Tag: donuts

Apple Pie Donuts

How is an apple pie donuts recipe created in the last month of the year in Wisconsin? Picture this: 

It’s December 20th and my mini me gets to bring a treat to school for the holiday party. All year, she has brought apples for a snack for herself, so she naturally chooses apples (and candy canes) as her treat. So off to the store we go to buy bags of apples for her and her classmates. Then a winter storm hits and school is canceled, canceling her party and leaving us with A LOT of apples. 

Don’t get me wrong, my family eats a lot of fruit, but I had JUST finished creating apple sauce with the last of our fall apples and I wasn’t sure what to do with them. Then I spied my donut pan (a gift for the Mr. with a donut cookbook a few Valentine’s Days ago), and got to thinking, “I haven’t played with a donut recipe in a lonnnggg time.” 

And that winter storm? It was still going so I had nothing but time on my hands. I set to work. 

If you know me, you likely know I live for more simple, from scratch recipes with a healthy twist. I wanted these donuts to have the flavor of apple without a whole lot of chunks of apple in them. So out went some of the butter and oil I usually add and in went applesauce (Healthy and flavor! Big win!). To give a greater apple pie flavor, I amped up the cinnamon and nutmeg. And the frosting? Oh my goodness, it’s the best part. To give an apple flavor, I swapped more applesauce for the milk and it worked SO well. I can’t wait for you to give them a try!

Ready to get baking? Let’s go!

Your Ingredients for Apple Pie Donuts

  • 3 tablespoons butter, melted
  • ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
  • ½ cup packed light brown sugar
  • ¼ cup white sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla 
  • ½ cup plain Greek yogurt (or low sugar vanilla)
  • 2 tablespoons milk 
  • 2 ¼ cup flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon 
  • ¼  teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¾ teaspoon salt 
  • ½ cup apples, diced finely

Donut Frosting

  • 2 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
  • 2 cups powdered sugar

Your Steps to Apple Pie Donuts

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a regular donut pan with non-stick cooking spray. 

In a large bowl, combine butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Stir in applesauce, milk, and yogurt. Whisk until smooth. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.  Add to wet ingredients and stir until fully incorporated. Fold in the apples.

Divide the batter among 16 donut cavities, filling ¾ of the way full. Bake for 12-14 minutes, until firm to the touch or passes the toothpick test (a toothpick inserted comes out clean). Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Remove the donuts from the pan and place on a cooling rack. 

While the donuts finish cooling, mix donut frosting. Using a fork, cream the butter. Add vanilla and mix until combined. Mix in applesauce, still using the fork. Whisk in the powdered sugar with the fork until smooth. 

When cool, frost or dip each donut in the frosting. It is a great consistency that you can dip it like a glaze but it will hold up like a frosting. Cover them anyway you choose!

Grab the wet ingredients!
Add some applesauce and yogurt.
Mix in the wet ingredients
Fold in the apples.
Portion it out.
Frost them up!
Yum!

Apple Pie Donuts

Love apple pie? These baked apple pie donuts with a great frosting  will give you that warm comforting feeling you get from pie and ice cream!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 16 minutes
Course Appetizer, Breakfast, Dessert, Sweets
Cuisine American
Servings 16 donuts

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 3 tablespoons butter melted
  • ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
  • ½ cup packed light brown sugar
  • ¼ cup white sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • ½ cup plain Greek yogurt or low sugar vanilla
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 2 ¼ cup flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup apples diced finely

Donut Frosting

  • 2 tablespoons butter softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
  • 2 cups powdered sugar

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a regular donut pan with non-stick cooking spray.
  • In a large bowl, combine butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Stir in applesauce, milk and yogurt. Whisk until smooth.
  • In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
  • Add to wet ingredients and stir until fully incorporated. Fold in the apples
  • Divide the batter among 16 donut cavities, filling ¾ of the way full.
  • Bake for 12-14 minutes, until firm to the touch or passes the toothpick test (a toothpick inserted comes out clean).
  • Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Remove the donuts from the pan and place on a cooling rack.
  • While the donuts finish cooling, mix donut frosting. Using a fork, cream the butter. Add vanilla and mix until combined. Mix in applesauce, still using the fork. Whisk in the powdered sugar with the fork until smooth.
  • When cool, frost or dip each donut in the frosting. It is a great consistency that you can dip it like a glaze but it will hold up like a frosting.
Keyword apple and cinnamon, apple pie, apple recipe, apples, baked donuts, Breakfast, donut recipe, donuts
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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JessLeave a comment

Cinnamon and Sugar Donuts

I somehow ended up in a high school that has donuts in the breakroom nearly every Thursday. For many people, that would cause a problem. Not me. Donuts are not my jam and I can almost always skip them. That is, unless they are homemade. Then I am all over those babies. And the combination of cinnamon and sugar? YUM. So when I was inspired to put together a batch of baked cinnamon and sugar donuts, I didn’t think about it twice. 

