heaven. I used rice milk and Earth Balance spread and they turned out wonderful. Thank you so much!
Jamie Kaufmann
Friday 29th of September 2017
Oh Erika, that made my day. Thanks so much for sharing!