I can’t get over just how light and airy the sponge turns out. And the cinnamon and sugar combination brings me back to my childhood where cinnamon and sugar toast with butter was a special treat. Now we’ve just allowed that childhood classic to grow up a bit. 

Ready to get baking? Let’s go!

Your Ingredients for Cinnamon and Sugar Donuts

  • 6 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 1 tablespoon oil 
  • ½ cup packed light brown sugar
  • ¼ cup white sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • ¾ cup + 1 tablespoon plain Greek yogurt 
  • 2 ¼ cup flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon 
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¾ teaspoon salt 

Donut Toppings

  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted 
  • ⅓ cup white sugar 
  • ½ tablespoon ground cinnamon 

Your Steps to Cinnamon and Sugar Donuts 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a regular donut pan with non-stick cooking spray. 

In a large bowl, combine butter, oil, sugars, eggs, and vanilla. Stir in milk and yogurt. Whisk until smooth. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. (Okay, that’s what you should do. But I hate extra dishes…so I refuse.)  Add to wet ingredients and stir until fully incorporated.

Divide the batter among 16 donut cavities, filling ¾ of the way full. Bake for 12-14 minutes, until firm to the touch or passes the toothpick test (a toothpick inserted comes out clean). Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Remove the donuts from the pan and place on a cooling rack. 

While the donuts finish cooling, melt butter. Combine additional cinnamon and sugar in a shallow bowl. 

When cool, brush finished donuts with butter, one at a time. Dip donuts into the cinnamon and sugar mixture immediately following the butter. Continue until all donuts are covered. Optional: You can do both sides of the donuts, but we found that to be too messy at our house. We like to top just the tops. As we say, “You do you though!” 

Some wet ingredients.
Add in the dairy.
Yes, I should have an extra bowl. I am against more dishes.
Perfect batter.
Perfectly baked.
Topped in cinnamon and sugar.
Yum!

Tools of the Trade

If you’re baking donuts, you need a wonderful pan. I also LOVE my Pyrex mixing bowls with lids. They can go in the microwave to the counter to the fridge. How perfect!

Other breakfast recommendations

Maybe everyone at your house doesn’t have a sweet tooth and you need some savory inspiration! Here are a few of my favorite breakfast recipes!

Still need more recipes? Check out my baking page!

Cinnamon and Sugar Donuts

A simple baked cinnamon and sugar donut recipe that will make everyone happy to wake up on the weekend! Give it a try!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Course Appetizer, Breakfast, Dessert, Sweets
Cuisine American
Servings 16 donuts

Ingredients
  

  • 6 tablespoons butter melted
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • ½ cup packed light brown sugar
  • ¼ cup white sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • ¾ cup + 1 tablespoon plain Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 2 ¼ cup flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¾ teaspoon salt

Donut Topping Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons butter melted
  • ⅓ cup white sugar
  • ½ tablespoon ground cinnamon

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a regular donut pan with non-stick cooking spray.
  • In a large bowl, combine butter, oil, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Stir in milk and yogurt. Whisk until smooth. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Add to wet ingredients and stir until fully incorporated.
  • Divide the batter among 16 donut cavities, filling ¾ of the way full.
  • Bake for 12-14 minutes, until firm to the touch or passes the toothpick test (a toothpick inserted comes out clean).
  • Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Remove the donuts from the pan and place on a cooling rack.
  • While the donuts finish cooling, melt butter. Combine additional cinnamon and sugar in a shallow bowl.
  • When cool, brush finished donuts with butter, one at a time. Dip donuts into the cinnamon and sugar mixture immediately following the butter. Continue until all donuts are covered.
Keyword baked donuts, Breakfast, cinnamon, cinnamon and sugar, donuts
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

JessLeave a comment

Cherry Almond Glazed Donuts

If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you likely know that I often declare, “I don’t like donuts, but you’ll always get me at a good scone.” I’m changing my tune just a little: “I don’t like donuts besides a beautiful cherry almond glazed cake donut.” 

My family loves donuts. Any stop at Kwik Trip results in a box of glazers coming home with us. They have to count and make sure everyone gets their fair share. This mom isn’t included in the count. I even joined a district where a certain group provides donuts every Thursday. I never took a one. 

Then we were in Door County this last fall and some Door County cherry donuts were calling my name. We bought some and they were heavenly. More recently, Kwik Trip started carrying some plain cherry cake donuts. They were no Door County cherry, but they were dang good. And I knew I had to make my own version.

I generally try to make my versions of recipes healthier. This will not be one of those. These cherry almond glazed donuts are airy and perfectly pink. My son declared them the best donuts he’s ever eaten. I don’t know if that’s true, but I sure know I ate two of them and wanted two more. And I “don’t like donuts.” 

Your ingredients for the cherry almond donuts 

  • 1 cup maraschino cherries, primarily drained and blended with an immersion blender until smooth (save the syrup!) (I love my Kitchen Aid blender!
  • 6 tablespoons butter, melted 
  • 1 tablespoon oil 
  • ¾ cup white sugar 
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract 
  • ½ cup Greek yogurt 
  • 2 ¼ cup all purpose flour 
  • 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder 
  • ¾ teaspoon salt 
  • ¾ teaspoon baking soda 
  • additional cherry syrup 

Your ingredients for the cherry glaze 

  • 4 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 2 cups powdered sugar 
  • ¼ cup cherry syrup 
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

Your Steps to Cherry Almond donuts 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a regular donut pan with non-stick cooking spray. 

In a large bowl, combine butter, oil, sugar, eggs, vanilla, almond extract, and yogurt. Whisk until smooth. Stir in blended cherries. In a separate bowl, combine flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Add to wet ingredients and stir until fully incorporated. You may want to add just an additional ½ tablespoon of cherry juice here to amp up the flavor a little more if you’re a guy or gal that gives the batter a taste test. 

Divide the batter among 16 donut cavities, filling ¾ of the way full. Bake for 12-14 minutes, until firm to the touch or passes the toothpick test (a toothpick inserted comes out clean). Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Remove the donuts from the pan and place on a cooling rack. 

While the donuts finish cooling, mix softened butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and cherry syrup for a glaze. If you dig a thicker glaze, add a touch more powdered sugar. Dig a thinner glaze? Add more cherry syrup. Whisk until smooth. 

Dip cooled donuts in the glaze. I only did one side, but you can totally flip them to fully coat. If you choose to do both sides, you will need to double the glaze recipe. Best enjoyed within 48 hours of baking, but I bet they won’t last that long! 

  • Gather a cup of mostly drained maraschino cherries
  • Get the wet ingredients together and..
  • whisk until smooth.
  • Stir in some cherries!
  • Look at that pink! Add the dry ingredients!
  • Fill a prepared pan and bake!
  • Get the glaze on!
  • Beautiful, right? They taste even better!

Tools of the Trade

I have a couple tools I love for these donuts. I totally dig my Kitchen Aid Immersion blender for all things. My banana nice cream, you name it. And if you are going to make donuts, you need a good donut pan, right?

Cherry Almond Glazed Donuts

You can't go wrong with the combination of almond and cherry in these light and airy almond cherry glazed donuts that are a cinch to make!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 14 minutes
Cooling Time 20 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 16 donuts

Ingredients
  

Batter Ingredients

  • 1 cup maraschino cherries primarily drained and blended with an immersion blender until smooth (save the syrup)
  • 6 tablespoons butter melted
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • ¾ cup white sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract
  • ½ cup Greek yogurt
  • 2 ¼ cup all purpose flour
  • 1 ⅓ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ teaspoon baking soda
  • additional cherry syrup

Cherry Glaze Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons butter softened
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • ¼ cup cherry syrup from cherries
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a regular donut pan with non-stick cooking spray.
  • In a large bowl, combine butter, oil, sugar, eggs, vanilla, almond extract, and yogurt. Whisk until smooth. Stir in blended cherries.
  • In a separate bowl, combine flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Add to wet ingredients and stir until fully incorporated.
  • You may want to add just an additional ½ tablespoon of cherry juice here to amp up the flavor a little more if you’re a guy or gal that gives the batter a taste test.
  • Divide the batter among 16 donut cavities, filling ¾ of the way full. Bake for 12-14 minutes, until firm to the touch or passes the toothpick test (a toothpick inserted comes out clean). Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Remove the donuts from the pan and place on a cooling rack.
  • While the donuts finish cooling, mix softened butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and cherry syrup for a glaze. If you dig a thicker glaze, add a touch more powdered sugar. Dig a thinner glaze? Add more cherry syrup. Whisk until smooth.
  • Dip cooled donuts in the glaze. I only did one side, but you can totally flip them to fully coat. If you choose to do both sides, you will need to double the glaze recipe.
Keyword almond, baking, cherry, donuts
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Jess1 Comment